Should we expect more from our politicians when it comes to the 'bedroom' or anywhere esle they chose to do their thing?

I am tempted to be a little risqué when I write this little offering. After all the details we have heard lately about the Len Browns affair and the righteous indignation about his lack of judgment and morals, one would think that it would all die a natural death.  Honestly, some of the comments are pukish in their aim. The holier than thou stance taken by some of these overzealous twats is enough to make me think  the collateral damage is much closer to home for him rather than having any real effect on society or Auckland City. I am not condoning Len’s actions or trying to lay the blame on the unfortunate ever so innocent recipient of his attention, but the resulting furore leaves me wondering if we are capable of reaching beyond the narrow confines of our restrictive thinking practices.

All this affair has done is to unleash a possible tit-for-tat response from those who have been labelled as immoral amongst other nasty names. One only needs to look beyond and within our shores to find similar examples of ‘leadership entanglements’ with sexual partners, some far more sinister and damaging to both parties.

Take the premiers and presidents of some of the larger nations of the world and fill in the dots; you get the picture, I am sure. The USA, Italy and France have all had their seedy leadership rompings, made very public in the not so very distant past. What would the paparazzi and other media feed on if it was not for the frenzy such actions provide.

The question remains as to how much these shenanigans affect the running of our nations. How wrong could things go if a high ranking official, responsible for nuclear ‘button pushing’ was in the throes of a passionate affair? The mind boggles at the possibilities.

Len hardly has his fingers on any button other than undoing his own, so therein we can observe the real victims of his actions. I suspect that each day, if not each hour is going to fill us in with yet more details. I am looking to the time when Len and the rest of us can get on with life. Enough already!

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Now that the cat's out of the bag, lots of peple will be heading for the hills!

Yes, Len Brown has a great deal to answer for to his family and whether his partner will be able to ‘forgive’ and move on has yet to be seen. The real victims are not some ‘group of moralistic voters’ who claim that they cannot see a man who has transgressed in the manner Len has, as being a suitable Mayor for Auckland. They have very short memories; just look to Clinton for that.

One has a huge sense that there is much more to this whole sorry affair than has so far appeared on our media. We are now hearing reports that the lady involved in the sandwich is ‘regretting going public’ and only did so after she lost in her attempt to gain a position on a local ‘Board’ and after Palomino’s flailed attempt at the Mayoralty. That there has been a concerted attempt by parties linked to the National Party is also of concern. John Key has of course distanced himself from any involvement; even coming out as being supportive of the work Len has done for Auckland.

The orchestrated attempt by the right to discredit Len Brown will have its consequences; ones that they are stupid not to have seen coming. Now that the gloves are off, expect some fireworks aimed at them. This is the nature of politics; the nasty and dirty side. All ‘sectors’ of politics are capable of displaying this unseemly trait and it feels like people never take head from the lessons of history.

I do not know whether Len will survive, but I feel is obvious is that a ‘beast’ may have been unleashed, all in the name of individual’s ‘lust for power.’ The dust will settle and life will go on and nothing about human nature will have changed. The ‘moralists’ will feel vindicated and will sit around supping their gins and teas, waiting until the sword falls on one of their own, as it surely will.

Len, take time to be with your family then get on with the job that you were elected to do.

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Mayor, Len Brown is in deep trouble!

Without a doubt, Len Brown is in trouble over the ‘allegations’ that he conducted an affair with a council employee. If this had been ‘out there’ during the election campaign, there is little doubt that the final result would have been different, not necessarily re the winner but most definitely in the margin between the two main candidates.

I can see both sides of the ‘post-election’ argument. I hear the moralistic overtones and the ‘judgment’ as to Len’s character. I also understand the doubts that many people now have about Len’s suitability for this job. I ‘hear’ those who are angry that they gave their votes to someone they now see as ‘damaged goods.’ However, I have a real issue as to what is driving the clamour to have Len removed or for him to resign. There is little doubt that some of the ‘noise’ is coming from those supporting his main rival in the run for Mayor.

