Post by Kiwi Frontline on Mar 19, 2019 6:53:44 GMT 12
NZ Herald 19/3/19
DEBATE ALLOWED
In the wake of the appalling attacks in Christchurch, there has been much said about the influence hate had on the attack. In light of this, it is poignant that we remember that hate is not defined by skin colour but by ideologies that teach intolerance, hatred and divisiveness. Debating the merits of ideas and opinions is an essential element in pushing back on hateful ideologies.
Calling for the death of entire groups of people is straight out hatred and should be banned. Honest and factual criticism of any ideology however should not be confused as hate speech. All ideology demands that it be debated. The very word ideology implies an idea and all ideas should be open to debate.
KENT MILLAR, Blockhouse Bay.
Northland Age 19/3/19
CAPITAL GAINS TAX
Over recent weeks, we have seen the shambolic release of the Capital Gains Tax Working Group Report and the criticism has been vociferous. The opponents were forewarned are well informed, literate and taking no prisoners. Labour’s response and defence was pitiful and, as one commentator recently observed, they look like rabid socialists with idealist ideological Marxist mindsets and he isn’t far wrong with that assessment.
Let’s start with CGT chairman Cullen (British born), whose qualifications are in history not accounting, not real-world economics, not taxation yet he was sometime Finance Minister under the 2002/2008 Labour Government, responsible for the NZ Rail repurchase (fail), Foreign Investment regime and Transfer pricing (fail), NZ Superannuation Fund (Cullen Fund) a Government-funded high-risk taxpayer junket. Then, on his retirement, Cullen was appointed to the inane Constitution Advisory Panel (fail), Chairman of NZ Post (fail) and more recently chairman of CGT (dead on arrival) fiasco.
In the meantime he accepted a knighthood, a title which Labour had in 2000 removed from NZ honours list under his watch and that is spineless. He has now been retained post-CGT report as consultant to push the Labour cause, yet didn’t have the courage for electoral reasons to do so during his parliamentary tenure. This troughing is hardly the sign of impartiality dispassionateness or objectiveness — the transparency is zilch!! Additionally it shows the current Labour bunch don’t have the nous to address the issues. Anyway Mr Cullen’s fiscal track record is dubious at best.
Possibly a limited form of Capital Gains Tax may have merit, extend the Brightline test (but we really already have speculation tax for this), look at reintroducing land tax at say 2 per cent or 3 per cent, for farms, orchards, lifestyle blocks ( including Maori land), commercial buildings and rentals, fully tax profits on short-term share sales, ring-fence losses on rental properties, tax all Charitable Trusts (including Maori Trusts) and revisit stamp duty which may get most Kiwis onside. Plain English stuff, not mealy-mouthed claptrap and, if acceptable, implement any changes gradually. Making incomes under $20,000 tax free and ensuring top tax rate does not kick in until $70,000 are other measures that might help.
As an aside, I am sick of ex-politicians people like Cullen, Palmer, Bolger, Shipley and co making hay in public life at taxpayers’ expense after retiring from politics.
ROB PATERSON, Mt Maunganui
RACIST RULE
Recently, when acknowledging acceptance of a contract with Healthcare NZ, I was required to agree to a clause that I must to the Maori Health Strategy (2002) and apply the principles accordingly".
On researching the MHS, I found that it was an official agreement signed by lion. Annette King, Minister of Health and Hon. Tatiana 'curia, Associate Minister of Health in November 2002. I was disturbed by the fourth paragraph which stated the need for supporting the health status of whanau by "addressing systemic bafflers including institutional racism". Seventeen years on, this term appears regularly in the media from ethnic sources but without a shred of supportive evidence of the claim.
I then read an article in the Herald eulogising Naida Glavis claiming ethnic privileges. She acknowledges that in hospitals whanau are already given special grieving rooms and designated corridors for the passage of deceased.
The Kaipara Ward at Tauranga Hospital is available exclusively for Maori. Is this not institutional racism? If the ward was exclusively for Pakeha it would be. But that would be considered apart held.
When questioned about Maori crowding out the waiting rooms and stairwells outside operating theatres she replied "Maori aren't responsible for the
size of your waiting rooms and they are entering into a specialist area of karakia to give support to ensure the knife doesn't slip ... " A slur on the expertise of our surgeons. Try using a tohunga who wasn't even allowed to feed himself.
Ms Glavis, hospital space and facilities are at a premium. Those of the other 230 national ethnicities have equal concerns for the health and well-being of their relations awaiting medical procedures but are not so impractical, self-serving and insensitive as you to others' needs. None of them has been given special medical or health privileges.
Many of the health problems of Maori are the result of their chosen life styles and not the result of colonial oppression or institutional racism.
The cultural changes that you have claimed and that the Herald unreservedly published have been solely for the benefit of Maori and not all New Zealanders who pay for them. Your phrase "your waiting rooms" indicates an occlusive mindset. Is that because WE pay for them and YOU should have unlimited access to them?
