Your views, August 18

Reaction to Election Blog [link at bottom of page]

I am not surprised that Jon Stokes thinks that "the moment people do mention morals or values or vision or where the country is going, the Left instantly spots a right wing agenda?" The reason is simple. It is because the right are mostly the ones who bang on about such things. The rest of us just get on with our tolerant, simple, happy lives. We do not all have to think the same to live in peace and harmony - in fact that would be the ultimate in boredom. But being the same is what conservatives of any leaning would like us to be, because they labour under the illusion that the world would be a better place as a result. That is not right - it is wrong.
- Gram Weir


Reaction to National hedges bets on asset sales [link at bottom of page]

National's unwillingness to spell out their policy on state assets is for very simple reasons: They will need the money to fund their tax cuts. This happened in the 1980s and 1990s, whenever the government wanted to lower taxes they would sell the family silver so that hospitals would still function. Unfortunately, there are now very few assets left. And National proposes to sell those. The hospitals may have to close under National, or they could sell those I suppose.
- Greg Stephens

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The job of the Government is to run a country not businesses. Selling non-strategic non-public interest businesses would put the 'state businesses' into a more competitive environment and thus lead to a more efficient operation of those businesses. National should not be ashamed of telling the public ridding of non-strategic assets is good.
- Larry

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In response to National's policy to sell some state-owned assets, I feel that this policy will be cheating New Zealanders of what is rightfully ours. As a result of such policies NZ consumers would be more likely to face higher living expenses as well as poor services. There has been a trend in this since Rogernomics and National's policies will only make things worse for us. Through National selling assets yet again there will only be short-term gain and long-term loss for us all in NZ; the Government will lose revenue in the long term, which will mean higher taxes down the track. I support the Greens with Labour, with their policies to maintain state-owned assets and plan long-term for our economic future.
- Mark Harvey

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Was NZ Post Courier offered to NZers before selling off to the Germans, or did they deal only with DHL?
- Verna Myers

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Strongly oppose the sale of any assets. A sale in assets reflects short term gains and long term doom. This only helps top level management get richer and workers face more redundancies.
- Cherag

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I do not support asset sales at all and demand the repurchase of our previously owned assets such as power companies. This can only be of benefit to New Zealanders and retain profits in this country.
- H B Jamieson

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I do not support asset sales. We should be acquiring back some of those already sold off to foreign interest. Also stop allowing foreign ownership of land.
- Cecelia Martin

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Yes - all sales should be pragmatic and good for the country. Holding on to an asset for no benefit to the community does not make sense. Conversely if there is environmental or tangible benefits to the community the Government should continue to hold a controlling interest. Full ownership is an option but not mandatory, control is the crucial element.
- Murray

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National - where to begin? No nuclear-armed, powered, or waste-carrying ships thank-you guys. Don't even think of selling public assets. If someone's willing to buy them, they must be able to make money! Pay off debt, don't create it. Labour - Long live queen Helen! Of course, to do that it may pay to slow the cars down, just a tad. Rather than importing workers and immigrants, couldn't we do something to slow down the rush of Kiwis finishing their educations and taking off overseas. The little guys - now, don't take offence at being referred to as the little guys. Stop throwing your weight around at election time and choose a side. If the people are voting National/Labour and not for you, then maybe it'd be better to side with one and just go along for the ride rather than living out fantasies of grandeur and trying to influence our nation's policies.
- Craig van Beek

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Companies are run by people who are bought and sold (sacked) as is required by the directors to make the enterprise succeed. The "ownership" dictates where the dividend goes. Private enterprise puts the dividend into private pockets, here or overseas. State ownership returns the dividend to the people. Which do you want?
- Lou Harrison-Smith

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Certain asset sales wouldn't bother me as long as the principle behind the sale was sound and the price was not discounted (such as selling into a weak market). Assets which are not strategic to the role of the government and assets which can be run as, or more, efficiently by the private sector (thereby generating tax revenue) should be considered for sale, but public opinion should be explored before moves are made. I think National should produce a list of assets it would consider for sale and state its reasons for their inclusion. I oppose the current government's approach of buying whatever assets it wants for the same reasons as above.
- Rob Campbell