PS
on the website go to the page (index on the left-hand panel)
How to Cut through the Gordian Knot {of Aboriginal Problems}

Paul

When are we going to admit that the policies of the last 30 years, the passive welfare, the attempt to preserve "tribal" culture, the obsession with land rights and treaties to the benefit of a few, have not only failed, but made things WORSE. Despite Noel Pearson's eloquence on this subject, the Labor party still does not accept this, the Left still does not accept this. There has never been a mea culpa.

I firmly believe that if Aborigines had been left to their own devices in the 1960s they would be better off than they are now. Still disadvantaged overall, but better off. They're a resourceful people, to be sure. It's white man's misguided compassion that has destroyed them.

I would like to know what to do with the 'white problem'.

Look at the issues associated with the 'white problem' - they have no respect for country, land is denuded, river systems like the Murray-Darling are dying and they have no concept of respect.

The 'white problen' manifests itself in the lack of respect for community, the inherent worth of a person, greed, brutality and control.

Good programs such as healthy eating are not being listened to even by their own mob as the recent reports on obesity show.

Alcohol management plans that teach people not to abuse alcohol are great, but the 'white problem' sees it only being implemented selectively.

Alcohol management should be Australia wide, with restricted trading hours, limited takeaways and so forth.

Greed is another negative force aflicting the 'white problem'. Big money is made in the supply of goods and services at often overinflated prices.

The 'white problem' is also aflicted by vanity, for there is the illusion that everyone must be just like them. Perhaps it is something to do with paranoia.

Children have even been stolen in order to make them 'white'.

Peoples inherent humanity is not respected as the 'white problem' ensures that the employment and financial benifit remains in their domain to the exclusion of others.

If only we could solve the white problem and teach them how to share and how to respect their country and fellow humans.

Good one aka. But after reading eet's contributions I think you missed a couple of aspects of the 'white problem'.

1. When confronted with opinions they don't like, they denigrate the writers as idealistic "social workers, university lectures and journalists" and paint themselves as "realists"..

2. Some of them go to remote areas to do "good works" like teaching the right way to live and can't understand it when the "natives" don't fall over in rapturous gratitude.

3. They challenge the "myth" about Aboriginal health care by telling big porkies about the abundant health services in remote areas and how the ingrates get you out of bed at night for a panadol. And how 'Aboriginals are the most prodded, tested and over serviced segment of the population in the country'. No lie is too big.

4. And they develop their own myths about "lifestyle choices" and how the blighters choose to bring it all on themselves through alcohol.

5. And they engage in breathtaking hypocrisy like 'We need to treat Aboriginals like adults and expect them to take responsibility for their own actions' while doing everything possible to keep them in their place.

6. At the end of the day, they resort to meaningless rhetoric and hand-wringing like: 'even though the communities may be small, their problems are very complex and difficult to solve'; and (without a skerrick of irony) 'we need to recognise that governments of both persuasions have acted in good faith to try and solve these problems'.

I'm sure you'll be able to add to your list as this thread develops, aka.

I have done plenty of consultancy work in rural and remote communities, and what I find disturbing is the costs added onto food for freight and GST. In a remote community I purchased a 2 litre bottle of orange juice, the price $6.00, good old 2 litre of Coca Cola $2.50.

It's cheaper to buy $5.00 worth of chips, rather than a basic meal as most items start at $3.00, so do the maths, a meal may costs $40.00 per night, the chips work out cheaper for people who are mainly dependant on welfare.

We can talk healthy eating all we want, but until some real changes are made by making healthy food more affordable, Aboriginal people in remote and rural communities will continue to suffer.

What is this? State the bleeding obvious week? Anything to try and get posts. Pathetic. Give some real info, some real reports, not statistical lies. How long can a Calcutta man live while pulling fat tourists around in a rickshaw in 40+ degree heat in 90% humidity on bitumen roads. Barefoot.

The answer is simple, not bloody long. So what? The Indians don't care, they sit and ride like everyone else, staring over the head of the ubnfortunate waiting for manna from heaven.