Terry Sarten: Solve the problems close to home first

DISTANT DISTRESS: The conflict between Israel and Palestine - exemplified by this Palestine protest rally in Auckland - cannot be solved from an armchair in Whanganui.

I WAS somewhat amused by my column colleagues Fred and Jay sounding off on solutions to the tension in the Middle East.

Here we have two people throwing their thoughts on settling the strife between Israel and the Palestinian people on to the big historical junk pile of ideas.

It is a windmill that world leaders, diplomats and political academics have done a Don Quixote tilt at with little or no success over many years. Economists have even tried appealing to the basic financial argument that ceasing hostilities would mean all sides would be economically better off - to no avail.

Despite all this, it seems that from our vantage point here in Whanganui we can offer some assistance in moderating the entrenched positions of both parties - Yeah, right.

I recall reading a piece about how some people consider their armchair musings on international affairs are essential on matters of which they have no actual influence. It noted this was a particularly harmless delusion although there was probably more to be gained in debating issues closer to home - I guess it is easier to pronounce on something far away and beyond ready resolution than to engage with what is on your doorstep.

New Zealanders now live in a country where the gap between the have-nots and have-lots has never been wider.

The effect this is having on families, especially children, is setting us up for a social catastrophe of immense proportions. The struggle to pay rent, get school uniforms, books and the iPad needed to match the contemporary learning environment is bringing many to the edge of financial desperation.

Despite having work, low wages and minimal conditions are leaving them with little left for essentials such as food and rent. We have people sleeping in cars or living together in overcrowded, poor standard housing.

We are in the midst of a class war between those that have money and power and those who do not - and our politicians are standing on the sidelines wringing their hands but doing nothing meaningful for fear of losing votes.

As the cost of housing goes stratospheric, it seems they are simply wishing on a star hoping that something will happen that will let them off the hook.

Part of this can be attributed to a parliamentary cycle that is fixated on the short term. There is no need for thinking beyond three years or planning for the future as most current MPs will be long gone by the time the consequences of inaction are being counted.

Local authorities are required to develop 10-year plans and consider the implications of the future but not the government of the day. This is completely the wrong way around.

Prior to elections, political parties should be required to provide a 10-year strategy that voters can support or dismiss. This would bring focus to policy that looks to the long term and might force a more collective approach to social issues as all parties would have a commitment to finding an effective solution rather than knee-jerk reactions to problems.

We have the advantage of distance over our contemporaries in other countries. Ideas, problems and potential solutions tend to emerge in Britain, Australia and the United States before they find their feet here.

We should learn from the mistakes and successes of other nations rather than simply waiting till the same things happen here.

Terry Sarten (aka Tel) is a writer, musician and social worker - feedback: tgs@inspire.net.nz