This weeks random rantings

Isn't there a lot of ranting going on in the media at present. Everything from gangs to drinking, teen parties and parenting to Auckland's cracking clippons.

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I'll start with gangs.

There are calls from all over the place to ban gangs. The loudest seems to be coming from Micheal Laws, Mayor of Wanganui and former MP. Hardly surprising really given that all this is the result of a drive by shooting in Wanganui that left a child dead. link

The problem, apart from yet another law, is that in trying to ban gangs it is very easy for the same law to ban sports clubs, Girl Guides, Scouts and even the Salvation Army. All because they wear uniforms and have badges. A gang is just a group after all. The whole idea makes as much sense as banning a Scout Gang Show.

I think that part of the problem with gangs is that they have this complex about being laughed at for doing things that are down right funny. I've seen patched gang members ride up the street on their souped up bikes and what is not to laugh at? One of them had handlebars so high that no police officer would need to request that the rider put his hands up. His hands were already well and truly up. Gang members try to cover up this inferiority complex by doing illegal things and scaring the dickens out of everybody else.

So what is the solution?
Yet another law followed by cries of nanny state?
How about enforcing the laws we already have.

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Which brings me to teen parties or rather out of control partying teens high on who know what. All that leads too is this. link
I have always wondered why people drink and taken strange substances at parties. I mean if you have to take some mood altering substance to have fun at a party it can't be much of the party.

That aside why are teens suddenly getting away with running a muck big time. Could it be the Rights of the Child legislation? What ever happened to the Rights of a Parent? Without those rights parenting has become all care and no responsibility.

Responsibility. That is what these out of control yoof need. As in taking responsibility for their actions. If they are not acting like children don't treat them like children.

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Speaking of responsibility, now for Auckland's cracking up Nippon Clippons.

Transit has decided to ban trucks from the Nippon Clippon lanes of the Coathanger, due to fatigue cracks starting to reappear.link
That's right Aucklander's or rather North Shorites have been there before. In the late 80s/early 90s I am told.

Why do all these people want to cross that bridge anyway?
60,000 vehicles a year, mostly because businesses insist on putting their offices on the south side of the bridge and employing people on the north side. There are calls all over the place for another harbour crossing. Many cries of build a new bridge, build a tunnel, replace the existing bridge. link

At the speed Auckland's leaders tend to solve major infrastructure problems involving more than one council somebody better put in an order for some vehicular ferries now because no doubt they will be needed before the local body politicians make up their minds.

How about it Fullers?