OnPoint by Keith Ng

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OnPoint: Don’t let them eat cake

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  • sagenz,

    I have posted in the past about raising minimum wage to squeeze out low end jobs and encourage investment and training. That will raise average income and living standards overall and reduce the low end taxpayer subsidy of jobs through the tax system.

    But I agree with you that right now is not a good time to be asking for pay raises. There are any number of companies, supported by responsible unions who are agreeing pay cuts in return for avoiding redundancy in industries suffering a temporary downturn. despite the standardista Labour nashing of teeth and Goffs stupid suggestion to raise by 25%.

    I disagree about the desirability of more money for families also. The best thing that can be done is to bring forward infrastructure spending.

    uk • Since Nov 2006 • 128 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    Let's face it "boy racer" is a marketing tool - makes them sound like something out of some afternoon anime - let's go back to calling them what they are "hoons" - a good kiwi word that doesn't get used enough.

    In the mean time I'm tired of hearing them driving down town without a muffler - I'm going to start carrying a potato

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Louise Hall,

    "Excuse me, do you know that your muffler doesn't muffle, you've got a leaky valve going *pssssh* all the time, and that you're in the wrong gear? Also, did you run over a Christmas tree? You have some lights stuck to the bottom of your car."

    Hah! Best smile of the day! I'm not sure about crushing, but I do think if they have a lot of unpaid fines, debt etc then their cars should be taken in default payment.

    Dunedin • Since Mar 2007 • 8 posts Report

  • andin,

    I agree on both points.
    The unemployment numbers will rise during this recession. Whatever plans govt touted during the election to "stimulate" the economy will just have to wait.
    I personally think the whole idea of continuing upward and outward economic growth needs to be seriously revised world wide maybe put on hold until humanity starts colonising the solar system.

    Now that would solve the boyracer problem...
    "Hey you noisy bloody hoons take that pile of junk and go play the other of Neptune"

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Hadyn Green,

    "hoons" - a good kiwi word that doesn't get used enough.

    I didn't think of it as a kiwi word so I had to look it up. you are right, but check out the etymology

    At the turn of the 20th century in Australia, the term "hoon" (and its rhyming slang version "silver spoon")[3] had a different meaning: one who lived off immoral earnings (i.e. the proceeds of prostitution – a pimp or procurer of prostitutes).

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

  • David Slack,

    It's colourful, poetic, and... well, pretty damn sweet

    I thought you were about to mention a kiln.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    After using it I've been forced to explain to american friends the meaning of "hoon", the best I was able come up with was "red-necks with cars"

    I'm sure there's an Aussie equivalent because "double overhead grease-nipples" seems to ring a bell

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    At the turn of the 20th century in Australia, the term "hoon" (and its rhyming slang version "silver spoon")[3] had a different meaning: one who lived off immoral earnings (i.e. the proceeds of prostitution – a pimp or procurer of prostitutes).

    Definitely still alive in that sense in the early 70s, e.g. 'living up the Cross with a hoonie boy". Now it seems that the NZ meaning of the word has come to prevail.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Don't let them know that hoons are pimps or they'll all want to be one. That potato idea could catch on though.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    "hoon" is also more useful than "boy racer" since it can also be used as a verb

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Ben Chapman,

    Not increasing the minimum wage to keep some temporary employees in work and then making up for the non-increase by upping Working for Families payments for those who qualify (which will never happen under National anyway), just seems like an effort in shuffling the misfortune about. It also has its own costs, notably the social cost of the minimum wage lagging further behind the average wage, and being a drag on wages overall, at least at the lower end of the spectrum.

    Surely we aren't going to survive this recession by having the poor weather the storm for the rest of us.

    If a major consequence of the recession is a reduction in the number of paid hours worked, then a solution is to increase the amount of work available.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2008 • 135 posts Report

  • Mark Thomas,

    crushing cars seems so wasteful. can't we de-pimp and sell them?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 317 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Some have suggested not de-hooning them first..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    de-hooning

    Somebody is writing these down, right? We need a Sasha-linger-sundry minute taker.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    Of course the Australians do have a unique way of expressing their displeasure at hoons:

    maybe we should just all start waggling out little fingers at the hoons driving down town to show off their broken mufflers ....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    "hoon" is also more useful than "boy racer" since it can also be used as a verb

    You haven't come across the appalling boy-race in our wonderful news media, then?

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    Query regarding de-pimping: what happens if you take a big-assed spoiler off a Honda Civic hatchback? Does it lose speed immediately?

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    maybe we should just all start waggling out little fingers at the hoons driving down town to show off their broken mufflers ....

    Stab 'em -- at the very least you'll get a flattering front page puff piece in The Herald.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Sasha-linger-sundry minute taker

    Limited market, to be sure, but another possible tee-shirt.

    I was inspired by the YourViewsery on display down south and in its original home.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    I presume the DoL paper that recommended the increase to $12.50 had at least an assumptions-based analysis of the effect of that increase on employment numbers? Anyone seen it?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • dave crampton,

    If unions don't like the Govts apparent refusal to raise the minimum wage, but want money in the pockets of those on the minimum wage, they could always reduce their union fees by $1.10 to at least assist those who are union members....

    And if families on a low income -say, less than $700 per week for a family with two kids, would only go to WINZ and claim their $450 annual food grants when they are skimp.....

    welli • Since Jan 2007 • 144 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    Query regarding de-pimping: what happens if you take a big-assed spoiler off a Honda Civic hatchback? Does it lose speed immediately?

    Don't spoilers work like an upside-down aeroplane wing? Kind of force the tyres into contact with the pavement in order to maximise traction. Remove the spoiler from a hot Civic and it kind of just hangs there, revving wildly. Ample opportunity to wag finger, or stroll over and stab.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    umm spoilers don't help you do burnouts - I think you need some air moving over your upside down wing to make it work ....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Dave Patrick,

    I'm sure there's an Aussie equivalent because "double overhead grease-nipples" seems to ring a bell

    Almost right - it's chrome plated grease nipples and double reverse overhead twin cam door handles

    Rangiora, Te Wai Pounamu • Since Nov 2006 • 261 posts Report

  • Dave Patrick,

    That song is also the genesis for "What are ya?" and its response "What are you?"

    Rangiora, Te Wai Pounamu • Since Nov 2006 • 261 posts Report

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