A poisoned chalice !

The Roman Catholic church is facing it's worst challenge in centuries.   The conclave to elect a new Pope is being brought forward in an attempt to damp down further damaging innuendo about homosexuality and empire building within the Curia and money laundering within the powerful Vatican bank.

These have been heady days for the church.  Revelations that bring disquiet have emerged since Pope Benedict XV1 announced his retirement and what will alarm the faithful is the fact that suspicion is centred on the very people who will elect a new Pope - and that the new head of the church will be one of their numbers.

Whoever is chosen will face a task of restoring confidence in the Papacy, and that will be no easy task given the unusual events that are now dominating media headlines.   There is an expectation that the incoming Pope will take stern action to resolve the disunity that is roiling the bureaucracy of the church - and this probably involves a purge of the Curia.   At the same time, moderates are hoping that a younger, forward thinking Pope may review ideology that many consider inappropriate for the twenty-first century.

There is a risk that the Curia will go to ground and try and save itself by selecting an ultra conservative to hold the highest office.   The worst possible scenario would be a Pope who turns his back on these worldly ructions and simply applies himself to an ecclesiastical role.   The problems within the  Church of Rome are too big - and far too pressing - to be simply swept under the carpet and ignored.

The church is at cross roads - and unless the new Pope can achieve unity there is a risk of schism of a magnitude not seen since the Reformation.   The  " old " church had it's strength in Europe in the early centuries and this expanded into the " new world " of America, Canada, Australia and all the countries we now regard as " the developed world ".

This more secular congregation is calling for change.  There is pressure to abolish priestly celibacy, accept contraception, recognise Gay unions and generally modernise the Catholic faith.   Church attendance is falling steadily and the church is experiencing difficulty recruiting priests.

The Catholic church is expanding rapidly in Africa and Asia,  but here the trend is in the opposite direction.   The Faithful are bitterly opposing those changes the developed world is demanding and there is a real risk that something similar to the Reformation may split Catholicism.    It was this same division of thinking that has visited Rome many times over the centuries.   Without compromise, the seeds of rebellion seem ripe to generate once again.

This new Pope will face a daunting challenge.   He will need to face down the important people who form the Curia and show them who is boss.  He will need to reform Catholic institutions, such as the Vatican bank - and at the same time he will need to mollify east and west in their demands to change the stance of their church.  Some would think that will be impossible to resolve.

It would not be surprising if some in the Curia refused the church's highest office.   The negotiations within the Curia are strictly secret until the smokestack of the Sistine chapel emits a puff of white smoke.  No doubt  the choice of this Pope will become the basis of countless books and movies delving into the possibilities that church intrigue brings to mind.

The only certainty is that a new Pope will be chosen.   What transpires from that point forward will depend entirely on the outlook he brings to the job, and the courage with which he faces the challenges ahead.  In the eyes of many, events have transpired to ensure that this Papacy comes with a poisoned chalice.

The fate of this branch of Christianity depends on the man being up to the job !

A failing lifeline.

The frontline of emergency services to protect little kids from harm in their own homes is supposed to be the caseworkers from the Department of Community Services  ( DOCS ).   Unfortunately, many households are places of tension because of alcoholism, drug use, mental illness - and in some cases actual warfare between the people who share that dwelling.    Tiny little kids are often the meat in the sandwich, going untended and unfed - and in some cases brutally bashed and sexually assaulted.

The death of a child who lived a mere two and a half years has driven Wollongong caseworkers to the edge of revolt.   This little boy had been reported to DOCS nine times by people concerned that he was showing severe bruising and human bite marks - and there had been three " most urgent " reports just prior to his death, but these calls for help went unanswered.

DOCS caseworkers face a " mission impossible " situation.   The workload heaped on each individual is simply crushing and there is no hope of making contact with all -  or even the most urgent cases.   Those at the end of the queque can not expect an even superficial examination of their problems.   This is a situation that causes worker " burnout " - and as a result western Sydney and Wollongong have a forty percent vacancy rate because of resignations.

DOCS caseworkers are skilled people.   They face physical danger in making contact with some households and the daily trauma they encounter can be mind shattering.  Sometimes it involves calling in the police and at other times seeing that the paramedics attend to take care of injuries.   All this has to be carried out within a vague legal framework and with help from other agencies which are also strapped for funds and short of personnel.

Being a DOCS caseworker is a job you would not wish on your worst enemy.  Facing daily trauma and long hours, it is easy to see why trained people despair - and quit.  This worker shortage is exacerbated by pressure to reduce payrolls in the public service, resulting in vacancies going unfulfilled for months.  As a consequence, each remaining persons workload increases beyond breaking point.

This is a situation that needs to be brought into context.  It is a " life and death " situation, comparable with the paramedics who man our ambulance fleet, the cops who respond to street assaults and the fire crews who save burning houses.   We would not tolerate those services coming to a halt for lack of staff - and yet DOCS caseworkers face this same problem year after year.

This death in Wollongong is a wakeup call.   Obviously there is a budget in place to cover that forty percent vacancy situation.   We urgently need to recruit and train people to fill those vacancies and spread the workload so that at least all the most urgent cases get attention.    Anything less is to see " burnout " cause more resignations and this valuable service grind to a halt - and that would be the ultimate tragedy !

A lost " Visual Art " !

The Federal government is throwing $ 261 million into the battle to improve reading skills for kids ranging from Kindergarten to year three.   Research shows that those who have not developed adequate reading skills by year three are most likely to eventually leave school with neither the skill or interest to read adequately.

This reading enhancement programme is yet to be fully explained but it will involve school breakfast clubs, after school reading events and - most importantly - encouraging parents to read to their children.  It seems a worthy project, but recruiting busy parents to contribute their time will be a daunting task.

In many ways, reading seems to be a case of swimming against the tide - and it all started in 1956 - when television arrived in Australia.   In an instant, " reading about events " changed to " sit and watch them unfold ".   That same square screened box did a lot to banish printed comics and replace them with action graphics.  The direction of attention spans changed again when the " games consoles " arrived on the entertainment scene.  Passive reading was surpassed by fast brain decisions and even faster manipulation of console triggers to direct combatants on the monitor.

Today's kids can certainly read and know the alphabet.  They need that knowledge to work the keyboard on their mobile phones and computers, but in doing so they have developed a new language far removed from the realm of ordinary people.  This collides when they enter the work force and it becomes necessary to blend these skills with the requirements of commerce - and in many cases this is a very unhappy experience for both parties.

An employer considering a beautifully prepared and set out cv from an applicant would wonder if this had been the product of a well educated parent, or possibly the end product of one of the firms that specialise in cv's designed to impress.    Few such introductions are taken at face value these days.

