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:
Softening dope laws not end of world
Re Softer drug laws 'not helpful' (News, May 9).
Remember the Homosexual Law Reform Bill? Passed in the 1980s. Remember the fear-mongerers predicting society's immediate decay? And what happened? Nothing of the kind. Life as usual for those ones so afraid.
Same goes with the "legalise marijuana" issue.
So many smoke it now - taken sensibly, it has its place as a recreational drug as much as alcohol - enjoying a high mankind has enjoyed in a vast variety of forms throughout the ages.
Some abuse it, as some abuse alcohol. So it always will be. But to soften the law will not increase the problems, it just shifts the fight to a different arena - away from the courts, where smokers are made criminals, and into private homes, where the real problems lie. As so it should be.
Wherever there is abuse of a substance there is a lost soul. Just don't blame the substance and penalise peaceful dope-smokers for those who can't handle life alone.
People are afraid of what they don't understand. It doesn't make them right.
Jan Morrison, Welcome Bay
Stay safe, stay left
As a large proportion of deaths on New Zealand roads are head-on collisions, it makes sense to keep as far away from the centre line as possible.
As long as the driver has a clear view in front and has a safe braking distance, then keeping left must be the safest option.
Gordon Mock, Lower Kaimai
Winston's myths
It seems that Winston Peters has been captured by one of the three major modern myths (MMM) with his new policy.
MMM#1 Eating fat makes you fat.
MMM#2 Increased Government spending on health makes the population more healthy.
MMM#3 Increasing the number of Tertiary Graduates is beneficial to the country.
Winston is an intelligent, knowledgeable man, yet he still seems overly focused on vulnerable voters. One wonders what's on his mind when he can say "our country is not short on money", at the same time as taxpayers are borrowing $380 million a week to stay afloat.
There is much international quality research to support the MMM I mention. Don't believe me, do your own research. Compare the number of graduates in various countries compared to their GDP (measure of companies growth) over time.
With regard to graduates leaving NZ. Sorry Winston, but they have been doing that since long before student loans were provided to all and sundry to go to university.
It's the great OE that Kiwis subscribe to.
Roy Edwards, Tauranga
Freedom campers
Re Beach bludgers (News, May 10).
I just want to clarify that the freedom campers you are talking about are in fact in small non-self contained vans with no facilities.
I live fulltime in my motorhome which is fully self contained with own shower and toilet and cooking facilities.
Please when referring to freedom campers please can you make it clear to the public that it is not self contained vehicles that you are complaining about.
Most of us self contained people are careful where we park and are part of the NZMCA association which has strict rules that regulate our members.
Hilda Foster, Tauranga
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