Stuff WORTH getting upset about

[ManDownUnder]

Oh dear! So when my transplant fails and leaves me with kidney failure again, and I can no longer summon the energy work to support myself because my blood is so toxic, despite dialysis, I am supposed to do what job?

I have a great job, journalism, not exactly physically demanding, and I am nearly at the stage now where it is very difficult to work, because my transplant is on the way out and my body is slowly getting poisoned. Have you ever had a really bad flu, come out the other side feeling like shit and like a bus has run over you?

That is what a lot of chronic illnesses are like. Willpower or skills have nothing to do with it. If they did, I'd be away and laughing, because I have plenty of both.

Yes, there are a lot of people who are on the sickness benefit for highly dodgy reasons, but for example my mother who had MS for 20 years and died as a tetraplegic - she should have been working at what job?

I hope you never have to find out what a debilitatingly severe illness is really like, because it's certainly not on my top ten list of fun occupations.

I'm not mad at you by the way, I just think you haven't engaged the braincells much on this one!

There's a pretty simple solution to it - if you CAN'T work then that's a perfectly reasonable out. I have long held the view a society is judged on how it treats it's weak and infirm...

I didn't mention it but part of that... "manifesto"... is to use the money gained from the increase in productiivity for the good of the citizens (obviously - why else would you do it...?)

Which means funding for treatment, GOOD treatment. People with renal failure, needing transplants etc GET THEM... no waiting lists, no BS referrals back to a GP if you've been on the list more then 18 months (WTF is THAT about???).

My possibly naieve thought is that those tthat can be contributing should be... people can opt out with the blessing of the state... and support from the state. If you want to live the good life... by all means do so. Just don't expect me to be paying your way.

I'm simply talking about turning the heat up on slackers. Those with genuine needs get them attended to because we all benefit... I have nothing to gain by someone suffering kidney failure being forced to work in the mills. I do have something to gain by you being taken care of, to the highest degree possible, and getting you back into society as soon as reasonably possible.

I hope that makes sense? It's no a no care approach. Quite the opposite - it's a mutual respect approach. The State does stuff for me, I'll do stuff for the State... ... and between us both, we both benefit.

[Hitcher]

I believe that society has a responsibility to look after people who can't look after themselves. But it should resist any temptation to support people who can. As Richard Prebble once noted, social welfare should be a safety net, not a hammock.

[MSTRS:Me]

Stick 'em in the military. Get some discipline in them...

...and a bullet or two for some of them. Cannonfodder was a check/balance in itself...

[ManDownUnder]

...and a bullet or two for some of them. Cannonfodder was a check/balance in itself...

LOL while I hear what you're saying I'm afraid that is where we part ways. Enforced training does not equal enforced service. Being without work doesn't equal the states entitlement to put your life on the line.

If you volunteer for the army - that's whole different case (as it is today). I'm simply talking about teaching slack bastards to actually get out of bed... make it and feed themselves good food so they're ready for what comes next in a productive day.

As opposed to staying in bed till Thursday because you're sick of that Playstation game and Thursday is when your dole comes through and you can afford the latest variant of digital timewaster/life sap.

[janno]

Ah, we are in agreement then, MDU.

Slackers should be burnt and rendered down for biodegradable fuel - their organs donated first, of course . . . . I'd be happy to donate my time to being on the adjudicating panel - there! A job I could do!

I can tell you though, I've felt absolutely humilated every time I've had to deal with WINZ. Make you feel like a failure. Though the people I deal with seem thrilled to be talking to someone who wants to work but can't , rather than someone who won't.

[MSTRS:Me]

Slackers should be burnt and rendered down for biodegradable fuel - their organs donated first, of course . . . . I'd be happy to donate my time to being on the adjudicating panel - there! A job I could do!

And 'conflict of interest' raises its curly head....
Actually, I wasn't proposing that the 'slackers' be shot...just pointing out that the historic role of the great unwashed was that of cannonfodder.

[ManDownUnder]

And 'conflict of interest' raises its curly head....
Actually, I wasn't proposing that the 'slackers' be shot...just pointing out that the historic role of the great unwashed was that of cannonfodder.

LOL... fair point.

Re the great unwashed I'd prefer to wash 'em ... stand 'em in the sun and help them help themselves... after that - their fate is their own... no problems giving someone a fresh start, and to be honest I expect many will need 2... and the occasional 3... but each one will be less comfortable than the previous one.

[MSTRS:Me]

LOL... fair point.

Re the great unwashed I'd prefer to wash 'em ... stand 'em in the sun and help them help themselves... after that - their fate is their own... no problems giving someone a fresh start, and to be honest I expect many will need 2... and the occasional 3... but each one will be less comfortable than the previous one.

Come now, surely the policy of throwing more money at them works well? After all, it's the lack of the stuff that got them in that position in the first place....

[ManDownUnder]

Come now, surely the policy of throwing more money at them works well? After all, it's the lack of the stuff that got them in that position in the first place....

Substitute "discipline" for "money" in that sentence and you'll have my complete agreement. In many ways wealth is merely an artefact of discipline....

Give 'em what they need - not what they want.

[avgas]

All the new bike designers are smoking crap,
Moto-GP when from a alcohol fuel fun sport with 2 strokes - to machines that hum more that most mothers virbrators.
F1 is still full of wankers.
Rally lost half its teams.
The US keep loosing currency faster than the war in iraq.
Rakon are still in Business (dont worry, its a personal thing not political).
People live in million dollar mansions, on unemployment benefit.
Degree's are worth a pinch of shit in NZ.
Companies like TrendWest can advertise illegally about competitions.

[tri boy]

In many ways wealth is merely an artefact of discipline....

No no good sir, wealth can be a reward for self discipline.(excluding all that cool kinky shit that catches my attention).

[janno]

And 'conflict of interest' raises its curly head....

Yup, yup and yuppity yup on that one.

Every time I see someone competing for the next Darwin awards, I think "there goes a lovely set of kidneys . . ."


And heart, and lungs and pancreas etc . . .

Not a brain though, there doesn't seem to be a brain

[Animal]

Bollox to that. We need the Singapore model...

Bring it on!

I like your point of view!

[Chrislost]

What about us right wing hippy types I take it tjhat we are exculded from your comments

yeah! havnt met many of you guys yet, so i dont hate you yet

[Scouse]

In My personal opinion
We have minibikes being sold In New zealand that are unsafe to be on the road and yet we let it happen.

Easily fixed just dont buy one