The unvarnished truth is that until something is done to halt the rate of population increase in third world countries all attempts at improving their condition will be futile. As opposition to any restriction to population growth is the only policy that the Vatican and the muslim world agree on, nothing will be done and conspicuous compassion will be used solely to make first worlders feel better. The four horsemen of the Apocalypse are saddling up ready to solve the problem. For the benefit of those not familiar with the Bible, their names are: War, Famine, Pestilence and Death.

Some use words, inter alia, to raise consciousness, to question, to seek, to contribute; some use words to raise the idea that words are futile and self-serving for their own political ends. So 'Opinion On Line' is a waste of time? So street protests are a waste of time? So taking action by creating discourse that riles against ideologies that people think are harmful and unfair is a waste of time? Perhaps it is waste of Liberal's time? Perhaps we should all adopt Senator Brett Mason's Liberal Party policy as our first action to a fair world. If words are so useless why does the Liberal/Labour/Democrats/Greens and all the other major parties spend zillions on public relations with their conspicuously compassionate propaganda.

Visit http://www.rightsatwork.com.au/ to be informed or take action against unfair and unjust Liberal reform in the workplace. Instead of this Liberal defeatist aiming for the lowest workplace conditions for Australian workers lets set the bar at its highest possible level for other nations to aim for - always aim high.

Excellent article Brett. It seems to me that it's much more important to be thought of as compassionate these days then to actually BE compassionate. Most of the drivel spruiked under the cover of the "C" word finds its origin in political hatred. The destruction of conservative governments is much more important than solving problems and helping people.

Brett, I think you have tapped a vein here.

"Australian society, sadly, is not free of tokenism, symbolism and conspicuous compassion"

I would suggest that we are rapidly getting to the point where we are, not simply tainted with, but entirely constructed from these vices. One indication is that we do not have one single newspaper of record - they are all, as are the television and radio stations, branches of the entertainment industry. This is why there are such varying reactions to international disasters. The tsunami was given a run, but I suggest that if there hadn't been the dramatic pictures, which gave a visual hook to the segment or column, the story would have been far shorter. Hands up those who can tell us how many have died of starvation in Zimbabwe so far this year?

And Boaz, comments like this don't help:

"Where Christ reigns in HEARTS (as opposed to political structures) the politics seems to be beneficial and Holistic"

Give us one example, please, that support these empty musings.

Brett wrote: "But the Howard Government has been consistently resistant to this sort of make-believe social, economic and foreign policy, which is why it has championed initiatives and philosophies such as mutual obligation, practical reconciliation, and tied aid."

Ok fair enough, how about this for a practical solution Brett. Reconcile and repatriate with Indigenous people for stolen land, wages and children. The first of these are easily quantifiable, the third may be a bit difficult but I'm sure Indigenous people would be willing to negotiate. Then, come up with a practical economic and fiscal and legal formula and lets wipe the slate clean once and for all! It’s practical and positive and would solve many problems...hang on, what’s that I hear you say? ...its still compassion??...so who decides when its compassion or practical?