Perspectives

To Critique, Inform, Challenge and Entertain

Category: OPINION

OPINION

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No Regret if Choices are Not Intrinsically Right or Wrong

Reading Time: 2 minutesThere is a belief that, when we have a choice to make, there is only one correct decision. Being convinced that it is within our control to make choices that will always prove right, we regret making choices that do not, at some stage, prove to be right.

On the other hand, we can accept that it can never be guaranteed that a choice will prove to be what we want and need. In doing so we will be more likely to not see a choice that is no longer working, as an opportunity to see what it was that stopped it being right, or as a recognition that our needs or circumstances have changed. Dare I say “I wish I had taken this on board many years ago”.

OPINION / RELIGION

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A Rational Debate of the Freedom of Religious Belief?

Reading Time: 4 minutesUnless we clarify and agree on what it is that we’re discussing, we run the risk of replicating populists’ irrational and dishonest discourse. This means, not allowing facts to stand in the way of your views, by pretending that they’re not there or creating your own alternative facts. You may also pretend that words don’t mean what they mean to most people but rather what you conveniently chose them to mean. Our debate needs to acknowledge and take into account the full context of exempting religions from compliance with a law that seeks to protect others from their harassment and discrimination.

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS / OPINION

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Towards a More Direct Democracy

Reading Time: 7 minutesThe outcome and events leading up to the federal election, when considered alongside the escalating conflict between the US President and Congress, suggest that it’s time to evaluate the nature of our representative democracy. An infusion of direct democracy would provide the means for great involvement by the people, many of whom feel alienated from politics. Direct involvement by the people in place of reliance on disappointing parliamentary representatives has the potential to reinvigorate Australian democracy. Such direct democracy would in particular benefit the initiation of constitutional amendments and enactment of legislation. It also has great potential in resolving deadlocks between the Houses of Parliament and reforming the behaviour of politicians as well as the nature of increasingly undignified and unruly parliamentary procedure.

OPINION

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ALARMED OR JUST GRUMPY?

Reading Time: 8 minutesWhy 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...

OPINION

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Juvenile Cyber Bullying

Reading Time: 3 minutesI can’t stop thinking about an article by Megan Lehmann in The Weekend Australian Magazine (14-15 July 2018, pp 14-18). It is titled, ‘Just Go KJS xo’. It is a powerful, particularly well written,...

OPINION

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Domestic Violence or Simply Violence?

Reading Time: 10 minutesThanks in large measure to Rosie Batty, Australian of the Year for 2015, domestic violence has gained more prominence, and prompted increased government action.  Nevertheless, those seeking to identify the nature, prevalence, causes and...