The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Below you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.
TODAY'S LETTERS:
Our system encourages sense of entitlement
I am sickened and disgusted to read of a third-time benefit thief receiving home detention for a few months when she faced a penalty of up to seven years' prison (News, May 12).
We can no doubt expect to see her back in court in future for a further repeat offence as the weak justice system in this country is teaching this scumbag that she can continue stealing off hard-working taxpayers. The size of the thefts has increased each time so we can look forward to theft in the hundreds of thousands in the future.
As the justice system is not capable of penalising her the Ministry of Social Development has to prevent her from getting any further benefits. We should not, however, hold our breath waiting for that to happen.
This is yet another example of lack of consequence for actions. Unless the government is going to tackle the level of benefit fraud we will continue to see government spending continue out of control. The actions of this woman also unfairly tarnish those genuine needy who rely on the welfare system. The actions of this criminal, however, represent the attitude of a large section of our population who hold a sense of entitlement encouraged by our welfare state system.
Glenn Williams, Te Puke
Benefit cheat
I read with interest your article on how a benefit cheat can live off the taxpayer, and see as shortsighted a penal system where criminals are cosseted with only their liberty curtailed - they live a life of Riley compared to our frugal existence.
Isn't it about time for criminals to be put out to work in the community, in distinctive outfits as befitting their chosen occupations. It is no use fining them - they never pay the fines anyway - and I object to having to pay for their keep from my pension.
Taxes and prisons are proliferating by the years, surely it is time for a more down-to-earth solution to curb this runaway financial landslide and bring back some sanity to our law and order.
If these cheats have to work to pay back this money, they might just rethink their options. I don't mind being taxed for them to be supervised, that would give employment to needy citizens.
B Guernier, Tauranga
Paying it back?
Dole bludgers NZ-wide now have a new pin-up girl.
Leanne Hardy has spent a great deal of her life stealing from me and you because she couldn't be bothered working. She denied our children time with their parents while they had to work and earn enough money to keep themselves alive and pay for her to sit at home. Our children were deprived of things because a portion of the wages we earned were taken from us (under threat of fines or jail) so that the likes of Leanne could do nothing and get paid for it.
How do these people live with themselves knowing this? The answer is they are not taught otherwise. They are brought up to believe they have a right to this money, and not taught where it comes from.
The irony is Leanne is back on a benefit (God knows how or why) and the courts, or whoever it was, have the temerity to say she is paying the stolen money back with money she has not had to earn! Stolen from its rightful owners (the taxpayer/worker) and given - unearned - to Leanne - so that she can give some of it back! All those who condone such a system should qualify for a sickness benefit. What a farce.
Graham Clark, Lower Kaimai
Make it legal
I disagree with your comments to continue a "drug war". People who choose to consume cannabis don't do it to be "criminals", the law is what makes them criminals. Prohibition creates a black market for criminals. If it was decriminalised, people could grow their own for personal use.
Gangs would lose income and police/court resources would save a large amount of taxpayer money. A smoker is of no more harm to society than those who choose to drink alcohol. Decriminalising also removes the link to P through gang association.
I won't list the medical benefits cannabis has over alcohol/cigarettes, as this is so well documented to the point the FDA has created its own synthetic version, so it can sell us a plant at our weakest moments to make a profit.
The US is decriminalising in many states, and this is an important topic, so why is our Government ignoring its own Law Commission recommendations, and its people?
So what is best for New Zealand? To continue this pointless, expensive exercise. Or to educate all about the dangers of alcohol/drug use in a truthful manner. I know my children will be will educated, I believe this is the way forward.
Paul Adams, Hamilton
Safe house
Re: Million-dollar quake-proof house.
They do realise now they have advertised their house and whereabouts so that when a natural disaster does strike in Tauranga they WILL have people come a-knocking on their door.
Janice Cameron, Tauranga
Lineage denied
I laughed out loud when I read the letter from Charles Purcell about Hone Harawira and his real name of Hadfield. I have often wondered why he does not acknowledge the significant part of his ancestry from Britain. Even his website only gives his Maori lineage.
Another family line I wish to mention is to add to my letter printed last Wednesday - a rather salient point was abridged - I wrote about the Royal Family and how they are closer to us than we realise.
I mentioned that I have an ancestor in common with Prince William which makes me sound either very grand or very deluded. To salve my pride I hope the editor will let me add that my 16th-century ancestor of the Queen Mother was from the line of her father's mother, and it was a line of gentry who were a class below the nobility.
Robin Bishop, Pyes Pa
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