The wise will know that kids reject anything they deem unnecessary, and in today's world, reading falls into that category with many.   More than half a century ago, many kids simply rejected algebra, but did well in maths and English because they could understand their value.   If we are to create an interest in reading, we will need to take a new approach and convince them that it has value.

The world of adults needs to share some of the blame for the changes that kids are inflicting on the English language.  We have been slow to adopt the jargon that kids have developed for speed when sending SMS messages, and even the smallest change offends and distresses some who consider themselves intellectuals.
The French have insulated their language from change, but English has always been a free wheeling language that can adapt to a changing world - and that is why it is fast becoming the universal language.   More of the world speaks English than any other comparable language.

The catchword to reading success could be an improved acceptance of change.   If we study the correspondence from the days of the first fleet we will notice that they spoke and wrote very differently from today's custom.   Perhaps the language we older folk hold so dear is nearly incomprehensible to the young of today.    The solution of most problems involves - compromise !

The " Justice " machine !

South Africa's coming trial of Oscar Pistorius will certainly attract headlines world wide.  The " Blade Runner" is famous way beyond sporting circles and this judicial forum is set to launch careers in the arcane world of horsehair wigs, gowned barristers and terminology from a distant century.

What a curious circus we hold when the fate of another human being goes before the courts.  A judge sits on a high dias  and has the task of deciding what matters can be fairly put before a jury of twelve of the accused's fellow citizens.  The terms of reference are dictated by precedent.   What has been decided in previous courts becomes the basis for the protocols that will be imposed at this trial.

Two legal teams take opposing tables before that judge and because of the adversarial nature of a court trial, this is a war in which no prisoners are taken.   The guilt or innocence of the accused is immaterial.   One counsel has the task of convincing the jury to acquit - and the other has a mission to secure a guilty verdict.  It is a game of tactics.  Both sides try and destroy evidence that imperils their case by using innuendo or bringing in witnesses of a different view.  Tempers fray and language becomes heated.  In many cases, the fray is more between counsel sparring for public attention than the merits of the case before the  court.

The personal rewards of victory in a high profile case are huge.   A defending counsel with a string of wins becomes sought after and commands high fees.  Eventually, such success may cause fellow lawyers to confer the title of " silk " - and from there the rewards of office include fame as well as monetary riches.

A leading prosecutor is usually a public employee, but a pecking order exists in the public service and high office is well rewarded.  It is not unusual for those who provide outstanding service on either side of the prosecuting/defence divide to eventually move on to the higher standing of becoming a judge - and some may even attain a seat in the nation's high court.

The Pistorius case will be evenly matched.  The South African government will bring forth it's best and brightest prosecutor, and the Pistorius sporting fortune will ensure that his defence counsel comes from the highest ranks.   The main problem will be to find a jury of twelve people who have not been exposed to the lurid media coverage that is preceding this coming trial.

No doubt the public interest will be intense and the outcome will be eagerly awaited.  Unfortunately, there will be other cases in many other courts that will escape this scrutiny.    In particular, cases where a person of little consequence has committed a crime that has attracted the attention of a senior prosecutor - but the plaintiff has been unable to afford representation beyond that of " the public defender ".

Usually, this involves a lawyer fresh out of law school with little court experience.  It becomes a David and Goliath type contest - with an inevitable result.   Sadly, many people fall through the cracks of the justice system - but so far no better system has managed to catch the public attention !

Rats - and sinking ships !

The dramatic announcement by Christine Milne of the Greens that her party was ending the deal in which they formed a coalition government with Labor was not surprising.   The fact that the ALP's woes are partly caused by their bending to the demands of the Greens seems a case of the boomerang coming full circle.

The Greens are trying to have it both ways.   They intend to keep their promise to defend Labor on supply and no-confidence issues to ensure this government goes it's full term.  It seems obvious that from September 14 they will lose their " hung parliament " pivotal power - and with it the opportunity to push their agenda.   They will then revert to being just another minor party if the polls and pundits are reading the coming election results correctly.

The Greens accuse Labor of " walking away " from the agreement they gave on the mining tax and the preservation of the Tasmanian Tarkine.  In reality, the Greens do not want to be identified too closely with their former partner because the voters may tar them with the same brush that is bringing the entire government into disrepute.

The Greens see an opportunity to become a serious alternative governing party if they play their cards right.   They started life as a group of " tree huggers " which attracted  a strong sympathy vote from " little old ladies " and this coalesced into national prominence over the Franklin dam battle.   This hung parliament issue was like a gift from the Gods.   They actually got their feet under the cabinet table.   If Labor gets the expected shellacking at this election and it's numbers drop in similar manner to the Queensland experience, it is possible the Greens may supplant Labor and become the " Opposition ".

Somehow they need to disguise their agenda and convince the voters that their deeply socialist roots bring no threat to the economy and job prospects of Australia.   Their anti industry stance obviously worries the AWU and it is hard to see how the national economy could prosper if they succeeded in closing down the coal industry and forced the other miners offshore.   The analogy of " Watermelons " seems to have stuck with some people - and perhaps their policies are not entirely what they seem to be.

This election will be " make or break " for the Greens.   What happens in the Senate will have a huge bearing on whether an incoming government is able to govern, or whether politics will degenerate into the mess we are seeing in the United States of America.

A huge responsibility is shifting onto the shoulders of the media to guide the minds of the voters by presenting the options offered by all political parties in a fair and balanced manner.      We may be about to experience a shift in Australian politics which will set the national agenda for the coming decades !

A " Death Spiral " !

When the Internet opened up the world of communication it was widely predicted that this would cause the death of newspapers.    That seemed a reasonable prognosis.    The idea of cutting down millions of trees to make newsprint,  meeting deadlines to get the content of a paper ready for the press to roll - and then delivering a copy to each reader before breakfast seemed a wasteful way of doing things - when the same information could be gleaned from a viewing screen on a computer or a television.

The same prognosis was made about the printing of books - and yet they survived until a major bookseller closed it's doors. The inability of holders of gift certificates to redeem their face  value dealt a death blow to the custom of giving vouchers to family and friends for Christmas and birthdays.   Suddenly, the " e " book plugged the gap when this publishing disaster coincided with the release of a popular tablet that put a book reader in many people's hands.

The newspaper industry has barely survived in recent times.  Most publications present their product in both " e " and printed form and it seems obvious that the printed edition is losing market share.  The number of pages dwindles and it seems that print no longer dominates the world of advertising as it did when newspapers were at the height of their popularity.   Profits - where they still exist - are slim and the share market for paper stock has bee n on the slide for several generations.

The whole rationale for newspapers was to present the daily news - and to bring the results of sporting events.   In particular, most newspapers provided extensive horse racing coverage.   The racing pages became the vehicle for the punter who rarely attended a race meeting, but placed bets and tallied the results from the following days newspaper coverage.

