Oi, put that in your paper!

CHRISTINE OETTINGER

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14 November 2008

The ‘News’ asks you what you think of the day’s issues.
Interview by Emanuel Nordrum

CHRISTINE OETTINGER, 35, BERMONDSEY 

What's the best thing about Southwark?
For me, the distance to the city, for work.

What would you like to change about the borough?
A bit more stuff for the kids, to get them off the street. I know we have a youth centre here, but it's not really that full. The parks aren't really patrolled enough, there's not really any place for the kids to play.

What's your favorite place?
I really like the Blue Market. I wish the Blue could be made up a bit more. They were talking of investing some more money into market stalls, but not much has been done since then.

MPs are suggesting setting minimum prices on alcohol, effectively banning Happy Hour in order to combat drink-fueled crime. Does that sound like a good idea to you?
I think that if you're going to ban stuff, it just makes people want to do it more. More alcohol awareness is probably a good thing, but banning low-price alcohol… They're just going to do it anyway.

Medical experts are warning people against trying 'miracle cures' advertised on the internet. If you had an incurable condition, would you try a treatment you had only heard about online?
I wouldn't just buy it. I'd definitely do the research and find someone who's tried it before, and see if anything is backed up.

Southwark council is inviting Obama to visit; if he came, what would you ask him?
Oh no! I left the country, so I've got nothing to say… I don't know. Looking at our work ethic, especially in Britain, with our 25 day standard holiday, whereas Americans get 10 days’ holiday - does he think that's fair? The quality of life here, work wise, is much better than in the US. What does he think about changing that in America? Maybe I'll think about going back then.

In the past year, 1,500 children aged four or younger have been suspended from school. Are kids getting worse, or are teachers just quicker to suspend?
Parents are worse than before. If you educate the parents, you educate the kids. You can't blame the kids for their behavior.

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