Vital part of learning is missing

Given that family social and education systems shape the individual, where is society’s role in the mental health issues on the increase? We have a school system that rewards a narrow band of intelligence and we have waves of people who don’t fall into that band and are dismissed and put aside, because they don’t measure up, fostering low-self esteem, low selfacceptance and too often funnelled into a life of low-paid work and the subsequent social and emotional problems that result.

Through evidence-based research we now know we can train the brain to override low self-esteem and cultivate selfacceptance, but we need that to be reflected in the society. Loss of values, purpose and meaning lead to aimlessness and often depression. Why does no one in a position of influence recognise the need for social-emotional training to be a core subject at school?

Knowledge is power. Understanding the basic functions of the brain and that thoughts and feelings are not necessarily real or true goes a long way towards selfawareness and self-regulation.

In a society fuelled by greed and materialism, where is the mystery that many people whose values are based on love, kindness and being simply accepted as they are are confused and search for a way out with drugs, suicide and other anti-social ways of coping? How hard can it be to provide the services needed to save lives that have been compromised by the very systems that have shaped them? Rita Riccola, Albany. LIFELINE: 0800 543 354 or text HELP

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Loss of family

The Herald headline, “Government urged to act on mental health” and the ensuing feature highlight the concerns of mental health, alcohol and drug addiction, suicide. In seeking answers, is the destruction of the traditional family linked to these social issues? So many children today are cared for by a single parent, extended family or by the multitude of foster caregivers now required as the conventional family unravels. Successive Governments have much to explain. Non family-friendly policies enacted and aligned with supportive remuneration have been largely instrumental in the severance of relationships and the consequent impact on family life, so often detrimental to the wellbeing of offspring.

P.J.Edmondson, Tauranga.

Lessons from Singapore

On a budget smaller than ours and only half a million more people Singapore has crime- and litter-free streets, ultra-modern, flowing traffic systems, 2 per cent unemployment, 90 per cent of its population owning their home, the best education system in the world with a health and welfare system not far behind. Two-thirds of its population don’t have to pay tax at all and it has 7 per cent GST.

You realise just how inefficient and clumsy our bureaucratic MMP system of Government is. New Zealand needs to take a close look at how the Singapore Government operates because it does appear there is a better system of running a country, making the best use of what both democracy and communism offer. Singapore’s model would be a good starting point. Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay.

School reforms

It is interesting to see, in response to proposed school reforms, the open minds on display with the knee-jerk condemnation and name-calling by principals of some of our “leading” schools. Oh what open, inquiring minds we must be training in the young people in their care. Kevin Vaughan, Titirangi.

Question time

Has anyone else noticed that whenever there are awkward questions coming up in question time Ardern finds herself somewhere else, leaving the other leader of the coalition to front up instead.

A J Petersen, Kawerau.

Consumerism

Friday’s opinion piece by Simon Wilson has inspired me to suggest a definition for consumerism: when enough is never enough. Mark Vincent, Paparoa.

America’s Cup

While I am concerned our Government is spending $136.5 million on the America’s Cup, I am more concerned the Auckland Council is pouring a further $221m into it.

L H Cleverly, Mt Roskill.

Leighton Smith

In the Weekend Herald Review Leighton Smith excused the “failings” of Donald Trump on the grounds that “the Kennedys were worse when it comes to women”.

This attempt at justification misses the point. Trump was not voted an award for moral rectitude or marital fidelity.

He has been given an opportunity and a responsibility, to make the US a better place for all Americans, and make the world a better place for all human beings, for our times and for the times to come.

Arch Thomson, Mt Wellington.

Crimes against tourists

With the tourist season kicking in, it is about time police and judges came down heavily on any crime perpetrated against a tourist. These crimes, theft, assault and much worse, are not just against victims, they are against NZ Inc. Against every one of us. At times I am ashamed to be a true blue Kiwi. John Little, Milford.

