Lawlessness

These two editorials speaks volumes about our condition. Something or many things have to be blamed. If you know what it is (they are) then contribute to the elimination of such lawlessness. Yes, it can be done.
Editorial GC April 2nd 2009: The widespread lawlessness in our society is increasing at an alarming rate and if it is not swiftly arrested our future as a nation could be threatened. Qualities such as honesty, truth, morality, decency, politeness, courtesy, respect, and quiet speech which are the building blocks of a good character are being eroded and replaced by boisterous behaviour, intolerance, vulgarity, disrespect, immorality, use of violence reckless driving littering, use of indecent language and expletives and the playing of loud music among many others.

Editorial SN March 28th 2009: Our behaviour, individually and collectively, is inextricably linked to our environment and our environment leaves a great deal to be desired. Georgetown is rubbish-strewn, rodent-infested and prone to flooding. Squatters and pavement vendors proliferate. The prevailing anarchy is most apparent in our car culture: drivers ignore road signs (where these still exist), minibuses stop at random to deposit and collect passengers, pedestrians walk anywhere at any time and other minor traffic violations occur routinely. Most of us barely register each little infringement any more. Collectively, they render our roads, our public spaces and even some of our public events, a national disgrace. Money, the principal ingredient in most remedies, is in short supply. We are poor. We are not, however, helpless. If we have the will as a society, the energy and the patience, we can reclaim the lost ground. Put bluntly, it needs to become socially unacceptable again to infringe the law − whether it be peeing in public, dodging a few taxes, bribing an official or sticking a knife into someone whom you happen to disagree with. We need to learn to respect each other again, in the way we speak to each other, drive on the roads, handle our disagreements. We need to do this, step by step, inch by inch − or suffer the consequences.