Bryce
http://www.liberation.org.nz

All to keep Labour’s dominant constituincies happy (Auckland and Wellington and Peter’s Tauraunga).

Bryce

Several decades ago, I was a 15 year old kid in a fairly rough school in the UK, when the government of the day introduced a programme that became known as ROSLA - the Raising of the School Leaving Age, from 15 to 16. The school was a “comprehensive” school, meaning it had pupils of all abilities, many from poor and disadvantaged social backgrounds, thugs and yobbos.

The result of the ROSLA program meant that a whole bunch of kids who were supposed to depart school at 15 with no qualifications and enter the workforce were suddenly obligated to stay for another year. The problem for the school was what to do with the rozzlers (or rozzles) as they were known. Best as I can remember the rozzles were shoved into a classroom with the teacher who did remedial studies and career guidance (I hope he was better at remedial teaching than he was at career guidance, at which he sucked), and threw paper planes about. The rozzles hung around for a year, and then left, aged 16, still with no qualifications.

Given that Helen has bit between teeth on this one, I hope that something useful is done with this generation of kids so there extra jail time (which for many kids is exactly what it is like) is not wasted.

Far from convinced this is a good idea. However, looking back, in the UK ROSLA was a good thing, once the dust settled and stuff worked out, but being stuck in school till 18…

The public want change,

the public never want change big bro. one thing this government has done is to deliver a slower rate of change than previous governments. some people are champing at the bit to have the ’80’s & ’90’s reforms reversed, as you can see in this thread, & also evident in this thread are those who call this a left wing government & want further ’80’s & ’90’s style reform.
if one of these groups has their way the other lot will suddenly discover how much they enjoyed muddling down the middle of the road.

don’t blame the government for fearing the roading & other right-wing lobbies until they have beaten national at the next election. if you can’t deliver the voting support for left-wing ideas, don’t criticize the government for failing to go more left-wing.

This is all Clark actually said about Land Transport in her speech this morning:
“Here in Auckland the openings of new transport initiatives are coming thick and fast - with next weekend seeing the celebration of the completion of the North Shore busway.
And watch for an important announcement soon about progress on the Waterview Connection - a critical part of the Western Ring Route.”

There is no chance that the Maori party will go with Labour, John Key will sell us all out and do a deal on the foreshore and seabed.

You under estimate the real dislike many inside the Maori party have for this govt.

The public want change, if the left do not allow that change then we will see real displays of public annoyance.

It would be the end of MMP and a return to the days of 81, that is almost a price I would be willing to pay.