Saying "Sorry"

There still seem to be a lot of people who don't understand the significance of this gesture. To assist this understanding, let me make the following points:

1. My life has been mostly filled with sadness, depression, anxiety and lack of identity. I was, for the major part, an angry person looking for someone to blame for my pain.

2. As I grew older, and with help froma wonderful counsellor, I realised what it was really all about. I simply, but desperately, wanted the most influential people in my life to acknowledge the pain of my childhood, to accept some responsibility no matter their motives, and to say SORRY.

3. To many, I know, this will seem ridiculous. Only those with similar histories will empathise. To the rest of you I say, please do not condemn us, just try as you might to understand what, for so long, we have needed to be whole and to move on with our lives in a positive and rational manner.

 

Who is to Blame?

There has been a lot said and written about DOCS (Department of Child Services) in New South Wales of late. Almost all of it is negative. The individual cases of abused and neglected children are highlighted as an indictment upon this government department and it's minister.

There is some acknowledgement that the department is seriously under-resourced, and that its procedures are inadequate to deal with the demands it faces.

But what is lacking is an acknowledgement that these demands have increased almost exponentially. And the point is not that the NSW Government has not kept up with this increase; The point is that it is a sad reflection upon the "progress" of our society. This is a societal problem. It belongs to each and every one of us. It is WE that are to blame, and it is we that must find appropriate solutions.

Interest Rates - A Very Blunt Instrument.

Interest rates are no longer an appropriate or even effective means to curb inflation. They are not appropriate because they harm the most vulnerable. And they are not effective because they don't mean that much to those who are spending the money. The rises over the past few years have proved that, but the Reserve bank knows of no other instrument to apply.

It is an acknowledged fact that the great and widening divide between the rich and poor in Australia has effectively wiped out the once-reigning middle class of our economy. When they prevailed, interest rates were the most effective weapon in tackling inflation. But not now.

I believe the Government must introduce TAX REFORMS to fight inflation. Indeed, it is largely the effect of tax reforms under the Howard government that have exacerbated the divide. The rich have just got richer, and the poor poorer. The only way to effectively fight inflation today is to reverse some of these reforms. The government can both slow down spending and alleviate hardship by placing a greater tax burden upon the rich and less upon the poor.

Record profits, resulting in record dividends, going to a smaller and smaller group of stockholders, is immoral when almost 50% of families are under extreme financial stress. And while a relatively small percentage of the population earn incredibly good money (especially in the resource sector), a large proportion earn a wage that is simply insufficient.