Republicans have killed the ideal that was the US

I WOULD like to take this moment to mark the passing of the ‘‘ideal’’ that was the United States of America, which has just flatlined on the political operating table.

A bit over 37 years ago, President Reagan poisoned the twoparty system by using his office to destroy unions which were the life blood of the Democratic Party.

Yesterday it was announced the barely legitimate Republican President Trump just poisoned the justice system by breaking every rule in the book, consequently abandoning over twothirds of the population in the process and casting doubt over the whole system. Aaron Nicholson

Manapouri

[Abridged]

There’s enough tourists

GRAEME Perkins (ODT, 5.10.18) is right. Enough tourists.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) should look carefully at what is happening now and what the extra tourists mean — crowded roads, increasing numbers of poor drivers, crowded shopping facilities, insufficient infrastructure, and so many campervans the lake becomes invisible from the road.

Why can we not do what some major tourist venues around the world are doing and limit the numbers arriving? Make the experience here a great experience that is enjoyable because the numbers are kept small.

Wanaka airport does not need to be enlarged.

We don’t need the all the extras here that come with an airport — all those hectares of rental cars and vans, food and accommodation places, and tourist shops.

As a Luggate resident I don’t want to be living under a flight path with increasing noise, up to a jet every half an hour.

I have lived in the Albert TownWanakaUpper Clutha area since 1975 and it is only in the last couple of years that tourism numbers have been getting out of hand.

Let the QLDC put a stop to the madness and not go for growth for the sake of growth. Steve Moss Luggate Park