America has since fallen far behind - this wealthy giant now lags far behind the world in health, infrastructure, education or public spending in the arts and science. The nation now is among the worst with inequality and increasingly dangerous flat earth climate denial.
Hillary Clinton may have won the popular vote over Trump by 2 per cent - a margin greater than more than six previous presidents - but she lost due to the archaic, undemocratic electoral college. Only 23 per cent of eligible voters voted for Donald Trump.
"Democracy" is such a browbeaten, archaic first-past-the-post system that little more than 50 per cent come out in presidential elections.
Additionally, the centre-left lost for a variety of other reasons, stretching from DNC super-delegates to violations of voting rights, the media, to the sinister pronouncements of the Republican FBI chief.
The recount is unlikely to change the result but it may instil some hope for US democracy.
BRIT BUNKLEY
Whanganui
Fixing riverbank
I understand the riverbank failure near the Red Lion Hotel is to be repaired using driven sheet piling. This is of concern for a number of reasons.
Appearance: sheet piling has an industrial feel and is not a natural material and will add further to the mismatch of repairs that have taken place.
Vibration: driving sheet piling creates vibration in the surrounding area which has some unstable banks.
Some years ago, as an engineer, I was part of a study group that looked at the river and its banks from Upokongaro to the mouth. The group consisted of engineers and representatives from Horizons, Wanganui District Council, iwi and Transit (now NZTA).
Our recommendations were used for a number of projects, most of which used a system of designed rock lining which is natural and flexible and will adjust to bed movements. It is acceptable to iwi and has a pleasing appearance.
My questions around these proposed repairs are: has the report been considered; have Horizons, the district council and iwi been consulted; and has a pictorial representation been produced that could be shown to the public?
We are trying to promote the river and the view from i-Site is bad enough without further industrial-type discontinuity.
I may be the only one concerned but if there are others, please write to the Chronicle.
JIM ENNIS
Whanganui
Head protection
To helmet or not to helmet?
Wearing a helmet when on a bike is the law, I'm pretty sure. But when I had two police cars following me down Somme Parade as we passed not one, but two separate cyclists not wearing a helmet, nothing happened. They didn't talk to the cyclists.
You wear a helmet to save having a head injury if you have an accident.
It doesn't matter how good a cyclist you are, there are drivers who are not so good - things happen and you are not bulletproof. Why take the chance?
GREG TYLER
Aramoho
A father's love
TV1's Sunday programme had an item about a solo dad caring for two mentally disabled siblings.
This man has done an excellent job but has had a battle with a government department regarding funding. At one stage his benefit was cut by $100 and the Ombudsman ruled the cut was unfair.
He got his benefit reinstated but the department refused to refund money lost due to the cut.
If we don't have a personal connection with an issue, we tend to disengage from it. Most of us don't know this family and whether or not we support them depends on whether or not we identify with their plight.
Clearly, the government department did not have a personal connection with this family and tried to save government money.
Another issue is what happens to the children (who are now adults) when this man dies?
I believe they need to be placed in a caring foster family and the planning for this needs to start now. If this doesn't happen, these two mentally disabled people could be placed in an unsatisfactory environment in the event of this man's sudden death.
New Zealand is a caring country, but I believe it is becoming less caring and this trend will continue the further removed we become from our country's Christian roots.
Most people today consider Christianity to be irrelevant but I have no doubt that our caring attitude comes from our Christian heritage.
You only need to travel to countries with a Hindu, Buddhist or Muslim heritage to witness indifference to human needs and suffering far worse than we see in this country.
I remember a past, well-known politician saying New Zealand needed a Christian revival to bring back the values we are fast losing.
Would any politician say that today?
DAVID GASH
Whanganui
- Abridged
