‘POWER RANGERS’ TAKING BATTY TO THE NEXT LEVEL

BOY, doesn’t a bit of power inflate some people’s selfimportance? And it seems to be getting worse, maybe epidemic proportions.

What have we done to deserve this? I suspect it is because they think/assume we are so apathetic and indifferent we will just ignore it and they can carry on their merry way.

And this power seems to come increasingly with stupidity as well. Maybe they are somehow related?

People get into a position with, in some cases a little power, no prior commentary on how ridiculous they intend to use or push this power and suddenly you get inflicted with such total crap you are left wondering – where did you come from? Are they really this stupid or do they actually believe the rubbish they are trying to inflict on the Mob?

Two classics close to home town this week spring to mind.

First real power trip. Some power-hungry-I’m-incharge and I’m-veryimportant-type person decides in “his” apartment block he will unilaterally ban any Christmas lights as they impact on the aesthetics of the building. Wow – massive issue, stop this in its tracks, next thing people will be celebrating Christmas in their apartments!

Buddy, seriously get a life. It’s a few weeks in a year, it’s a bit of fun and pleasure for some people. It actually makes a lot of people and kids in particular happy. The building will be fine, by first week of January it will all be gone (and I suspect you will need to find something else to moan about). Somebody in this building buy him a drink or an Aspro or something – please.

Second blockbuster power trip. The Mayor of the Tweed Shire, Katie Milne, decides she can’t vote in favour of increasing the height limit to buildings on a development because and, I quote, “the bird, bat, other flying wildlife and insects will strike the highrise buildings”. Oh, good lord! But wait, it gets better. She goes on to talk about “our international obligation to protect birds”.

How did she keep a straight face when she got stuck into the other councillors for not supporting her? With garbage like this she should be doing stand-up comedy. It’s side-splitting humour, isn’t it? Bloody funny stuff. Stop it, you’re killing us.

Exactly what “international obligation” was she referring to that protects flying birds, insects etc from flying into buildings? Perhaps the United Nations has opened up a special division to bring an end to this massive global problem. On the Gold Coast certainly the ibis aren’t suffering, they are in plague proportions. Perhaps under her “leadership” the next stop is to remove all buildings on the planet higher than three storeys.

You see she is OK with up to three storeys, so do we assume that no bird, bat, flying wildlife or insect flies around under the threestorey limit? Boy, that would certainly help alleviate most of the mosquito problem.

Or perhaps she has had several high-level meetings with the said described “bird, bat, other flying wildlife and insects” and they have reported they are collectively fine with lowlevel buildings. Something is batty here, no question.

I also love how she feels an “international responsibility” to bird life. How about some sense of responsibility to affordable housing on the Tweed coast?

Tweed ratepayers and residents have a massive shortage of accommodation. Perhaps that might get a look in as well. Or is the insect and bird life higher up her scale in the greater scheme of things? Chuck her out at the next election, Tweed folks, and get someone who cares about people first.

A little bit of power and suddenly people start inflicting their personal, weird agendas on the mob.

Enough is enough – get control of these bizarre agendas or it keeps going until it runs out of control, just like in France today. It all starts with people who think they can shove their crap down our throats because they know what is “good” for us.

Here’s a tip – you don’t.

TONY COCHRANE