What is wrong with us?
'Aotearoa” Land of the long white cloud? Clean green? Yeah right.
True our country is beautiful and has a little of the whole world in it, but a percentage of our people (and that percentage is increasing at a frightening rate) leave a hell of a lot to be desired. My wife and I listen to the news at 6 and a few nights ago the first seven items involved two murders, four assaults including two on our police officers and a fatal car crash. How has this come about?
The major factor is lack of discipline and respect. e.g I am 74 and part of my schooling was in Mangakino in the early days. On my first day at high school, I kicked a football through the headmaster's office window. Bloody good shot too, broke it. Ten minutes later, six of the best by teacher. Years later at about 18 years of age I met said teacher in Whakatane.
Things had changed. I was no longer looking up at him – I was on the same level. 'Excuse me sir are you Mr Lawrence?” Ha ha master Fuller the boy who wouldn't cry. 'How are you son?” Even after being caned by him and many years on, in life the discipline I had been taught as a youngster made me treat this man with the respect he was due. 'Please, thank you, good morning Mum, Dad.” Where the hell has it all gone?
Discipline I am talking about. All too often people write to newspapers etc about all the wrongs but offer no solutions.
My solutions will no doubt bring lots of 'oohhs and aahs”, and 'you can't do that”, from the do-gooders, but here they are, anyway.
1. Make all referendums that 90% of the public have asked for, binding on the Government of the day, e.g if 90% of the people want the death penalty for 1st degree murder or rape of women and children brought in, so be it. The Government must obey the will of the people. After all we elected you and part of your mandate should be to do our bidding.
2. Bring back compulsory military training for 18 year olds and allow the army to discipline as they used to.
3. Allow parents the right to physically discipline their children not assault them
Well that's my lot for this copy but there is more to come.

Ross Fuller, Mount Maunganui.