It seems that those days are over.   Just as the custom of checking the lottery results via the newspaper has ceased, it seems that checking for a winning bet will soon be a matter of running the ticket through the TAB machine at the local club or pub.   More and more regional newspapers no longer print racing results or give the winning dividends.

Some see this as the final nails in a coffin lid as the newspaper in print form enters a death spiral.  If it fails to remember the reason for it's creation that continued support will wither away and it will not remain relevant to the needs of the people who give it life.

People bought newspapers to bring them the information they needed.  When that information flow ceases - so does the need for newspapers !

The not so clever country !

In an election year, expect desperate logic to prevail over common sense when it comes to attracting votes.   The Federal government is implementing a scheme it hopes will pressure projects to source materials locally and employ more of the Australian work force.   This will be " optional "  and  there will be no legal obligation to comply.

More controversial is a plan to create  ten " Industry Innovation" precincts manned by technology experts and government agencies.   These will be tasked with creating business opportunities.  This will have a budget of one billion dollars - but at a cost of ceasing tax write offs for research and development undertaken by companies with a turnover of $ 20 billion or more.

So it seems we are shutting down the " R & D " component of our biggest companies and replacing it with a new bureaucracy which knows nothing about marketing.   The decisions on what constitute " good business opportunities " by way of proposed new products will be taken by a bevy of departmental heads and bureaucrats who know absolutely nothing about the world of business innovation.

Some wit once observed that a " camel is a horse designed by a committee ".  This " committee " approach to R & D is a recipe for disaster.  Not only will research be directed into avenues that seem interesting to bureaucratic minds, but the real work of the companies at the forefront of innovation will wind down as soon as those tax write offs are withdrawn.

A cessation of R& D costs as a tax deduction will certainly ensure that GM abandon further models of the Commodore in Australia.   All new products need R & D research to reach cutting edge status and it is a cornerstone of business that such R & D costs are balanced against the profits that accrue from the resulting finished product.

It seems to be a fact of life that governments lack the skills to be clever innovators  in getting things done. Their plans move ponderously and slowly and this is directly opposite the innovative approach of the business world, where experience makes the difference in deciding whether a plan or product will gain public acceptance - and therefore make money.

This new approach is aimed squarely at the voters.   It may seem like a good idea to those who lack an understanding of how the business world works, but a " committee " approach ignores the need for R & D to be carried out behind a veil of secrecy.   Manufactures closely guard new products and new innovations until they are ready to be launched on the public.  A breach of security can give a competitor an inkling of what is coming - and in a world of trade secrets - the advantage of surprise is paramount.

Most governments leak like a sieve - and the same can be expected from these  " Industry Innovation Precincts ".   If this idea comes to reality, " the lucky country " may morph into being " the not so clever country ".     Messing with R & D is not a good idea !   There seems to be a connection with Geese that lay golden eggs !

A timely warning !

It has been labelled as a " once in a hundred years event ! "    A meteor about fifteen metres in diameter entered earth's atmosphere and exploded with the force of about 300,000 tonnes of TNT over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk.    The sonic boom was devastating, smashing windows and toppling walls, and slashing people with broken glass. Many thought this was a nuclear explosion.

 Just suppose that this visitor from outer space had chosen October 1962 to happen - right in the middle of the Cuban missile crisis - when JFK and Nikita Krushchev had their forces on hair trigger alert and were facing down the prospect of World War Three.   It could easily have been mistaken for a " first strike " and triggered a nuclear exchange.

Fortunately, just such a prospect had led to the installation of the celebrated " hot line " between Washington and Moscow.    It was thought that the ability of world leaders to speak directly to each other in a crisis would lessen the chance of mistaken information leading to someone pressing " the Doomsday button " - and laying waste to civilization as we know it.

Things have settled down between these two adversaries.  The nuclear missile defences are no longer aimed at each country's cities, but there are other hot spots in the world that could react to a similar visit by a meteor .   Suppose the site of such an explosion was above Tel Aviv or Pyongyang ?   Regimes that are tuned to expect a first strike by avowed enemies could be expected to react swiftly.- and forcibly !

We search the skies for incoming space rocks but ones the size of the meteor that caused the problem in Chelyabinsk are too small to be detected.   The world will have to learn to live with the expectation that such an event can occur at any time - at any point on planet Earth.

Hopefully, those regimes under constant alert pressure may at least take such an explanation into consideration before they respond to an unexpected event.in their skies.   The future of the human race may depend on them making the right decision !

Bats out of Hell !

The common fruit Bat is a usual sight in eastern Australia.  On summer nights great swarms of the creatures cross city skies on their way to gorge on fruit and by day they can be found hanging on trees or in caves where they have established colonies.

This seemingly innocuous animal has a fearful reputation.  Since the dark ages it has been associated with witchcraft.  The Bat symbol is often used together with vampires and werewolves to depict a magic world of sorcery and spells.   The superstitious fear black cats and Bats as the associates of Zombies - or the convening of witches around a totem at which curses are directed at others.

It seems that this reputation is warranted because we now know that Bats carry a disease called Lyssavirus. A person bitten or scratched by a Bat can develop this life threatening disease after a long incubation period - and the afflicted usually die.

The third case of Lyssavirus in Australia is currently fighting for life in Queensland.   The virus takes the form of a brain infection and fits and this young victim is now too weak to be able to talk and give details of how the infection occurred.   It could be that the disease has mutated to a new form, and it could be a threat that is fast emerging given that Bats have taken to invading inner city parks.

Unfortunately, despite their reputation - Bats are cute.   They are a furry little flying animal and they navigate in the dark by using sound as a sort of radar.  An injured Bat would be attractive to children and it is important that parents warn them not to touch or try to move them if they are discovered injured.. The correct procedure would be to alert WIRES and allow them to be recovered by people trained to avoid injury and equipped with safety equipment to do that job.

It is also important to seek medical help immediately if a contact has been made with Bats.  Treatment for Lyssavirus is being developed and the sooner it is applied - the better.    Given the great number of Bats in Australian skies, we could be on the cusp of a new threat unless precautions are taken by the population !

The missing link !

The people who live in the Wollongong suburb of Unanderra and use the trains will despair to learn that once again their station has failed to get funding to install a lift.  Instead, the state government has chosen a major upgrade at Waterfall, despite that station being fully accessible to the handicapped.

The battle to upgrade Unanderra goes back many years.   The problem is that those wishing to access the station from this suburb have no choice other than to use a steep flight of stairs to reach the station platform on the other side of the tracks.   That is impossible for women with prams, the elderly and specially for those with any sort of physical handicap that makes stairs difficult.

