Pathetic

Since when did hoons become the new 'P'?

I'm not going to waste my time wittering about the stupidity of a hasty response to the unspeakable evil of boy racers (1). No Right Turn has pretty much said it all, not once but twice (2).

Yup, petrol heads can be thuggish. Groups of young people can be intimidating, and act recklessly. They can be loud. They can make life unpleasant for those around them. That also describes pubs. And even schools. I've been to barbeques like that. Are these activities also to be outlawed?

So whats to add? Only it is unedifying and disappointing to see the prime minister and his long lost twin the leader of the opposition scrambling to jump on this issue and appear to be Doing Something. Which, as usual, means pandering to exaggerated public fears and blanket assaults on the liberties of people who aren't likely to vote for them. Obviously, they learned a lot from Winston 'The darkies are coming' Peters.

Pathetic. Grow up, New Zealanders, and re-discover your spines. It will stop your knees jerking.

1 -"Police to get powers to crush boyracer activities," unattributed NZPA article, reproduced on stuff.co.nz, dated 2nd of February, 2009. (http://www.stuff.co.nz/4835509a11.html)
2 - 'Smells like ASBOs' and "Herald supports ASBO authoritarianism,' posted by Idiot/Savant on No Right Turn, 2nd of February and 3rd of February. (http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2009/02/smells-like-asbos.html and http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2009/02/herald-supports-asbo-authoritarianism.html)