Letters: Gangs, inequality, tax, China, and Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo / AP

Gangs get away with it too long
How much longer do we have to accept increasing gang numbers and their violent, intimidating behaviour?
The government and the courts have gone soft on dealing with them. Australia grasps every opportunity to clean up their society with total intolerance of gangs. They also immediately expel every NZ-born offender.
The episode some days ago on the main highway near Karāpiro, with 60 motorbikes dangerously disrupting traffic, and allegedly being responsible for a physical assault, with the victim suffering critical injuries, is an outrage.
Similarly, for those in a state housing area being forced to live with the violent conduct of gang-related neighbours is unacceptable. Taking a softer line with these drug-driven gangsters is an approach that is not working. Lengthy jail terms, with no parole, is the only answer. To act both as a deterrent and to remove these villains from society.
Dr Hylton Le Grice, Remuera.

Tackle inequality
For any Government, one of the greatest challenges is how to reduce inequality and provide equal opportunities for everyone to prosper and do well in life. Unfortunately, the rich are getting richer and the poor getting poorer. Those who own property have got rich off the huge rise in property values. Those who don't, struggle to pay increasingly high rents, then to pay the bills. Recent hikes in the price of groceries and petrol just exacerbate the problem for those on lower incomes.
Glen Stanton, Mairangi Bay.

Low-income help
Various political parties in New Zealand are promising to reduce taxation to counter the worldwide increase in living expenses. Surely the easiest way to do this, and help those most in need, would be to establish a threshold of somewhere between $10,000 and $20,000 and not charge any income tax on income earned up to those amounts. That would help low-income people with food, clothing and shelter costs. And the lost income tax could be made up by increasing the tax on high-income earners.
David Mairs, Glendowie.

Tax break needed
Your correspondent Helen Acraman (NZ Herald, March 11) may be surprised that quite a few progressive countries do not charge income tax on the first percentage of income. It's called a Personal Tax Allowance. In Australia, there is no tax on the first A$19,200 of income. In Singapore it's $20,000, the UK has £12,570, France €10,085 and Germany €9,984. India, Malaysia, Sweden, Mexico and Egypt also have a personal allowance for taxpayers. The working poor in Aotearoa are not free riders, but victims of a low-wage economy. An allowance enabling them to keep more of the money they earn would benefit our economy through more GST and personal spending. There may be free riders, but not amongst those who work day and night to carry out a lot of the basic employment duties for little reward.
Larry Tompkins, Waiuku.

China stays silent
Russian atrocities in Ukraine are heart-wrenching yet Chinese President Xi Jinping, the only global leader able to sway Vladimir Putin and end the carnage, remains largely silent. China has watched in awe as the free world has coalesced with lightning speed to cripple Russia's economy, ravage its citizens' savings and Putin's ability to fund his war machine. China's naked ambition to annex Taiwan will be reviewed, mindful a similar response would devastate its trade. China's credibility is in question as its media propaganda misinformation aligns with that of the Kremlin to report a distorted version of events. Instead, they must voice concerns about Putin's actions.
P.J.Edmondson, Tauranga.

Putin has to go
It's not often I agree with John Roughan but I believe his assessment of Putin is correct. I've been to Russia and studied their literature and I find Roughan reveals an accurate understanding of the Russian character in this piece. He questions why Russians have put up with this tyrant. He cites the great Russian novelists and classical composers. He sums up by noting that the overriding theme of these novelists and composers is suffering and struggle. Russia is a vast country that has not been able to move beyond the dominating rule of the Czars. It has never really been accepted by Europe. Roughan, in trying to understand the Russian character, is really implying the question, will the Russians get rid of him? We know about the West-East power struggle for global domination. We are aware of the role of Nato in this, and the hypocrisy of the US when it has done the same to Nicaragua, Iraq etc — bombing civilians, orchestrating regime change and so on. But this cannot be a case of "whataboutism" when women and children are dying right now and a wider European war threatens, and a global war. If Putin was not a gangster he would have gone onto the world stage and argued convincingly for disarmament. We are too far down the track of ecological catastrophe to tolerate imperial violence like this. Most Western democracies are beginning to see this. This is probably the greatest test for the Russian people in their history. They must overthrow this reckless tyrant as soon as possible.
Paul Judge, Hamilton.

Ukraine in peril
Much as I would like to agree with John Roughan for once, he is unrealistic saying Russia cannot win in Ukraine. They were on the way to victory the minute the US and UK, plus Nato, said they would not come to Ukraine's defence. Putin has lied, stolen huge sums from Russia for himself and his friends, carried out war crimes, and I feel any psychologist would label him a psychopath. He won't listen to Europeans asking him to stop. Please world, save Ukraine.
Paul Hicks, Warkworth.

Pragmatic leadership
The current crisis is but a warning of what likely will periodically occur in the next few decades while the world is dependent on oil and gas. However, I have an idea for the Prime Minister. Put ideology aside, be pragmatic, and grant permits for oil and gas exploration in our waters. Should there be a success, the benefit to the economy would be enormous. Even if not, there would be a vast number of new jobs.
Rob Peterken, Bucklands Beach.

Short & sweet

On Ukraine
Instead of theatrics, perhaps Mr Zelenskyy should stop sacrificing his people. Urging civilians to fight a professional army in an unwinnable war is surely a war crime not patriotism. Bill Gibson, Kawerau.

On living costs
It will be interesting to see if the skyrocketing petrol prices will get New Zealanders out of their large gas-guzzling SUVs. Jock Mac Vicar, Hauraki.

The only people that will benefit soon will be global companies exporting fresh food to NZ, which we will have to pay market rate on just to survive. Glenn Forsyth, Taupō.

On Luxon
This tax cut announcement is not about votes — Luxon is inviting the rich to donate generously. They will be investing in a 2023 National/Act victory, that will pay dividends. Arch Thomson, Mt Wellington.

On rugby
Leading up to the Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks are at a huge disadvantage, compared to the Six Nations who each year compete at the highest international level. Larry Mitchell, Rothesay Bay.

On trains
Now would be a good time for those commuting from Hamilton to Auckland to catch the train. Rural areas do not have this option. Use it or lose it! Marie Kaire, Whangārei.

The Premium Debate

'PM's response to issues wearing thin'

When she says she refutes the premise of the question, what she's really saying is she doesn't understand the question, let alone having a clue to the answer. Alan C.

Some perspective is needed here. Compared to most in the OECD we've weathered the economic storm (thus far) better than most, in pandemic deaths and collapse of the health system. Rob K.

My biggest fear is how much more money the Labour Government will waste before they get the heave-ho in the next election. Bruce M.

All they needed to really do was fix housing — but they couldn't even do that. There has been so much wastage and so many costs imposed on business. Michael R.

There is a cost of living crisis but what can the Government do? The drivers are in the hands of the commercial sectors and all efforts the State can make, like subsidies, are snapped up by the "haves". This only exacerbates the problem. Barbara F.

The inflationary beast has the potential to take down a government, and make life very difficult for low to medium-income households and businesses. Satish K.

Give her a break, she's been leader through multiple crises. Frank P.

All leaders go through crises — remember the GFC, Christchurch earthquakes? She is accountable and needs to be questioned. Graeme W.

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