Public increasingly interested, informed on euthanasia

John Burn (Nov 15) fears that the End of Life Choice referendum will be a disaster.

The EOLC referendum was only agreed to by its promoter in order to ensure sufficient votes to push the bill through its third reading so, yes, politicking in a sense but this is an issue which has been progressively emerging over the last 20 years.

Two select committees over four years, massive numbers of submissions to both those and a rigorous, lengthy parliamentary debate conducted in a remarkably civilised manner.

The public is becoming increasingly interested and informed on the issue and, after all, the manner of our dying affects us, every one, deeply and directly. There are huge differences between this referendum and those of Brexit or the New Zealand flag, which were both promoted in cynical haste with ulterior motives.

I believe that the NZ public will be able to vote sensibly. We can expect a prolonged debate over the next 12 months - may it be notable for factual input from both sides which will mark it out as very different from the sad saga of Brexit.

The media can promote this by investigative and objective comment on what is being put forward so as to guide the public.

Lindy Harward, Woolston Low opinion

Mr John Burn classifies himself as uninformed biased and unthinking he may have this low opinion of himself but the New Zealand people are better than that. He seems to have more trust in our parliamentarians that just voted according to their party lines (like the Greens) and to have an opinion based upon one’s religion is a choice that guides one’s decisions. What guidelines do our parliamentarians have? What moral basis have they got that the New Zealand voters in a referendum don’t have?

Wilhelmus J Noordanus, Avonhead

Not democratric

Well said, John Burn (Nov 15). The Brexit referendum sadly has made a once proud nation a comedic shambles. Referendums, theoretically good, run counter to other democratic principles, ie certainty and progress. Democracy, imperfect though it is, must take its course. Euthanasia legislation, when it emerges, will still contain “the devil in the detail” of implementation.

Wayne Wilson, Christchurch Central

Weak and vulnerable

The Government is supposed to protect the weak and the vulnerable.

This Goverment seems not to. Euthanasia allows someone to kill off the elderly and ill.

Who gets to make the choice? Emotional politicians?

The public in a media marketplace of half-truths and misinformation? Life and death have become a lottery (the results of a referendum) and the value of life is demeaned.

Life is too precious for this culture of death we are unleashing on society.

John Beach, Sydenham