A reasonable micro study of alcohol restrictions in aboriginal
communities is enough to demonstrate that the negatives far outweigh the positives, and there is little chance that wet canteens will ever be returned to the camps.
Unfortunately, the mainstream society in Australia does not have the same economic back-up, and so restrictions wont happen for the rest of us.
Great idea, put heaps of pokies in the pubs, then quaranteen welfare payments to prevent problem gambling...

"If Australians willingly gave up alcohol (and other drugs) and gambling then society as a whole, along with these individuals, would be better off."

Yes sure, but the keyword is WILLINGLY.
For that to happen I would say, legalise all drugs but direct the revenue to provide excellent drug education and to prevention and health services.

"Are we as a society addicted to alcohol and gambling?"
What are the numbers of addicts in Australia, and what percentage is that?

Even if you would find the number of addicts high (and what number is considered *high*?), the more important thing is to know what the percentage is out of that percentage of addicts who find their addiction a problem, and/or the percentage that actually causes a problem for their family or for society.
If they don't cause problems even if they are addicted, would addiction matter?

<<Poker machine regulation is a sensitive issue within Labor, and a South Australian federal member weighed in on the side of more control.

''Pokies cause immense harm in the community and MPs see that harm every week and every month and every year,'' Nick Champion said. ''We've got rivers of gold at the moment flowing to pubs and clubs and rivers of tears in the community and that's not an appropriate situation, its not an ethical situation, and it is about time we had robust debate in the Parliament on legislation that implements the Productivity Commission's recommendations.''
>>
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/state-labor-rejects-pokie-reform-20100829-13xna.html

Pericles,

I see you are still struggling with the question. No-one else seems to be having the same problems you are having. At least your trying. Cornflower and JP Morgan: do want to give your friend a hand?

That's pure delusion, grateful.

>>Pericles, I see you are still struggling with the question,,

But it's good to see that you are still struggling for an effective response. So far, you have simply slagged off those who disagree with you.

>>I would have prefered you addressed the post with reason rather abuse and inuendo<<

There was no abuse. There was no innuendo. You simply invented these so that you could play at being a victim.

>>Obviously, the questions have touched a raw nerve... you guys obviously feel more confortable tackling the man rather than the ball.<<

There you go again, pretending to be offended, when in fact your "arguments" are simply being straightened out.

>>Since noone appears to be prepared to argue against (correct me if i'm wrong), should i presume that people agree...<<

That's just putting your hands over your ears and going "La-la-la-la-la-I-can't-hear-you"

>>Its seems the topic itself, and the questions i directed to you, are too much of a challenge<<

Not really. It seems more of a challenge to get you to listen to the answers.

Have a great day.

Celivia you hit a bit of nerve there, ouchh! I think my emotional response to this has just crossed over the blood-brain barrier!! - You wrote

>>the more important thing is to know what the percentage is out of that percentage of addicts who find their addiction a problem, and/or the percentage that actually causes a problem for their family or for society.
If they don't cause problems even if they are addicted, would addiction matter??<<

Personally, I don't give a 'rats' what lifestyle choices other people make provided it causes no harm to others. Have a snort of coke, drop an X, smoke a joint, drink champagne with a straw so it works faster and swing upside down naked while you're doing it, I don't care! It's none of anyone else's beeswax either.

Addiction however is quite a separate issue. Addiction DOES matter, it always matters and that's the point about being an addict. When a lifestyle choice which becomes addictive begins to affect the person's judgement, then they have become an addict. They are an addict because their addiction becomes their main priority. The perception that addiction causes no problems for those around them is fantasy. Take for example, the intelligent, high functioning, highly articulate alcoholic. His/her choice, fine. But as an addict this is his/her single most important priority. He/she will be having a full-time relationship with his/her addiction first, and his/her partner and children, second. There are many kinds of addiction and some are relatively invisible, such as the above example just given. Addiction is mood altering, focus altering, judgement altering and DOES always affect and harm the hearts of those around the addict. Of course the addict may not find it a problem, and this probably due to the numbing effects of the self-medication of alchohol. Addiction such as alcohol addiction is a progressive chronic disease. Yes Celivia, addiction does matter, it ALWAYS matters - unless of course you're a hermit!

The Blue Cross,seems you have an axe to grind, but please don't group us who don't have a problem with those who simply can't, or won't, look after themselves.

I drink, I gamble a bit, but I also am a good father, a good husband and a job creator.

Now as for a fairer tax system, boy would I love to see that.

You see, the reason we have to raise taxes wherever possible is because income taxes are drying up and there are simply to many hands in the cookie jar.

Fix this problem and many other problems will be solved.

Meanwhile, we simply have to rely on the taxes raised from these items just to survive.

Now as for 'Funny how the jobs list only has the 'positive' ones listed', read my post.