M37
Australia could be 'dumbest nation' because of over-regulation
May 28 2015
Comments
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RHP User
11 years ago
My parents came to Western Australia from Holland the year I was born. By their account, and my mothers shock, they had landed in hicksville. A cultural dead zone. Ask them now and they would not want to be anywhere else. In those close to 50 years here in Perth cultural diversity has exploded and is very far from the cultural insular place it was. It will never compare to the mega cities of the world, cultural diversity is governed by population. But I would not say we are retarding our culture, in fact as i see it every year brings added vibrancy to our ever expanding culture. As for nanny state. If stupid people can not stop banging their heads against brick walls, we introduce laws to make it illegal, if they still can not stop, we make laws that brick walls need padding. So one day when I am old a frail and find my self falling towards a brick wall I will be thanking the stupid people of the world and those that wish to keep them from harm. At the moment brick walls do not worry me and the extra business for wall padders is all good.
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RHP User
11 years ago
Sadly........ the Welfare State and the Nanny State go hand in hand. When people are allowed to feel that nothing is their fault, ...... they often need to be saved from themselves. This is not a stab at welfare...... but the mentality of entitlement wrapped up within it, whiteout expectation of community responsibilities connected to it. DG
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RHP User
11 years ago
Big deal, throw that in a search engine and wake up. True, not sad......
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RHP User
11 years ago
Neoliberalists love using the term 'nanny state' to denigrate regulation. However, there's nothing wrong with regulation. In fact, I think it's necessary in many industries. Think pharmaceuticals, transport, education, health, construction, energy, etc. The public is usually short-sighted and does not understand the implications of making certain decisions that affect us all. Now imagine if we allowed greedy companies in charge of looking the environment or community well being. Ummmm, no thanks. - Posted from rhpmobile
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RHP User
11 years ago
I witness the decline in the good old all Aussie character where a mans handshake was as honourable as a written contract... I've also witnessed the good and bad the multi cultured effect has on our country. While enjoying the good honest hard working migrants who made Australia their new home and strived to fit in to what this wonderful country has to offer, the flip side is the negative few who imported the very bad habits they once wanted to leave behind .. This is slowly degrading our treasured way of life... The sooner we wake up and put strong measures in place to what's acceptable and what's not , the better...
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RHP User
11 years ago
Australia was born out of a prison, and it's always been a struggle between the convicts and the screws. But the screws were endemically corrupt, and us convicts got away with a lot. Then in the 80's, somewhere around the bicentennial, something suddenly changed. A new guard of screws came up, and started ruthlessly rooting out the old, corrupt ones. Initially us convicts thought this was great, those self-serving dickheads were getting their comeuppance finally. But little did we know we were out of the frying pan into the fire, and the new screws were simply exerting a new sort of iron fist. The iron fist of ruthlessly enforced politeness, padded playgrounds and walking pace speed limits. Ultimately all these things are arguable on a "think of the children!" platform, and a "nobody should ever feel uncomfortable!" platform, but it's really about the smooth running of business.
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RHP User
11 years ago
There are so many rules and restrictions here now that the fun has been taken out of a lot of everyday things that's its smothering spontaneity. For example, I really enjoy going to concerts and live music. The number of times I've been in the last few years where no one is allowed to stand up and dance and have a good time without the bouncer telling them to sit or escorting someone out of the venue. The fun police have ruined it and put me off attending any more. I'll just buy the CDs and have my own party! Europeans have a much more open and liberal attitude to sex in general ... not just sites like RHP. Turn back the dial 20-30 years ago and life was freer and much more fun! LG
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RHP User
11 years ago
Are there more youth today than years ago? Where is our research person? lol...I thought excitement was what you made of it, and culture is everywhere...we have cultures within cultures. Communities 😄 our own personal experiences are what is going to shape our opinion.