Tenant responsibility

I would like to express my appreciation to Hon Phil Twyford for having to pay $500 to allow someone to live in my rental property. The last tenant had a pet dog that left stains on the carpet in every room and the walls so badly marked we had to redecorate. The tenant was apparently not responsible for any of the damage.

Ted Joyce, Papamoa.

Tip Top

A suggestion for Fonterra: Why not make Tip Top a limited liability company and float its shares on the NZ Stock Exchange?

Not only might this keep its ownership in NZ but it would become an incentive for many Kiwis, and maybe young ones at that, to buy shares in the company and so explore the sharemarket as a place in which to invest, rather than the property market. I would envisage the likes of KiwiSaver being interested.

Let’s keep ownership of this truly iconic part of our heritage in New Zealand.

Adrian Muller, Papamoa Beach.

Cup funding

Would the Herald ask Phil Goff if all the money being spent by ratepayers on the America’s Cup defence is going to give the Auckland ratepayers a rebate on our rates.

The city will get $100m profit from the Cup. This should be shared out amongst all ratepayers, as we are providing half of the money, and taxpayers a further $120m-plus to stage this rich man’s sport. Emirates Team New Zealand and Mr Dalton are never backward in expecting taxpayers and ratepayers to fund their campaign. John Laing, Drury.

Fossil fuels

There are two approaches to reducing use of fossil fuels: the carrot and stick. Subsidies on electric vehicles and (electrified) public transport, and a tax on carbon. To be widely accepted and fair, a carbon tax must be neutral, the money returned to people equally. The heavy users pay low users and everyone is rewarded for using less.

Climate deniers may claim the riots in Paris show David Attenborough is wrong: people don’t want to pay more now to leave a better world behind them. Leaving aside the doubt that anarchists joining a peaceful protest reflect the majority view, the outcome of this experiment — changing the atmosphere — is sealed by the law of physics, not the foolishness of man. Dennis N. Horne, Howick.

Assisted dying

Melissa Harding (Dec 7) accuses “euthanasia advocates” of having “little respect for doctors” and then uses pejorative phrases like “euthanasia advocates expect them to carry out these killings”. Advocates for medically assisted dying have the deepest respect for the medical profession. In fact, many thousands are doctors themselves. We know from repeated scientific polls that some of the public (about 75 per cent) would like the chance to die on their own terms where intolerable suffering is unrelieved and death is approaching, and some doctors do not want to take part.

They are not obliged to take part under the intended law. With regard to the death certificate details — the basic illness will always be recorded. It is arguable whether the “assistance to die” from the doctor should also be recorded. It is possible that during the parliamentary discussions that they may require both to be recorded, depending on how significant they believe the privacy issue is.

Dr Jack Havill, Hamilton.

Simon Bridges

Simon Bridges showed compassion, diplomacy and leadership in his handling of the Jami-Lee Ross saga, which were most commendable attributes. During that troubling time it was obvious ructions endeavoured to seize their stand for prominence; privacy was totally overlooked and sadly the somewhat obvious leader contenders continue to undermine their leader and devalue their own standing. Yvonne Sutton, Northcote.

Patient autonomy

I believe New Zealanders deeply respect doctors (Doctors’ right to choose, 7/12), but the days of “doctor knows best” are over. Patient autonomy is here to stay.

Doctors now consider themselves as health partners, not health masters in the doctor/patient relationship. In that respect they are like other service providers.

Surveys show 37 per cent of doctors and 67 per cent of nurses want assisted dying legalised. They would not consider themselves to be “killing” patients, but as “not having to abandon” requesting patients for whom they can do no more.

Neither would they have to “lie” about what is written on the death certificate. The practice of recording the underlying disease as the cause of death rather than the method of dying is well established.

Currently, when a patient asks for his/ her life support to be switched off or when palliative care recommends terminal sedation which may result in a death, the cause of death provided is the underlying disease. Ann David, Waikanae.