The Tail of the Turban

It is amazing how some issues really bring out the darkness in some New Zealanders. Listening tonight to some of the comments on the Radio-Live talk show concerning the issue of the Manurewa Cosmopolitan club and their decision to ban head gear even for religious purposes it saddened me to think that there were people from this country who were so narrow minded and yet at the same time, it did not surprise me one bit.

There were people who felt that those who come into our country of Sikh background should essentially denounce a principal of their beliefs and remove their turbans to enter the country. I wonder how they would feel if the situation were reversed.

Now I agree with a club being able to set their rules for entry and membership. As archaic as they may be perceived to be. The thing is though if the rules were consistent through the clubs then I don't think there would be so much of a problem. But at the same time we are like it or not, a multi-cultural society, accepting of the good things people bring to the varied table we have here in this beautiful country.

It reminds me somewhat of the clear racial bigitory that existed in the movie Remember the Titans. Every one knows the story of a black and white high school forced to integrate in the middle of the civil rights fury. The portrayal historically accurate or not reflects the way in which varied cultures and backgrounds can come together to achieve something bigger than themselves. Surprising that after so many years the same lessons for some remain unlearned.

Grow up you old cronies...It ain't no baseball cap. It serves a purpose.

Want some cheese with that whine?

The arrogance of new Backbench Labour MP Chris Carter funnily enough does not surprise me at all. He had two of the best to learn from in Helen Clark and Michael Cullen but in this latest saga I am even more surprised that he decided to play the dumbest card of them all...the Gay Card.

In trying to deflect attention from his own misdemeanors with his ministerial credit card he feels that he is being singled out because he is gay. Oh for heavens sake man...grow a spine. 90% of people out there, including myself could care less you are gay, but care more you used your ministerial credit card for personal things and aren't owning up to it.

Shane Jones was an idiot. Using his card to pay for mini-bar drinks at horrendous prices in the first place, $4.00 for a $1 can of coke is just stupid any way you slice it, but using it for adult movies? Are you just nuts or did we mistake that thing on your shoulders for a head containing a brain. Now...he could have said 'I'm being picked on because I'm a Maori' just as easily. He didn't. He got caught and he faced the music.

Carter was big in a statement on Monday saying he 'accepted' the leaders decision to demote. I really don't think he had much of a choice but to accept the decision. John Armstrong for the Herald said "When your leader sends you home from parliament and tells you to consider your political future, you should assume you probably haven't got one". How true that is.

The thing is Carter unlike Jones is an electorate MP. Should he resign completely it forces a byelection in Te Atatu. It may be a strong Labour seat but does Labour want to take the risk? If Jones went then they know it brings Kath Tizard to the house again and shes hardly a clean one too as the former Minister of Auckland...and from all the commentary I am hearing no one wants that, including Labour members.

Thing is though...his rat race around parliament yesterday made him look guilty as sin and his less than willingness to provide an apology. In his mind he doesn't need to give one...only when Goff showed some spine and said do it or else did one come. My mind...not good enough.

This is stress he has brought on himself. He fouled up, denies it, now he's copping it. If he leaves, honestly as Phil Goff I'd say...good riddance. Apart from racking up thousands of frequent flyer miles and massive credit card bills on the dumbest things I don't know what he's done for the country.

There are wider questions of course like why do ministers have credit cards anyways. But I see the logic in it. However with the advent of debit cards with visa capabilities why not pre-load cards that ministers use for trips with expenses money and remote pay by a central card for hotels and things. You load onto the card the necessary expenses they would encounter or their allowances money, but essentially if they want to spend their own money on buying flowers for their partners, they pay for it.

It's got nothing to do with how gay you are. The public could in general care less. Stop whining.

Things just keep adding up

Last week the reserve bank increased the official cash rate (OCR) by .25 basis points to 2.75%. If you want to know what the OCR does follow this link to the Reserve Banks website about the OCR and other monetary policy statements.

http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monpol/about/0072140.html

BUT. With an increase in the OCR comes another likely increase into costs that was not spoken about in the budget. The OCR influences bank mortgage rates. An increase or decrease in the OCR by the Reserve Bank tends to lead towards peeks and dips in the rates offered on mortgages at banks we use every day. Those who own their own home can likely expect rates at the banks to go up, adding to your weekly payments.

But in the current environment this move in the OCR is another weekly increase that seemed to have been missed by Bill English and his budget. This change was not unexpected. In fact from July 2009 the OCR has been unchanged at 2.5% and we were warned that an increase was likely around this time. I am no economist. I'm no economic strategist. I'm Joe public with bills to pay and I would not blame my landlord if I got an email or a letter soon saying your rent is going up to $XXX as of a certain date. Its bound to happen with other increases coming soon from the ETS and GST and who knows what else is coming. It just means more out of our pocket into someone else's.

Now the Government could get away with saying that its not responsible for landlords rents, or Reserve Bank policy and it may technically be true. But ultimately responsibility comes back to the government for creating the environment in which these changes are necessary by landlords and other proprietors. Government changes the tax situations on property owners, owners do one of two things. Sell out, or pass on costs. Thus ultimately the government is responsible for the cause...if not the effect.

We have already received letters from companies whose services we use that have advised us of increased costs, directly or indirectly associated with the ETS or prospected tax increases within the next month. In our own cost savings measures we are cutting some of these 'convenience' services but in the end, it will save us cents, rather than dollars overall.

I said in a previous blog that as much as I want to own my own home some time I do not believe it will be within the next decade without some kind of huge miraculous lotto win and since I don't buy tickets, it will make it impossible. My personal position on that has not changed at all. In fact, long before that decade is out we intend to leave the country for what are likely to be better pastures in the USA.

Now I'm no economist nor am I a chartered accountant. I'm a simple working family man who tries to do his best for his family and employer. But I know this overall from the budget and other aspects related to it...we're going to have a rough ride.