In This Edition: Residence (Or Not) – Re: Defence Policies Assessed By SOS - Feedback On "The Worm Takes On Poverty" -
GE Evolution
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Residence (Or Not)
“Is there a moral dimension to Government decisions and, if so, should this apply to decisions that affect the lives of
non-kiwis?
On 28 March 2002 the Minister for Immigration announced that the General Skills Passmark for gaining residence would
stay at 25 points until the end of June 2002. This announcement is still on the NZIS website (28/3/02 General Skills
Passmark – Announcement).
On 11 June the Minister announced that the passmark would rise to 28 from 18 June (11/6/02 Media Statement – Statement
from the Minister’s office). Coincidentally, on the same day the Prime Minister announced the date of the general
election.
Presumably the rise in points was purposeful and sought to limit the number of residence applications. Fair enough.
But what of them, those people from far shores who’d rushed to get their applications in before the end of June but
found the door closed early? Who, here, speaks for them?
And should a Government stick to what it says or should it not?”
P.M.
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...querying the accuracy of the report on defence policies, do the public have a chance to reply?
point: 'SOS' is hardly politically unaffiliated, with close connections to the national party being public knowledge.
why is this not mentioned?
...especially in light of the criticism levelled at labour's defence policy in this 'non-partisan assessment'... (Dr.
David Dickens is the link to the nats, via his family and professional relationship to Bill English, and the business
links of their wives. do you read the listener?)
chris swain
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Feedback On "The Worm Takes On Poverty"
Dear Editor
The worm should plummet whenever "poverty" is mentioned by vote- buying would-be or shouldn't-be politicians.
Am I the only person that feels exasperated at the constant demand from advocates for the poor that the government solve
the problem? There are some individuals affected by circumstances genuinely beyond their control and nobody would deny
their need or wish to ignore it. However, most people end up living in poverty because of a failure to make the right
choices. Three factors are strongly associated with poverty: education, marital status and employment. If people choose
not to complete their education, choose to be single parents and choose not to work then they are much more likely to be
poor.
The view that poverty is the fault of the 'system,' and therefore should be solved by the 'system,' is the major
contributing factor to the increase in poverty over the past thirty years. It is a view that is holding New Zealand
back.
Lindsay Mitchell
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GE Evolution
GE Evolution. I am writing to say GE is simply humans playing their part in the evolution process (Darwin theory).
Evolution theory teaches that numerous genetic cross overs have occurred over millions of years. Human assisted GE plays
its part along the way over the next who knows how many billion years.
Earth, living things, chemicals, plastics, you name it, they all play a part in evolution. Greenies seem to want to slow
the process - I want to speed it up. Who is right?
The theory also teaches survival of the fittest. If some human wants to GE some plants, animals or even humans to see if
they improve, may the fittest survive. Maybe monkey's are doing some GE on the side and we better watch out!
Evolution surely results in humans evolving into something else eventually so why not bring it on? Who knows, maybe all
our work and toil will evolve into us becoming some inert form.
Or perhaps we should shrug off religious sanctimony and see what the Bible really teaches.
Yours faithfully
Des Knowles