Hi Paul,

"Joe, the CLP can't tie their shoelaces without falling over".

Couldn't agree more. Now we'll see if Labor can deliver, or if they will come up against some of the same insoluble problems, and turn to water.

Perhaps in three or four years, we'll be saying "Paul, Labor can't tie their shoelaces without falling over." What do you reckon are the chances ?

Joe

Hi Joe. I agree Labor can fall over just as spectacularly as the conservatives. That is why I advocate a vote for minor parties and independents, the dinosaur parties are populated with self seekers, who have no real interest in the well being of their fellow Australians.

Cheers Paul.

p/s I know how you like good stories, last weekend we took part in a "Maori" entertainment night, ("T" has a small part singing traditional Maori songs, like 'Pokarekare Ana' etc, she has a good voice), The show is full of professional (paid) entertainers, along with a few others, like "T". The night includes a hangi dinner (professionally prepared in the traditional manner), and drinks at RSL bar prices, large private function room. About 200 plus in the audience including a good number of pakeha, who are most welcome, they enjoy the entertainment and food as much as anyone. The highlight of the night was the Polynesian dance performance by the girls and boys from the Cook Islands, with their backing group about 40 people in total. The night was well run, with no trouble. Given the chance, different cultures can come together and appreciate each other, like the "Maori" Elvis who was also very popular, not bad for $35/head.

Hi Paul,

Ah, memories. When we lived in Auckland, around 1970, we knocked around with people in the Cook Islands community, and loved those concert parties, up to seventy people at a time, dancing, drumming, singing, just fantastic. The people we knew seemed to mostly come from Rakahanga and Manihiki, but I had a good mate from Arorangi on Rarotonga. Just beautiful, beautiful people.

Ah well, back to topic: are remote 'communities' on a death spiral ? If so, how to save the children ? There was a news report that, in one 'community', starving children have been seen suckling on the teats of mangy dogs. [That's okay, keep sipping your Fair-Trade No-Fat coffee, it's not your problem.]

I suppose there are two premises to consider:

* some/many/most/all parents in those hell-holes are utterly useless, putting themselves first, front and centre, and they have no intention of changing;

* the children can't be removed from 'communities' without their consent, i.e. the children's consent.

So: in order to do what the parents should be doing,

* can meals be provided to all kids, perhaps through the schools, morning noon and evening ?

Government funding could be provided because, after all, such programs would represent actual work done, for children, and not just funding for a group of people to just be the health workers, education workers, engagement officers, community development officers, etc., etc., while doing nothing: 'working at home', perhaps.

* since homes are unsafe for children, should there be hostels on 'communities' for children who want to stay in them, where they can be fed, cleaned up, clothed, etc. - you know, all the things that parents aren't doing.

Perhaps these children's hostels could be attached to the schools. If they wish, children could stay in them indefinitely. Assure parents that they will keep getting paid all manner of children's allowances as well as royalties and cheap rent, regardless, all that they would be entitled to if, hypothetically, they were actually looking after their own kids. Let the Cargo keep rolling. And

[TBC]

[continued]

* run after-school programs, homework sessions, and extra-curricular activities, for the children. Gradually get kids used to rigorous learning in class and to inspire them to aspire to post-school careers, with regular sessions on career advice in order to boost their aspirations to be anything they want. Oh, and sack the career counsellors in most schools ASAP.

Of course, this may take many years to really bed in. But the hard question forces itself on all of us as fellow-citizens: should children be inflicted with, and totally disadvantaged for life by, useless parents merely because they have produced them ?

So the bottom lines are: Save the children. And: let the Cargo keep rolling for the adults.

What do you reckon ?

Cheers,

Joe

Hi Joe,

I cannot agree more, your description of "starving children have been seen suckling on the teats of mangy dogs" is unacceptable in any society.
Selfish people are not unique to remote communities, or Aboriginal communities for that matter, in my time I have come across many such people, black and white. I don't wish to convey the impression that all people on welfare are mooching off society, there are many many genuine cases. Those first aid measures you speak of, are no doubt given the circumstances, necessary in the first instance for the well being of the children.
However, in the long term the cycle has to be broken, but how that is achieved is the difficult question, as we have discussed many times before. I am a firm believer that the long term solution to many of our social problems lies in education, combined with a strong and loving family unit. Sadly, so many children lack both of these essentials. Society can help with education and other daily requirements, but can provide none of the family care that is lacking. Until then we are doomed to repeat the cycle, but slowly things are improving in some areas, and there are positives that can be worked on for the future.

Cheers Paul.

The cycle is being repeated in the family environment. That cannot be changed. For example where a parent, longrassing 'rellies' with personality disorders are present. Support and 'education' (whatever that means)? Expect low success.

Another problem is the apparent inability to diagnose and treat early childhood conduct disorder, let alone soon enough. -Because it is NOT politically correct to do so. What to do about that?

Greens, Labor and Libs like Turnbull are cynical, gutless wonders who may superficially recognise the complexity of indigenous problems, but immediately revert to the safety of PC 'solutions' popularised in the media and by the ABC's Q&A for instance, such as 'recognition'(symbolism), 'education'(a universal panacea apparently) and more buckets of taxpayers' money.

What is preventing change is the question that should asked. Remembering that in a dysfunctional system even the apparent victims can perceive that they have a stake in the existing system and can work against change. Not referring to children, but to dole bludgers for example.