KEY POINTS:
When Richard Prebble was leader of Act, he once told me he never read the morning papers until the evening because he wouldn't allow the media to influence the sort of day he would have. Like many of The Preb's stories, it was a good one, but I've no doubt he did take a peek at the news occasionally, if only to see what havoc his unruly caucus had been causing.
I thought of Richard's advice this week, when every day confirmed the world is, indeed, going mad - or at least those who run our little world here in Aotearoa.
First there was the Prime Minister's post-cabinet press conference on Monday at which she announced there were too many liquor retail outlets and it was time something was done to make it harder for shops to sell booze.
This was a typical kneejerk reaction to the appalling shooting by thugs of Navtej Singh in his Manurewa shop. I don't often agree with Police Association President Greg O'Connor these days - I think he's a bit overzealous in his defence of the police - but he was absolutely correct when he cautioned people to stop blaming police for Mr Singh's death and focus their anger on the pieces of shite who invaded the store and pulled the trigger.
But did Parliament listen? Well, sort of, except now it's the fault of the liquor licensees that there's so much violent crime in South Auckland.
Only one councillor from that area talked sense, when she pointed out similar populations like Christchurch have more liquor licences, but no one jumps up and down about restricting the right to own one when someone is killed in that city.
So long as they're not supplying minors or breaching other clauses of the legislation, all who sell alcohol in South Auckland are legally going about their businesses, making money to support their families. So why do we suddenly jump on them when these appalling crimes take place?
I note that one of the arrested was described as unemployed, with no fixed abode. If he's fit enough to raid a bottle store, he should be fit enough to work - so why don't we make it harder for these scum to get welfare?
I can hear all the limousine liberals now, wailing "without welfare he'd probably just rob more innocent shopkeepers". When was state welfare meant as a tool to fight crime?
Several days later another horrible death occurred in the area, when Joanne Wang had her handbag snatched and was mown down by the robbers in their stolen getaway car.
No doubt many wondered why she'd tried to stop these crims from taking her property, and it's easy to be wise after the event.
But I couldn't believe my ears when I heard a radio interview with National MP Pansy Wong about Asian women being targeted for bag-snatching because it was believed they carried too much cash in their purses. Don't they know they're asking for it?
This Neanderthal attitude used to be prevalent when women were raped. Wearing a short skirt, plunging neckline and follow-me stilettos? What do you expect when men go nuts and chase you down the street to a dark alley? In other words, you can't blame the men, they're just doing what comes naturally.
These sorts of comments have largely disappeared, save for the narrow-minded rednecks who passed similar opinions about Louise Nicholas' experience with dodgy cops.
Thankfully, we've had enlightened judges in this country who, even back when soliciting was illegal, still sent a strong message to men who raped prostitutes that every woman has the right to say no.
But the biggest lunacy sighting of the week had to be the clots from the Ministry of Education who spent $56,000 on Maori education promotion packs for teachers, which included badges with phrases like "wassup!" "nice!" and "I love Maori success".
Where to start? With the awful knowledge it was grown-ups who came up with this idea? That they are old people trying to be cool? The bureaucracy responsible for setting education standards uses words like "wassup"? Schools are struggling with hopeless operations grants and this is how they are treated? The ministry thinks teachers are so infantile they have to communicate via silly badges?
There are two ways to cope with this nonsense. Take the Preb's advice, or follow H.L. Mencken: "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."
At least I could blame the bureaucrats and politicians for driving me to homicidal behaviour.
