Of course, they convinced no one, and most people I spoke to who had attended the night had an attitude along the lines of “They’re all as bad as each other!”, a very common sentiment in Australia these days.

It’s a pity, really. Most politicians really do work quite hard for their community and often achive very good things. But they give themselves a terrible name by desceding to this childish level of discussion. They seem to think that we are just going to believe what they say about their opposition, rather than actually observe them and make our minds up for ourselves.

I suspect that the first politician to realise that it just doesn’t work anymore, and turn to being honest and straightforward with people would be incredibly popular and quite successful. Unfortunately, the party system we have in place tends to weed out honest people before they manage to get to the voting stage, or else convert them and force them to tow the party line! Just look at poor Peter Garrett…

Fr Ant

On the one hand, you have to look at what effect the wine company is having on society. it is said that 1 in 10 ’social’ drinkers will become alcoholic at some stage of their lives. Of course, their family, friends and workmates can all be adversely affected when it happens. By working for a wine company, I suppose it could be said that you are taking part in the destruction of lives, however indirectly.

On the other hand, you might have a job that has little to do with the actual production and sale of the wine. Or, it could be argued that if you didn’t do the job, someone else would anyway.

Personally, I think I would prefer to avoid it. I don’t think I would be comfortable being involved in any industry that had so negative an effect on people’s lives. I may not be able to change the world, but I can certainly control the part I personally play in the world, and I think that is all that God would hold me responsible for.

Interestingly, in ancient times, soldiers and theatrical actors were not allowed to be baptised. This was because it was part of the duty of a soldier to offer incense to idols, and the actors generally performed rather lewd performances. I wonder if there are any industries today to which we would apply the same rule?

Fr Ant