DOM POST says - bikers should pay

[Winston001]

Letter sent (my first ever to a paper):

To the editor,
The egalitarian “fair go” spirit of New Zealand has its embodiment in the founding principles of ACC. We all chip in to cover the cost of accidental injury to any of us. Pretty simple.
The home handyman who runs a nail through his palm, the schoolchild who falls from a piece of gym equipment, the grandmother who slips on the pavement – all are entitled to have their injuries treated without an inquiry as to blame or liability. A more caring and unique piece of legislation cannot be found anywhere else in the world. It is something we are all rightly proud of and it helps define who we are and how we view our world.

It is under threat. A particularly insidious method of attack has been chosen, namely to put the citizens of this country against each other whilst telling them “it’s for your own good”. ACC has 11 billion dollars in reserves and 2 weeks ago paid a 700 million dollar dividend to the Government. It has never been more flush with cash and its investment arm regularly out-performs that of merchant banks while taking care of our money.
So what is the reward for those who have achieved so much and us who fund it? The board was sacked and staffed with Government cronies and the funders (you and I) have been told to front up with more cash, a LOT more cash, “cos it’s broke”.
The refrain from the bikers at Parliament is easily understood in this light and two serious questions are now raised.

“Why are more people not protesting the rape of our identity?”

“After the motorcyclists, who’s next?”

Regards
AD345

What an excellent letter....which lets itself down as soon as you use the word "cronies". Most of what is written is very very good. May I suggest leaving out emotive terms such as cronies and rape because they distract from the strong message being sent.

Also the "rape of our identity" question doesn't gel with the rest and is unnecessary.

Well constructed intelligent letters like this printed in newspapers up and down the country will keep this issue alive.

[AD345]

What an excellent letter....which lets itself down as soon as you use the word "cronies". Most of what is written is very very good. May I suggest leaving out emotive terms such as cronies and rape because they distract from the strong message being sent.

Also the "rape of our identity" question doesn't gel with the rest and is unnecessary.

Well constructed intelligent letters like this printed in newspapers up and down the country will keep this issue alive.

Thanks

I did think about those words and the questions and decided that the letter needed some "wake up!' lines in it.

"Cronies" can, I think, stand pretty close examination. It is scarcely credible that the new board would come out with the "it's broke" and "more cash needed" lines immediately on arrival and neatly fitting in with the stated aims of the new Govt. just from pure coincidence.

The "rape of our identity" line is extremely emotive and deliberately so. Right up there with our "fair go" attitude is one of apathy, which we cunningly disguise as "she'll be right". So I poked - hard.

We'll see if it gets published.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

We'll see if it gets published.

After its been edited and twisted and could mean anything... it may

[MSTRS:Me]

You do have a right of reply...it's called "Letters to the Editor"

I actually meant that there was no 'comment' section on that net page. Like many of us, I have written a letter, but they are not obliged to print any of them, so anyone reading that editorial page won't necessarily get an opposing view to read.

[FastBikeGear]

I actually meant that there was no 'comment' section on that net page. Like many of us, I have written a letter, but they are not obliged to print any of them, so anyone reading that editorial page won't necessarily get an opposing view to read.

Yes there is an 'ad feedback' link at the bottom of the on-line article.

Whoops silly me I didn't notice that 'ad' had only one 'd' and they are actually looking for advertising!

[peasea]

Dear Nick.
I have read the editorial you wrote regarding motorcycles, motorcyclists and ACC levies.

The figures you quote are the same inaccurate figures offered by ACC and parroted by Nick Smith and his ilk. I think you KNOW they are inaccurate and have simply chosen to take a cheap shot at bikers simply because you are not capable of reasoned, balanced and informed journalism. (Something the mainstream media is renowned for unfortunately.)

ACC was designed as a no-fault system, which means that if I decide to ride a motorcycle (which I do) then should I have an accident I am covered. The same applies to those who choose to play sport, however it would appear that rugby players (just as an example) are not required to contribute to the fund, which I find most curious. There are many dangerous sports played on a daily basis in New Zealand and every weekend the A&E's around the nation bristle with injuries incurred while playing them.

Why should motor vehicle owners (bikers included) subsidise this moronic activity?

I am not against being fit or undertaking healthy activities (I walk many kilometres a day and eat healthy food) but you can certainly keep fit without breaking or dislocating bones with monotonous regularity as so many sports players do. The sooner sports clubs are levied the better.

