Priorities and ‘vision’

FNDC’s proposed long-term plan tells us a lot about the priorities of our elected representatives.

They’ve proposed ratepayers will fund $1,053,682,073 worth of capital works over the next decade. This includes $37-plus million to extend cycleways, $35m to expand the new Kerikeri sewerage scheme further, an unspecified amount to set up another economic development unit (as a CCO, like FNHL and Northland Inc), more beings don’t know who the elect are, we are not excused the duty of preaching the gospel to everyone.

H Westfold

Miramar

Living with Covid

In response to ‘The first target’, Carl Mather’s reaction to Dawn Picken’s oped about vaccine misinformation (Letters, March 30), I don’t care if the whole thing is a giant HolyWorld Newtertrainment reality TV game show called CommRaid Covid-19 – Opportunity of a Species Time, with alarmingly ignorant, infantile, orange anti-heroes, heroine young mother super leaders, first nations and LGBGT super women (Marama Chloes) and nefarious corporatepolitical elitist baldhead villains galore, striving to either sciensible or speedial the stations of the vaccination cross in quest for the sports facilities in the largest town in each ward, a new civic centre, the stock-standard road renewals (to the tune of 47 per cent of total capital spend), a proactive programme to renew our failing water and wastewater pipes (26 per cent of capital spend).

There is also a new seawall, coastal reclamation and park in Paihia ($5.4m) and boardwalk for Mangonui ($4.99m).

What they don’t want to provide

Holy Grail of transtasman bubble, herd impunity and business as usual, throw open or repel boarders.

Carl, if it gets The Great Reset done peacefully it’s absolutely fine with me. The Peace on Earth thing’s 2000-plus years overdue for Pete’s sake.

We’d be wise now to behave as though coronavirus is permanent, Mother Nature’s perfect intervention, restricting travel vastly more than trade, and fundamentally awakening the various forms of human exchange from their anaesthetics, their “can you afford it?” mesmerism.

It’s time for pandemocracy and ethiconomics – Matike Mai Aotearoa: is pensioner housing, or any new reserves, or new recreation or community facilities outside of the three largest towns, no new roads, nor parking areas or transit hubs within any of the growing townships.

Jane Johnston Chair, Kerikeri & Surrounds and Paihia & Districts Residents’ and

Ratepayers’ associations

Constitutional Transformation and the quiet reinvendaptation of money.

“We might conceive of a different ‘kind’ of money, allotted equally to all but only current (currency) for a certain time, which cannot be stored up as capital” said Frank E Warner, Future of Man (London 1944).

Property in the soil can be replaced by a multitude of other legal forms, ensuring secure, lifelong and inheritable tenure of one’s home. Anyhow, “To speak here of property as one speaks of property in an article of use is to renounce thought.

“The world, the economy, the work of the future, despite all external similarity, will be fundamentally different . . . it will be the modest contribution of the world citizen to the maintenance and beautification of their world, to the joy and not to the torment of life . . . and the products of this truly free work will be all the greater and better for being done for an ideal.” - ibid.

And, Carl, it’s not difficult to find out about cause of death on a death certificate.

Wally Hicks

Kohukohu Difficult and dangerous

Tim Wilson (‘Term ‘hate speech’ imprecise, misleading’, March 23) points out that the definition of hate speech is difficult. He also mentions that the UK’s Article 19 says there is no universally accepted definition of the term hate speech in international law.

The problem of defining hate speech is very difficult and dangerous. While on the surface such a law would seem innocuous, to implement such a law would curtail the freedom of speech that we have so long enjoyed. If implemented we would have to self-censor ourselves whenever we spoke or wrote. It is another form of silencing the masses.

Newspapers, radio and most media would have to be extremely careful about what they wrote or said. They would be forever trying to second-guess or self-censor themselves. Frustration would then result, as it would be very difficult to say what was really intended.

Every debate has an affirmative and a negative side. There are two sides to every story. We need to hear both sides so we can make an informed decision. This is what makes a newspaper interesting to read. To get only one side of the argument would be self- serving and totally biased. If you wish to brainwash someone, then this is how to do it.

Evelyn Beatrice Hall wrote; “I disapprove of what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it”, and this should remain the right of all of us. The right of the freedom of speech. Without this freedom the media, and we the common people, would be in a situation where we would be living in a world that could not articulate a single word without feeling we had a muzzle over our mouths and a gun to our heads.

We are fast losing the freedoms we once enjoyed. Let us not lose the freedom of speech as well.

Bruce Bell

Kaitaia

Fluoride or sugar?

Dr Roger Tuck (Letters, March 25) is adamant that fluoride is the answer to tooth decay, as it “is one of the most effective public health measures of all time, and has the potential to cut the devastating amount of tooth decay seen in our children”.

Surely reducing/eliminating the quantity of sugars, both simple and complex, from our diet is a far more effective measure? Dr Tuck has seemingly passed this, rather obvious, solution by.

This would also reduce obesity, heart attacks, etc, etc.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Email editor@northlandage. co.nz to have your say. Responses may be published.