THE APOLOGY AND COMPENSATION.

Much has been said and written on these two subjects.

The Prime Minister has now set the date for the 'apology' to be made, and it seems that it will made as follows.

Only to those Aborigines who were taken from their families because of their race, and no compensation claims will be entertained.

There are those who feel that an apology is not necessary, and should not be made for something which happened six or seven generations ago, and we of the present generation should be made to feel guilty over this distrasous policy.

As I understand it, and I am open to correction, that children were removed because they were being abused, and /or were being given a better life.

If childen are being abused, then the sooner they are removed from the environment the better. Removing children from their parents and culture to give them a better life , depends on your point of view.

These children, from a totally different culture were made to live in a white man's world with white man's standards. Many of these children never recovered from the enforced separation and many still bear the mental and emotional scars today.

Saying sorry six or seven generations later does not lessen the hurt or the damage.Saying sincerely how much we all regret that the incidents ever took place may be just a little different from saying 'sorry', although it does no harm [or good for that matter] to say either.

When people are hurt and/or damaged emtionally, physically, or psychologically, they are entitleld to justice and compensation, such are the laws under which we live.

The Prime Minister has said that compensation will not be paid to the victims of the stolen generation. Many, many people agree with this view.

Me, well I'm a cynical son of a gun. I believe that a couple of good Barristers on say $5000- a day could make holes big enough to drive a bus through the case of no compensation. But then we'll have to wait and see won't we?.

You buy the justice you can afford to pay for.

One thing I have learned, is that never believe what politicians tell you, no matter what colour tie they wear. By and large, they tell you what you want to hear
It's all about being elected the next time round.

Caz.

Tennis Commentary


The standard of commentary offered by Channel seven on the Australian Open is just about the pits.

There are many of us who have eaten drunk and slept with tennis for longer than than current crop of players have been alive. We know what is going on, but the Commentators feel that have to fill the airwaves with their ceaseless and inane chatter non stop.

Here is some sound advice for all who commentate on tennis.

DO NOT speak whilst the service is being taken.
DO NOT speak in between services.
DO NOT speak whilst the ball is in play.
DO NOT hold a post mortem after every point. Entirely unnecessary; and bloody irritating when you have to listen to it after each point.

The paying customers are spared mercifully, to the diatribe dished out, and we, who are glued to our sets know what is going on.

Yes, we can use the mute button, mine is going on and off like a bucket of prawns in the heat. With the mute button off, the atmosphere of the match is completely spoilt.

In short, for God's sake SHUT UP!!!

Caz.

PS.I suggest the post match interview on the court is scrapped at once. These interviews are painful to endure and unfunny, [Courier the comedian, please note.] All the winner wants to do is get to the shower asap.. not giving a pointless interview.

Older Drivers.

I have previoulsy written on this subject, and if I may remind you, older drivers, as a group, do not tail gatge, they do not speed, and they do not drink and drive over the limit. They are the safest group of drivers on our roads. Of the 44 people killled on our roads over Christmas, not to mention the horrifically injured, many of whome are still in hospital, and some, unlikely to leave it, The number of older drivers responsible for those accidents was probably less than two per cent.

Now we learn that not only does the RTA want further driving tests for this safe group, [presumably in an effort to get the older driver off the road, and leave the way clear for the lunatic speeding and drunk drivers, it wants to stamp the number plate with an 'S' indicating to other drivers they are following and older driver, or being approached by one.

But I don't think this goes far enough, do you? Why not stamp the plate with 'CDD' convicted drink driver, or 'CSD' Convicted speeding driver. 'P'with drawing of a child indicating a driver convicted of paedophillia, and so on and so on.

The time and money spent on this nonsense could well be better spent on enacting much, much harsher penalties for those whose deliberatly break the law by speeding and driving when over the limit. If this includes the older driver, so be it.

Caz.

Draconian Measures.

I have previously written regarding the draconian measures, the measures needed to halt the appalling road toll in Australia.

Now that the Christmas break is over, it is time to look at the situation once again.

We are told that the figures are the lowest they have been for a long time, in other words we haven't killed quite so many people as previously. This might afford some comfort to some, but not I think the 44 families who have lost relatives and friends, not to mention of course, the horrifically injured, many of whom are still in hospital, and some may never leave it.

Although the figures are down, there remains the lunatics who continue to break the law by speeding, and who continue to drive whilst over the limit.

It does seem to me that these cretins have made a conscious choice to break the law, and as such are deserving of the harshest of punishments. Education is needed and is fine, but it takes too long, and we need to get these people off the road now and for good.

Draconian Measures. Recommendations.

Caught speeding twice, your licence is cancelled and your vehicle confiscated for an indeterminate period. Caught three times, your licence is canceled for not less than ten years, and your vehicle is destroyed. If the vehicle belongs to someone else you get to solve the problem, and make your own way to your destination. Your insurance is invalid.

Alcohol. ZERO TOLERANCE. PERMANENTLY.

If you are caught drinking and driving, your licence is cancelled permanently and the vehicle destroyed. You will also be subject to the usual punishments and no appeals will be allowed; your insurance becomes invalid.
Once a dozen or so vehicles have been destroyed and the fact highlighted by he media, the rest of the lunatics might just, might just, hesitate before they speed or drink and drive, or both.

Destroying the vehicles solves the problem of storing those which have been confiscated.

As from the 1st of January 2009, all persons without exception who are applying for a driving licence will be required to undergo an eye sight test, a strict medical test, and a two hour driving test. The licence to last just three years only.

These measures should sort the wheat from the chaff.!

We have everything we need to put these measures into place without further delay, all we need is the political will and guts, plus media support.

We are coming up to the long week end, where traditionally a great deal of alcohol is consumed, following that is of course the Easter break.

I wonder how many will be killed during those two breaks, the result of drinking and driving and speeding.

Hello, hello is there anyone out there listening??