Top five comments of the week

Euthanasia, poverty problems and expensive beachside rentals have sparked a flurry of feedback this week. Here's a snippet of our top five.

5. Graham Clark is keen on giving Bay of Plenty Times columnist Garth George a lesson in dictionary use following his piece on the euthanasia debate.

Columnist Garth George.

"I have pointed out on a number of occasions why I believe Garth George is a hypocrit - and I would like to point out once again exactly why I believe this is true.
Garth says euthanasia is another word for murder - (he even goes so far as to quote the dictionary meaning) and therefore it should not be allowed
Why not take this example further and look at a few other words that fall into the same category yet Mr George has no problem in inflicting on others.
Lets start with the word TAX: a compulsory contribution to state revenue. Money taken without permission and under duress.
COMPULSORY: Something that must be done under threat of force or coercion.
FORCE: coercion or compulsion, especially with the use or threat of violence.
A few of the words Garth likes to use - What is more, he has NO problem invoking these upon others.
Garth does not believe that others have rights - You must be forced to do things that HE believes are acceptable.
You may not make your own decisions - they must be made by others more intelligent and moral than you, and followed (under threat of force / fines).
Your life & body are not yours (according to Garth) they are the property of the state."

4. When it comes to the local property market, Brent Winchester questions why beachside rentals are becoming so expensive to live in.

"First you have to find a property to move into to worry about the costs. the rental market is ridiculous in Mount Maunganui/Papamoa. The way the market is with also the higher deposit required for purchasing a property the government have the low to middle income earners exactly were they want them. Feeding the rich. Go NZ."

3. ClementineC spoke up for those less fortunate in response to a letter sent in by reader Mary Brooks questioning the poverty debate.

In the letter Ms Brooks states:

"There is no accountability as to what benefits are spent on ... There should be a close inquiry as to where the money goes, how much is spent on food for the children and on how much is spent on alcohol and cigarettes."

To which, ClementineC responded:

"I seriously question whether Mary Brooks actually knows, for real, what 'being poor' is like. How hard it is to try and get out of a hole, like true poverty, without a LOT of help. How hurtful it is when every year Christmas comes around and there is no money for a small gift, or for materials to make them with. How humiliating it is for children to be judged by other children in school because they 'have not': the clothes, the gadgets, the food, the home for friends (they don't have) to come to. To have to work hard for a small income, or somehow survive on a handout, and not have the energy to spend time with those same children, who really need their moms and dads. That small income families do not have money for vege gardens because vege gardens are expensive to set up and maintain. And that, from day to day to day, poverty is overwhelming, hopeless, demoralizing, depressing and WINZ is humiliating, depressing, demoralizing and downright nasty most of the time.
It is on every level hurtful and destructive, to be poor. And not know how to ever make it any better.

"And what a racist comment at the end: Maori should help their own. Maori are New Zealanders. Period. I weep."

2. But others agreed with the letter, such as KiwiGirl.

"Mary Brooks is spot on with her comments. Particularly about Christmas not being about eating and presents. It is about family. I get very cross when I see entire families turning up for a free meal and a present at the City Mission etc on Christmas Day. That was never intended for groups - it was intended for people who were on their own. I shall never forget one Christmas a lady being interviewed at one of these Christmas lunches and proudly proclaiming there were 14 of her whanau there. Nope. There are too many people just quite prepared to take, take, take. The genuine cases are being pushed into the background. It's got to stop."

1. Perhaps ebos puts it best.

"why does everyone expect "the government" to fix community problems like poverty. It is time we all woke up to the fact that community problems have to be solved by "the community". In other words people volunteering there TIME as well as money to the many local organisations working hard to help people. There are already lots of hard working volunteers out there in every town but people have to get off their butts and help themselves and stop bleating for more handouts from the government."

What do you think? You can have your say by commenting below.