The world that they fought for

As we remember our brave troops who gave their lives to ensure a safe future for us‚ I wonder what they would think if they were to come back now and see the current state of affairs.

The world is still at war and thousands of innocent people are dying.

In this country, our respect for law and order is out of control. Race relations are worse than ever, benefit dependency is skyrocketing, children don’t attend school‚ the number of homeless is ridiculous, obesity-related issues are crippling the health system. I don’t think they would be impressed.

Jock Mac Vicar, Hauraki.

Rolling restoration

“This is how I roll”: A statement made by Christopher Luxon after demoting two coalition ministers, no doubt to show us all what a strong leader he is. I believe it was Robert Muldoon who, while trying to belittle Bill Rowling many years ago, stated that “things that are rolling are generally going downhill”.

Perhaps Mr Luxon might ponder that and choose his words a bit more carefully.

Jeremy Coleman, Hillpark.

Zip it, Chippy

Many commentators, and in particular Chris Hipkins, have been criticising the Government for dishing out benefits to their wealthy right-wing mates.

Many, if not most, of this Government’s actions have been to simply wind back some of the mess created by the previous Government — much of which hit middleincome New Zealanders — rather than hand-outs to the wealthy, as claimed by Hipkins.

Adjusting the tax brackets will simply put hard-working Kiwis back to where they were six years ago before inflationfuelled tax creep lifted their tax rates to higher levels.

Reinstating tax deductibility on interest expense for rental properties is a logical step in returning to the status quo, not a handout.

Reducing the number of state employees is also simply a wind back of the massive increase in the last six years. So to Hipkins I say, zip it Chippy.

Steve Clerk, Meadowbank.

Reality bites

I read the story regarding police being criticised for using a dog on a 13-year-old girl (NZ Herald, Apr 25). Really?

This girl and her friends had stolen a car, rammed another and driven dangerously while being pursued by the police helicopter.

She received a minor dog bite, and there was an inquiry where the dog handler (who I think is from one of the best police units) would probably have been reprimanded and have to give evidence.

I think this is part of the reason our right-leaning Government has been voted in — all the PC stuff. Tough luck for the girl — maybe she learned something from it. Don’t do it, and if you do, accept the consequences.

Hamish Walsh, Devonport.

Past mistakes

More than 100 years after Gallipoli it seems we haven’t learned from the tragic losses in wars — 8700 Australians and 2779 soldiers killed in Turkey, a country we had no previous conflict with.

Now we have Australia spending $3 billion on Aukus submarines to ostensibly protect themselves from China. Again, a country they have had no previous conflict with.

In my view, New Zealand would be well-advised to distance itself from all conflict and geo-political military alliances. We have done our bit in two world wars, and wars in Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan.

Fighting in these wars has done us no