On Sat, 17 Jan 2015 21:45:49 +1300, Crash <nog...@dontbother.invalid>
wrote:
I thought your response said all that needed to be said, Crash. Other
responses on the subject indicate a determination to set a rigid
definition that proscribes assistance being given unless people are
demonstrably worse of than <name a country where large numbers of
people are in what most people in New Zealand would agree is "abject
poverty"> Such responses demonstrate the paucity of community spirit
and a level of paucity of compassion and community spirit that is
quite sad. .
The far right clearly understand that poverty is an issue in New
Zealand, but their extreme "me first, me only" attitude leads them to
a new "politically correct" stance of dissemble (there is no poverty",
deny "we can't agree a precise definition, therefore it doesn't
exist") denigrate (its all their own fault for poor decisions; they
need to be responsible for their own actions, so a lack of charity is
for their own good") and distract "lets change the flag!"
The question Pooh is trying to avoiud the the obvious one of just when
governmetn should intervene and provide assistance. That is a
perfectly valid question for any government, and whatever is decided,
it is desirable that the effectiveness of those decisions is measured
by valid measurement and reporting. Nobody wants money to be wasted,
neither do most people want any New Zealander to die from starvation.
Instead of addressing the issue however, National is pretending to
continue support while progressively reducing support, and
consistently refusing to measure anything that may be able to be used
to determine the effect of their programmes. There are however other
indicators. Inequality is worsening - the wealthy are wealthier, the
poor poorer in real terms. And health can be another worthwhile
measure"
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/65072550/rheumatic-fever-syphilis-cases-rise
"A report by crown research unit ESR (Environmental Science and
Research) shows a "significant increase" in cases of the disease in
the year to September, with 235 notified acute cases, up 75 on the
previous 12 months."
and
"Labour's health spokeswoman Annette King said the Government was
failing with rates of the disease rising in the last three years.
One child a week, with a heart badly damaged by the fever, underwent
surgery at Starship children's hospital in Auckland, she said.
Estimates put 140 adult deaths a year down to the illness.
"As former health minister Tony Ryall himself said: 'We are the only
developed country in the world with levels of rheumatic fever you
would see in the third world'," King said.
She wanted the Government to tackle the causes. "