Merrelin & John Robbins

Tonight's edition of Q&A was very interesting with some good points made. The questions and panellists answers took the violence as the starting point of the issue. This is not surprising as that would have been the victims experience. Unfortunately the issue of what can make men violent was not discussed except one aside in passing by Marlie Silva and the chorus of anger against Bettina Arndt. Are many men born violent or see violence as an expression of male power, dominance or control or are there other factors ? What about economic pressure from perceived permanently low wages, insecurity of employment, concern about how a male breadwinner can satisfy the needs of the family, all overseen by a government that cares little for these issues and sees no urgency for remedial measures. To rub salt into the wounds people see the rich get richer and inequality of opportunity growing. This is no excuse for violence but there remains the risk that feelings of failure could lead to a man's anger being taken out on his family. Social justice must be a starting point for mitigation of violence.