IS THERE a right to protest?
In some countries it is just too risky even if it is not illegal.
The Tiananmen Square protests in China left hundreds, if not thousands, dead although many Chinese might not know of it now. Many other countries have similar stories.
The Kenyan president, William Ruto, had declared, “Don’t kill them, but ensure their legs are broken” as a way of handling disruptive protesters. So it might be legal but certainly not advised.
Both of these examples are the extremes but what of a peaceful country like Australia?
In one of our states, Victoria, there are frequent and increasingly aggressive protests so the government is looking at bringing in new rules.
The regular protestors or “professional” agitators face court-based exclusion orders which if they defy can result in up to two years in jail or fines of up to $22,000.
The wearing of masks, often by far-right individuals or groups, is also going to be banned.
There are many civil libertarians who are concerned by these changes and will oppose them.
We have the right for peaceful and safe protest and must protect that right, but can we?
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A dog of a law
There are some laws that seem well-intentioned but might just be completely stupid.
A recent radio discussion on dog walking mentioned people who “walk” their dog in their car with the dog on a leash outside, stupid but apparently not yet illegal.
I have had a lot of dog walking experience as I walk dogs as a volunteer for Eastern Palliative Care for people who can’t walk their dogs at the moment. The dogs know what they want, lots of walkies, treats and a human to walk with them.
Dogs want our company, or pretend they do until you feed them, but now they will have a minimum of three hours of human contact if our Canberra government gets their way, stupid and soon to be a legal requirement.
Our pets do need our support, and unfortunately, our protection, but that should be the responsibility of their owners, not the government.
Governments everywhere have so much to do with serious laws and wars and they shouldn’t have to micromanage our lives. Let them represent us, not our dogs.
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Common sense, not political sense
United States President Donald Trump has now suggested a possible 200 percent tariff on pharmaceuticals but the tax can be removed for companies that move to manufacture in America. Australia does manufacture some life-saving drugs.
The America medical system seems to be in chaos, extreme costs, unavailability of local doctors, the decrease in vaccinations, and now medicines could be prohibitive.
The effective blackmail of drug manufacturers – move to America or get priced out – is or should be criminal. There are many things in life that should be cheap or government-supported but that is probably a fantasy.
People shouldn’t die because they are poor and the medicine they need is no longer affordable.
Show some common sense, not a hard heart, President Trump./PN
