Passy “All those years of activism, agitation and struggle”

You make it sound like a laxative, used to facilitate a bowel movement.

As for “Don't give us tax cuts. Set up a reconciliation fund, and put in the $31 bn. And add future tax cuts to it.”

Speak for yourself. My vote is for me to spend what I earn where I see fit. Not where some here today, gone tomorrow politician with a misplaced sense of appeasement thinks it will get him elected.

Ultimately, the outcome of a strategy of paying aboriginals the modern equivalent of “Dane geld” will be massive resentment on the part of non-aboriginals and thus more divisive politics than there are now.

Assimilation works, appeasement does not.

Legal equality works (and is the foundation of our legal system), social enablement does not.

Individualism works, socialism does not

Keep ‘em coming Passy. Like I said, I not only know all the feeble socialist jingles and lyrics but I also know all the responses and counter arguments and if I ever found one I did not know, I can always reason it out. One of the merits of capitalism, we are encouraged to be rational, even in this emotional world.

Leigh “That's what you get for me-tooing on something that should never have happened. These people will never be satisfied.”

Yep. only encourages.

Appeasement, it never satisfies. It encourages the belligerent to greater belligerency and greater (unjustified) demands, until what was once a difference of opinion, ends up as a full scale war.

Lev “Col Rogue”

At the risk of seeming pedantic, My logon is “Col Rouge” and I will respond when addressed as such

I suggest you wait patiently for response to your insipid observation from “Col Rogue” himself.

Banjo “I was speaking for myself and expressing my view”

Of course and I will defend your right to do so.

However, my suggestion in no way limits your right to disburse any increased net income (from lower taxes) on whatever philanthropic agendas you choose.

Nelson's speech was nothing short of abominable.
RussellMarks, you must be one of those poor kids who were denied an education if you really believe your own words.

Sometimes I wonder at how people have to politicise absolutely everything in life. The fact that Rudd yesterday proposed a bipartisan thinktank was for me perhaps more important than the apology itself. Surely by this act he doesn't intend to take full credit for any findings or actions - the problem is bigger than any government.

As for the rest of the small minded, mean spirited people that couldn't see yesterday for what it was...shame on you. Go back to your plasma TV screens, knock back your Coronas ($7.99 each), and don't forget to polish your nice SUV before your drive into work tomorrow morning.

col rogue wrote 'Individualism works, socialism does not'...Im not sure what you mean by individualism...is it an alternative word for capitalism...in which case it does not work either...not sure who said this but if tomorrow one could redistribute all the wealth equally among all people...come back some time later...the rich today would most likely taken over and controlling inequitable amount of wealth then...meaning the drive for wealth/power/control overrides the need for balance in 'daily life requirements'/society/environment and other relevant material areas that make up the whole to human-earth history...

So 'unbalanced individualism' is the enemy to 'sustainable survivable development'...almost every major destructive environmental act in this century is closely linked with select individuals/groups having 'benefited' in terms of gaining power/control/wealth in short period of time...while the resultant 'destruction' that is always associated is rejected by said people and attempt to disconnect the accountability to it...if this makes sense...

'balanced individualism acts' will work...and the parliament saying sorry can essentially be brought to be understood as the parliament was stating to its people where the 'middle ground lay' for all of us to aim to act towards...how successful/disregardful each of us/group are is a different issue...as is what should be done to get more of us to act towards 'balanced individualism acts'...

not meant to be a new method of governing...this stuff is all ancient knowledge eg far east philosophy 'annalects of confuscius' talking of 'humaneness'(no direct writing of confucius exist but this in one of the oldest and closest to original teachings)...and if I have to guess at why it has not been successful to date...the skill/deceit/'organized wealthy power' of the 'unbalanced individualism' has been calling the shots so far...until moments in history of great upheavals to bring back some balance eg ww2, french/russian revolution, s.africa...except now a survivable earth is becoming the predominant issue...we are running out of time to establish and maintain the balance for survivability...

Sam

I occasionally log into Online and am constantly revolted by the opinions of Leigh. This person is a toxic wasteland. If you think aboriginal people have had it so good, ask yourself whether you would like to change places with one of them. I guarantee the answer would be no. You, like your great hero John Howard, are mean little men with absolutely no compassion for anyone. Go fly a kite Leigh and stop infecting the internet with your viruses.

Sam “not sure what you mean by individualism...is it an alternative word for capitalism”

thanks for asking

Individualism presumes the individual is the pinnacle of the social order, rather than the individual being a subordinate to some theory of “greater common good”.

Ownership of resources and the ability to direct and control economic activity being controlled by individuals. This provides overall superior results when compared to the public/state ownership of everything managed by some supposed all-seeing omnipotent planning committee.

Just compare USA versus USSR. The USA have some rich, a lot of middle class (moderately well off) and some poor people, USSR had all poor apart from a small number of ultra powerful who ran the central bureaucracy, without real elections.

Refugees are seeking access to USA and other modern western democracies. No one is beating at the door of China or Russia.

“almost every major destructive environmental act in this century is closely linked with select individuals/groups”

Because all acts are initiated by individuals.

and every enhancement to the human experience is, likewise, the result of an individual action or innovation.

The environmental standards observed in “state controlled” nations, are far worse than those practiced by nations modeled on individualism and capitalism (where government is the referee not the proprietor).

I disagree with what was intelligible from the rest of your diatribe,

“great upheavals to bring back some balance eg ww2, french/russian revolution, s.africa.”

Not sure about WWII in that context however,

French revolution overthrew a non-benevolent monarchy with a far worse system which defiled the term “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”.

You will recall, initially the revolutionaries executed the aristocrats but that was then followed by the “Reign of Terror”, where Robespierre and The Committee of Public Safety executed anyone who might oppose their despotic view, aristocrat or commoner alike.

Russian revolution, followed the French pattern, re Lenin and the kulaks.

“balance for survivability...” easy, stop overpopulation, the rest falls into place.

Joana, Leigh has the same right as you to post.

Challenge his opinions by all means with reason. Calling him names merely illustrates your personal limitations.