Emmerson's cartoon yesterday linking the legitimate questions about National MP Jian Yang's past to the iconic action of "tank man" in Tiananmen Square is beyond inappropriate, it is despicable. Can Yang tell us if he was in fact working for the Chinese Government's spy apparatus in 1989 as the demonstrations were brutally and cynically crushed by a totalitarian state? He has the privilege of citizenship and a free and comfortable life in New Zealand. Many of those Tiananmen protesters spent long years rotting in Chinese jails as a reward for questioning their government.
John Ringer, Te Henga.
Oldies turning out
Yesterday, mid morning, early voters stood in a queue of at least 10 people at the only early voting booth in Taupo. All, apart from myself, were well over the age of 60, and this is probably an indication of National's stronghold. Retirees have a lot to gain by voting, when apparent tax uncertainties could endanger their assets. If Labour are to turn the tide, they better hope their younger flock turns up in droves.
You'd think they would have fixed their vague tax promises by now, so their policies would appeal to retirees, small business and, possibly, even to Farmer Bill.
Rene Blezer, Taupo.
Running tally
Wouldn't it be interesting and informative to count the advance voting figures at the end of each voting week and publish them on the Fridays so we can see the voting count trends for each party. On election day (Saturday) the totals of the previous two weeks could be added to those on election day. I think the public interest in these results would grow exponentially and there would be no need for confusing and contradictory pre-election polls.
Steve Horne, Hamilton East.
Ropey card
Isn't the Hop card designed to stop visitors from other parts of the country visiting Auckland? We try to avoid travelling by bus there. We live in Wellington, and regularly visit Auckland to look after grandkids during school holidays. Here travel outside peak hours simply requires a Gold Card. Peak travel requires a user-friendly Snapper card. Sometimes mine isn't used for months: no problem.
On a visit to Auckland earlier this year we spent a bureaucratic age setting up Hop cards. Latest visit they wouldn't work, though there was unused money on them. Now we know why: the stupid 60-day expiry rule. Auckland bus services seem fine apart from the confusing Hop cards. Why can't you sort that out?
Terry Hall, Kelburn.
Capital gains tax
It is hard to feel sorry for your correspondent Michelle Cook. The house the Cooks bought for $500,000 is now worth $1.1 million dollars. That is a $46,000-a-year profit for doing nothing but sitting in their own home. An annual profit that is more than the median wage in New Zealand. Mrs Cook is upset over the thought of having to pay tax on the profit. Meanwhile, the median wage worker has paid tax on their labour year after year after year.
Unlike those without a home, Mrs Cook has options. She could sell her home for a net profit of $300,000 for doing nothing. She can sit on it and have someone with nothing pay her $35,000 a year plus in rent. Or she can return to Australia, sell her home for the full $600,000 profit and then return to New Zealand.
Meanwhile in New Zealand, those who miss out getting into a home will continue to hand over three quarters of their income to the Cooks of this world.
Kent Millar, Blockhouse Bay.
Big soft target
The Labour Party intend to impose emissions penalties on our livestock with particular emphasis on the dairy industry. Politically, dairy is a conveniently large, soft target because of its high profile and importance to our economy, and is often blamed for our increased emissions.
Some points to ponder: since 1980 livestock numbers overall have reduced by 20 per cent. Since 1980 our population has increased by 54 per cent. From 2000 vehicle numbers have increased by 40 per cent. Do these "inconvenient facts" indicate the rural sector should be targeted rather than the actual growing sources of carbon emissions?
George Williams, Whangamata.
Peters not to blame
In answer to Gary Hollis, it was not Winston Peters' fault that New Zealand has been inundated with immigrants. The Gold Card is one of the few perks our aged people are able to enjoy. The card should only be given to residents who qualify for superannuation, 10 years residency, I believe. Let's stop hitting out at Winnie. Leave that to the millionaire moggie murderer, the rich man who thinks he can tell Kiwis how to vote.
This current millionaire political aspirant forgets what happened to the last millionaire who naively attacked Winnie. He is now a spent force politically on the outer with the party his money helped create.
Nick Papadopoulos, Papatoetoe.
Trade risk
Jacinda Ardern demonstrates her political naivety announcing Labour's plans to stop the buying of land by foreigners. This is contrary to the free trade agreements with South Korea and China, and possibly others. Ms Ardern's idea is that these can be renegotiated. She either doesn't understand, or ignores the fact, that renegotiation of this nature will mean a reciprocal ban on New Zealand products.
Janet Boyle, Stanmore Bay.
Details please
The National Party is making a lot of noise about Labour's lack of details in its tax plan. Recently Bill English announced a bold new plan to offer schools a choice of languages in the future, but when? For a leader who demands absolute policy specifics from all other contenders to the throne, he is remarkably coy on how his party intends to implement this. Will schools be able to choose only one language from the list, or two, or several? Will teachers be hired who are not qualified (like some of the charter schools)? Where will these staff be trained or will they be brought in from overseas (at great expense)? Will extra funding be allocated to schools who wish to take up this offer? Will language training be mandatory or can schools opt out? What subjects will be dropped to accommodate this into an already crowded curriculum?
Allan Gyde, Tauranga.
Change happening
The comment "time for a change" is frequently repeated as election date approaches. We have seen many of the suggested changes already. The number of beneficiaries on the unemployment benefit has been steadily reducing over the last three years, government spending has been strongly controlled to enable greatly increasing expenditure on health, education and social welfare. The social investment initiatives Bill English has been steadily introducing have seen personal attention being given to individuals in real need rather than seeing a single official approach to all such cases.
We need the tried and tested, not untried visions.
G. M. Hall, Kohimarama.
Health funding
I suggest John Roughan spends a day and night at any public hospital if he is not convinced our health services are under-funded. I would recommend any accident and emergency department or mental health unit for starters. As for his concerns that increased public spending may be bad for the economy, the substantial economic cost of injury and ill health increases when treatment is delayed or denied. A strong economy, as well New Zealanders' quality of life, depends on public health services being adequately funded.
Lyndon Keene, Director of Policy and Research, Association of Salaried Medical Specialists.