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JDM76
11 years ago
Where i am in newcastle (nsw) , was the first place to implement a 1am lockout of all pubs and clubs for entry in the state and it certainly has had an effect on fun and enjoying yourself . I feel sorry for the young people who want to go out and have fun , and if you are a shiftworker forget it . If you get home at 11 or 12 and want to go out you can't . And i definitely agree with Leo_Girl about security and bouncers at concerts , they totally ruin the atmosphere . There is some great clips on youtube of Tori Amos stopping mid song and abusing security guards for not letting people stand up or dance and enjoy themselves
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RHP User
11 years ago
In Brisbane..it's actually getting better..25 years ago the search for decent coffee was akin to searching for the Holy Grail..but I don't live here for the coffee.I just love the laid back lifestyle,my small seaside village..does that make me dumb..maybe,but if it means them city folk stay in them cities,sure suits me xxFreya
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RHP User
11 years ago
I jumped about 2ft up into the open door of a moving bus in India a few months ago with a local friend. When I explained our buses stopped at the curb and lowered themselves so we could walk straight in he thought I was crazy. Living for the most part in Asia I find Australia stifling when I am here. This morning I got the third degree from my local pharmacist about my codeine habit - I just have a freaking headache! I'm in Thailand next week, where I can pick up hard core pain killers, valium, and anything else I want at the local drug store. Society seems to carry on ok there. Some of the rules themselves are just stupid - the lockout in Sydney a prime example. Of course assaults are down - you just shifted 50% of the people somewhere else. And how can a 1:30am lockout be a fix for roid-raging losers punching people on the street at 10pm? At my favourite bar in Phnom Penh the patrons smoke joints in the garden. Beer costs 50c at the local shops on every corner. There is no legal minimum drinking age. There's also virtually no alcohol fuelled violence. I haven't read the article OP, and I'm not sure if we are becoming dumber. When creating laws protecting people from themselves though the assumption certainly is that we are some of the stupidest people on the planet. Perhaps it is self-fulfilling.
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Dryphuz
11 years ago
new zealand are removing the supersafe rubber coated kids playgrounds for this reason. No ones getting hurt, which may seem good, but the kids aren't learning important safety lessons they would normally have learned on the playground. As a result they are suffering much more serious injuries later in life because they never learned how to avoid getting hurt in the first place... I'm not sure if i agree with the concept or not, but i follow a somewhat similar method with my nieces. For example my parents are quick to dive in with a helping hand to stop them hitting thier head on the coffee table when they chase toys or the dog under there. I let them hit their head so they can learn to be more careful. Don't get me wrong, i would never let them seriously hurt themselves or endanger their lives. but the occasional bump on the noggin or skinned knee is a learning experience i think every kid needs. As to nannying adults, we absolutely do, but mostly as a result of a few idiots who did themselves a mischief and brought it to the attention of the authorities. Take jetty jumping. The inherent risk is obvious, we don't really need laws to tell us that, but occasionally someone hurts themselves and it can only be considered responsible of the government to put laws in place to prevent further problems. However while they change the laws, they also make the jetties safer to jump off and easier to climb back onto, with diving platforms, depth markers, and ladders that aren't slippery. So if you do decide to ignore the law, unwritten or not, they've done all they can to prevent you injuring yourself.
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RHP User
11 years ago
But, I don't believe youth and excitement are tied together. Culture...by it's nature, takes time to build. But excitement...we make it, regardless of what city, town or plot of land we live on.
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RHP User
11 years ago
Australian cities are losing there youth, based on statistical percentages. A SMALLER PIECE OF THE POPULATION PIE In June 2011, there were 5.4 million Australians aged 18-34 years. As expected, given the growing population of Australia, this was more than there had been in June 1976 (3.8 million). However, due to the ageing of the population, young adults make up a smaller proportion overall than previously. In 2011, 24% of the population were young adults, whereas in 1976, young adults made up 27% of the population. YOUNG ADULTS(a) AS A PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION (a) Aged 18-34 years. Source: ABS Australian Demographic Statistics, Sep 2012 (cat. no. 3101.0)
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RHP User
11 years ago
We have way too much to lose. - Posted from rhpmobile
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RHP User
11 years ago
Just on a slight side note. Jaycee mentioned population and decline of younger people. It is one of the biggest threats the world faces. We have reached peek children. Even though populations will still climb the total number of children in the world will not. For those that are interested there is a very good BBC documentary call OVERPOPULATED at youtube.com watch?v=-UbmG8gtBPM It is not what you might think, and has a rather positive out look. A must see if you have ever been concerned with population. Our economies rely on growth, even slight down turns in growth result in global economic depression. Sadly the young of today face a very unsure future. You may complain about not being able to dance in concerts, be very thank full you live in halcyon days.
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RHP User
11 years ago
as long as we are frightened we get suede for anything we are protecting against. Australia is a nanny state and has to many regulations, I don't like we making such a fuzz with drinking, hey I was a German and drinking is part of life, here we make a big fuzz of it....and that's why people, a few people go of the rails. We others get punished for a few. And as someone said....the mantra...we only protecting the children, is such a cope out. Have a look at schools......no excursion as in our days, to dangerous something happens and someone sues the school. Its to expensive so we stifle everything....or not everything but many things. On the other hand........I don't want to live anywhere else and so I deal with the regulations, even I find them stupid at times. I give you one example........I am in Property management......when a person dies in one of my homes, I have to disclose this to the next new tenant, should I not and they find out they can cancel the lease. My argument is.....what the fuck.....where I come from no one would even ask this question.....some homes are so old and yes people died there, that's no ground for canceling the lease, could you imagine how many homes would be empty?. And please don't say its about religious believes, when you would live in Europe they live in this homes doesn't matter what religion they have and accept someone dies there in the past....in my opinion its all bullshit. That only a little example.
