Trump and us
Chester Borrows (Chronicle, November 11), if you think the reactions of people [to the US election result] are hilarious, you do not listen to them closely enough.
First, the American system is different to ours; they have the electoral vote, we don't.
I think we should be very happy that our students take the time to start to get political again and not blase, thinking no one is listening anyway and politicians can do what they feel is right for us.
If you, as a politician, are not holding your breath and go on with your daily life, you have not understood why people voted for Trump.
The TPP will not affect our country as you portray; the whole thing would have been maybe 1 per cent increase of income. We still have all our trade opportunities, it will not have any impact on our wages, etc. Maybe we just have to think, to get a little cleverer, more strategic and better to compete on the world stage.
If you think that a President of the United States is not important and we just have to get on, you missed a lot.
The problem is that the gap is getting wider between rich and poor, the violence is getting more, the me-me generation is more prominent, and that is where Trumps have a chance to get elected. If our politicians think like you, we will get the swing towards the right-wing spectrum too.
This is what I do not want to happen here, so listen carefully to the people and take them seriously. It is not all about money; it is about identity and feeling valued and safe.
RENATE SCHNEIDER
Whanganui
Media bias
On November 10 the Chronicle carried an article about the result of the US presidential election.
The article described Donald Trump's success as a "shock US election victory" and an "astonishing victory". Donald Trump's victory was only "astonishing" and a "shock" if you have relied on the biased reporting of the mainstream US media in the lead-up to the election.
Many commentators have called out the mainstream US media for their blatantly partisan behaviour over recent months.
Unfortunately, this behaviour is unlikely to change, even though their candidate failed despite, or perhaps because of, their best efforts. In fact the November 10 article in the Chronicle, from the Associated Press, is yet another example of the biased and manipulative reporting that has so marked this US election.
The funniest part of it all is the way they cannot explain how Trump could have won when they have put so much effort into blackening his public image, or things like how he could have got so much support from Hispanic voters when the media kept trying to say Trump was an anti-Hispanic racist.
An example: you will read about the Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare, or, as the November 10 article described it, "Obama's landmark healthcare law". You will read about how Donald Trump has pledged to repeal this act. What you won't read about is how Obamacare has failed the people it was supposed to help, how people keep finding their charges going up and it is all becoming unaffordable for the very people it was supposed to bring affordable healthcare to.
Perhaps that is one reason those voters voted for the candidate who pledged to fix that problem.
KA BENFELL
Gonville
Democracy
May I present democracy, where the high ideals it proclaims can so easily be "trumped" by the lowest common denominator.
Still, when both parties took their "campaigns" into the gutter, what else could one expect?
Time to pray, methinks.
STAN HOOD
Aramoho
Statesmanship
During the recent local government election campaign in Wanganui there was sadly lacking many signs of true, old-fashioned statesmanship, way too much busy-bodying and unnecessary sniping, from the former mayor down to the lowest-polling candidate.
How refreshing it was to read Rob Vinsen's letter (Chronicle, November 4) displaying the very characteristics that had been so sadly lacking earlier, from many involved.
It gives one faith that we do now have a council worthy of our support. Time will tell!
TERRY COXON
Otamatea
No to militarism
During the next week, warships from about 17 nations invited to New Zealand to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the NZ Navy will be anchored in the Waitemata Harbour.
The prime purpose of these vessels is destruction (of lives, property, the natural environment) but the array seems to be being promoted as a "fun exhibit"!
The USS Sampson is the first US warship to visit NZ since about 1983. This is a retrograde step as, by banning visits by nuclear powered/weapon-carrying warships, this small country lost little or nothing and gained worldwide respect for acting independently.
NZ should not be aligned to multi-nation militarism and should not be supporting an Armaments Expo being held in Auckland in conjunction with the navy event. A main sponsor is Lockheed Martin which is one of the largest producers of the world's nuclear weapons.
The expo programme, involving hundreds of representatives of the world's largest weapons dealers, appears to be geared towards promoting, buying and selling of armaments -- again these are meant to destroy people's lives in horrific ways.
Over the next 15 years $20,000,000,000 ($20 billion!) is earmarked for the NZ military even though the Ministry of Defence White Paper 2016 states that "NZ does not face direct military threat in the foreseeable future".
The real threats are poverty, unemployment, homelessness and climate change.
The $300,000,000 ($300 million) that the Government has recently allocated to providing more homes is a pittance in comparison.
JUDITH ROBINSON
Whanganui
Unlawful talk
D. Partner complains that an email of his was rejected by the Ministry of Health's filtering system because it contained "inappropriate language".
Perhaps the ministry's standards are still based on a ruling made in the Wanganui Magistrate's Court in 1883 (Wanganui Herald, September 15):
"A peculiar suggestion was made by his Worship at the Court this morning, in regard to the informations laid in connection with the use of indecent language. He drew attention to the fact that at present a defendant was charged with 'unlawfully' making use of obscene language, from which some people might draw the inference that under some conditions the offence might be lawful. Such a happy delusion, however, must be dispelled, as the use of the language under any circumstances is an offence, and his Worship directed the omission of the word 'unlawful' from all future informations."
MURRAY CRAWFORD
Whanganui
Contradictions
We hear from Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie in the Chronicle (November 9) that we are in great economic shape.
Well, he would say that, wouldn't he? Let's look at a few statements that were made by various sources in this paper on the same day.
Mr McKelvie said that in the past year an additional 144,000 people were in work, and wages were up 1.9 per cent, compared with inflation of just 0.2 per cent. He also said we have been rated as the easiest place in the world to do business.
Point 1: How come, on page 10, we read that members of Parliament have been given a 2.49 per cent pay rise backdated to July. Point 2: On page 12 we read that Blue Sky Meats is selling out to another Chinese company.
From this information, I can only come to one conclusion: Get rid of the 120 politicians in Parliament. They are useless and too damn expensive. Continue to bring in Chinese investors/politicians/business leaders and let them continue to buy up the country. Who needs politicians when we are the easiest place in the world to do business?
These facts just prove that we are the best place in the world to view a nation with its pants continually down around its ankles, and a continual feeding of selected b ... t from our overpaid wombles in Wellington.
A BARRON
Aramoho
Practise respect
Local men are being asked to think about what kind of guy they wanna be, and what they value. This challenge comes from White Ribbon's campaign promoting respectful relationships.
Most men do not use violence towards women because they value fairness and respect. Strengthening the respectful values, and behaviour, of all men will make your community safer for women and children. And men will have more satisfying relationships.
Respectful relationships are based on everyone being treated as equals, and effective, non-violent communication.
Men can learn how to do this, and White Ribbon provides a toolbox for men on how to have respectful relationships. There's another for young men, "Start With Respect".
And this year White Ribbon is providing advice for dads on how to grow respectful sons. All available at whiteribbon.org.nz.
Respect is the behaviour we want instead of using violence. It makes your community safer and happier. Let's practise this 365 days a year.
CAM RONALD
ChairpersonWhite Ribbon NZ Committee
He lost an arm and a leg in a crash that killed three friends.