What gets me is that many of the ‘denigratory’ comments are coming from those who didn’t bother to vote anyway. To those in this 60%plus sector of the electorate, I say, keep your comments to yourselves. If you didn’t bother to vote then you can hardly claim the right to have your say now.

I say the main victim in this sorry saga, is the family, not the electorate. Len can do his job (and I have heard the plethora of utterances on talk back radio from those who say he can’t) regardless of his other activities. If his family ask him to resign, then fine---follow through. We have seen many leaders, in governmental positions and in private companies, transgress on moral grounds, but they still continue to deliver re their tasks. Len can do the same.

Let us not hear only from those who may have a political or moral agenda. Let us wait until Len works through this and if he arrives at a position whereby he wishes to take us back to the polls, then (apart from the expense) so be it. I hope that it does not come to this.

To his opponents who seek to gain from the sorry affair, then they should take a look at history; it does indeed repeat. If they cast their stones Len’s way, there is a strong tendency for a ‘rebound effect.’ I have a very uncomfortable feeling about what is driving some of the stridently judgmental opinions. When mud is thrown at the fan, it tends to ‘come right back at ya!’

Let us all take time to let the family come to terms with what has happened and then, go from there. Nothing is going to silence those critics of Len Brown, but hopefully we shall get the bigger picture over the next few weeks. Auckland City can wait until that has happened.

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Just a pack of rubbish!------or is it just another new task?

Back in the ‘old days,’ many Aucklanders had one dirty old rubbish bin. They put that pout on the roadside and if remember correctly, as it was sometimes my job, the bin was actually quite small. My dad used to make some compost and he also burnt some rubbish in the back yard.

Now of course things are very different and they are about to get even more complicated. We may have up to three bins with all sorts of restrictions about what goes in which bin and will need to limit some ‘recyclables’ to less than 5%.  I doubt whether many of us could even spell recyclables in the past never lone actually know what such ‘things’ even were.

Over the next few years we are going to all need to know exactly what ‘goes in which bin,’ or we will face the ire of council workers, who will at least ‘educate’ us as to the correct procedure. Can’t you just see how some households are going to handle this most difficult of tasks. Can you not also see the huge number of bins crowding our verges on collection days? Picture the plethora of colourful bins, some with stickers on them ‘telling us that we have done wrong.’

I think it is going to take time. It is all very well for the council to tell us that we need to compost and recycle. Just imagine the scene at some of the tower block apartment buildings. It’s going to be one big mess and people are going to get really frustrated; both with their own ignorance and unwillingness to co ply and with the increasingly highhandedness of the authorities.

I am not confident as to what is going to happen. Cities are not like the countryside, where the solutions are more apparent and a lot of us are going to find the ‘new way’ very hard to comply with. Gone are the days when we just chucked it all in the same bin, and then wheeled it all out onto the footpath, glad to be rid of the smelly concoction.

So ‘city fathers/mothers’ and other minions doing their jobs for the good of us all; just be a little understanding with us as we continue to learn and possibly transgress your new rules. Yes, I know it is all for the best and for a cleaner and greener community. No one wants to keep seeing filthy and smelly dumps that our children will have to deal with in the future. It’s just that we will need time and understanding as we learn the rules for the ‘brave new world.’

www.authorneilcoleman.com

'TALK TO ME' is going online soon.

Yes, you can still buy a hard copy of TALK TO ME and ROSKILL. I have a few copies and they available from my website--    www.authorneilcoleman.com   You can also download ROSKILL as a kindle version for a very low cost. All you need is a Kindler or a tablet with a Kindle App. That is available free as a download.
TALK TO ME is about to go digital too, very soon. Watch out for the release on Kindle. It is in the final stages of 'production. It will be great having two books on Kindle and more will follow.
So---what is TALK TO ME  all about. I have listened to Talkback radio for many years and I have a love hate relationship with it. Sometimes, it drives me nuts listening to the comments of those who ring in and the 'stirring up' by the hosts. Can you imagine what would happen if a host is 'stalked' online? Worse still, his beloved pet is 'endangered?'  TALK TO ME is an irreverent send up of the talk back industry. If you are offended by the material or story line in the book, then I make no apologies. After all, I am not responsible for your 'reactions.' Only you can decide if there is a smidgeon of 'truth' in my story. Hell, even Perdy (Spot in the book) likes it when I read it to her!
I shall keep you posted and you can help by passing on the link to my website to all of your circles and 'friends. Help me beat the big boys in the publishing world and keep on downloading ROSKILL.