In contrast, Waterfall is well equipped with sloping ramps and can be considered accessible to all.  The planned renovations will include new lifts, new toilets and modern facilities, supervised for safety by a network of cctv cameras.

Perhaps the failure of Unanderra to get the nod has something to do with politics.   Way back in the years Labor governed in this state a station upgrade was consistently ignored.   It almost seemed to be part of some vendetta which was finally broken in 2009 - when funds were finally allocated - only to be abandoned when the cost blew out to a staggering $ 16.5 million.

A change of government brought no relief.   Once again, Unanderra seems to be the forgotten station when it comes to the most basic need - the ability for all to access it's platforms.   The only way that this can be achieved is the provision of lifts to move the handicapped.

The need to attract votes figures in most political decisions and for some obscure reason Unanderra fails to flatter both sides of politics.  In contrast, big numbers of Illawarra voters drive to Waterfall to avoid the slow and congested Illawarra line and from there join the city train network for the final leg of their journey to work.   Waterfall is therefore a " park and ride " station.

Unanderra remains on the waiting list for funds to provide those vital lifts.  Handicapped residents suffer the need for a bus fare to reach other stations with better access - and for families with young children those steep flights of stairs provide a fall hazard.

The superstitious must be wondering what they need to do to get the Gods of politics to smile on them !

Inevitability !

It seems to most people that the " bleeding obvious " seems to escape the nation's leaders in the United States of America.    Tackling the fiscal deficit is really a no brainer.    They need to raise income and decrease spending, but one side of politics refuses to even think of tax increases - and the other refuses any sort of entitlement reform.

The other great American problem is the huge quantity of undocumented people who have managed to cross the country's borders and are living a shadow existence within  the communities.   In many cases, the original entrants have lived most of their life in the United States and have produced children born on American soil - and these now have produced grand children.

The numbers are staggering   One in every twenty-nine people living in America is an undocumented illegal immigrant.   In good times they are welcome, because they do the low paid jobs Americans shun, and there are just too many of them to ever force them back over the nation's borders.

It seems to be time for a reality check.  American shares a common border with Mexico, a country with a lower standard of living and a huge population.   At the same time, America is the " El Dorado " in the dreams of the world's poor and oppressed.  Millions poured through Ellis island in the early years when the aim was to populate an empty land.

Technology has advanced to the stage where it is possible to implement personal identification that relates to either the DNA or unique fingerprints or eye retina of each person.   The only way the US will solve it's problem with illegals is to bring them into the open and offer a new deal.   Permanent residence leading to citizenship in exchange for learning the English language, paying taxes and obeying the laws of the country.

At the same time, it will be necessary to ensure that this amnesty does not simply deliver a new wave of undocumented illegals and that will require the implementation of a national ID system that makes living in the country illegally virtually impossible.   It would need draconian penalties for those who employ an illegal or provide any sort of accommodation, or offer services such as banking, transport or shelter.    It has been proven that border security is impossible to fully implement.   The impetus needs to change to detecting new arrivals and removing them - before they put down roots !

It is too late to even think of removing all those already in place.   Children born on American soil already have citizenship rights and it would be a logical extension to include their parents in any new deal. The natural exclusions would be those who have an extensive criminal record, but the addition to the tax base of one in twenty-nine citizens would certainly improve national finances.

We have undocumented illegals here in Australia too, but the numbers are minuscule compared to America. Fortunately we do not share a land border with any other country.  The main source of illegals comes from visa overstayers or those here on a study visa who use that as a bogus reason for entry.  Our problem is the fact that Australia has become the new " El Dorado " for those fleeing civil war and oppression - and there is every indication that these conditions are growing exponentially on the world stage.

It would be a good idea to learn from the American experience, and look to our own defences before the undocumented illegals here become a major problem !

A brave decision !

The announcement that Pope Benedict XVI will step down from office and break six centuries of protocol by retiring came as a shock to many, but it was a brave decision and it shows that this leader put the health of his church before his own ambitions.  At age eighty five he is suffering a reduction in mobility and it is becoming obvious that he struggles to cope with the heavy workload that comes with the Papacy.

It is also possible that the events that overtook his predecessor, John Paul 11 could have a bearing on this decision.   Ill health stalked the latter months of the previous Pope and it became necessary for many functions to be delegated to others - and that created situations which intruded into the present term of office.

The Vatican has always been a huge bureaucracy and human nature creates rivalry between those seeking power.   When the health of an exalted leader is failing it provides an opportunity for ambitions to exceed wisdom in the jockeying for control.    Once an individual has power in his hands, it is not easy to give up and this may be the cause of much of the problems that have been roiling within the Vatican.

It is evident that all is not well within the Vatican bank.   There have been accusations of money laundering and the bank has lost the confidence of many financial institutions.   Recently the Pope's butler was arrested and charged with stealing documents and leaking secrets to the media.  This brought accusations of greed and corruption within the inner circle that runs the church, and much of this can be traced back to the time when their previous Pope was forced to delegate power.

Benedict XV! is making certain that his own age decline does not contribute similar problems.   The option of retirement has always been available to Popes, but it has been disregarded for a very long time.  Most Pope's die in office.   This present Pope has the wisdom to put the interests of his church before the inevitable mental decay that comes with age.   It is a decision that most will applaud.

A new Pope will be chosen, and this will bring a gale of fresh air sweeping through the Vatican.  There are problems within the church that have been waiting centuries for attention and - hopefully - a younger  Pope more in tune with this twenty-first century may be willing to grasp the nettle - and make changes.

Hopefully - the conclave of Cardinals will choose wisely !

Where " Privacy " ends !

On January 16 the ratepayers of Wollongong were saddled with a $ 4600 cleanup bill.   Television news and the local newspaper ran pictures of a damaged Mall and the story was told that a young man ran amok  in the wee small hours of the morning,  puncturing cans of both acrylic and oil based paint as he splashed a trail over the Mall pavers, fronts of buildings - and even parked cars.

This was not an attack carried out with haste.  It took nearly an hour and it progressed from one end of the Mall to the other - and it was all recorded on cctv cameras.    Considering that these cameras are under police surveillance, it is a fair question to ask how this could continue for such a period of time without the offender being arrested ?

A second pertinent question concerns the images these cameras captured.   They clearly show the offender and the defacing of public property breaks several laws.  Ratepayers have every right to expect that this culprit should appear before a court and be punished for his actions.   It seems that so far the police have not been able to put a name to a face - and he has not been identified.

What leaves many ratepayers gobsmacked - is the reluctance of the relevant authorities to release these images and invite the public to help with catching the person who did this wilful damage.   It seems that the images will be withheld "  to protect this man's right to privacy ".

