China
WE HAVE just spent two weeks in China where individual people have treated us with kindness and friendliness.
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As a nation, the Chinese are very proud of their unfettered development, seeing it as a sign of great ‘progress’.
They are currently using 43 per cent of the world’s concrete output to cover their land in multi-layer highways and high-rise buildings.
Thousands of residential tower blocks – 30-storeys high – rise up 10 at a time.
Many have been unoccupied for years as people save to pay similar prices for each square metre of a leasehold flat, as we would pay for a freehold rural block.
Yes, leasehold.
Chinese people cannot buy their own land, but amazingly can come to a property near you and purchase it freehold with our government’s blessing.
Their wealth is bottomless, their commitment to Australia as non-citizens is nil, and the practise is skewing prices for our younger generation.
Why would any Tasmanian welcome even one of these ugly monolith buildings here?
Prior to the March election I would also encourage you to question your intended MPs on their foreign ownership stance and vote accordingly.
“You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” never rang truer.
Moira Wellman, Legana.
Christmas giving rejection
WELL, there I was standing outside the Launceston police station full of the spirit of Christmas carrying a bag full of five boxes of chocolates, and about to do something really nice, something I'd given a lot of thought to.
You see it all began a few years ago after my first open heart surgery when in thanks after successfully surviving the operation I drove to Hobart with my bag of chocolates to thank the doctors and nurses for a job well done.
I did the same after my second heart surgery and my new metal knee replacement. So I thought it's only fair to do the same for our police force.
Which is why with my new heart valve, pacemaker, metal knee and several bypasses supporting me, I entered the police station.
I had high hopes that I would successfully give a lot of police a warm and fuzzy feeling this Christmas knowing they are appreciated and loved.
Unfortunately, my gesture of goodwill never made it past the front counter. Government protocols dictate that gifts can not be accepted from the public.
So with my plan dashed I headed off into the sunset like the Lone Ranger, ready to bury my disappointment by devouring five boxes of chocolates.
The government protocols may be able to stop my chocolate blessing but they can't stop us from giving the local police officer on the street a smile and a heart felt thank you.
Robin Simpson, Invermay.
Government warning
IT IS hard to understand an organisation or religion that can openly declare that celebrations of the festive season is a terrorist target.
Because among these celebrations are innocent pure-hearted happy children. Whether you are a believer or not, it is wonderful time of goodwill, peace, love, respect and giving.
Then why, what evil, twisted mind would target these activities, knowing that innocent children are involved?
I think it would be painfully clear, that there would be no 70 virgins offered as a reward for such a terrorist atrocity.
And what a demeaning statement to women, it denies any respect, value, or regard and is abominable.
Please let it be what it is designed to be, a day of love goodwill, compassion and joy for all.
A Merry and wonderful Christmas.
Peter Doddy, Trevallyn.
Pokies Policy
AT LAST a political party with the courage to tackle the destructive social consequences of poker machines.
For Greg Farrell of Federal with its monopoly on poker machines to claim it is about jobs is vulgar. Federal has leached profits from the misery of the poor and addicted.
Its interests are not the jobs of ordinary Tasmanians.
And for Mr Farrell to threaten to deprive Labor of political donations just demonstrates why our donation laws need to change to take power from corporate power brokers that use their donations to twist public policy.
Rebecca White earns my respect as a politician strong enough to grasp a difficult issue.
What a breath of political fresh air.
Dr Michael Powell, Springfield.
A Sad Situation
LYNETTE Lenton (The Examiner, December 14) complains about a service fee of $1 for "eating in".
Seems reasonable to me.
The restaurant served it to you on a plate with cutlery and possibly a napkin, that had to be washed up after you left.
Why would anyone get upset about $1?
Surely, the lady protests for the sake of protest.
Len Langan, Longford.
Nuclear Threats
TO WIN at all costs.
The dilemma facing the world where America and North Korea eyeball each other.
Which reminds me of the game "chicken" which featured in the James Dean film Rebel Without A Cause, where two players drive cars towards each other where the loser (chicken) swerves out of the way.
The danger in chicken is obvious, double deflection (both drive straight) means a certain crash.
The parallels with various kinds of real-world brinkmanship (potentially most calamitous, nuclear brinkmanship) are equally clear.
All we can do, is sit, wait and watch.
Hugh Boyd, Prospect Vale.