Posts by Petra
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So a single parent manages to find work when his/her child is one, and he/she is on a 90 day trial. During the 90 day trial, his/her child get's sick and s/he has to leave work to care for her (gonna use "her" 'cos it's easier to type and to read) wee 'un for 3 or 4 days. Upon her return to work, she is told that her job has gone because the company needs someone who they can absolutely count on to be more reliable (a sole parent's work reliability is completely dependant on the health of his/her child, which - especially when young - is often in flux).
The people that push for such draconian measures are often the same people who cry, when things go wrong with a child, "blame the parents!", "where were the parents?!", etc.
A woman is in an abusive marriage. Her husband beats her and her children whenever he gets ticked about something petty. She lives in fear for herself and her children, and wants to leave. But knows she cannot, because she can't afford to be a single mum. She must, if she and her children are to eat, stay.
These situations are all too real now, in some cases. They will be far more common under lean-mean, Bennett-in-the-US and Brash inspired, kick-'em-while-they're-down policies.
Anecdote:
I was helping my friend set up her market stall last weekend, and a couple came to browse. As the woman perused the clothing already on racks, I chatted with her hubby. He works as a "clean up" guy for Housing NZ. His job is to decontaminate houses that had been P houses, and he was doing great business. Currently he does 3 - 4 houses every week, just in the Auckland area, and just houses that are owned by Housing NZ. I was gobsmacked. That many? Just in one area, and not even counting privately owned rentals? That's scary! Penalise the poor any more and my guess is his business will really soar! The ruthless greedy will sell drugs and sex regardless. The desperate will do what they can to survive, and sometimes the only option in a ruthless world is to harden up and get yourself into the drugs and/or sex business.Politicians and focus groups spend far too much time devising "simple solutions" to complex problems, and forget to think about all those messy little unintended consequences. We don't need targeted simple "solutions", we need an holistic approach to community, society, citizenship, business, welfare, health, education, and people. Unfortunately, that's not simple, and doesn't make for easy bullet points and catchy headlines.
Also, I have to stop reading Yahoo comments. All my love becomes hate, and it's a poison! Gah! Save me from misogyny! :(
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Oh my gosh, sorry about that! I blame the sausage roll I ate at lunch time..it's been repeating on me all day, so I apologise for belching my posts too! :o
I'm not going to pass judgement on either the police or the CEO until we know more about what actually happened. I'll be very interested in the methods and results of the inquiry.
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I've read here and there that the "Greenies" must be wetting themselves with glee over this disaster. Sick.
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I've read here and there that the "Greenies" must be wetting themselves with glee over this disaster. Sick.
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I've read here and there that the "Greenies" must be wetting themselves with glee over this disaster. Sick.
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I've read here and there that the "Greenies" must be wetting themselves with glee over this disaster. Sick.
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I've read here and there that the "Greenies" must be wetting themselves with glee over this disaster. Sick.
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I've read here and there that the "Greenies" must be wetting themselves with glee over this disaster. Sick.
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Hard News: Where nature may win, in reply to Gareth Ward,
I have already reposted it. I love poetry, and only the poets can find such poignant verse in the tears of terrible tragedy. Thanks Craig for posting it here.
What a terrible day, in a horrible year. My heart goes out to the people of Pike River Mines, their friends and colleagues and families everywhere.
Great sorrows cannot speak...
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In 19th century newspaper articles, use of the comma, is, generous and seem, ingly random. I am led to wonder, if, perchance this, has something to do, with ladies in, strapped and squeezed too, tight bodices causing breath, shortage whilst reading.