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RHP User
11 years ago
Quoting 'Jaycee67' Australian cities are losing there youth, based on statistical percentages. A SMALLER PIECE OF THE POPULATION PIE In June 2011, there were 5.4 million Australians aged 18-34 years. As expected, given the growing population of Australia, this was more than there had been in June 1976 (3.8 million). However, due to the ageing of the population, young adults make up a smaller proportion overall than previously. In 2011, 24% of the population were young adults, whereas in 1976, young adults made up 27% of the population. YOUNG ADULTS(a) AS A PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION (a) Aged 18-34 years. Source: ABS Australian Demographic Statistics, Sep 2012 (cat. no. 3101.0) Interesting, I didn't actually know our demographics were like that. I was also referring to the idea of youth. Energetic, thrilling, etc, etc. The feeling you get when you are in a city surrounded by a buzz and energy. In Sydney - the whole vibe of a night out hits the ground by midnight or well before. <3 Melbourne still got it going though
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RHP User
11 years ago
I am still an advocate for security at festivals and music events. But I get your point.
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RHP User
11 years ago
Love a bit of marketing, smart folks turned checks and balances, into 'nanny state' when it pleases them. Sure I think we could fix up things, but to minimise them would mean we'd have to have upmost faith in our fellow member of society to do the best, for the society. That means, I'd need to trust the Rhineharts, the Murdochs, the Abbott's of the world to do the right thing ... not to mention my local food provider, child care operator .. etc etc, etccccc.... I think such checks and balances should be an ongoing dialogue and reappraised between people and constantly questioned, but Nanny State is just a phrase that derides when it is self-servicing the phrase user (Oh.. I haven't read the article, so might be talking absolute malarky - oh wait, I do that anyway) Carry on.
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RHP User
11 years ago
In my little town in northwest Victoria, my old man was captain of the local golf club. I was about 10. Every Saturday morning we'd go out there in Dad's ute, I'd jump on the back of the ute and we'd drive around the course so I could empty the bins at each tee block when Dad drove up next to them. Harmless, I would have thought. If that went on today Dad would have been charged and I would be looked at as a child in danger. The lockouts are another example. Instead of people confined to a certain amount of areas where they can enjoy a drink, the lockouts created a situation where people drink as much as they can in a shorter period of time, leading to obvious drama. To my knowledge none of the recent 'coward punch' incidents occurred after 2am. It's like primary school again. A small minority of dickheads ruin it for everyone. - Posted from rhpmobile
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RHP User
11 years ago
The biggest Nanny is the Queen, if the country would grow up and get out from under her skirt and found a spine we might find people being a bit more accepting of their own responsibility, it's a psyche thing. My other bitch is insurance, everyone is getting insurance to absolve themselves, it's the insurance companies setting a lot of the nanny agenda to minimise their public liability exposure. Yep I'm back xx
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RHP User
11 years ago
Quote 'I was also referring to the idea of youth. Energetic, thrilling, etc, etc. The feeling you get when you are in a city surrounded by a buzz and energy.' . I live in Perth (laid back and chilled out city). I grew up in Kalgoorlie/Boulder (enough said). Buzz and excitement was, and still is, hearing the Mr Whippy van coming down the street. 😄
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Chaucer
11 years ago
Lol Freya, when I met my Ex, it was on Boxing day in '93 and we spent 3 days trying to meet up for coffee somewhere on the south side of Brisbane. Everything was closed for the Xmas break
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RHP User
11 years ago
I'm amazed there was a cawfee shop to be closed..1n 1996 there was one coffee shop on the whole Peninsula..now there is a barista's bucket full of 'em..caffeine of course makes the IQ level soar 😝xxFreya
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RHP User
11 years ago
That's why sooo many baristas have university degrees 😃xxFreya
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RHP User
11 years ago
There seems to be at least 10 (if not 100) steps backward before moving just one step forward at times.
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Plain280
11 years ago
But we have become risk averse and being cowered by bullying government and businesses ripping off our resources and not paying their fair share of taxes. You would think we are dumber I disagree, we are just prisoners of our own goals big mortgages which are tantamount to optional slavery. You work to service debt not live properly.
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RHP User
11 years ago
I didnt realize how bad it was till i spent time overseas ..Theres a law or regulation for absolutely everything in Australia. These days you cant walk outside your door without accidentally breaking some law .. Its no wonder the courts are so backed up , its not that there are too many criminals just way too many stupid unnecessary laws. And in the mean time you have john Howard and amanda vanstone shaking hands with and doing favors for one of Australias most notorious underworld figures ..But we go to jail for downloading game of thrones lol
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