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There is nothing wrong with policy based on emotion

18 Dec 05:59am

Filed under: Barack Obama, Connecticut Massacre, Gun Control, John Howard, Sandy Hook

There is a view among those who argue in favour of the status quo that governments should never adopt policy positions based on emotion. I would argue that in a case such as the school shootings in Connecticut that now it is absolutely the right time to respond - when people are sickened, sobbing, furious, completely emotional.

A woman waits to hear about her teacher sister at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. Photo: AP/Jessica Hill

Our collective sense of repulsion dissipates with time as we get on with life and somehow forget the unforgettable. You want someone to harness that sense of disgust and turn it into action. Frankly, if anyone is not emotional about this issue, there is something seriously wrong with them.

President Obama was fuelled by a sense of disgust at his press conference on Saturday. He also promised to turn it into action. More power to his arm.

Continue reading "There is nothing wrong with policy based on emotion" »

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K^2 says:

05:53pm | 18/12/12

ST Michael, this is also my point “It’s risk management 101: eliminate those risks that you can eliminate, and then reduce or prepare for the worst for those you cannot eliminate.” You cant eliminate guns from this mix, because regulated or not, they will still be available to those wanting… Read more »
Ray says:

05:05pm | 18/12/12

Barring a very small number of exceptions, that is poppycock. The carbon tax policy implementation was based on misplaced emotion. The Government used such emotive arguments as: carbon dioxide is pollution, whereas it is a colourless, odourless gas that is necessary for all plant growth; the Great Barrier Reef will… Read more »

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