ALARMED OR JUST GRUMPY?
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Why are we so alarmed by state of the world? Could it be that it’s simply because we’re growing older and grumpier? I certainly hope not, and prefer to think that it’s because the world around us is changing in ways that concern us greatly – concerns for which we cannot see solutions.
In this post I identify and briefly discuss some such causes of alarm, putting forward what I understand and propose to be their causes, but not because I’ve deluded myself into thinking that I have the answers, but rather because this is how I like to ‘think aloud’.
Some would say that we have little reason to be alarmed. But I don’t find their denials terribly reassuring, as they tend to focus on statistical rather than personal reality – gross national product rather than measures of happiness, and average income rather than actual numbers of those living in poverty compared to those living in excessive wealth. Most of the factors that I will outline are difficult to measure but key to a content and meaningful existence.
FEAR OF GLOBAL CONFLICT
Opinion polls confirm our increased fear of global conflict. Diplomacy seems to have been replaced by bluster, not only by banana republic dictators but by leaders of nuclear armed nations. That the citizens and Congress of the United States can stand by as their elected, but clearly unfit for any public office, President provokes nations capable of unleashing nuclear war, is very difficult for many of us to fathom.
Most of us grew up and lived in times when the ‘baddies’ were kept in check by the military power and moral superiority of western nations, led by the USA. We may have protested against ‘western imperialism’ but we also slept soundly feeling (perhaps without total justification) that we were safe. That security blanket appears to now be little more than wishful thinking.
In addition, we’re told repeatedly that our safety is also threatened by terrorism and the changing composition of our community. It could be suggested that such threats to our safety are not unprecedented and may only seem to be so due to the quantity of information and misinformation that is communicated to us via the mass media and social media. However, I’m not convinced, and point to the crucial distinguishing absence of anyone or any government convincingly reassuring us that everything will be alright.
CRUMBLING FAITH IN DEMOCRACY
Another foundation and reassurance that is currently being shaken relates to the emerging reality that we are no longer sure that democracy is the best form of government. In recent years we have witnessed the democratic election of oppressive leaders and governments to replace overthrown dictatorships that appeared to better protect the non political rights of their citizens.
Perhaps it is because we’ve been naïve about the functioning of democracies. While researching a thesis on the prospects of rule of law in post communist Poland, I repeatedly came across a naive view, held by many western scholars and politicians, that the (re)introduction of democracy in former communist countries would be instantly embraced by grateful populations and would quickly bring them prosperity and freedoms. The reality is that for democracy to flourish depends on a number of preconditions, the most important being the presence of a democratic tradition. As we now know, simply giving the Afghanis and Iraqis (and even the Russians) the right to vote has not proven to be a recipe for instant stable democracy. On the other hand countries like Poland, with long democratic traditions have been much more adept at setting up functioning democracies.
The current US administration also provides a glaring example of how democratically elected leaders can divide and promote hatred within a nation. We have long believed that a nation benefits most if its government is democratically elected to represent the views of the population. Perhaps Vladimir Putin’s reelections can be explained by his stifling of the opposition, but it’s a little more difficult to dismiss the democratic election of the ever embarrassing Donald Trump, who, it turns out, was correct in claiming that his supporters would stand by him no matter what he did. Considering this, it’s no wonder that we’re beginning to doubt whether the best government is still one elected by ‘the masses’.
THE DWINDLING COMFORT OF ORGANISED RELIGION
Other bubbles of comfort appear to have also burst. Perhaps foremost to many, has been the radical change in the public’s perception of religious institutions. Organised religion had long been perceived by society as synonymous with goodness, charity and compassion, and places of worship were seen as a refuge by those in need. However, inquiries into child abuse in religious institutions exposed the ongoing coverup and facilitation of pedophilia. That some celibate priests should turn out to be pedophiles should surprise no-one. That church leaders, including the Pope, should actively cover up such crimes should concern everyone, and has mortally undermined confidence in religious institutions, and especially the Catholic Church. Even cuddlier religions such as the Anglican Church and the Salvation Army have also been found responsible for child abuse.
All of this leaves many members of our community feeling deprived of the sense of comfort once generated by the sound of a Salvation Army band or the inspiration generated by the imbuing of a sense of justice and community service in Catholic schools. Prosperity preaching, brought into focus by our latest Prime Minister’s religious affiliation, appears to be further undermining compassion, seen by many of us as the (most, if not only) attractive side of organised religion.
Within the past two decades increased violence and abuse of rights in the name of religion has also served to transform religion from a private matter not discussed in polite company to a regular negative segment of nightly news. Those of us who in the late 20th century welcomed the prospect of organised religion appearing to be heading towards extinction, were unprepared for the resurgence of religion with an ugly face in the first two decades of the 21st century. The role of religious institutions and their adherents in securing the election of Donald Trump, and the role of religious institutions in attempting to thwart the clear wish of the majority favouring the legalising same sex marriage in Australia, clearly establish the revival of religious fundamentalism/extremism as a force at odds with advancements in human rights, and consequently a threat to values that we hold most dear.
