Former US President Ronald Reagan said you can't spend yourself rich any more than you can drink yourself sober. Photo / AP, File
I commend Kate MacNamara's article (Weekend Herald, July 31). One of the few honest things that Ronald Reagan said was "you can't spend yourself rich any more than you can drink yourself sober".
The proliferation of "civil" servants is a huge problem as they appear to be bulletproof and possess a sinecure.
The increase of these people results in a massive slowdown and loss of momentum for our economy, besides their direct costs of wages, etc.
The Government's proposal to stop wage increases for people earning(?) more than $100,000 each year was shouted down. The NZCTU announced that wage bargaining would continue without predetermined outcomes.
There can be nothing wrong with the Government announcing predetermined outcomes, given that it is the employer; it is not a bottomless pit that this money comes from.
Negotiating consent
Canvas magazine (Weekend Herald, July 17) did well to focus on schools as starting points in educating about relationships between the sexes. It is an essential part of the socialisation process which is the other reason why children go to school.
We do not, as a society, teach our children to negotiate sex. The result is often sexual assault and abuse.
Relationship advice is to "ask nicely" and to accept "no" as an answer. As simple as it sounds, this method eluded generations of young men. Sex just happened; one thing led to another; no discussion about contraception or protection; a belief that if there were no bruises, it wasn't forced.
In our liberal society, the sexes mix freely. Young men need to develop courage and courtesy when contemplating any form of physical contact. May I hug you? May I kiss you? Do you think we know each other well enough to have sex together?
And to accept that "no" means no. "Maybe" could mean "next week" or "only if you have a condom". We need to encourage open discussion to avoid negative behaviour which could lead at best to regret and at worst to a charge of assault.
W D Howard, Pakuranga.
Afghan helpers
The plight of the 38 Afghan civilians left behind after the departure of New Zealand forces (Weekend Herald, July 31) makes for grim reading.
Yes, we've already taken some of the Afghanis who helped our forces, but what are the reasons given by our government for leaving these 38 behind?
Major Craig Wilson is right: we have a moral responsibility to get these people out of reach of the Taliban who will behead them, and worse.
How can we possibly turn a blind eye to the fact that they now face certain death? It's morally abhorrent.
Britain and America are evacuating the thousands of civilians who helped their forces and even that beacon of international humanitarianism, Australia, is doing the same.
It seems a totally uncharacteristic and "un-New Zealand" position for this country to take. For us to be culpable, knowingly, for the deaths of these 38 friends of NZ and their families is deeply shameful.
The Government needs to change its mind, and quickly, if it is not to have the blood of these people on its hands.
Mattie Wall, Westmere.
Callous abandonment
Full marks to Herald senior journalist Kurt Bayer (Weekend Herald, July 31) for exposing the callousness of Jacinda Ardern, Kris Faafoi, and Peeni Henare in abandoning the 38 Afghan civilians who helped the New Zealand war effort in Afghanistan, including an interpreter, carpenters, electricians, mechanics, cleaners, and a female kitchen worker. These unfortunate people are now in hiding from the Taliban. If caught, a quick death will be a mercy.
When Britain and the United States are taking steps to rescue Afghan civilians who helped their war effort, our Government is sitting on its hands. It makes one ashamed to be a New Zealander.
Robert Keam, Ōtūmoetai.
Busting trusts
Breaking down trusts for tax evasion and other state functional matters (Weekend Herald, July 31) is fair and right. Why the state believes that it needs to be involved in relationships at all is beyond belief. Whenever the state gets involved in complex matters it always hurts just as many as it tries to help.
In the current situation, I need to warn my daughters to not live with a man (or woman) in her own house. Because she will be gifting it to him. How is that fair or right?
Society commentators need to recognise that the continued victimhood mentality is only hurting relationships.
The state needs to stay out of relationships altogether. This is not the 1800s or post-WWII. Women are more likely to graduate university, become doctors, and even live longer. There always imbalances, but the scales are never tipped just one way.
Albert McGhee, East Tāmaki.
Covid priority
In reply to Janie Weir (Weekend Herald, July 31) and Bruce Cotterill and all of like mind, they seem to forget that Covid has happened and taken a lot of government money out of circulation.
What are they supposed to pay every demand with?
Let's get Covid sorted and then start moaning about broken promises.
Julie Pearce, Matamata.
Willing workers
J Longson of Kawerau (Weekend Herald, July 31) complained about the number of migrants let into the country.
Presumably he has not been to a petrol station, hospital, corner dairy, rest home or cafe for the last 20 years or so.
Whole sections of our domestic economy would, like California, crumble without the flow of hard-working migrants.
Would they like to work in a cafe/bakery from 4.30am to 5pm six days a week?
Tony Sullivan, St Heliers.
Why has the ASB chosen to use a seemingly overweight fellow on all their numerous ads - presumably to set an example to us all to eat up large, smile a lot and buy a Swanndri? Marion Robertson, Rosedale.
The recent pronouncement from my "telescreen" that, for the "safety" of all, our Government will push "Hate Speech" legislation into criminal law, plainly forebodes that the horror Orwell depicted now earnestly begins in reality. Rees Sutcliffe, East Tāmaki Heights.
Money spent on the America's Cup could have run Auckland Transport free for everyone for seven years. It is already free for over 65s. Why not make it free for everyone all the time for a five-year trial? Rosemary Balme, Howick.
ACT's stance was very much in favour of assisting Warner Brothers, unlike their claim that "for years they have opposed governments kissing up to Hollywood". Neil Anderson, Algies Bay.
Judith Collins would probably be quite a good leader if media would stop trying to pull her down. Sue Baldock, Glendowie.
Belay there me hearties! Who be the pirate sounding guy doing the Olympic commentaries on Sky? Arr. John Capener, Kawerau.
The rowers of the many nations at Tokyo all demonstrated real sportsmanship and a camaraderie that's been quite special - wonderful representatives of their countries. B. Watkin, Devonport.
New Zealand accounts for 0.063 per cent of the human population but 0.17 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. Clearly, we are punching above our weight. C.C. McDowall, Rotorua.
Shannon Frizell may be the best in his position at present, but that is no excuse for his
behaviour. Surely, he should be stood down for a season, at least. Kura Geere-Watson, Pt Chevalier.
What is extraordinarily astonishing at the toxic MediaWorks is senior management taking so long to man up. Tony Harper, Mt Eden.
With the drop in international travel and thousands of cancelled flights, there must be a massive global oversupply of crude oil. Why then does 40 litres of petrol cost 100 bucks?
Isaac Donaldson, Northcote.
If Lisa is not made a "Dame of New Zealand" then who else deserves the title? David Cave, Hillsborough.
It is strange that those who claim to champion freedom of speech are objecting to the use of Aotearoa or Aotearoa New Zealand. Michael Smythe, Northcote Pt.
Well done to Lisa Carrington. We can now change the name of our country to Aotearower. Dick Ayes, Auckland Central.
The circumstances around the death are being treated as unexplained.