The amount of rubbish written about rubbish is a clear indication that the market solution is no longer working. Photo / file
The amount of rubbish written about rubbish is a clear indication that the market solution is no longer working. Photo / file
Rubbish system needs clean-up
The amount of rubbish written about rubbish is a clear indication that the market solution is no longer working.
Today's lead article (News, September 17) suggesting that even more trucks doing the same general rubbish job is the answer is just laughable.
We need one rubbishand resource recycling contractor using fewer specialist trucks doing all the collecting and recycling, paid directly by the council and added to the rates.
Fewer trucks, everyone served weekly, less pollution, less worry, cost shared, maybe a bit more rates rebate, job done.
Due to the strong claims made by Advance NZ in their full page advertisement in the Chronicle on Thursday, September 17, I searched some of the references listed. Perhaps the Chronicle could have added a disclaimer to this advertisement, similar to the one quoted below which was appended to one of the articles referenced.
A search for the first reference returned "Server could not be found" (swprs.org).
A search for the third reference "Estimating the infection fatality ratio in England, August 21, 2020": This article was appended with a disclaimer: "The article has not been peer-reviewed; it should not replace individual clinical judgment, and the sources cited should be checked ... The views are not a substitute for professional medical advice."
Two references were given to a page "Covid-19 Pandemic Planning Scenarios", one was sourced on August 26 and one on September 10, 2020. I couldn't access the page for August 26, however the updates section is separate to the original page. Advance NZ's claim is that 94 per cent of deaths previously attributed to Covid-19 have an additional two to three causes of death. This does not seem to appear despite a series of searches on this page and elsewhere.
On the September 10 update the figure of 0.054 per cent infection fatality rate for 70 to 80-year-olds is stated by Advance NZ as "reported" by the CDC. It is actually reported in the article as a "current best estimate" in a pandemic planning exercise.
In summary therefore, one non-peer reviewed article, essentially an opinion piece; one reference where the claim can't be found; one estimate reported as fact; and one page whose server couldn't be found.
I gave up at four failures out of four. Time for a cup of tea and lie down. [Abridged]
NIGEL BROOKE Central city
Your letters
The common good
I was offended when opening the Chronicle to see a full page promotion by Advance NZ downplaying Covid to the level of "seasonal flu" (Advertisement, September 17).
Influenza is as deadly as Covid but unlike Covid an inoculation for the most common strains is available to protect the vulnerable.
My offence is not from the fact it was printed but the ignorance of the content. I am offended because this party has taken this stand aimed at getting votes totally forsaking any responsibility for the common good of the New Zealand population.