It seems that there are many interpretations of just what that word - " Privacy " -  means and how the privacy laws will be applied.   We are photographed without our permission every time we withdraw money from an ATM.      Most stores have a cctv system endlessly recording us as we shop - and the police collect evidence on our driving habits from the vast array of speeding and red light cameras.

It seems that recording images breaks no law, yet what happens next merges into a very grey area.   Shops that display pictures of shoplifters stealing their wares come under fire from the civil liberties people.  Despite the fact that these people are breaking the law, their privacy is more important than achieving a conviction.

Privacy intrudes into our ability to obtain legal redress in other subtle ways.    Should we have witnesses to a car accident in which our vehicle is damaged - seeking to find the owner of the offending vehicle by way of it's registration numbers is refused by the licensing authority and the police - on privacy grounds.

It seems to be a very fine line between " aiding and abetting a crime " by refusing to give vital information, and it's collision with an individual's right to anonymity.   It seems time that the air was cleared - if necessary by the passage of an unequivocal law - to strip away privacy rights when they clearly illustrate a law breach.

We have a right to discover who owns a car that has caused us damage - and the citizens of Wollongong have a right to know who saddled them with a $ 4600 cleanup bill !

A Lawyers picnic !

The aims of the proposed National Disability Insurance scheme ( NDIS ) are laudatory.  It is intended to remove the " lottery" aspect of making a claim for a disability.   It is intended that a single set of rules apply in place of the disjointed mess that applies at present, filled with " if's, but's and maybe's ".

One clause that sounds reasonable to most people concerns protecting NDIS from having to pay out money when compensation is due from other sources.    When it comes into force, it will be mandatory for those with any disability that can be construed as a work accident or the result of the negligence of others to pursue legal action to attain a financial settlement.

Like most well intended clauses, the " devil is in the detail "!    It fails to spell out just who makes the decisions on what matters go to court and what responsibilities apply as regards the costs involved.   This could very easily result in a backlog of cases jamming the court system and applicants for NDIS help denied income awaiting the outcome of court claims.

Suppose a resident slips on moss growing on the pavers in Wollongong Mall ?    If this results in an injury .leading to a disability claim, NDIS would expect the applicant to seek litigation against Wollongong council for causing a preventable hazard by allowing that moss to grow.    The outcome of court cases is always uncertain, and if this results in failure - who picks up the tab for the legal costs ?

There is a basic need for clarity.   If NDIS accepts a claim and pays regular compensation during the time when a legal claim is before the courts, if that claim results in a legal settlement against a plaintiff - does the entire amount awarded go to NDIS - or just the portion dispensed under the time NDIS disbursed the claimants living expenses ?

The sticking point for many is the mandatory aspect of making a court claim.  Legal fees are a financial hazard that most people avoid.  When they are forced to take legal action to validate a NDIS requirement they are putting their home and assets on the line.   That is not something the average person does lightly - nor without hesitation.

This requirement will be greeted with joy by the legal fraternity.   There are already lawyers who advertise their services on a " no win - no fee " basis, which sounds safe and tempting.  Unfortunately, that only applies to their legal fees.   Should the case be lost, the fees of the other legal team can be awarded against the litigant - and that can run into many thousands of dollars.

As things stand, it looks like NDIS claimants will be on their own fulfilling the requirement to take legal action to claim damages under the NDIS rules.   They will have the task of selecting a law firm and taking the court proceedings in their own name.    This sets the scene for NDIS to become a lawyer's picnic - and for people with a disability claim to be saddled with a financial hazard.

A better - and fairer - outcome would be for NDIS to seek to recover money outlaid by way of disability pensions by using their own legal people to claim against those who caused the disability.    That would ensure that only cases with a high likely success rate would proceed to court because the decision would rest with NDIS lawyers - and the onus of court costs would be lifted from the injured party.

This is a new scheme being tested by small trials about to get underway.  The opportunity exists to refine the recovery procedure before it creates financial anguish for many - and delivers an outcome that may  cripple a wider implementation !

Cat and Mouse games !

The announcement by the Australian Crime Commission that the use of performance enhancing drugs was rife across all Australian sporting codes came as a thunderbolt from a clear blue sky.   Not only did the ACC  claim drug use was rampant, it insisted that organised crime was involved - and suggested that it had evidence of match fixing.

This created world headlines.   Sporting fans here held their breath - waiting to hear which codes were involved - and speculating on the naming of clubs and individuals.   Then came the anti-climax.    The ACC passed the buck to the anti doping ASADA and suggested that there was a huge load of investigative work to be done before things became clearer.

There seems to be a clear line of relevance to the events that brought down world champion cyclist Lance Armstrong.   Armstrong recently went on the Oprah Winfrey show and confessed that he did use performance enhancing drugs, but he could also claim to be the most successful drug user in the sporting world because he had never failed a doping test.   He was stripped of seven Tour de France titles without a " smoking gun " revelation from the thousands of tests administered to him over years of competition as cycling's leading winner.

Innuendo linked Armstrong to drug use and a clever tactic was used to bring him undone.  Members of his team and competitors were urged to admit to their drug use with the inducement of soft penalties for early confession.   Those that did were then pressured to implicate Armstrong,  and in this way a compelling case was compiled containing statutory declarations from witnesses who swore that they had seen Armstrong use illegal drugs.   It was this that Cycling used to condemn Armstrong, despite his denials.

Perhaps the ACC is employing this tactic to flush out drug use in Australian sport.  There have already been exhortations for the guilty to " turn themselves in " and suggestions that confession will get a more sympathetic     response than " waiting for the police to knock on your door. "  Some would call this a " Cat and Mouse " game while others may describe it as a " Fishing Expedition " !

This could be a very clever way of creating the panic that results in minor drug cheats throwing themselves on the mercy of the ACC, and then being used to implicate others.   This tactic was prevalent during the Armstrong enquiry, and it resulted in the sport claiming the scalp of it's popular leader - and drawing what many will see as a line under the past.

There are signs that we do have a drug problem in sport - but so has the rest of the world.  Europe is reeling over claims of Soccer match fixing.  Concern is being shown at the huge amounts wagered on sporting events by gambling casinos located in a clutch of Asian countries - and here in Australia the statistics of Customs drug seizures is alarming.

Peptides are the latest wonder drug to enhance performance without leaving a trace.    Seizures increased from 2493 in 2009/10 to 8314 in 2011/12.   Obviously, these are probably only the tip of the iceberg - but it would be naive to think that their use was restricted to just the body building industry.

If this public statement is an ACC tactic to flush information out into the open it does so at the risk of causing great harm to our Australian sporting reputation.    We are being branded as " cheats " on the world stage, and wherever our teams play in the world there will be an undercurrent of suspicion.

