Whanganui letters: Flip side of freedom is social responsibility

In our culture, we all want the freedom of a good, healthy environment, writes one reader. Photo / Bevan Conley

With regard to the Covid-19 pandemic, I am getting a little tired of hearing the non-stop bleatings of "free speech, freedom of choice, freedom to gather in groups", etc.

I have been waiting in vain for over a year to hear a sentence that contains two critically important words - not just one - in the global fight against Covid.

The first important word is, of course, "freedom". But a vocal few seem to have forgotten the second word which, if it were used alongside "freedom" in the same sentence, would almost by itself define the concept of democracy.

That word is "responsibility".

In our culture, we all want the freedom of a good, healthy environment.

Therefore the responsibility of our culture AT THIS TIME is to wear a mask indoors, limit the size of gatherings, get vaccinated.

Listen to the science, and absolutely do not listen to the idiotic rantings of the few who infest some online forums.

A recent writer to these columns (October 27) on the subject of freedom and covid, lamented about those who fought and died defending our freedoms.

There was not a word about responsibilities either collective or individual in that letter.

My own perspective is that those who fought and died for our freedoms did so precisely because they stood up and honoured their RESPONSIBILITIES to help preserve the freedoms they enjoyed.

And our nation continues to honour those brave ones in perpetuity - the "R" word in a free democracy is that important.

Freedom without commensurate responsibilities is called "anarchy". Democracies do not "do" anarchy. The fight against Covid must not "do" anarchy either.

STAN HOOD
Whanganui

Listen to voters

It seems that many councils, probably most, are opposed to the Three Waters legislation being pushed through by the government.

We are being encouraged to write to our MPs to express our dismay. The trouble is that a large number of MPs are list members who are responsible only to their parties not to electorates.

Our electorate MPs (and hence their voters) are in effect watered down and less effective than they might be if all MPs reported to electorates.

This is a major disadvantage of the MMP system of voting. The legislation will be pushed through by list MPs.

RICHARD PEIRCE
Marton

Not just about you

What is wrong with all these anti-vaxxers? These people seem to think they are a little brighter than the rest of us and see conspiracies in their weetbix?

It is relatively harmless if people want to believe that the earth is flat and that we haven't landed on the moon as these ramblings only affect themselves and perhaps their drinking mates. But by not getting their vaccination they are affecting "everyone". [Abridged]

GRAHAM LEWIS
Whanganui

Enough handouts

Whanganui District Council, through its commercial arm called Wanganui District Council Holdings Limited, is acting like our beloved current finance minister and handing hard-earned ratepayers money out left right and centre. Up to $300,000 at present.

Our learned mayor states that he "expects and anticipates" that (we the ratepayer) will be reimbursed and paid back over time.

Pretty airy-fairy arrangement if you look at any other loan requirements. Ask your bank to include that clause and see where you get.

Why was a meeting held behind closed doors on September 14 to discuss the flight school and no councillors would discuss the agenda citing "confidentiality"?

I would think some councillors are feeling a bit uneasy here. A statement from Mr Bedford, chief executive of the NZICPA, says some students will be allowed back into NZ, the dates are unknown but "expected" to be between March and June next year 2022.

Really? Does he expect to get another ratepayer-funded handout to keep it going till then?

I say enough is enough and this council needs to stop and admit it has made a major mistake in acquiring this flight school and not waste any more ratepayers money and concentrate on core activities that they were elected to and are expected to do.

Put the Flight School on the market and see if you get any interest in it. I would expect not.

I think it would be cheaper to quit it now rather than have continual top-ups from the ratepayer to, as the council says itself, "enable the company to operate in a solvent manner".

SHAUN BURTON
Whanganui