[LINK] Clarke unleashes blast on privacy

[David Boxall]

On Tue, 17 Nov 2009 at 09:27:20 +1100 Rick Welykochy wrote:
> ...
> I strongly believe that a Bill of Rights that enshrined our rights as
> citizens to various privacy considerations will go a long way to
> addressing such issues.
> ...
The Bill of Rights idea has bothered me ever since I first heard it 
proposed for Australia. It seems to me that, for Australian traditions, 
the emphasis is backward.

For example, we have a tradition of looking after our mates. We do so 
because it's what we do, not because our mates have a "right" to be 
looked after. They do have the right, but that isn't why we look after 
them. The "Rights" thing seems more one of the US than of Australia.

The term responsibility has been pretty much hijacked by conservatives, 
so I hesitate to use it. Perhaps a Declaration of Duties?

I reckon the emphasis should be on the duty/responsibility to avoid 
harming others and treat them as we'd like to be treated ourselves. More 
on duty than entitlement.

Maybe I'm just showing my age. Has Australia gone down the path of the 
dominant culture: all rights, no responsibility?
 
-- 
David Boxall                    |  The more that wise people learn
                                |  The more they come to appreciate
http://david.boxall.id.au       |  How much they don't know.
                                                        --Confucius