I've been intrigued by the concept of UBI for a while, particularly as it seems to have been espoused, perhaps in different forms, by both those on the "Left" and those on the "Right" of the political ideas spectrum, and vilified by adherents of both.
Thursday's column was excellent in traversing the history of UBI as well as possibilities of application. It also covered the inclusion of UBI as a policy plank of Gareth Morgan's TOP Party.
I keenly await the next instalment.
In all the excitement currently emanating from other political parties in the past few weeks, readers might be excused from paying much attention to TOP. However, in my view, all of their easy to read policies are rational, logical and with an apparently solid research basis. And easy to access on the TOP website.
Assuredly, more surprises of this election will follow. I hope that one of them might be a Labour-Green government, supported by TOP.
DAVE CAMERON, Whanganui
Balanced society
Healthy societies prosper when principles and values - and economic power - are balanced. They aren't at the moment.
Metiria Turei claims she was acting with integrity to raise a crucial issue that she was powerless to raise as one of the culpable poor. Others claim she is a criminal who "defrauded all of us".
Ms Turei never claimed that she acted legally. She did claim that when necessity and legality collide there is something wrong with the balance of principles and values that shape and drive a system that disadvantages rather than "helps" the poor. And nothing changes unless someone is willing to take risks.
Wasn't her confession an act of civil disobedience? We do remember the Springbok tour, don't we?
Didn't England use to transport poor people for stealing a loaf of bread to feed their families? Don't we get angry to think about that historical imbalance of values? Why is it easier to empathise with the poor and the issues of history, and so difficult to empathise with those on godzone doorstep?
The characterisation of the "criminal poor" has, I believe, had an insidious affect on our ability to properly balance and develop positive long-term strategies. If that world view had triumphed a hundred years ago, labour unions would never have grown to empower the sweatshop-employed poor to rise above wages and conditions that could not support a family. Don't we applaud that?
We may no longer tolerate sweatshops, but can we tolerate working families having to live on the streets?
If political party leaders like Ms Turei can emerge from the "criminal morass" of poverty, couldn't others like her, living in a more balanced society, rise up to do great things? Let's try not to starve and alienate our next "great one", eh?
DANA LIVESAY, Aramoho
Green watchdog
I applaud Nelson Lebo's input and his being a watchdog for environmental issues.
Take note anybody in our community - Nelson and me included - using items not 100 per cent environmentally responsible, either wearing clothing (even cotton has most often a footprint of chemical sprays and mixed with artificial fibres) or using household items manufactured with plastics ...
Cars, push bikes - you name it, directly or indirectly, all are a burden to the environment. Still, we can't live without them.
Luckily, about 80 per cent of energy in New Zealand is sustainable, but an improvement can be made.
Nelson mentioned that solar power has a larger carbon footprint than wind or hydro-power. Why discourage solar power - I don't think Nelson has a hydro-station at home, but solar panels are possible.
His advice should be if solar power can be generated at home, go for it.
A disappointing development is that the Whanganui Recycling Centre doesn't accept carton packaging for fluids anymore. Will end up in the landfill, too.
With an increasing global population, we badly need education, advice and support for better living conditions. One idea is to decrease the population. Nelson, still plenty of work ahead for you.
ROMBOUT VAN RIEMSDIJK, Whanganui
Turei's honesty
Regarding former Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei and the inquiry over fraud:
I grew up on welfare with six siblings, and it was common for our whanau to lie about our parents not living together, hiding our dad whenever there was a knock on the door.
Most families I grew up with were in very similar circumstances - lying to teachers, sports coaches, any form of agency or authority or government connection.
I have nothing but respect and empathy for Ms Turei, for her honesty and mana, regardless of timing or being late by years. She is a natural born leader.
I agree the law is law and she recognises that herself. But what is the difference when MPs of various political parties appear on Back Benches and openly laugh that they smoked marijuana and got away with it.
I'm currently in prison and have been convicted on many occasions for possession of marijuana, while using it as medication to relieve pain and mental stress.
Is it okay for our politicians to smoke illegal substances and not be charged? Is there one law for white politicians and another for black ones? Get real, NZ.
J WAITOKIA, Whanganui
