Letters: Heading towards an implosion and the 'land of milk and honey'

Don Brash was the best Prime Minister we never had. Like Al Gore and John McCain - sidelined by fate, says Dennis Horne of Howick. Photo / George Novak

Heading towards an implosion

Shane Te Pou ("National Party chaos can't be fixed by naked ambition", HoS, May 2) wants a PM "in touch with modern NZ ... serious about housing, poverty, climate change, who embraces diversity and is socially liberal ... another Key". Key wasn't serious about any of those things; denial and delusion was the magic carpet to the throne room.

Don Brash was the best Prime Minister we never had. Like Al Gore and John McCain — sidelined by fate. And just as America is suffering in the wake of Baby Bush and Tantrum Trump, we too are paying for the indulgence of democracy.

Too many individuals are making demands on the state it cannot meet. Good people want a decent and fair society, but without a social contract we are heading towards an implosion. The pandemic and global warming demonstrate Homo sapiens will not win a war with nature — or ourselves.
Dennis N Horne, Howick

MSD taking the mickey

In response to Kerre McIvor's column ("Has MSD betrayed our trust?" HoS, May 2), is the Ministry of Social Development taking the mickey out of the taxpayer?
Is it time to air MSD's dirty laundry in public?

Not only do MSD clients (some are gang members) get a warm unit, spa pool, free electricity, Sky TV, room cleaned, they, wait for it ... get their dirty laundry done too!

What incentive is there to look for a job? Or a roof over your head?

Some clients have reportedly been staying in motels for over a year, which is a breach of the local District Plan.

A motelier admitted at a public meeting they get paid up to $2000 per week, per room, supposedly to cover the high-risk clients doing any damage. Minister Carmel Sepuloni recently admitted they pay motel owners for damages too.

No wonder New Zealand has the reputation of being the "land of milk and honey" — a promised land of natural abundance and endless opportunity. However it is time for some to stop milking the system and the Government to stop milking the taxpayer.
Tracey McLeod, Lake Tarawera