Zero Tolerance The Way Forward

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday October 22, 2008

No doubt you have all noticed that it is the modern way of solving problems to print reams of newsprint, take up an inordinate amount of broadcast time on radio and TV consulting "experts" for their opinions as to what may be done and then solicit comforting statements from our politicians as to what remedies they may put in place.

All of the above rarely has any significant effect but, having been talked to death, the public angst ( and therefore the problem) quietly dissipates so that we may move on to another vexatious issue. In all of the breast beating and teeth gnashing, the real problems are seldom identified, let alone addressed.

Thus it is in the issue of today's hot topic - binge-drinking and the alleged association with street violence and anti-social behaviour.

I will concede that there is a correlation between these factors, but only to the extent that alcohol is a disinhibitor which allows or even prompts an individual to display their real nature. That has long been recognised in the Latin tag "in vino veritas".

The answers to this situation run much deeper than fiddling with the liquor licensing laws or taxing certain items of grog. Like many of my generation who now, like me, are in their 70s, I drank plenty as a young person, got as drunk as they do now, but never thought of behaving in an obnoxious, violent manner.

I believe the answers (not solution) to the current circumstances lay in punitive measures up to, and including, a policy of zero tolerance of anti-social behaviour. To be practicable, the police need much wider common sense powers and the near-scrapping of the bureaucratic paper shuffling they are burdened with.

A reintroduction of the Summary Offences Act, as it used to apply to intoxication, would be a boon. If you recall, being obviously drunk in the street could result in you spending a night in the cells to allow you to sober up and also to keep you safe and out of mischief.

That is for the short-term problem only, and to deal with the longer term, we should recognise the changes to our social fabric wrought by the social engineers of the past 40 years and take such measures as is necessary to reverse these trends so that future generations will not face the same problems as we are facing now.

Of course, it all begins at home with the parenting which is subject to some ridiculous restrictions and is then next pursued through schooling. Teachers are prohibited from disciplinary actions. How much more crazy can it get when trained educators are reduced to the function of child minding?

The legislators, the bureaucrats, the judiciary and the assorted "experts" have a lot to answer for.

Bob Palmer, Kiama.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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