Tattoos can look extremely artistic when applied by a professional tattoo artist. I wouldn’t get a tattoo myself because I don’t personally believe in the chemicals used in them. But I admire some of the images I see. It doesn’t effect anyone else in any way. They are an individuals free right to express their autonomy.

Besides Ear piercing, I think body piercing looks terrible. But it does not effect anyone but the individual. If those who do body piercing are comfortable with the look, good on them for expressing their individuality.

Graffiti is a major cause of vandalism around the world. The damage cause by graffiti artists costs taxpayers millions of dollars to eradicate. Graffiti on private properties can cost the properties owners thousands of dollars.

Like body piercing and Tattoos, Graffiti is an act of expression of an individuals autonomy, the problem now, however, is that an individual is expressing their autonomy on property that does not belong to them. These individuals are committing vandalism by damaging others property.

Anyone of legal age can purchase cigarettes. They are legal in most countries. Besides personal health issues there is no problems associated with cigarettes if they are used in an environment away from non-smokers.

If a non-smoker is forced to breath in cigarette smoke simply by waiting for a bus, walking into a shop or sitting having a coffee in an Alfresco setting they are forced to consume the smoke of smokers enjoying their autonomy in the same environment.

Is there a difference between smoking and graffiti? Spray paint is legal, Graffiti is illegal. Just because a product is legal and freely available does not automatically give us the right to spray it around. Is there a difference with smoking other than damage we see verses damage to our health?

The owner of a property has the right to expect their property will not be vandalized by graffiti. Non-smokers have the right to ensure their health is not vandalized by cigarette smoke.

With any hobby or lifestyle choice we make, we should do so in such a way that shows at least some respect for those who don’t do it. If that happens, by default, we won’t need laws to make sure it does.

Parents are invited to express their opinion only so the Education system can say they have given the family options. The Education system is designed to run in a particular order delivering a particular curriculum to a particular type of student. The school system acts like a sieve to sift out the lumps to ensure it runs smoothly.

Having spent many hours in the Principals office (as a parent, not a student) I can say without doubt School principals and senior staff DO listen to parents. From experience I can say however, this is NOT to enable the implementation of our values as parents, but rather to explain to us why our values are wrong.

Prior to the 2007 Election in Australia the John Howard Coalition Government implemented change in the Industrial relations act giving more freedom to employees and employers. These changes enabled Individual work place agreements to be negotiated between employer and employee. It gave more freedom to both the worker and the boss. The Rudd Labor government overturned the system after the election in 2007.

This “WorkChoices” system failed because it did not accommodate for Greed. This was perhaps the only problem with the structure. Giving Freedom to Individuals rather than a collective body IS a good thing, when implemented with protection for both employer and employee.

The Education system is run in a similar way to the current Union based Industrial Relations system. Everything is done based on a collective criteria and curriculum. The only students who are eligible to receive an Individual Education Program (IEP) are those with higher support needs. Even then, the IEP’s have to reflect Implementation through a collective system.

The Individual as such has no rights under any collective system. The development of which is done based on an assumed majority.

Parental Autonomy does not exist within the Education System as it currently exists.

It’s obvious the system needs drastic change to accommodate the individual more so than the collective.

3 areas needing change are:

1. All students should receive Individual Education Programs.
2. Students from 8 years of age should be encouraged with support, to set their own curriculum based on pre-determined testing criteria to ensure a streamlined Testing program.
3. Parents should be included in the Design, Implementation and Updating of the Students individual education program.

Eric J. Smith

My reflection on the debate is more on the issue of what constitutes Dignity.

Dignity reflects basic human rights of virtue, respect, self-respect, autonomy and enlightened reason (be that religious or intellectual).

I have known several people who have fought, won and lost their battle with cancer and never have I seen more dignity in a person than when a single tear runs over the cheek of terminally ill friend while holding a photo of his family.

Just because you have cancer and fight the battle to the end, does not mean you do so without dignity.

I am NOT a Euthanasia supporter. But I am a believer in Autonomy within the bounds of governing law. From a legal perspective, The rational individual has the right to make decisions for themselves based around their own personal beliefs.