BRYAN JOHNSON, Omokoroa
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers
DEBATE ALLOWED
In the wake of the appalling attacks in Christchurch, there has been much said about the influence hate had on the attack. In light of this, it is poignant that we remember that hate is not defined by skin colour but by ideologies that teach intolerance, hatred and divisiveness. Debating the merits of ideas and opinions is an essential element in pushing back on hateful ideologies.
Calling for the death of entire groups of people is straight out hatred and should be banned. Honest and factual criticism of any ideology however should not be confused as hate speech. All ideology demands that it be debated. The very word ideology implies an idea and all ideas should be open to debate.
KENT MILLAR, Blockhouse Bay.
Northland Age 19/3/19
CAPITAL GAINS TAX
Over recent weeks, we have seen the shambolic release of the Capital Gains Tax Working Group Report and the criticism has been vociferous. The opponents were forewarned are well informed, literate and taking no prisoners. Labour’s response and defence was pitiful and, as one commentator recently observed, they look like rabid socialists with idealist ideological Marxist mindsets and he isn’t far wrong with that assessment.
Let’s start with CGT chairman Cullen (British born), whose qualifications are in history not accounting, not real-world economics, not taxation yet he was sometime Finance Minister under the 2002/2008 Labour Government, responsible for the NZ Rail repurchase (fail), Foreign Investment regime and Transfer pricing (fail), NZ Superannuation Fund (Cullen Fund) a Government-funded high-risk taxpayer junket. Then, on his retirement, Cullen was appointed to the inane Constitution Advisory Panel (fail), Chairman of NZ Post (fail) and more recently chairman of CGT (dead on arrival) fiasco.
In the meantime he accepted a knighthood, a title which Labour had in 2000 removed from NZ honours list under his watch and that is spineless. He has now been retained post-CGT report as consultant to push the Labour cause, yet didn’t have the courage for electoral reasons to do so during his parliamentary tenure. This troughing is hardly the sign of impartiality dispassionateness or objectiveness — the transparency is zilch!! Additionally it shows the current Labour bunch don’t have the nous to address the issues. Anyway Mr Cullen’s fiscal track record is dubious at best.
Possibly a limited form of Capital Gains Tax may have merit, extend the Brightline test (but we really already have speculation tax for this), look at reintroducing land tax at say 2 per cent or 3 per cent, for farms, orchards, lifestyle blocks ( including Maori land), commercial buildings and rentals, fully tax profits on short-term share sales, ring-fence losses on rental properties, tax all Charitable Trusts (including Maori Trusts) and revisit stamp duty which may get most Kiwis onside. Plain English stuff, not mealy-mouthed claptrap and, if acceptable, implement any changes gradually. Making incomes under $20,000 tax free and ensuring top tax rate does not kick in until $70,000 are other measures that might help.
As an aside, I am sick of ex-politicians people like Cullen, Palmer, Bolger, Shipley and co making hay in public life at taxpayers’ expense after retiring from politics.
ROB PATERSON, Mt Maunganui
RACIST RULE
Recently, when acknowledging acceptance of a contract with Healthcare NZ, I was required to agree to a clause that I must to the Maori Health Strategy (2002) and apply the principles accordingly".
On researching the MHS, I found that it was an official agreement signed by lion. Annette King, Minister of Health and Hon. Tatiana 'curia, Associate Minister of Health in November 2002. I was disturbed by the fourth paragraph which stated the need for supporting the health status of whanau by "addressing systemic bafflers including institutional racism". Seventeen years on, this term appears regularly in the media from ethnic sources but without a shred of supportive evidence of the claim.
I then read an article in the Herald eulogising Naida Glavis claiming ethnic privileges. She acknowledges that in hospitals whanau are already given special grieving rooms and designated corridors for the passage of deceased.
The Kaipara Ward at Tauranga Hospital is available exclusively for Maori. Is this not institutional racism? If the ward was exclusively for Pakeha it would be. But that would be considered apart held.
When questioned about Maori crowding out the waiting rooms and stairwells outside operating theatres she replied "Maori aren't responsible for the
size of your waiting rooms and they are entering into a specialist area of karakia to give support to ensure the knife doesn't slip ... " A slur on the expertise of our surgeons. Try using a tohunga who wasn't even allowed to feed himself.
Ms Glavis, hospital space and facilities are at a premium. Those of the other 230 national ethnicities have equal concerns for the health and well-being of their relations awaiting medical procedures but are not so impractical, self-serving and insensitive as you to others' needs. None of them has been given special medical or health privileges.
Many of the health problems of Maori are the result of their chosen life styles and not the result of colonial oppression or institutional racism.
The cultural changes that you have claimed and that the Herald unreservedly published have been solely for the benefit of Maori and not all New Zealanders who pay for them. Your phrase "your waiting rooms" indicates an occlusive mindset. Is that because WE pay for them and YOU should have unlimited access to them?
BRYAN JOHNSON, Omokoroa
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers