National tag

Yesterday we had John Key give out his promises to act on youth crime. The policies were good, if they leave school early then give them (limited) free education at Polytech and other tertiary providers, or they can go off to work. Basically, encouraging them to do something with their lives rather than bum around at home bludgeoning off the DPB forever.

Helen Clark on the other hand this morning announced changing the education age. The school leaving age is currently 16, but she wants to change it so then you have to stay in education until you are 18. You can go to work, but you have to be in education as well. But then Clark hasn’t even said that they would subsidise going to Polytech for younger students, which Key has. Does she expect these people to get a student loan? Where is the incentive?

Did she forget that sometimes work provides decent qualifications. At least Key allows for education or work, unlike Clark’s education or education.

Key then went on to say what he would do to curb youth crime. A modern day boot-camp sounds good, but not sure about extending jail sentences. Look at our jails, they are a joke. All that it’ll teach them is that if you ever need accommodation, food and shelter for free you just commit some form of crime. Awesome. At least the boot-camp system isn’t a one off “go to boot camp” and then run off again to do more crime with your new found boot-camp abilities, but is followed up with support and mentors.

I think Clarks raised leaving age is supposed to have the intention to curb crime, but no, we already have people truant and disruptive under the age of 16, it would just make things worse if they were to stay in the education system for longer when they would probably be happier just getting a job.

If anything, whatever Clark says now will fall on many deaf ears. How long has she had in office, and how long were the warning signs there? This year we have already had 10 homicides, many of which were caused by youth. And she’s only addressing this now, after eight years?

It looks like Gordon Copeland has said “To hell with you” to Richard Lewis and Brian Tamaki.

Earlier this week Brian Tamaki, Bishop of the somewhat controversial Destiny Church, announced that the political wing - Destiny NZ - will be de-registered. But then he announced that there will be a new Christian political party and the leader of the now gone Destiny NZ, Richard Lewis, will be co-leader with yet to be named partner.

This took Gordon Copeland off guard, but he still announced that he was the “secret” co-leader (not long after).

The downfall (if you can call it that seeming the new political party doesn’t even have a name) continued, with Copeland saying that it was pretty bad, especially since now he has aligned himself with the worst Church to be aligned with. His supporters urged him not to be with them.

It’s funny how now anyone aligning themselves with Destiny Church is almost performing political suicide. It also concerned me how John Key (leader of National) kept handling the question about forming a coalition with the new Christian party. You could pretty much see he wanted to say “no,” so why didn’t he?

Whoa, sorry for my small hiatus. Work was keeping me busy, and when I got home I didn’t really care for the blog.

A lot has happened since Don Brash resigned as leader of the Nats. So,

• John Key and Bill English replace what is Don and Gerry. I’m glad they also pushed away Gerry Brownley. But it seems that John has had a good first week, and has cleared up his position on more policies than what I think Don did. However, as discussed with one of my friends last night, he has said that he supports things like welfare and benefits, but it’s the details that we’ll have to wait for. Still, a good pair.
• Along with that, Don Brash resigned from politics altogether. He said that it was “on a high note.” It took me a couple of moments to think about what high note. It is true that National is now polling extremely well, and Don isn’t doing too badly on the preferred PM stakes, but this is all overshadowed by the e-mails, the Exclusive Brethren details, and his endless string of gaffs.
• The Waterfront stadium was gone for good. But then, uhhh, why are we getting another “two weeks your out” situation with Eden Park? I’m glad we aren’t getting a daily update on the funding for the Eden Park upgrade, which is the biggest concern. More than $200 million is needed. And if that isn’t found, then it’s off to North Shore.
• One thing that is frustrating me about this is how we have the people living near Eden Park complaining about how their lives are so tough that they live next to a stadium. Why doesn’t the media ask these silly people why they chose to live near a stadium in the first place?
• Fiji is sitting and waiting for the coup to take place. The deadline was noon last Friday (Fiji time). However, rugby took priority. Apparently the new time is 3am tonight. Though, isn’t this coup all over the fact that the government wanted to forgive those who started the 2000 coup?