Saturday, July 14, 2012

People power-- things could change if we all----

Fantastic--- when a group of thieves ran off with property that they had stolen from a Newmarket shop, they ran into (literally) a group of people who made a decision that the thieves would not get away with their booty.
Three people combined to make sure that the car the thieves were travelling in was going no further. Not only was it a ‘citizens’’ response, it was also an international effort. A huge Ukrainian weightlifter joined forces with the locals and when the thieves tried to run away, they met with more than they could handle. While one got away, the other two (they had the audacity to ‘complain’ about their rough treatment) were grounded and held until the police arrived.
What a refreshing story. We all end up paying more because of these useless low-lives. Let’s see more of this ‘grass-roots’ action and make NZ a better place.

Now I suppose the courts will smack them with a floppy bus ticket!

The rediculous spectre of Charter Schools recruiting kids at shopping malls

The PPTA (Post Primary Teachers’ Association) has raised the spectre of Charter Schools attempting to recruit students for their schools in South Auckland shopping malls. At a recent meeting the ire of the audience was raised at such a prospect. There were accusations of racism made and the Chair (A National MP) had to try to calm the participants down.
What’s the big fuss? I say let them. Are not many kids absent at any one time? I have heard some pretty high figures (around 18% plus on some days) for absenteeism. If these Charter School enthusiasts think that they can make a dent in these figures and reengage the students in education, then let’s see if they can succeed.
The argument that they will be taking resources from mainstream schools will be a transitory issue as the same kids start showing a similar reticence to attend school as they are doing now. Anything (although I would prefer to see the alternate education as we have it now, being tweaked and better resourced) that can be done to get these kids back into education is worth a go.
I see that some sections of the debate worry about such schools being called ‘McDonalds’ or some other name representing  other business sector. I know there are philosophical arguments against this practise and I do not trust the reasoning for their involvement as being anything other than wanting to increaser their market share, but----- let them do it and see what happens.
Instead of constantly trying to block these initiatives, let them flow on a small scale. If they take some kids off the streets, then that is good. I just don’t believe that they will achieve anything lasting.
I hope that my musings stimulate some feisty replies. We need this discussion --- so hit back, repudiate and shoot me down. If it helps to raise the level of discussion around Charter Fools---oops---- schools--- then good.  

When are they going to learn? Don't flee the police!

Call them what you like----‘boy racers,’ ‘fleeing joyriders,’ drunken idiots or just people trying to get away from police. Tragically, the results are so often the same when any of the above decides to flee the police and end up wrapped around a power pole or some other object. Unfortunately it can often be another car, compounding the tragedy by killing other innocent people.
Whether the drivers of these cars fleeing the police are being egged on by their passengers or they are acting under the influence of booze or drugs, the result is the same---death and carnage on our roads and grieving families left to deal with the results.
No one wants to see people die but it all comes down to a few salient facts. It is the drivers and occupants of these cars who must take the blame. The police are going about their jobs and they have policies about how they handle fleeing cars. There is a very delicate balancing act that they have to go through. Do they just let these people carry on driving; putting others at risk or do they decide to actively pursue the cars? It seems that they cannot win which ever decision they make.
There is a certain amount of risk involved when the police decide to chase a car that is trying to elude them. Often they have received reports about the said cars being driven in a dangerous or erratic manner. Once the driver of these cars decides to outrun the police then the blame has to rest on them for the resulting crashes. That they have partaken in drinking or other substances is their choice. They made the choice right from the time they took their first drink of the evening or when they decided to take a group of friends in the car ‘for a spin’ that involves dangerous driving.
I am sick of the public and the police being put at risk. The rest follows from that point. Run from the police and you set in motion a series of events that so often end up in death. STOP BLAMING THE POLICE!

Its nice to see people reading some of my old blogs

I was about to cull quite a few of my old blogs---- but I see that mnay of you are still reading them. Please give me some feedback, because having more than 460 blogs online, it may be making it hard to filter your way through them. I'm open to suggestions.