tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post465583140322239899..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: NSW - Problems in Child WelfareJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-11512452532942713862007-11-13T17:20:00.000+11:002007-11-13T17:20:00.000+11:00I haven't read Heinlein, Jim, though comparing soc...I haven't read Heinlein, Jim, though comparing social structures does interest me.<BR/><BR/>The bashing of the three-year old girl occasioning severe injuries last night has disturbed me greatly especially in light of the ever popular and widespread activity of 'shoulder-shrugging' and 'buck-passing'!<BR/><BR/>If the world is to be made a better place for everyone to live in some things are going to have to be changed by force if necessary. <BR/><BR/>If they don't, we humans will eventually destroy ourselves.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02798600572745255535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-8138615437992251462007-11-12T18:16:00.000+11:002007-11-12T18:16:00.000+11:00I don't know that I am quite as pessimistic as tha...I don't know that I am quite as pessimistic as that Daniel. I suspect that you are not either!<BR/><BR/>As a general statement, I see the core of Western Civilisation as a search for ways to control the devil within. And I think that we have in fact made progress. <BR/><BR/>As a second general statement, I also see the way in which we do things, sometimes for the best raesons in the world, as sometimes contributing to a problem.<BR/><BR/>Take, as an example, the creation of public housing estates. Ths was not done for bad reasons, quite the contrary. But the effect was to create ghettos of deprivation. In turn, this fed into social problems. So now we are trying to unwind the policy.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes this has its own negative effects in turn. <BR/><BR/>Did you ever read Heinlein? I read a lot of science fiction and I really liked him. I did not always agree, but I found his experiments with different social structures fascinating.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-62306672377433040562007-11-12T11:35:00.000+11:002007-11-12T11:35:00.000+11:00Your first and last paragraphs demonstrate that we...Your first and last paragraphs demonstrate that we have much in common, Jim.<BR/><BR/>The main problem is human nature. Dealing with that at source requires either stronger laws with ever more severe punishments or genetic engineering. I see no other solution!Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02798600572745255535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-77730027596115437152007-11-11T21:50:00.000+11:002007-11-11T21:50:00.000+11:00Sometimes, Daniel, I get very depressed at the nat...Sometimes, Daniel, I get very depressed at the nature of the human condition. <BR/><BR/>Any half way decent parent, I often talk about my two girls, cannot but be attracted by the innocence and vulnerability of childhood. There are a small number of kids who seem evil from birth. But for most, when I look at the adults that some kids become I wonder what went wrong.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you that the protection of kids is critical. I suppose the point is, how best to do it.<BR/><BR/>I do not think that the answer lies in ever more law and controls. I think that it lies in addressing the problem at source. Sometimes, also, we have to recognise that shit happens.<BR/><BR/>Humans are like a janus god, one face good, one bad. The core struggle of humanity is the struggle to build on the good, to control the bad.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-61025112969292804002007-11-11T20:23:00.000+11:002007-11-11T20:23:00.000+11:00As with Neil's response, Jim, we seem to live in a...As with Neil's response, Jim, we seem to live in a world where actually solving problems always seems to be pushed into the back seat. People find intricate reasons and lame excuses for everything and end up doing little or nothing. Shrugging shoulders is very popular!<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, children are dying. Sad really. They should be protected!Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02798600572745255535noreply@blogger.com