Breaking the cycle

February 18, 2025

Somewhere after my childhood and early adulthood the sense of responsibility seems to have been lost. We have charters of rights, but no charter of responsibilitities that I’ve ever heard of. We have freedom of speech without any compulsion to use that right responsibly. For years, wage theft has been an unashamed “oops”, not a crime. Teachers regularly complain that talking to parents about a child’s persistent problematic behaviour brings the response that their child can do no wrong. In my own backyard, the federal Opposition can flood my electorate with a flyer of lies and distortions about the sitting MP because it is OK to lie in an election campaign.

One suggestion to break the cycle – do not elect any “tough on crime” candidates who will only give us more of the prison > worse crime > more prison cycle. Advocate for a rehabilitative legal system that, especially when a child comes to police attention the very first time, includes education of parents and children about responsibilities, the consequences of wrong-doing for others, and the practice of reparation in a real way, or symbolic way if no practical reparation is possible. Perhaps Saturday School instead of Sunday School.