In fairness to all, it is time that the suspected codes are named - and those suspected of guilt are given the opportunity to publicly express their defence.   Anything less - is un-Australian !

Identity theft !

We are constantly urged to lock our mail boxes and clear them regularly. In the computer age identity theft is rife and with a few details criminals can clean out our bank account or run up bills in our name. Unfortunately it has become the practice of many service organizations to require our date of birth as their security question  at point of access.

Now a new avenue of information collection has been revealed.   The Australian Tax office ( ATO ) has a wealth of information on every person in Australia, and this is available to the thousands of tax agents who prepare our tax returns.    Each of the little tax agent's offices scattered throughout every city, town and village in Australia has an access password that allows them to proceed through an agent's portal to the ATO's base computer.

They need three basic pieces of information to gain full access to every persons records.  They need that persons name - date of birth - and tax file number.    With that information, they are able to assume that persons identity, rearrange records and redirect money - without the knowledge of the person involved.

All it takes is for one tax agent to be careless with that vital access password - and a wonderful world of opportunity opens up for the criminal milieu.  It is not hard to gain a persons name, and now that DOB is used as an identity check when accessing a bank, phone company, utility supplier or council - that second piece of the jigsaw falls neatly into place.

Tax file numbers are a difficult nut to crack. If we were dealing with a financial institution and they asked to confirm our tax file number we would probably not be suspicious, but obviously that information would be needed by those preparing our tax returns.   Once again, we hope that security in this plethora of small offices is tight.

It seems that we have been alerted to the one key ingredient necessary to close this method of identity theft.    We need to be vigilant at all times when revealing our tax file number becomes necessary - and this probably involves never - in any circumstances - giving it over the phone.

It is a good rule of thumb to remember that no legitimate organization with a need to record our tax file number would ever ask for it over the phone.   Such a request should immediately start alarm bells ringing in our head.

Tax file numbers are usually included in correspondence from the tax office and financial institutions.   The last line of defence is to be very careful when disposing of such items.   Never discard them in the weekly council pickup - and perhaps investing in a cheap shredder would be a very good idea !

That " Doping " scandal !

It should come as no surprise that all Australian sporting codes are implicated in sophisticated use of performance enhancing drugs.   The writing has been on the wall  for years.   Doping scandals have rocked the Olympics and our current media fascination is delving into the drug world that ensnared Lance Armstrong and the sport of cycling.

Today's sport is big business.   Armstrong became a multi millionaire. Tiger Woods accumulated an amazing golf fortune. David Beckham got well rewarded for kicking around a soccer ball.   The elite of world sports achieve a level of fame and fortune that compares well with the very folk who head the companies at the top of the financial pyramid.

Is it any wonder that the " waannabees " are prepared to take any risk and break any law to get even a small portion of the riches that await success ?

The relentless need for the media to feed off sport has fuelled the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Sport produces elite players - and with fame comes financial success.   Is it any wonder that a drug that offers even a small " edge " will be eagerly accepted as the price to be paid for that success ?

It is clearly apparent that the world's big pharmaceutical companies are complicit in producing drugs that enhance performance - and are near impossible to detect.   In many cases, this result is simply accidental to the research aim, but if it results in a new source of income the company concerned will cheerfully look the other way when it is accessed for an illegal purpose.

The drug world snares a legion of others who gain from supplying their services.  Doctors. Trainers. Coaches. Promoters.     They are offered big money to produce a team that wins - and to win they need players at the peak of their capacity - and if that means cheating - then so be it !

We are about to see a " witch hunt " that will tear sport in Australia apart.   Reputations will be lost and some people will face long suspensions.   Drug testing will be hugely enhanced and the promoters of every sport will beat their breasts and claim that their sport is now " clean "!

Nothing will really change.   The criminal element will continue to smuggle prohibited substances into Australia and the big drug companies will continue to research stimulants that avoid detection. Competition in sport will continue to reward winners over losers, and the vast majority of players will desperately seek any sort of advantage that will take them to the top of the heap.

Fear of getting caught will persuade some to refuse stimulants, but when push comes to shove, the lure of big money that sport offers will be the difference when opportunity is offering.     What we are facing is a thing called " human nature " - and the will to succeed and become rich usually prevails over all other human scruples.

The risks taken increase exponentially in proportion to the rewards that sport offers !

" Cotton Wool" Kids !

It is a fact of life that kids with allergies are increasing in numbers and some in the medical profession blame the fascination with hygiene that rules many young lives.  Part of the process of building the body's immune system is exposure to environmental antigens.    These  " Germs " serve a purpose in exposing the natural body defences to attack and allowing them to develop the immunity that serves them well in later life.

The problem is that we have come to believe that children must be protected from all contact with the natural  antigens that exist in nature.   In the days when every house had a backyard, kids played in the dirt and moved about the neighbourhood in groups.   They climbed trees and undertook activities that would today be banned on hygiene grounds.

Pre-schools and the entire education system practices a regime of hand washing and ultra cleanliness that is designed to remove hazards, but in the process it is shielding children from the very protection that nature devised by building up their natural defences.    The degree of cleanliness that we see as being a health asset is actually creating an entry for disease.

Now we are faced with a new decree from the National Health and Medical Research Council ( NHMRC ) which suggests that the blowing out of candles on birthday cakes should be banned.

The thinking seems to be that the act of blowing out candles involved the spread of pathogens on the breath of the birthday child.  It is suggested that in place of candles on a shared cake, the child be presented with a cup cake containing a single candle.   The joy of blowing out a candle is thus retained - but done well away from any chance of contaminating other children.

Fortunately, this is a suggestion, not an edict.    We will not see " the cup cake police " raiding birthday events and confiscating birthday cakes with candles.   Hopefully, common sense will prevail and this age old practice will still bring joy to those celebrating a birthday.

This would be a good time for a re-think on this cleanliness craze.   Are we pushing the limits too far - and do we really want to eliminate all those minor infections that are part and parcel of the passage of childhood to adulthood ?

It seems that the path to good health does not require an absolutely sterile environment !

Justice Denied !

Roseanne Beckett has every reason to think that the laws of New South Wales conspire against her.   Formerly known as Roseanne Catt, she was convicted in 1991 of " soliciting someone to murder her husband. "    She was the only female prisoner in this state to serve that entire ten year sentence  because she refused to confess her guilt - and under this state's law no prisoner is granted parole unless they agree that they were guilty - and show remorse.

This case caused consternation when evidence surfaced that indicated that the police officer investigating this matter was a close friend of her husband, and that a pistol had been planted to frame her for the soliciting charge.   The conviction was quashed and a new trial ordered.   The prosecution decided not to proceed with this new trial, leaving the matter in limbo.

