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The Forum > Article Comments > What do we value > Comments

What do we value : Comments

By Bill Calcutt, published 27/3/2014

Could a bill of rights stem growing levels of community disenchantment with the standards and behaviour of Australian political leaders.

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Absolutely agree.

>>A Bill of Rights will not affect the way politicians behave. It hasn't done so anywhere a Bill of Rights has been enacted.<<

Not only that, but also... a Bill of Rights is, behind the do-gooder rhetoric, merely a clever device, conceived and designed by lawyers, with which they are able to further enrich themselves. If one were ever enacted, we would quickly discover the depths to which these ambulance-chasers will reach, in order to lock in their $550 per hour fees (plus a mere $375p.h. for a junior, and an office clerk to photocopy documents a snip at $250p.h.) Every man+dog would be solicited for evidence of potential abuse, making the current crop of "compensation lawyers" that we see advertising on late-night TV look positively amateurish in comparison.

Google "UK Human Rights Lawyers" for further education on this sordid practice.

Here's the come-on from one such piranha:

"...we challenge the lawfulness of decisions, acts, omissions and policies of public bodies and authorities. Our human rights solicitors and lawyers are dedicated to ensuring access to justice for our clients in the notoriously expensive UK legal system."

This is classic. When they take these "public bodies and authorities" to court, they apply PR pressure to shame them into coughing up money that comes from the wallets of taxpayers and ratepayers... in order to pay those "notoriously expensive" fees. What chutzpah.

And another:

"We regularly work with activists and pressure groups, where the legal case will be just one strand in a wider campaign or protest. Our lawyers often appear in the media, explaining the legal issues involved."

You bet they do.

Blood-curdling stuff.

We shall fight on the beaches etc. etc.
Posted by Pericles, Thursday, 27 March 2014 3:40:37 PM
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Bill thinks that Australians are greedy and selfish, and that we need a Bill of Rights to prevent us becoming more greedy and selfish.
It's funny how these "social progressives" have such total disdain for their fellow citizens, and they think that they are the keepers of the gate of all that is good and holy. Social progressives once dreamed about creating a society where the people were generally content. Now that they have achieved that goal in western countries they think it is just awful that the people are happy. We should be unhappy and as miserable as they are. If we are not unhappy, then it must be because we are dreadfully greedy people.

There is no pleasing these guys.

And no Bill, we most definitely do not want a Bill of Rights. This "International" Bill of Rights is nothing more than a wish list of every Socialist principle that people like yourself want to enact to over ride the people's Parliament. Democracy is a real impediment to what people like you want, so you endlessly carp on about a Bill of Rights so that you can side step the votes of those greedy selfish people that you look down upon. But only a few people are as dumb as Rhosty, Bill. Most people realise that a Bill of Rights is nothing more than a sugar coated cyanide pill for democracy, where the politically correct, through "activist" judges can make them into any politically correct cause they want them to become.

If you are worried about our rights, Bill, write something about repealing section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act and strike a blow for Freedom of Speech.
Posted by LEGO, Thursday, 27 March 2014 6:03:34 PM
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"No is the answer. A Bill of Rights will not affect the way politicians behave. It hasn't done so anywhere a Bill of Rights has been enacted."

Well, will wonders never cease; I agree with agro.
Posted by cohenite, Thursday, 27 March 2014 6:56:28 PM
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The author is looking in entirely the wrong direction when he ascribes the increasing callousness and corruption of Australia’s polity to individualism. Values such as “equity, altruism and consideration” flourish in cultures that hold deep respect for the dignity and autonomy of the individual. Collective cultures, in which a person’s merit and status are determined mainly by the group to which they belong, and the individual's interests are subordinated to collective interest (usually determined by the state), are far more likely to be riven with discrimination, bigotry and inequity. The language used to disparage asylum seekers commonly includes negative stereotypes based on real or imagined characteristics of refugees as a group. Almost never do you hear the situations of real individuals addressed. This tendency to judge people their group membership is characteristic of collectivist thinking.

I also think the statement “Throughout the ages … the state was required to mediate and balance competing social, economic and environmental interests while supporting the weak and disadvantaged” shows little knowledge of history. The expectation that the state has a significant role in protecting all of the community, not just the elite, began in 18th century Europe and grew out of the liberal capitalism the author so despises.
Posted by Rhian, Thursday, 27 March 2014 6:56:54 PM
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I think we need a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. The USA used to have a good Bill of Rights but Obama and Bush have trashed it with the NDAA and Patriot Act.

A Bill of Rights should include national sovereignty in monetary and social areas. No Govt should be allowed to borrow from private Central Banks. This used to be part of the US constitution whereby Congress alone had the power to issue new currency. Now Congress is owned by the private US Federal Reserve.
Posted by Arjay, Thursday, 27 March 2014 7:05:45 PM
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A bill of rights, may have prevented the Government from incarcerating A kind and Gentle Dr Haneef, without probable cause!
And almost anyone, will know similar cases, where the relevant authorities, would have to do a far better job of collecting reliable evidence, before incarcerating a so called suspect.
Rather than simply relying on their own underlying bigotry, or racial profiling? Which in one well known case, saw an aboriginal, incarcerated for the rape and murder of a minor. He was eventually released from death row, given private inquiry, placed him in Queensland, as a circus roustabout, at the time of the SA incident!
Yes sure, a bill of rights may not cause our current crop of politicians to behave better, but hey, it could make them much more accountable?
Besides, we the people get a chance to get rid of the worst examples, one every three years, So if they're no good, who's to blame?
I'm always surprised by very young people, who complain bitterly, yet refuse to vote?
It strikes me, if all those dissenters, were to get organised and vote as blocks, they could alter the outcome of virtually every election, and by the simple expediency, of always putting the incumbent last on the ballot paper.
It would then only be a matter of time, before our servants got the message, and started to truly represent our interests ahead of their own or the party!?

>underonegod< If you could become just a little more coherent, we'd know what you are trying to say, or what it is, you seem to be accusing me of?
Perhaps I could help you to understand, by better explaining, what you seem to misunderstand, and or, selectively misrepresent!?
I am quite articulate, and am wordy enough, and quite capable of putting my foot in my own mouth on occasion!
That being so, I don't need any assistance by a few, who think the way to have an educated adult debate, is to put a whole lot of words, or gibberish in my mouth?
Have a nice day.
Rhrosty.
Posted by Rhrosty, Thursday, 27 March 2014 7:44:37 PM
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