Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Scoop Feedback: Sex, Hon. Cullen & The Judiciary
In this edition:
Cullen and the Judiciary
Dr Nick Smith MPs Stand on Crimes Amendment Bill
No.2
Opposition to Civil Union Bill
Objection to Legislation - Crimes Amendment Bill No
2
Smoking OK – Crimes Amendment Bill No 2 Not
OK
Sunday Star-Times Sub Editor Causes Anger
Scoop welcomes reader feedback please send you news and views to editor@scoop.co.nz
Cullen and the Judiciary
Letter to the Editor
When Mr. Cullen attacks so-called activist judges what he is really attacking is the sole institution we possess that constrains Parliamentarians exercising unfettered power.
Parliamentarians legislate for political reasons, as they will freely admit, while Judges in contrast are bound by 1000 years of rigorously determined precedent, considerations of equity and natural justice, and a series of mechanisms of Peer review and challenge.
Judges that stand up for equity and natural justice are nothing to be decried but indeed are to be applauded. The very reason why no politician in this country supports an entrenched constitution is because they fear having their, frequently bad, decisions being put under the judicial microscope. If we allow this myth of the unfettered power of the Parliament to make bad law at its will to be established, then it can only be to our cost.
Yours faithfully
Peter Tashkoff Henderson AUCKLAND
Dr Nick Smith MPs Stand on Crimes Amendment Bill No.2
Letter to the Editor
Re: Dr Nick Smith, Thank you for standing up for the family - and for your party's principled stance on the under-age sex issue
The world is on the precipice of calamity and possibly WWIII - yet we have these reckless reprobates who want to lower the bar instead of raise the bar in our society.
Fighting moral causes may not be glamorous and earn the big dollars and vice industry sponsorship - yet this is what will save our souls and possibly help save our society. These are the truly pivotal issues which cause nations to rise or to fall back to the ant heap of barbarism.
We have to be different from the world - in order to make a difference. best regards
Thomas Moore
Opposition to Civil Union Bill
Letter to the Editor
I am writing to say I am opposed to the Civil Union Bill for all the reasons that make me a father and husband. I see the current state of our nation as one where the most fundamental foundation of our society is being eroded, that being the family.
A husband and wife with their children is the foundation of life, the security of children and the means of keeping life in its proper order and balance.
Simply because we are in the 21st Century, or that freedom of expression should be considered, or sexual preference should be heard, should not make us destroy that which undergirds the fundamental unit of society.
Let people live how they chose but do not structure laws to allow marriage between a man and a woman to be minimized.
Yours faithfully
Fred Morley HASTINGS
Objection to Legislation
Letter to the Editor
Since when did the "lowest common denominator" become a gauge for determining overarching legislative intervention and policy?
Justice Minister Phil Goff wishes to sanction pre-pubescent sexual activity, because he says that we have to accept that it is happening;
Green MP Nandor Tanzcos desires cannabis decriminalisation as he believes that it is unfair to make criminals of those who break the law;
Progressive MP Matt Robson wishes to do away with both Prayer and the swearing of Oaths to the Queen as he is of the opinion that we are a default Republic already; and the drinking age has been erroneously lowered due to the fact that some sub-20 year olds were drinking anyway.
It is a universal truth that that which we encourage we will get more of, and that which we discourage we will get less of. We will never totally eliminate the stupid, the defiant, and the ignorant aspects of the human psyche.
However, we could at least corral much of the damage inflicted by all three by! simply raising our collective societal expectations, rather than continually lowering them. What a pity that, in New Zealand, we have to have individual present experience as our teacher, as opposed to collective historical wisdom.
Yours faithfully
Stephen D. Taylor Onehunga AUCKLAND
Smoking OK – Crimes Amendment Bill No 2 Not OK
Letter to the Editor
The government's agenda of social change has gone too far.
As if legalising prostitution weren't enough, the government is now attempting to legalise statutory rape.
Where is the sense in making smoking in bars illegal but sex with a 12 year old legal?
Enough is enough.
Will the true leaders in our Nation please step forward - we need you in politics.
Yours faithfully
Michael Williams Howick AUCKLAND
Sunday Star-Times Sub Editor Causes Anger
On the front page of the Sunday Star Times, in large letters was the heading. "Sex At Age 12 Okay Under Law Change".
This Goverment wants to allow your 12 year olds to be able to have consensual sex, with no repercussions. Mr Phil Goff, wants it, to no longer be a crime for 12 year olds.
Basicly (sic) he is telling them, go ahead have sex, its ok, you wont get into trouble any more. IF this law gets passed, this country is going to see a greater increase in sexually transmitted disease's, in our younger ones. Abortions will increase and promiscuity etc.
This Goverment should be called The Liberal Goverment not Labour. I urge all Parents and Christians to rise up and say to this Goverment, NO MORE, ENOUGH! of your Immoral, Unethical Liberal ways. We have never had a Goverment this Liberal, Immoral or Unethical before. Lets all do something about it.
Yours faithfully
Leonie McLoughlin Taradale, NAPIER.
Scoop
Scoop Independent News
Scoop is NZ's largest independent news source; respected widely in media, political, business and academic circles for being the place on the internet for publishing "what was really said", and for the quality of its analysis of issues.
Ian Powell: Physician Associates - A ‘Solution’ Desperately Searching For A Problem
Binoy Kampmark: Natural Resources And Palestinian Sovereignty - Israel’s Further Isolation
Martin LeFevre - Meditations: What Being “Inward Looking” Really Means
Binoy Kampmark: Blinken Atrocious In A Dangerous World
Jim Mikoz: Look Out Rocks … Oops Too Late
Peter Dunne: Dunne’s Weekly - National And Labour Combine To Shut Out Greens