{"id":103327,"date":"2024-06-09T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-08T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballarat\/?p=103327"},"modified":"2024-06-05T22:15:50","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T12:15:50","slug":"from-the-desk-of-roland-rocchiccioli-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballarat\/living\/from-the-desk-of-roland-rocchiccioli-11\/","title":{"rendered":"From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is impossible to fathom how we came to this precarious pass. From an ethos when the world was the oyster-of-the-young, our youth, through no fault of their own, are now confronting with a less optimistic future. Technological development notwithstanding, the question has turned from, “what will I do?” to “what can I do?” The options are shrinking. The terrifying prospect of artificial intelligence looms like the sword of Damocles. It is collective reason to be profoundly alarmed.<\/p>\n

In the United Kingdom, the Conservatives have proposed, as part of their 2024 election campaign, mandatory national service for all 18-year olds. The requirement would be to complete a one-year, full-time military placement; or volunteer, one weekend a month, of community service. The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: “I have a clear plan to address this, and secure our future. I will bring in a new model of national service to create a shared sense of purpose among our young people, and a renewed sense of pride in our country.”<\/p>\n

While jingoism is not, in and of itself, the solution, a considered assessment of the audacious proposal does have merit. The predicament is a direct consequence of, and exponentially relative to, years of political inertia. Much time and money which should have been devoted to good governance has been expended on staying-in-power. The premise of the political life should not be to win elections, but to effect a difference. Service in the parliament is the highest calling, and it should be treated with respect and commitment.<\/p>\n

The momentum of technological change has surprised even the most scientific of minds; however, the reaction from those best positioned to create a difference has been inadequate, and tardy. The voracious 24\/7 media cycle, and a serious lack of long-term vision and political leadership, has led to a paucity in the pattern of Australia’s public policy debate.<\/p>\n

The erstwhile prevailing traditions which followed as a matter-of-course, regardless of the Nation’s leadership or political opinion, have vanished. Disturbingly, our long-standing, free-education entitlements were illogically dismantled by elected officials, some of whom were themselves the beneficiary of the Nation’s munificence. The selfish error-in-judgement has resulted in challenges of gargantuan proportions \u2014 denying many a tertiary opportunity. Times have changed, dramatically; the social pendulum has moved, seismically. Frustration and rage prevail.<\/p>\n

In 2011, The Economist reported, ‘a strong, active leadership must present a vision, not to be popular and score well in polls, but to pull people together to prepare for the long-term future of the nation’. That sentiment remains relevant, but particularly for our Nation’s youth, many of whom are worried for their future. Employment prospects have vanished.<\/p>\n

A short-term fix is not the answer. Currently, it does not augur well. We are in imminent danger of losing a generation \u2014 possibly two. We need to hear the voice of the youth. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is 61. He is at his political zenith; however, he is only 10-years from passing the baton to the next generation. It happens to everyone. Now is the time to start listening to those who will follow in the wake.<\/p>\n

They have an inalienable right to be heard!<\/p>\n

Roland joins Brett Macdonald radio 3BA 10.45 Monday morning. Contact roland@rolandroc.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is impossible to fathom how we came to this precarious pass. From an ethos when the world was the oyster-of-the-young, our youth, through no fault of their own, are now confronting with a less optimistic future. Technological development notwithstanding, the question has turned from, “what will I do?” to “what can I do?” The […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":148,"featured_media":103330,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-103327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-living"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFrom the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli - Ballarat Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballarat\/living\/from-the-desk-of-roland-rocchiccioli-11\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli - Ballarat Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It is impossible to fathom how we came to this precarious pass. 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