why i hate this time of year

[terbang]

Yup know all about the Swiss, flew for their national airline for a year, Lived in Basel and I just have to agree with Billy Conelys sentiments that they are just "Yodeling NAZI's". Switzerland was an absolute nobody country before WW2 that now has a healthy banking economy because they have all the Jewish (now dead from the gas chamber) wealth and all the stolen by NAZI German (now dead from Nuremburg trials) wealth in their banking system and they aint letting it go. I'm sure that they are looking after a stash from just about every despot and crook the world has seen in the past 60 years.
I have met far more pleasant people with genuine smiles and less stress living in the third world than I ever met living in Schweiz.
Looks like they are just about to get to keep Saddams money.

Define our allies there as well?

[Biff]

They have a HUGE milita (aprox 1/5th of the population) with all males 18-49 being required to do military service , and only a madman would try and invade them.

The only overseas missions they undertake are at the Vatican.

Gotta love those clown costumes.

[terbang]

Funny you should mention that, I'm reading 'mein kampf' at the moment, and some of Hitler's views make sense to me including how he goes on about lack of national pride.

I don't see many schools with NZ flags and singing the national anthem every assembly hiel!

-Indy

Yeah I have also read Mein Kampf and whilst making a few points of interest it really just seemed to degenerate into a lot of hatred and raving with a continual theme of dislike for the jews.
Try the rise and fall of the Third Reich, William Shirer..
Another perspective written by a German that will give a chilling account of where such nationalism can go..
I don't think that we NZers, as a new nation, have really found out where we are yet and are still in a formative stage to be able to experience such nationalism and we are also a mix bag of European, Asian and Polynesian people..

Mein kampf was one of the tools that Adolf Hitler used to appeal to a large portion of German society and actually rammed it down their throats. The Germans had recently lost WW1 and amongst other were obviously in a vulnerable state and so all the national pride bla bla bla apealed where it is clear, in hindsight, that Hitler had another agenda. History has proven that such nationalism has a very destructive and dark side to it and must be watched closely and that the rantings in Mein kampf were just that, Rantings of a crazy Austrian that took Germany into infamy. The book is a collectors piece as it played a part in a very prominant period in Modern History and thats where it should stay and not in the bookshelf as its relevance to 21st century life is irellevant.

[StoneChucker]

Nope.. not me.

New Immigrants into the country are not eligable for the dole or anything really (student loans, whatever) for their first two years residence.During the application you have to prove you can look after yourself, but if the worst happens and my entire family loses all our jobs then the government just buys us a ticket back to the UK I think.

Wrong, partly. I got a student loan 6 months after I got here, and was entitled to the benefit (which I did not take, and never have taken). I arrived AFTER I got permanent residency, as we sorted that out before arriving, the safest way to do it. If you arrive here in NZ and plan to sort everything out thereafter, you need to prove (amoung many other things) that you can support yourself for the duration. Also, immigrants generally are able to support themselves, as they are usually only let into the country if they have skills that are beneficial to NZ. I'm not talking about assylum seakers, that's another matter. I'm not sure how you immigrated, or at what point you're at with it, but as soon as you get permanent residency (and obviously citizenship after 3 years of having permanent residency) you're eligible for the benefit, and all other entitlements that NZ citizens get.

But we surely do have poverty in this country. Seen any homeless people lately? Seen streetkids sleeping in the parks? Seen families living in houses without electricity? Seen the demand for foodbanks etc? Seen the number of families who rely on charity meals at xmas time? Seen how many people the sallies etc clothe, feed, and care for on a yearly basis?
Poverty in another nation, especially a 3rd world nation is NOT OUR CONCERN. I'm perfectly serious in my wish for aid groups like TearFund, World Vision etc to be made illegal in NZ, they do NOTHING for our country, and exist just to suck funds from our economy into hands of people whom this nation owes nothing. The organisers should be rounded up, jailed for theft, then deported to live in the countries they seem to love so much.

The homeless in this country surely must be citizens, or residents. They are entitled to the benefit. Lots do receive it, but prefer to waste it on drink/drugs. There are rooms to rent, and food/water/clothing in NZ which one could have, all affordable with the benefit. It wouldn't be flash, but you wouldn't be homeless. If you really wanted to, you can work yourself up the ladder slowly. Street kids run away from their parents/guardians and choose to live and steal on the street. If they weren't so "staunch" and acting tough in gangs, with education they could turn their life around too. It sounds far fetched? I'm sure I could live on the dole, and slowly work my way to a basic but comfortable existance. As for having no electricity, a good option would be to stop drinking, smoking, gambling and/or drugging. It's all about priorities. Am I wrong? Hell I could be out of touch, but it seems this way to me. You may think that's easy to say but it's different in life? I agree, but if you really hated the streets, cold, lack of food, etc, you have the choice. It is not poverty if you choose where you live, and what you do. I personally know someone who started cleaning, and worked their way up in the company to a very good job which is sufficient to maintain a comfortable existence for the rest of their life, if they so choose. This was through hard work, enthusiasm, respect(which a hell of alot of so called poverty stricken people don't have, or even understand) and ambition

I partially agree with banning some charity groups. Only the honest/effective charities should exist. I would be much happier if the money I donated (less fair administration/resources charges) went straight to the family I sponsored, or to the school/food providers that they deal with. The world is in too much of a crises to bring about considerable change, in my opinion. Too many countries are too greedy and superficial to realise their insane lust for power and wealth is destroying what little we have left. I think our generation, and possibly one or two more are enjoying the best of what the world has to offer. I doubt the world will be as open/enjoyable in 50 years as it was in the past.