Re: [pf] Common core values, by Jeanette Fitzsimons - Greens; in NZ Hera

At 11:32 19/4/2001 +1200, I (David Mac) sent to PF, Jeanette's article on
Common Core Values {at:
http://csf.colorado.edu/mail/pfvs/2001II/msg00396.html
 with original NZ Herald article at:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=183548&reportID=57031 }
>

· You may have got a mistaken idea of what NZers think, from my posts. Here
are two responses to Jeanette's article, from the Libertarian end of the
political spectrum (not far from what the ACT party espouses).

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At 14:39 23/4/2001 +1200, Jeremy Hall sent to GreenNews-NZ, with Subject:
[GN]Two loopy letters :-

NZ Herald 23 April 2001

(Articles by each party leader have been running on the opinion page over
the last few days.  Jeanette's piece has been posted on GN-NZ.  Letters in
reply can be sent to the editor at: letters@herald.co.nz )


GREENS AND VALUES
Once again Jeanette Fitzsimons demonstrates, in her contribution to the
Common Core Debate, her ability to dress up complete nonsense in the
clothes of sweet reasonableness.  The world is not crying out for our
"clean, green" food products.  The First World food markets are
characterised by barriers.  Only through rule-based arrangements such as
those of the World Trade Organisation can we hope to maintain access to
those markets.

Sustaining the environment happens when it is in someone's interest to do
so.  All the examples given of profitable practices happen because they are
profitable.  This arises from the exercise of property rights, and
sustainablility will improve through the protection of property rights.

To suggest that our material needs will be met with a decent roof over our
heads and food on the table shows how little the Greens understand human
nature.  Humans have always striven to better themselves.  Why do Greens
think this has changed?  Furthermore, who is going to tell Kiwis that they
have to give up the trappings of a modern economy?  And who will decide
which things will be given up?

The idea that rights can be replaced with relationships misunderstands what
underpins relationships in the first place.  Without a concept of rights to
mediate relationships, what are we to use to determine the outcome?  Force?
 Access to political clout?  That a significant number of the population
supports the Green Party shows the depth of the problems that we have to
overcome.

Ron Shaw, Hamilton

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Beguiling as Jeanette Fitzsimons' vision of New Zealand life past present
and future is, it characteristically has little relation to reality.  The
average Kiwi, possibly even the vast majority, might pause, even at the
first paragraph, to ask themselves how much time they have spent, or want
to spend, picking mushrooms and blackberries.

The sugegstion that bare feet on the beach should be the starting point of
our careers leaves the reader perplexed.  Is this a tedious, politically
correct reference to the tangata whenua collection of shellfish on the
seashore?

New Zealand, in common with other developed societies, owes the wealth it
enjoys to the activity of its entrepeneurs - possibly, indeed in the early
days, to one enterprising man with one piece of No 8 wire.

That might have represented best available technology but times have moved
on and far from our food being threatened by technology it is dependent on
it and will be increasingly dependent on it if we are to be included in the
global effort to make more, higher quality food available at affordable
prices to more people.

We don't, of course, need to participate.  Perhaps that is her real message.

NE Coleman, Russell, Bay of Islands

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sent to Positive Futures by David.
(David MacClement) davd@ihug.co.nz 
http://www.geocities.com/davd.geo/index.html#top
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