Pussy Riot---the other side of the story.

I have recently blogged about the travesty of justice surrounding the Pussy Riot incident. My reasoning was that it is not only about Pussy Riot, but also the deeper issue of free speech within the Russian Federation and the Putinization that seems to be happening. The warning signs are all there about the resurgence of a State that puts little value on then right of its citizens to criticise their government.

There is another side to the Pussy Riot stunt in the church. This is not the first time this band has tried to hog the limelight and hence benefit from the publicity. They have been involved in group orgies at museums and trying to kiss policewomen on the underground railway, all in an attempt to garner a wider following.

Some commentators have said that once the two year prison sentence has been completed, no doubt Pussy Riot will go on a world tour and make millions. Maybe the two year sentence is but a small price to pay for the resulting wealth.

A cynical view perhaps and one that could focus us away from the greater debate about a Russia heading towards the past. I’m just trying to keep a balanced view. www.authorneilcoleman.com Go to RT for an ‘alternate view.

A unique way to balance the Governent books!

Fantastic! I’ve done it and I am so proud to be of help to the Government. Don’t say I always criticise the national Party. Here they are, delivering a policy that finally makes sense. It’s been staring us in the face for years and it took a brave John Key and his team to stumble across a ridiculously no fail scheme. The example of course is their privatising the prisons. Hey--- it’s a no brainer.

 Let SIRCO do all the work and then when they fail just fine the arse off them. So they the scheme has delivered $300,000 to Government coffers. If they do this to all the prisons, then maybe we the taxpayer won’t have to pay a penny to lock up our criminals and then also get paid as well.  By my calculations we could make about $10 million in fines, just from prisons.

Now, let’s take the idea further. Let water, health education and all government services be privatised with hefty fines for non-performance. Our tax bills will drop and after about four years when the coffers are over-flowing with ‘failure to preform fees,’ we can renationalize them with a final one-off payment of course and start again.

Fantastic or what! Cycles repeat and we keep reinventing the wheel, so we could repeat the exercise every ten years and it won’t cost us a penny? We will be the envy of the free world.  www.authorneilcoleman.com

National Party women cabinet ministers----mmmm-- what's next?

One wonders at what’s next on the agenda for some of the national Party women members. Are they saying what the other ministers want to say but are a little more careful about? We have had the Parata ‘espousitions’ (yeah I know---it’s not a word but it has an obvious meaning). Then we have Maggie Barry doing her thing. Maybe she thinks her high profile excuses her for dumping on fellow parliamentarians, so I guess she will learn the hard way.

Last but certainly not least is Paula Bennett’s propensity to upset the applecart. It seems that week after week she comes out with something new, but in a sense we have heard it all before. The latest announcement that child poverty changes from day to day is just one example of her ‘foot-in-mouth’ affliction. Once again, is she saying what Johnny and his mates want to say but leave it to her. Let’s face it she seems to connect with a section of National Party voters who are probably sending her messages of support. I shall give her one thing—she’s a gutsy lady, but she is also a hypocrite.

Paula benefited (do excuse the pun) from some of the policies she has had axed. That she has risen to great heights within the Government is due to her reaping the results of past welfare policies. Now that she has ‘made it,’ it is goodbye said policies.

I wonder what we shall hear around the corner from this delightful trio.

Maybe you don't care about Pussy Riot but---

Pussy Riot is not my cup of tea musically and I don’t necessarily support their actions in the church--- they should have done that elsewhere, but the result may well have been the same. The unholy alliance between Putin’s State and the Church is almost unbelievable, but it is representative about what is to come in Russia.

Russia is regressing to the Soviet and Tsarist times in its response to criticism. Almost any ‘dissent’ faces this new two year imprisonment if they dare to take on the Government.

Wake up Russians. I know you read my blog. Make some comments and defend the actions of Putin if you must---but talk, yell, and protest--- do something!

 I know that large numbers of people in Russia are unhappy with what is starting to emerge. It probably leaves many of you with a sinking feeling that history is repeating itself. The sound of jackboots in the middle of the night and your friends and neighbours disappearing in to the new gulags is more than a figment of my imagination.

What is it about Russia and its propensity to suffer tyrants? No wonder your art and music is so full of yearning and deep feelings depicting an ever suffering people. We in the rest of the world would love to see the happiness and hope return. Be strong my friends.  www.authorneilcoleman.com

Turn 'any' unused 'high value' State House into 2 or more!

If a ‘high value’ state house becomes vacant, for any reason, I believe we should sell it and use the proceeds to finance more state houses. I am not saying that we should move people out of existing homes, unless there is good reason; for example, tenants abusing, damaging or using the home for unlawful purposes (I leave you to decide that).

Oh yes, I can hear the cries of ‘no way!’ and I leave you to imagine other responses. The simple fact remains that if we have  homes owned by the State and they are over a certain value, then why not convert them into funds for building more homes so that that those in dire need of this most basic need are catered for.
I do not know how many homes would be in this category, but surely it is a no brainer--- just get on and do it, Minister of Housing,’ and the opposition from any party can pull their heads in. Unless you have seen the consequences of families living in unlined cold and damp garages, sending their kids to school (if they can) with poor health, then back off with your politically insensitive comments. We need more houses and all possibilities should be considered.

PS---‘High Value’ would depend on the city and area.

www.authorneilcoleman.com

UK---let Assange leave!

The big boys are really turning out to be bullies again. This time it is the UK, no doubt being pressured by big brother USA and junior partner Sweden. Assange has really hit the spot with his activities and the exposure of truth has a significant price to pay. I am saddened by the UK’s response; that they refuse to let Assange leave the Ecuadorian Embassy without being arrested and extradited to Sweden.

From Sweden, Assange will be sent on to the USA where he could possibly face the death penalty. The embarrassment caused by Assange’s release of ‘sensitive’ material must have really got up the craw of the USA and the UK. Hell, he even let loose a few facts about NZ’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. I cannot think of a time when so much information was made public and for that I thank Assange.

This whole affair exposes lies that the UK and USA are any different from their nemesis in the form of Russia and China. It is time that they stopped crying out that that they represent the ‘free world,’ when if it obvious that the differences they espouse are only a matter of form rather than reality. Hopefully the NZ Government does not link in with the so-called freedom loving west. Somehow, I doubt it.  www.authorneilcoleman.com

Cyber bullying can reach huge numbers of kids

‘Cyber bullying’ is receiving quite a bit coverage in the media lately. We hear that young people are self-harming and worse as a result of this nasty practice. The cowards who hide behind ‘caller unknown’ and various other disguises are causing massive damage to their peers. They do not understand the ramifications of their activities and if they do then they are acting in a criminal manner.

The practise of gathering up the gossip of the day about fellow students and sending it on to huge numbers of recipients is a fact of life in many schools and then this goes way beyond the boundaries of the school or suburb.

For some students, reading about their ‘private activities,’ in this way, the results can be devastating. Being a teenager has always been a difficult task but with the new technology and its availability, one shudders at the possible damage our young people face. Most kids are potential victims if they own a cell phone and who doesn’t.

The initiatives to bring about discussion on the issue of ‘cyber bullying’ is overdue and by the time we get some real understanding, the methodology will have ramped up a notch or two. We can’t afford to wait around and pontificate. Things are moving too fast for us. Parents, for God’s sake, keep that dialogue door open to your children. If you think your kids are the subject of these cruel messages, seek out help at your local school.