Thread: Low IQ + Alcohol =

Originally Posted by Cobber

I've often wondered what the other factor is too. It's easy to point the finger at booze but while it doesn't help it's not the sole reason why people end up behaving like this as the are only a tiny percentage of the people out there on the night having a drink. I suspect the biggest failing in these clowns is self control.

Booze is a pretty big part of the problem, though. The "Newcastle study" demonstrated that...

Coop

Originally Posted by BMKal

As far as I'm concerned - the power to hand down sentences should be removed from judges and magistrates. They have clearly demonstrated over many years now that they cannot be trusted to impose even minimum sentences in many cases, and certainly sentences which meet community expectations.
Sentencing should be conducted by another person / body, elected by the people. If they do not pass sentences that reflect community standards and expectations, they are voted out of the role at the next election. Either that, or make Judges positions an elected role with a defined term of office. If they don't pass sentences that meet expectations, they become unemployed at the end of their defined term of office. Works in other countries.

I believe that's been tried- if not for real, then in simulations. And surprisingly the "community panel" turned out to be more lenient than the courts.
And anyway, that's tackling the wrong end of the problem. Shutting off the booze supply earlier, and changing community perceptions (eg like converting "King hit" to "Coward punch") and adding in something like National Service (and not necessarily military) that actually teaches discipline is a better way to go. My Dad once said that what we need is a "good war". I couldn't think of anything worse, but I know what he was getting at.

Coop

Agree with you Coop that a whole range of "solutions" are needed. Shutting the venues down at a reasonable hour would be a good start, as would be some form of "national service".

Haven't heard of the "community panel" trial before. But I'm sure that some form of this idea for sentencing would work - especially if the "panel" was an elected body (I'd suggest maybe experienced judges elected to the role) - and stood to lose the position (and their income) if voted out next time round if the community was not satisfied with their performance in the role.

I sure don't claim to know the answers - but I do know that the system we have now isn't working. There's a "loud minority" of bleeding hearts controlling things at the moment - it's only a matter of time before the "silent majority" has their say.

for me, point the finger at who you want, it's parents who ultimately have to blame. A baby is born with a clean slate, it is the actions of parents over time, and how they deal with the outside world imprinting on their kids. Innate behaviour plays a part, but I think learned behaviour is predominant.

Kids adore there parents, even ones who are bashed or treated unkindly. We are the role models centrally for the first 15 or 16, and hopefully the next 30+ years. But every generation before has blamed the current youngins for social unrule. Failing to accept it's the wash up of their own behaviour generally.

Growing affluence, a desire to see one's child not go without, and work commitments to pay for our privileged lives leaves little time to physically hand on right, wrong, decency, respect, and resilience. Then watching US style tv, games, and music often seems to be centred around, guns, violence, sex, and gang drugs. Not many of us will turn down a drink on a social occasion while the kids watch on in a casual way. Often we should look at ourselves before we blame others. It just not easy to do so with honest intent.

ill weigh in here.
i think there is honestly no incentive to not commit a crime in australia.

generally there is a slap on the wrist, dont do it again sonny for serious assaults at the moment. but its clearly not working, look at how many people minding their own business, getting clipped by a cheap shot and either dying or acquiring a serious brain injury as a result (daniel christie is the most recent victim of this).
look at the individual who killed jill meaghar, he had a long list of priors for sexual assaults etc.

seriously how can someone who chooses to hit another person, who then dies, not be tried for murder. how can someone who has been found guilty of multiple rapes be allowed to walk the streets... our judicial system is a joke!!

there must be harsher, and more consistent punishment for committing serious crimes which should extend to all members of society.
longer sentences, non parole periods, no snake lawyers getting people off due to their ability to manipulate the laws. this should act as an incentive to not commit crimes.


punishment is not the only answer. as a society we must also look at what is leading people to get to a stage in their life where it is acceptable for them to act in this manner, and try and interview prior.

there is no simple answer, but things must change.

Barry O'Farrell has come up with a way to reduce assaults and "Coward Punches", DO VERY LITTLE. All he has done is slightly increase prison times with a mandatory minimum sentence. As if that is going deter the moron hell bent on causing trouble. I guess at least they can now test the person who commits an assault for drugs.

Didn't restrict trading hours, that might upset the hotel lobby!!!

Instead of Pollies going over to Europe to check on gardens and librarys may be a fact finding mission to Singapore to study crime prevention and penalties might be a good start .

Can we go back in history just in this case?
I guess that there it is not a political will