All New Zealanders must debate euthanasia

TWO letters appeared under the headline ‘‘Debate on euthanasia is a polarising one’’ (ODT,19.2.18). In my opinion this is probably the most accurate headline of all time.

Every single person in New Zealand should become engaged in this important debate. My only hope is that all participants stick to the subject and not introduce red herrings.

The suicide rate, as raised by J. Buswell, Waverley (ODT, 19.2.18), is a hugely sad, awful, significant

(there’s no end to the adjectives) subject that we, as a community, should be addressing. But it has no direct bearing on the content of the End of Life Choice Bill being debated. P. J. Warren Andersons Bay machines and wars, and redeploying them to solve these huge challenges ahead, will we be able to reduce their worst effects.

If we don’t, mankind faces a very grim future, if any future at all.

Paul Schofield

Palmerston

Demeaning tasks

PERHAPS only those responsible for violent crimes or are likely to be a danger to others should be incarcerated? Those people committing theft, fraud, etc could benefit more by being required to do demeaning tasks in our communities, such as cleaning city toilets, and getting their only income from this type of punishment.

This would be a great help to our communities, very humbling to the offenders, and certainly reduce prison congestion.

The punishment, I think, doesn’t always fit the crime!

Gaynor Gilchrist

Ranfurly

Mad gun ranting