EXCESSES OF CAPITALISM
Monumental financial failures, caused by excesses of capitalism, corruption and dishonest exploitative behaviour by banks, has made the world, financially, a less secure place. Once again, we mourn the passing of institutions – this time, the once seemingly incorruptible and ever reliable banks.
EDUCATION STANDARDS
I’m amazed that a certain 7 year old that I know well should be familiar with adverbs and adjectives, and that slightly older children take on maths that would leave me well outside of my comfort zone.
On the surface, what children learn is impressive, yet the reality is that Australia’s world ranking in educational standards continues to slip. When the best our politicians can come up with in response is to suggest longer school hours as the solution, it is indeed time to express concern.
WIDENING GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR
Of much greater concern Is the reality that the catalyst for the ever widening gap between the haves and have nots has not been their comparative levels of effort, but rather government policy and misuse of power. It is rarely pointed out, but nevertheless is very clear, that financial interests likely to also be held by parliamentarians receive priority attention at the expense of the interests of the have nots. How many financial incentives can be given to housing investors? How loudly should rising home prices be cheered? How can we possibly justify this greed to the many Australians who consequently will never be able to afford to buy a home? Is it possible to reverse the unjust society we’ve created (even if the government sought to do so).
We have good reason to highlight the widely held lack of care and compassion for others – be they asylum seekers, or young people seeking to acquire their first home. We appear to be moving towards, what we used to derogatorily view as, the American concept of equal opportunity, which ignored the reality that an even playing field or genuine equal opportunity requires unequal treatment. One of Australia’s most senior bankers suggested in a recent interview on an ABC morning television segment, focusing on the high rise in house rentals, that rather than complain about high rents in Sydney, renters should get a second job. This statement appears to sum up the dog eat dog society that we’ve becoming.
HIGHER EDUCATION BUT ONLY FOR EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCIAL GAIN
Not so long ago I retired from academia, being no longer able to defend or identify with what higher education had become. Current anti intellectualism only tolerates education and knowledge if it is directly linked to employment and financial benefit. In the space of the three decades of my university work, we appear to have moved from valuing education for its own sake, to education tailored to be job training. I oppose the contemporary view largely because it will deprive so many Australians of the invaluable benefits of a mind broadening and enriching education and instead merely provide them with narrow based training for a job they may not even secure or choose to remain in.
ETHICAL OR MORAL VERSUS LEGAL BEHAVIOUR
It may be fair to surmise that presently, what is legally permissible is deemed to also be right and appropriate. The concepts of moral and ethical behaviour are at danger of ceasing to have meaning if they are deemed to be binding only if enforceable or if breaches are punishable. A number of our federal parliamentarians have made it clear that they consider themselves subject to the letter of the law rather than any concept such as ethical, moral or honourable behaviour. The section 44 fiasco showed and continues to show our politicians in a very poor light. To use legal stalling tactics to delay judicial rulings on eligibility to sit in parliament is well below the standard of behaviour we should expect of a parliamentarian, particularly self appointed pillars of integrity such as Peter Dutton.
FAR FROM GENDER EQUALITY
Ironically, it is our federal law makers who have illustrated that while we have laws intended to guarantee equality for women, real equality appears to be a long way off. The now world wide ‘Me Too’ movement continues to inspire and yet disillusions us by exposing so many of our heroes as men who used their power to sexually abuse the less powerful, for their own sexual gratification. While addressing these revelations is a step in the right direction, the disclosure of what we hoped was no longer with us serves to undermine our hopes for the future by appearing to suggest that true gender equality is unattainable, or a long way off.
TOO MUCH TRANSPARENCY?
Transparency in government and other major public institutions was touted as having the potential to lessen corruption and inappropriate behaviour. In fact however, because of what it exposed, such transparency has served to shatter public respect for and confidence in our leaders and public institutions. Arguably this could mischievously be said to suggest that too much knowledge and familiarity may be undermining the mystique required for us in blissful ignorance to respect our leaders.
It could also be suggested that ready access to our leaders, and perhaps more importantly their ability to communicate with us at will, leaves our politicians in constant electioneering mode with little time between elections to actually govern, legislate, formulate public policy and actually lead.
TOO MUCH TOURISM
A world wide phenomenon that is currently attracting much attention is tourism’s endangerment of the cultures and sights being visited. It’s difficult to grapple with the reality that our ability to travel the world is killing off the very parts of the world that we want to see. It’s difficult to envisage how this can be reversed.
FAILING TO CARE FOR OUR PLANET
Of course, we won’t have to worry about tourism if we continue destroying our habitat and wildlife. As an Australian living a short boat ride away from the Great Barrier Reef, I grieve the death of so much of the reef’s coral, whenever I snorkel among the grey but previously vibrantly coloured coral. Industrial toxins that pollute our air and poison our land, rivers, lakes and oceans are not likely to be stopped as long as the money they generate continues to be seen as more important Similarly, the increasing rate of extinction of endangered animals that should alarm more of us, makes Donald Trump’s re-legalisation of trophy hunting virtually impossible to stomach.
Through my list of concerns I have attempted to illustrate the wide ranging causes of contemporary alarm. While there are many other pressing issues of great concern, I trust that my list is sufficient to highlight the validity of our concerns and alarm at the absence of identifiable or enforceable solutions
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