Perdy (a.k.a. Spot)

 

Think, listen and watch before you blame 'new' New Zealanders for missing out on that dream house!

We have all heard various politicians and media stating that the high price of housing in Auckland is driven by overseas buyers who can afford to 'blast' locals from the competition when it comes to auctions. You know the scenario: You go along to bid on a home that you have fallen in love with and have your guaranteed lone in your back pocket. The bidding begins and very quickly the price has surpassed your means. You though you might have had it but suddenly a voice from the back of the room announces a price that leaves you high and dry, yet again. Your options are limited. Unless you head for an area you had not previously considered, your plans are dead in the water. It happens time after time and your chances to become a home owner are rapidly receding. You look for someone to blame and on the way home from your latest failed attempt to purchase a home, you hear a caller on Talk back radio blaming a certain ethnic group and claiming inside knowledge about how these 'groups operate. That feeling is stronger when you hear a politician on the news 'backing up the previous claim and you enter a world verging on 'hate' for these 'carpet baggers.' Time to take a break and think, my friends. Yes there may be an element of fact behind some of the claims about what happens at an auction re bidding practices. How are we to know that someone hasn't been planted to up the prices. Sure, that's illegal but it is also difficult to prove that it is happening.
Today I listened to my hairdresser as she relayed her experiences around auctions and trying to get her foot on the ladder of home ownership. With the latest law changes whereby one needs a 20% deposit and the current high prices, she was starting to think that she and her hard working partner were never going to achieve the Kiwi dream. I felt for her and wished her well in her search. There she was, working hard  on a Sunday, to try and save. Traditionally, such hard work paid off for Kiwis, whether they be NZ born or new to the country. Like many other 'Kiwis, she is trapped in that hard place----getting together a deposit and winning an auction, where she has to go up against 'developers' and investment groups. She sounded like any other Kiwi just trying to get a fair go!
But, she changed the subject and we talked about her homeland and family---China! We had much in common. SO---think before you jump to conclusions about who, what and how the situation for many people is changing---for the worse. Lay the blame on factors other than 'race.'
www.authorneilcoleman.com

First home buyers in Auckland have little to hope for.

Reports that first home buyers in Auckland are beginning to give up on getting their dream of entering the property market. The new rules about needing a 20% deposit are simply playing into the hands of investors and speculators. For those 'fat cats' who cry 'foul' when anyone talks about imposing a capital gains tax in order to cool down the demand for investment properties, I say, how about thinking of your fellow citizens for a change? If a significant sector of society is locked out of the NZ dream of owning a home, then expect social disruption as those who are doomed to stay at the bottom seek other answers. We can not have the gap between 'those who can and those can but dream,' ever increasing. Something has to give and when it does, maybe the greedy will take a plunge of epic proportions. To the politicians I say,' get your act together (but not ACT!) and provide a more hopeful playing field.' It is in the interests of us all to have the maximum number of our people with a real stake in the economy. Home ownership along with stable employment are vital factors to achieve this goal. The later of course is another factor in that an increasing number of NZers are employed on a non-permanent basis; called in only when needed. How can they ever save for a 20% deposit?
Of course for some the best action would be to leave Auckland and 'if' they can find employment in the provinces, move there, where the homes are more affordable and life is a little less stressful. I hope that David and the Labour Party is watching and comes up with policies that veer in a new direction. Tine will tell!
www.authorneilcoleman.com