Your editorial was nothing short of amateurish diatribe and simply highlights the depths the gutter press will stoop to in order to make an ill-informed point. If it were not so sad it would be funny. I have no idea what you are paid Mr. Venter but it is way too much and your work indicates a cheap show of political puppetry.

Yours, with the utmost sincerity

blah blah.........

[Tink]

What an excellent letter....which lets itself down as soon as you use the word "cronies". Most of what is written is very very good. May I suggest leaving out emotive terms such as cronies and rape because they distract from the strong message being sent.

Also the "rape of our identity" question doesn't gel with the rest and is unnecessary.

Well constructed intelligent letters like this printed in newspapers up and down the country will keep this issue alive.

Remind me to call you Winston when I start writing my assignments

Do tell me "how often" is ACC audited ??

[Winston001]

Remind me to call you Winston when I start writing my assignments

Do tell me "how often" is ACC audited ??

LOL I'm sure you don't need any help, enjoy the studying.

As for ACC, I guess they are subject to Audit Department oversight but I really don't know.

[Tink]

LOL I'm sure you don't need any help, enjoy the studying.

As for ACC, I guess they are subject to Audit Department oversight but I really don't know.

Nice... "oversight".... I think you might be right there... just on a quick note... my application is in to Waikato Uni.. fingers crossed.

[Pedrostt500]

The whole artical is a fishing exspedition, they are Fishing for a Knee Jerk reaction from the Motor Cycle Comunity.
No body fucked up seriuosly enough on the Bikeoi, for the Government or ACC to point the finger and call us all Morons, so now they have to fish for a reaction.

[pete376403]

And still parroting the "16 times more likely..." line, even though that has been thoroughly demolished.

[nothingflash]

The editor is entitled to his opinion. But most of his opinion is shaped by the propaganda that abounds (not coming from us, is it?)
As far as 'healthy' is concerned, has it escaped this drongo's notice that mountain climbers do it for the thrill? Very little to do with 'healthy'. And what is healthy, anyway? Mental/physical are just as important. Besides there's different kinds of fitness, aren't there?
And what's this 'premiums' bit? ACC is not insurance. This crap fucks me off no end. Terminology can be an insidiously dangerous thing.
And why should my employee levies subsidise that mountain climber?

And no right of reply available. Prick.

Yep he's entitled to his opinion alright. It's just a shame we don't share the same "advantage" he does of being able to tell the general naive public a crock of shit in a widely circulated and well read newspaper as he does. "If the editor chap said it it must be true". he could tell the general NZ public the moon is made of blue cheese - there's gonna be people that believe it because it was in the paper!

[rustic101]

Interesting, well written editorial.

Everyone is welcome to their opinion but as long as we continue to stand as a collective then those 'others' won't be heard as clearly....

arseholes everybody has one lol

[pete376403]

My reply - bet it won't be published.
Dear Mr Venter,
Yes it is interesting to see the backpedalling from Smith and Key regarding the proposed ACC levy increase. Especially Smith and his weaselling “don’t blame me, the ACC board proposed it” when knowing full well that this is the board that he installed to carry out his, and the National party’s agenda of privatising ACC.

Anyway, weasel words are about all one expects from Smith and co, they are, after all, National party politicians, it’s what they do.

However one really expects better from a writer of the Dompost editoral – as a journalist you are meant to research your article, not just copy verbatim the (misleading) statements of ACC without doing a little bit of fact checking. You repeated the now disproven statement about “bikers 16 times more likely to make an ACC claim...” without a bit of research into where this statement came from.

Professor Charles Lamb of Lincoln University totally demolished the ACCs spin on this, and other misleading “facts” about the state of ACC.

Did the Dompost have reporters at the protest at Parliament? Did they take notes?

You also describe ACC levies as premiums. When did ACC change its status to an Insurance company?

I also understand that you did for some time ride a motorcycle yourself. And during that time you never had a claim against ACC. But during the period you were actively involved in playing rugby, is it not true that you were a regular customer of ACC services – none of which you paid for other than through normal taxation?

While I realise that, unlike ACC, most motorcyclists are not in the position to purchase quarter page advertisements in your paper, I would sincerely hope that this would not influence the papers position on this issue.

Yours, etc

[ready4whatever]

Riding a motorbike is not an inherently healthy activity

Yeah cause breaking your neck in rugby is so healthy. fuckin dickhead. Riding from auckland to welly in one go i'd like to see a hiker do