| The principles of the common law which Australia inherited from the
United Kingdom and the laws passed by Parliament up to the 1950s were to
a great extent influenced by biblical moral values. These moral values
generally correspond with the moral codes of other religions.
The Christian ethos is gradually being supplanted by secularistic, humanistic
and other philosophical values. This is part of a movement taking place
throughout the social, political and legal systems of the Western world.
The agenda of decision making is controlled by a small but powerful elite,
consisting of the higher echelons of government ( Prime Minister, Premiers,
Cabinets and Parliaments), the Courts the bureaucracy, and the leading
figures with politically correct views in the public affairs media, business,
trade unions, and education. There are also special interest groups and
international pressures which are influential. The so called democratic
governments are far from democratic and today involve not government by
the people, but government by politicians elected periodically governing
with an unelected bureaucracy which wields immense power.
Government and bureaucracy respond primarily not
to the wishes of the people, but to the powerful and aggressive (sometimes
abusive and nasty) interest groups such as trade unions, some favoured
big businesses, consumer groups, homosexuals, supporters of abortion, feminists,
environmentalists and Aborigines. Small business is totally uninfluential
on government. This equally applies to many big businesses. A few favoured
big businesses wield tremendous influence on government and in turn receive
many benefits. |