It’s surprising that there’s so much freedom and democracy around, because there are dictators everywhere!
The granny-Goebbels living below us wrote a rude note in the foyer because someone dared hang their laundry in the communal braai area. It was only for a few hours in the sun, and as I passed it on the way to do Lucy and my gruds I thought, “Wish I could let myself do that!”
I can’t, you see, because my paranoid South African mind worries that someone will jump over the wall and pinch my holy t-shirts and Lucy’s sexy knickers.
As a resident, the fact someone else could do it didn’t bother me at all.
She signed the handwritten letter: The Trustees, before she putty’d it to the marble counter-top. I figured if she’d gone to all the trouble to call a meeting and vote on it the least she could do was type and print it out with a cute Swastika letterhead.
And then I thought about all the other mini-dictators in the world, ruling their little Zimbabwes with an iron, wrinkly fist.
Not all are wrinkly and frail either. Just think of your boss, or your mother, laying down the law with no parliamentary committee or public participation. And almost everyone on a block of flats’ body corporate are self-righteous control freaks.
It’s inevitable that some of these people would end up on the top of the pile; the figureheads of entire nations.
With the possible exception of hippies, most parents are fascist bastards – they have to be – otherwise their kids would end up pregnant teenagers, drug addicts or worse… writers!
Most of the time it’s much easier to steer someone else’s destiny than your own. And growing up you quickly realise that most of the decisions that affect your life are made in your absence (if I may paraphrase Salman Rushdie).
People blab that “power corrupts; and absolute power corrupts absolutely” – I don’t think that’s true at all. The world isn’t a kiddies’ TV show, but imagine the state of it if everyone in authority was bent?
Corruption does not necessarily infect those in power, but those with corruptible natures will always seek out power.
Showing posts with label grannies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grannies. Show all posts
Thinking Out the Ballot Box
I think Cape Town is a very well-run city. Helen Zille and the Democratic Alliance are doing a much better job than the ANC, who stole the city through floor-crossing a few years ago because they couldn’t get actual votes.
The blowhards who rule our beloved country bang on about how racist Cape Town is because they voted whites into power, but I don’t think it’s a race thing at all.
And I don’t think it’s all got to do with race when it comes to the ANC either. They don’t want all the money and power for blacks, they want it for themselves.
I truly believe that for the most part the DA are striving to make this city better for the people living in it, even when it comes to the new liquor law.
Unfortunately, I think Taki Amira and the rest of the party poopers spoiling everyone’s fun just don’t have the ability to think out of the box or be even the mildest bit creative.
I’m not really for or against the new law. It just seems pointless.
Sending everyone home early won’t stop drunk drivers – we need more roadblocks and better policing; we need to instil the belief that it is idiotic to sit behind the wheel when you can barely stand.
And it’s certainly not going to help those poor families with an abusive, alcoholic patriarch – if anything they’ll be even more pissed off and prone to violence when they get sent packing because their local’s got to close early.
In the UK, many pubs and clubs blacklist punters who cause trouble or get violent on or around the premises. This Pubwatch scheme works wonders because if you get shitfaced and start a brawl that’s it! You won’t be allowed into any of the participating pubs.
But it is all up to the bars and restaurants to uphold this social responsibility and work together.
A crazy idea that might curb domestic abuse would be to make bottle stores require ID and proof of residence from patrons. All purchases would need to be recorded and regularly checked by the police. Any retailers that sold without recording the customers’ details would need to be fined or shut down.
Domestic abuse recidivists could then be blacklisted and if they’re serious offenders they could be banned from purchasing liquor.
This would also help to get drunk bergies off the streets – no address, no hooch.
The law as it stands isn’t bad at all, but we need to tackle these problems in creative ways, from every angle.
I just feel sorry for all the waiters and bartenders who, after all the crap they’ve had to deal with, might enjoy an after-work drink to unwind, but can’t… because everything’s shut :(
The blowhards who rule our beloved country bang on about how racist Cape Town is because they voted whites into power, but I don’t think it’s a race thing at all.
And I don’t think it’s all got to do with race when it comes to the ANC either. They don’t want all the money and power for blacks, they want it for themselves.
I truly believe that for the most part the DA are striving to make this city better for the people living in it, even when it comes to the new liquor law.
Unfortunately, I think Taki Amira and the rest of the party poopers spoiling everyone’s fun just don’t have the ability to think out of the box or be even the mildest bit creative.
I’m not really for or against the new law. It just seems pointless.
Sending everyone home early won’t stop drunk drivers – we need more roadblocks and better policing; we need to instil the belief that it is idiotic to sit behind the wheel when you can barely stand.
And it’s certainly not going to help those poor families with an abusive, alcoholic patriarch – if anything they’ll be even more pissed off and prone to violence when they get sent packing because their local’s got to close early.
In the UK, many pubs and clubs blacklist punters who cause trouble or get violent on or around the premises. This Pubwatch scheme works wonders because if you get shitfaced and start a brawl that’s it! You won’t be allowed into any of the participating pubs.
But it is all up to the bars and restaurants to uphold this social responsibility and work together.
A crazy idea that might curb domestic abuse would be to make bottle stores require ID and proof of residence from patrons. All purchases would need to be recorded and regularly checked by the police. Any retailers that sold without recording the customers’ details would need to be fined or shut down.
Domestic abuse recidivists could then be blacklisted and if they’re serious offenders they could be banned from purchasing liquor.
This would also help to get drunk bergies off the streets – no address, no hooch.
The law as it stands isn’t bad at all, but we need to tackle these problems in creative ways, from every angle.
I just feel sorry for all the waiters and bartenders who, after all the crap they’ve had to deal with, might enjoy an after-work drink to unwind, but can’t… because everything’s shut :(
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