We some times find it hard to stay on subject this thread will be such a case.
Full of interest it has many heads many directions.
Do we truly care about one another?
Some of us, far too many do not.
TRL has hit on a reason, look at any poorer community and wonder as I do why the social and community ties are stronger.
This year, in trying to tell how I found youth so very different in their attitudes than the rest of us, I found myself being jumped on and miss represented.
Todays 40, 50 and 60 year olds had a far different upbringing than 30 or 20 year olds.
Education, some in the home, was far different, one outcome has been youth, mostly because they never knew different have abandoned our ways.
I often wonder truly, if social experiments deliberatly fractured our community bonds?
Look at any one walking past some one in trouble, ask your self is there any doubt that person would expect help if it was them?
Self interest drives most always.

TRTL/Belly,

I think it's true that poorer people have stronger social bonds. In this country, the more affluent and elite do tend to retreat back to their castles and stay separate from the rest of the community. This is particularly so in Western countries where being an intellectual is often seen as the be-all-and-end-all. As not everyone can be one, polarisation is guaranteed. So, I would say polarisation is a direct function of Western development and breadth of opportunity generally.

It's easy to criticise the youth of today and say they don't have the same values of the older generations. But they at least don't have the apathy and sense of being doomed to a certain fate as people in my generation (Gen X) did when I was growing up. On the other hand, they tend to lack strategic thinking or seeing the big picture and seem to live purely in the moment (eg their being wedded to electronic gizmos etc). So there's good and bad aspects in all generations.

Dear examinator,

I just popped in to wish you,
"A Merry Mistress and a Happy All Year!"
Ho, Ho, Ho!

But, the seriousness of your thread has
caused me to pause and contemplate ...

You're asking some 'big' questions.
Anyway, here goes...

It doesn't matter where we live - in a big
house or an apartment. We can't continue to
ignore the problems that exist around us.

We as a nation have to become involved in each
other's 'problems.'

People do have the unhappy ability to stare at
the obvious, and then deliberately retreat into
escapist delusions. They often do this in the
case of unpleasant truths, only because it's
more comforting in the short run than
facing up to the arduous tasks at hand.

But short-run delusions have a habit of turning
into long-run regrets.

The regrets stemming for example, from the rich
peoples' delusions over the poor peoples' problems
which are lengthening into the long-run stage
now...I am increasingly hopeful that at some point
soon, and I say soon only because delay becomes more
disastrous year after violent year, there will be a
significant change of attitude.

The wealthy and secure of our society will begin
to realize that they can't possibly remain either
wealthy or secure if they continue to close their
eyes to the pestilence of poverty that is engulfing
our society, and the globe.

People have to begin to realise that collective
assistance is the only sensible strategy in a
problematic society. That for any of us to feel
secure, we have to assist those in trouble.
Collective security and collective assistance are
but two faces of the same coin.

Would I report a crime? Of course.
Would I help anyone in trouble?
How could I not?

The day may come when I would need help,
and hopefully someone would help me.

Dear examinator,

I don't know if I've answered your questions
satisfactorily ...

Before I leave I just want to wish everyone,
all the Joys of this Festive Season.

All The Best To Everyone,
See You in 2009!

Dear Foxy and all
I endorse her wishes to all for this time and for the coming earth cycle around the sun.
All the comments are apreciated as all show effort to consider the topic. and very interesteing.
Everyone made interesting points.
I guess there is a link between the observations and the attitude towards crimei, a breakdown of Community responsibility.
As for spiralling laws one has to wonder as we become more selfish/insular the less concerned we are for others and more willing to ignore others in our quest for self satisfaction.
eg I've spent 5 years officially doing council bush care in my local special wildlife reserve.
On the weeked a neighbour too lazy/busy/cheap to dispose of his garden waste properly dumped it over native plant regen. There will be repocussions if I do he is an aggressive too many laws etc guy...if I don't he'll continue to dump. He sees the law as unnecessary as he knows best...clearly he doesn't. Question do I do nothing clean up his mess or take the higher ground and take the view that he is destroying public property.
After all I would report a vandal/Tagger. Am I being selfish or socially responsible.

Examinator, this morning I went to my local police station and made four complaints of dangerous/risky/aggressive driving, including one incident in which I was almost wiped out on the Bruce Highway yesterday. I made four last week as well.

Years ago I made a few complaints. But I stopped because the reception from police was highly mixed and certainly not always positive…and I felt that it was futile.

I also came to feel that it would be a good idea just to stay right away from the police and have nothing to do with them if you could possibly help it.

But now I’ve changed tack. And it is working for me, at the moment. I’ve received a reasonable reception and been assured that my complaints will be taken forward.

One thing that has caused me a great deal of angst over many years is the feeling of powerlessness on our roads when confronted with dangerous/risky/aggressive driving. But now I feel quite considerably empowered. It is fantastic to know that at least at my local cop shop, making this sort of complaint and upholding this level of basic community responsibility for us all to do our bit, is actually facilitated.

So, for me, making complaints about unlawful activities has got everything to do with the attitude of those to whom you make the complaint, and the feeling that you are seen to be doing the right thing, rather than a strong sense from cops that I have got in the past, along the lines of; ‘We’re really not interested. We’ll take your complaint because it is supposed to be part of our job, but it will be written roughshod on a scrap of paper in a highly informal and unprofessional manner, which will go straight in the bin as soon as you leave the police station.’

It has got everything to do with the right sort of encouragement and facilitation (or lack thereof) from the police…and the right attitude from politicians to make sure that this happens.

Examinator

If this guy is the vindictive type I would opt for notifying local council/police of the location - they may be able to catch him in the act.

I always give my name, this gives some credibility to your claim - but I make it very clear that my details are to be kept confidential.

I'm with TRTL, I base my decision on whether anyone or thing is harmed, in which case I would take some form of action or whether I agree with the law in question (like I wouldn't be dobbing anyone in for smoking some weed).

This is far too big a topic - may be start another similar in the new year?

Best wishes everyone.