I'll Say Goodbye

Goodbye to Leslie Longstone.  And 10c of my tax money last year.

Is it just me, or does a $425,000 golden handshake, after 13 months, seem excessive.  That's almost $200 for every hour worked, in addition to regular pay.

Responsibility lies with the minister, who must explain this.

Meanwhile Halswell Residential College has had its budget cut by about a million dollars and is looking to cut its costs in the usual manner - transferring the costs to WINZ.

Hekia Parata is the worst Education Minister since, well, unfortunately, Anne Tolley.  Her only achievement is to make her colleagues look competent, when they are not.

Dance Exponents - Prayers Be Answered, 1983

Ugly Day

Spring Creek, Tiwai Point and NI Mussel Processors.  I'd ask if the 170,000 new jobs includes the loss of these jobs, or is in addition to them, but I expect a good proportion of the soon-to-be-unemployed will not contribute to the unemployment rate in NZ, by emigrating.
I'd suggest that the managers responsible should hang their heads in shame, and tender their resignations.  But their role is to maximise the return to shareholders, not keep people employed or contribute to the communities they are based in.  Which leads to the question, is the version of capitalism we have the best solution?  Surely we can come up with something better.

The 3D's - Hellzapoppin, 1992

Trying to Get By

The Voice of National wrote an opinion piece in the Herald asking "should beneficiaries get the in work tax credit?"

I'd like to know why benefits are taxed.  Why are benefits taxed?

The Feelers - One World, 2006

Slave

Puddleglum has written about unemployment and motivation.

As usual, it's a comprehensive, thought-provoking piece.  Have a read.  I'll be there to comment once I can get my head together and (hopefully) make a comment worthy of the post.

Silverchair - Freak Show, 1997

Champagne and Misery

I'm not sure if it is the unrelenting willingness of some people to do the wrong thing and crap all over not only other people, but sometimes even their own family, or the avoidance of personal responsibility by hiding behind insolvency law, but something about the case of Janita Wright and her niece, Veronica Kloeten revolts me.
As a brief summary, Wright dismissed Kloeten from her employment when she found Kloeten was pregnant.  The courts awarded Kloeten a sum as damage, however Wright's company went insolvent and the damages are not payable as Kloeten is not a secured creditor.
There's a saying about being able to tell a lot about a person by the company they keep.  Janita Wright has been unable to keep her links to Rod Petricevic suppressed.

The Clean - Unknown Country, 1996