Roseanne Beckett wishes to sue the state for " malicious prosecution and false imprisonment " but the state is hiding behind ancient legal precedent which first requires her to " prove her innocence ".

It seems that the state is implying that the ten years she spent in prison is her own fault.   She should have done what others do - perjure herself by confessing to a crime she didn't commit, show remorse - and get an early release.

It seems to be the usual combination of reasons for this foot dragging.   The prosecution hates to have to admit that it made a mistake and will place every obstacle in the way of creating justice, and Treasury is always reluctant to shell out money for the state's mistakes.   Ancient legal precedent that makes little sense provides the opportunity to do nothing - and hope that the problem goes away !

Roseanne Beckett is a determined woman.   The fact that she endured ten years in prison for a crime she didn't do is an indication of the resolve with which she is conducting her campaign to get justice.   If the state government is not prepared to set in motion court action to resolve this issue, it would be wise to negotiate an " act of grace " settlement.

This conviction was quashed in 2005.    It seems that justice delayed - is justice denied !

Downgrading emergency services !

There is no doubt that the ambulance service is under constant pressure, but the plan by the New South Wales government to bolster response to medical emergencies by using the Fire Brigade introduces a new risk factor.

The " Ambo's " who crew our ambulance fleet are clinically trained paramedics and their vehicles come equipped with both drugs and medical devices to respond to a full range of medical conditions.   In comparison, the " Firies " are " trained to minimal medical assistance skills " .   They simply lack the ability to deliver the first response attention to keep the patient alive prior to arrival at hospital.

In rural areas, the Fire Brigade is often the first to arrive at an accident scene and it's members are required to do what they can to help medically - and wait until the ambulance arrives.  To suggest that the Fire Brigade replaces that trained ambulance team seems to be a matter of " sending someone with a first aid kit "

This seems to be a matter of tackling the problem from the wrong end.   The reason that our Paramedics are under such pressure is because handling the patient flow has obstacles causing delays.   " Bed block " prevents patients moving from the emergency department to the wards and in many instances paramedics and their ambulance vehicles are locked in a queue at the emergency department door for hours - waiting for triage to accept their patient into hospital care.

Using the Fire Brigade to care for these patients waiting for Triage makes better sense.   It frees up the ambulance and it's trained crew to do the first response work, and the lesser trained " Firies " can require Triage upgrade if the patient shows signs of deteriorating.

Such an arrangement ticks many boxes.  The highly trained Paramedic has first attended and stabilised the patient.  This advanced care has been present during the journey to hospital - and now that a less trained operator is taking over, the patient is just metres away from a fully operational emergency room in a hospital.

In a perfect world there would be no hospital delays and all patients would receive immediate care from a fully trained professional.    Welcome to the " real world " - and with it the inevitable tug of war between resources and need.

There is no doubt that health services have a few problems.   Solving those problems can be a better blend of using the resources available in a mix that allows the best trained and best equipped to to be the first providers on the emergency scene.

Using " Firies " as first response paramedics does not meet that criteria !

The growing Crocodile menace !

Residents of Rockhampton trying to restore order after recent flooding are being menaced by Saltwater Crocodiles roaming their suburbs.  Each year the range of these reptilian holdovers from the age of the Dinosaurs moves further south along the Western Australian and Queensland coastline.

There have always been Crocodiles in the tropical waters of northern Australia, but they were a hunted species and this controlled their numbers.   During the war years, troop movements exacerbated the killing of
Crocodiles and they came near to extinction.  As a result, Saltwater Crocodiles were declared  a protected species in Western Australia in 1970, Northern Territory in 1971 and Queensland in in 1974.

Their numbers have now exploded and we face the prospect of an invasion similar to that of the Cane Toad. Global warming is extending their natural habitat and we could lose access to rivers and the ocean which are so much an Australian sporting and lifestyle item if this encroachment is not checked.

Part of the problem is the living habits of Saltwater Crocodiles.  Dominant males are territorial and they establish a " territory " for their harem.   Younger males passing through are attacked and forced to move further afield - and consequently the Crocodile habitat in constantly enlarging.

We need to do two things.  We should establish the point south at which no further Crocodile expansion will be permitted, and we should reestablish a Crocodile kill quota to keep numbers under control across the entire Crocodile habitat.

There is an existing Crocodile industry based on Crocodile farms but this can be expanded and these creatures are a valuable natural resource.  Their skins are in demand  and with proper promotion there is no reason why Crocodile meat could not be both an export industry and alternative to beef, lamb and pork in Australian food stores.

The days of total species protection has served it's purpose and we need to bring the numbers under control.
It is sad to see Darwin's beautiful beaches unused because of the Crocodile menace, but unless we take positive action that same fate awaits other areas that Australians consider their water playground.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that if no action is taken, by the end of this century we may have Crocodiles in Sydney harbour !

Perceptions.

The most damaging content on the resignation of two senior government ministers seems to have a nautical flavour.   " Rats leaving a sinking ship " seems coupled with " Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic ".
The inference is that the " insiders " - the people at the very heart of this government - have lost confidence on it's survival and are making their departure with dignity.

Nicola Roxon is at the height of her career.  First elected to parliament in 1998 she has risen to be this country's first female Attorney General.  Resignation brings with it a very comfortable lifetime pension and there is no impediment to her choosing to take a well paying job in the private sector.

Her decision to step down to " spend more time with her family " seems certain to focus the spotlight on the gender issue.  Male members of parliament with children seem to cope with the workload by delegating child responsibilities to their spouse.This option is open to Nicola Roxon, but she has chosen otherwise.   Parliament has a number of single women with children, hence the impact of child responsibility seems to unfairly settle on the shoulders of women who choose to remain single.   It may be remembered that the prime minister was once criticised for being " childless ".

This same criteria is not levelled at Chris Evans, who first entered parliament in 1993.  He held the important position as leader of the government in the Senate.  He also claims he is resigning for family reasons - and to allow a suitable replacement for his seat to be selected.

The damage these resignations will cause is in the minds of voters weighing up their voting decision.  There seems to be no doubt that this government is riven with infighting.    Labor is a party of factions.   Beside the usual " right " and " left " ideology we have a struggle for power between two leaders - and each has a following.

The electorate has a big degree of " rusted on " political followers.   Political persuasion - like religion - is a matter of birth.   The vast majority of children adopt the religion of their parents - and are persuaded to follow the same political party when they reach voting age.   In many cases this becomes blindingly parochial - and nothing will change those intentions.

This coming election will be decided by the swinging voters.   They will judge their decisions on the past performance of the government over the latest term in office, the promises made by all political parties in the run up to the vote - and to the perception they have gained of how the country will fare in the term to come.

