Old people

I recently received an email from my grandmother - whom (I might add) I love very dearly - however, she does say some rather shocking things. For example, in her email (yes, my grandmother emails!) she said "I see that the Maoris are causing the government some trouble again, it was one of our news items here".

Firstly, I didn't realise that the Maori community as a whole was stirring up trouble for the government. Secondly, I have no idea what she's talking about - unless it's about the people who were arrested for having those crazy firearms who are accused of being terrorists.

I'm not entirely sure what I believe about that, I'm not entirely convinced that they're terrorists - but I'm not as informed about this as I could be so I will hold my peace.

It is rather typical of her to make a wide sweeping statement like that. For someone who comes from a multi-racial country she can actually be quite racist sometimes. Meanwhile, the government is always right - naturally.

Although, I can't see a Singaporean MP being accused of hitting an opposition MP in the parliamentary lobby. Well done Trevor Mallard!

Given what goes on in the Debating chamber it was probably justified. Sometimes I feel like our MPs are squabbling children - especially when you see them bickering on TV...

At it again

Well...Sue Bradford, the perpertrator of the anti-smacking bill is at it again. Will the woman never learn?? Actually, it's more like, "will New Zealand never learn?" We seem to constantly be supporting her stupidity. Well, the goverment is anyway. And as we know the government is not really a true representation of NZ anyway.

They've just passed a bill that "provides for 16 and 17-year-old workers to move on to adult rates after 200 hours of work." Sounds nice, doesn't it? By the same token, now that I've worked at my job for over year my pay should go up by at least 65% - brilliant isn't it?

I don't think the youth work rate is that low. $9 an hour is pretty damn good, it's better than what a lot of us started on and we managed fine. The truth is, most 16-17 year olds live at home, don't pay rent and don't have regular bills. The only thing they'd pay for is whatever it is they'd pay to go out and have fun. They don't need that much money. And I'm seriously doubtful that most 16-17 year olds are responsible enough to manage money that well anyway.

Furthermore, what self respecting employer is going to employ a teenager when they can employ an adult at the same price? The whole point of the youth rate being lower is that employers will only hire young people if they can work them harder and pay them less.

Don't tell me I'm being unfair and cynical because it's true! Youth rates suck because that is the nature of life. Teenagers don't need to work to survive in the world, they work to support their social lives and (hopefully) to learn the value of a dollar.

Plus, by encouraging them to go out and work more we're also encouraging them to quit school earlier. RESULTING IN MORE UNDER-EDUCATED PEOPLE!!! Think about it, if you were 16 years of age, old enough to leave school, absolutely HATE school because, well...it's school and you have the option of getting a job and earning as much as an adult does in 200 days then wouldn't you?

I mean, really. There are no logical teenagers in the world.

This can only be detrimental to our society.