Why compassion vanished

In response to Stuart Robertson’s letter (‘‘Compassion has vanished’’, November 17): I worked for security at Auckland Airport domestic for 15 years, and in that time witnessed the steady demise of compassion, as it was replaced by selfishness.

In the early days I’d see a lady with two small children in the queue, go forward, lift up the tapes and let her through. Gradually acts like this were greeted by abuse from others eager to get to the lounge, I guess for their ‘free’ drink.

The volume of aggression, too, from travellers increased; patience was no longer the virtue it was.

Many of us inwardly like to think we’re altruistic, but the speed and pressure of life today can often negate this. Much of the need to be kind and considerate is now replaced by just clicking ‘‘like’’ on social media.

Many staff members will tell you that human resources departments tend to treat employees as numbers. The personal touch has gone.

Staff are pushed to their limits, they have little time to help, and with the PC world we live in, are too scared to assist for fear of being accused of some imagined inappropriate behaviour.

It’s called progress.

Robert Bicker, Auckland

Death and suffering

Thanks are owed to Bernard Willems for courageously sharing his story with us and to Hannah Martin for writing it (Focus, November 17).

It’s heartbreaking that he will not be able to access an assisted death no matter how bad his suffering gets.

Very few people will meet the strict eligibility criteria that Parliament has approved for use through the End of Life Choice Act. The number is expected to be fewer than 200 annually out of 34,000 annual deaths. But if you are dying and you’re one of the 200 whose suffering cannot be relieved, then knowing you could opt out of the last few days if you wanted to would be a blessed psychological relief. Bernard Willems won’t even have that.

We will be able to put a stop to this cruelty when we vote to accept the legislation that Parliament is offering us at the 2020 referendum.

Ann David, Waikanae

There are so many myths regarding David Seymour’s legislation that it’s hard to know where to start.

Parliament did not provide the tick of approval that many supporters like to claim. Without the support of NZ First’s nine MPs – voting only for the referendum – the bill would have failed.

Then there is the deceptive rhetoric around the need for dignity in dying as if this does not exist already in our excellent palliative care.

Quoting polls in support of euthanasia proves nothing as most respondents have little idea of what’s involved – as other polls show.

Safeguards in this bill are ridiculously weak. Neither of the two certifying doctors may have previously met the patient. No independent witnesses are required at any stage, nor any stand-down period.

Measures against coercion may protect many people but they will not protect all. How many wrongful deaths are we ok with?

Robyn Jackson, Hamilton

Save the trees

Perhaps David Slack (‘‘Let the chainsaws roar’’, Focus, November 17’’) is not aware that there is a bit of a global warming going on, and it is not a good idea to cut down 345 trees, exotic or otherwise.

That this great habitat for birds with the diverse mix of trees as it is now on Mt Albert will be lost.

That the replanting with native shrubs/trees saplings on a bare hillside without shelter of mature trees has proven a failure, as has been shown at other places where they were soon overgrown with weeds and grass.

That not all Ma¯ ori are in favour of removal of all exotic trees. That etc, etc.

John de Graaf , Auckland

Sporting dominance

A decade of world dominance in any sport is not a good thing for either participants or spectators. So the All Blacks finally losing the Rugby World Cup to a team which have not won it in 12 years is probably a good thing for the sport. Just as Tonga beating both Australia and the Great Britain Lions in league recently is good for that sport too.

Likewise, when Auckland dominated provincial rugby for a decade, the only real interest was how many points Grant Fox would kick. Sport needs a variety of winners in a decade not just one.

Murray Hunter, Auckland

Boomers worked

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub lays the blame for the lack of home ownership at the slippers of the Baby Boomer generation.

The Boomers got off their butts and worked hard for a living, seven days a week. There was no overseas experience on leaving school, no dining out, no latest cellphone.

We worked hard to make a better life for ourselves, our children and grandchildren.

Maybe Eaqub should get out of his glass tower and see the real