The phrase " Disunity is death " has long applied to politics.  Even a hint that a leader is lacking total party control is enough to split the vote and send support wavering.    Should one or two other major players throw in the towel and decide not to contest the coming election, this perception will become an unstoppable force.

What is said by either side of politics is not the issue.  It is the perception in voters minds that will decide the outcome !

Election call " Death Sentence " !

It seems that the naming of an election date in Australia is likely to send a surge of refugee boats to try and beat that deadline - and that will increase peril on the sea because it will deliver them into the cyclone season.

One of the things that seems to continually thwart Australia's efforts to stem the refugee flow is our inability to get our message across in Indonesia.   The fact that boat people now are processed offshore is either not getting through, or being discounted by the people smugglers as a " scare tactic " rather than a fact.

The people smugglers will use the September 14 call to their advantage.   It is a message they will be happy to spread - and with it the threat that a change of government will bring a crack down on those seeking safety in Australia.   Refugees will be urged to " get on a boat now " - before the opportunity ends.

Many of the intending refugees claim that there is no other option than to continue.   They have " burned their bridges " and to return is to face certain death.  In many cases, they have borrowed money to pay their fare and to fail will leave their families saddled with an impossible debt to repay.  It is a matter of honour to succeed - or die !

Our recent past history is not working in our favour.   Thousands of refugees have safely made the crossing and after time behind razor wire at Villawood or other centres - have got that important piece of paper and been released  into the Australian community.    The fact that they are not now living under the religious oppression of their home country, or being stood over by armed gangs is the message that is bringing an endless flow to escape persecution - and find the " good life Australia offers ".

We are a country that believes in the " rule of law " and in comparison to the regimes many have left - Australia is a utopia.   That is the message the earlier migrants are sending back home - and that is the reason that all our efforts to warn of changed circumstances for new arrivals is falling on deaf ears.

We face an impossible dilemma.   War and religious oppression will stalk many countries of the world and create a need for citizens to flee.   People smugglers make a fortune organizing " tours " by way of leaky boats and the countries through which refugees travel will help them on their journey - to be rid of them.

Neither side of politics has an answer to this problem - because there simply is no way to stop the flow heading here when we have the reputation of a safe place to live.   The magnet - is the reality of the Australian lifestyle that we have created on this continent.

Unfortunately, a lot of people are going to die because a natural event in our political cycle is going to be the impetus that sends people to sea in unsuitable boats in the middle of the cyclone season.

It seems we are powerless to change history !

Brinkmanship !

There is little technical difference in building a rocket capable of delivering a satellite into space - and turning that same rocket into an Intercontinental Ballistic missile. ( ICBM ).   Both of the Koreas have developed such rockets - and both claim to have delivered a working satellite to prove their point.

The big difference is that North Korea has also detonated nuclear explosions and is now threatening to conduct a third test.   It openly declares both the United States and Japan as it's enemies and makes no bones about it's desire to confront both countries militarily.

Technically, the two Koreas are still at war.  The Korean war of 1950/53 ended in stalemate and after a peace conference at Panmunjom an armistice was declared, separating the warring sides at the 38'th parallel.  That is still a fortified zone, bristling with weaponry and a regular scene of " incidents " that keep the animosity alive.

North Korea has one of the biggest armies in the world and it's upkeep and spending on military equipment is at the expense of it's citizens.   Famine is a regular visitor to North Korean family dinner tables and the regime is a past master at offering hints of better conduct in exchange for food supplements from South Korea and the west.    Few of these promises are ever fully kept.

North Korea, Iran and Pakistan are the three most likely threats to world peace.   North Korea and Pakistan defied the United Nations and clandestinely developed nuclear weapons, and Iran is suspected to be well on the way to a similar goal.  All three practice brinkmanship - and that brings with it the danger of miscalculation.

Assuming that the leadership of these three countries is not totally insane, the world should be reasonably safe for a decade or so.   Each of these new nuclear nations have a limited nuclear arsenal  and at this stage they could only mount a limited nuclear strike of a similar nature to the Hiroshima bomb.

In contrast, the nuclear arsenal of the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France contains the hydrogen weapon, immeasurably bigger than the Hiroshima bomb.   Both the United States and Russia have both delivery systems and bomb quantities capable of totally obliterating every man, woman and child in the countries involved in a nuclear attack on their soil.

The problem is - how to contain the growth of these nuclear arsenals and their delivery systems ?  Stopping the development of new nuclear armed regimes has failed and the sanctions in place show no sign of retreating the progress already made.   Progressively, there is every chance that the future will see bigger and better nuclear bombs in the hands of the lesser powers, and delivery systems have become a major dollar earning component of the world's arms race.

A country that possesses a nuclear bomb has a decided edge in the brinkmanship stakes. compared to a non nuclear country.   That is the incentive that is driving the nuclear arms race.  It seems that we are doomed to live with an ever expanding nuclear threat because no country trusts it's neighbours - and human nature drives
us to seek arms superiority.

It has been that way since the first cave man invented the spear.  It seems we simply have to learn to live with it !

Policing - and the Internet !

Law enforcement is putting pressure on the government to enact a law to force Internet providers to store all data on transactions for a yet to be decided period of years.    They want the ability to troll through this information in the interest of crime prevention.

Of course, the police would like the right to stroll through your home at will, examine your diary and personal effects - and if they find evidence of crime - arrest you as a result.   As the present laws stand, they must have a reasonable suspicion capable of convincing a judge before they will be granted such a search warrant.

This is a very intrusive law change proposal.   Every " Google " search you make on your computer could be examined by a police officer.   If you think you have illness symptoms and start looking for medical information, what may be the police conclusion reached ?    Does law enforcement really need to know precisely who you phoned on every day of the past few years ?

Modern technology already intrudes on personal privacy. If you have a " smart phone " it can tell the servicing company precisely where you are on planet earth by triangulating  between phone towers.  If this law comes into force, it is possible that every phone conversation or SMS message may be recorded for retrieval  at the click of a mouse.

It all smacks of " Big Brother " - and the usual inducement to giving it the nod is the claim that " the innocent have nothing to fear ".    Law enforcement plays up the positive side.  Knowing precisely where you were and what you were doing at any given time is an alibi that can prove your innocence.

The retention of mass information will come at a cost to all the service providers involved.  It will require the installation of vast data banks - and obviously this cost will end up being passed on to consumers.

Privacy seems to be the last frontier between personal liberty and an intrusive police state.  The " right to silence " is under attack in our courts and now there is a proposal to make every conversation we have on a phone and every visit to the Internet public property, to be examined at will by law enforcement.

The politicians we elect are supposed to guard our privacy and enact the spirit of our will.   It is precisely these same people who will either bolster our privacy defence - or usher in a new era of public scrutiny- if this new law succeeds !