The Hikoi of Hope "Voices of the People" was not an alternative policy statement, so it's difficult to find policy suggestions within the letters.

The prime causes of harm in our community identified in the letters are "poverty, unemployment, poor housing, excessive alcohol use and the promotion of gambling."

If people had "Real Jobs" then the community could deal with the social problems that remain. It was made clear that a "Real Job" offered meaningful work, gave one long term security of employment, paid a satisfactory cash income and allowed one to plan a life and a future for one's self and family.

I think there is acceptance that the government can't ensure that "Real Jobs" exist.

That being the case the Hikoi is saying (And I can be accused of putting my own message in here perhaps.) "Stop pretending that jobs exist and help us do what we need to do to live useful and meaningful lives knowing that we are unlikely to have a ever have a `real job' again." The delusion that there is work is causing loss of esteem and self destruction among men who blame themselves. Then they do things that are really destructive to property, to partners and to children. The social distress is seen in schools, in single parent families, in crime rates, in the prison population and in death by suicide. If it's not already clear, the problem will show in accidents, in sickness and premature deaths. Government insistence that there is work for everyone creates this problem and government policy based on that UNTRUTH is the barrier to solving the problem.

In other words, government policy is the barrier that prevents the community resolving the problems caused by unemployment and poverty. The message is this: If the government won't help then "get out of the way, because the community has got work to do."

There are strong messages in the letters about what that work is.

Each person and each family needs to become stable on a firm base guaranteed by cash income, and by participation in activities that substitute for income and that provide for community and personal benefits. Useful, satisfying but unpaid work is in child care, providing support and validation, providing training for one's peers, building clubs, marae's and associations, working in community gardens and on building maintenance, making clothing and doing vehicle maintenance. There is value in cooking and sewing and music making, in producing poetry and dances and developing social contacts. There is much we can do for ourselves through community training and by developing strong community groups.

Sadly if one engages in these useful activities, commits to it, makes a plan to make the best of not having a real job, and is seen to be "self employed" as a community artist. What then? So you don't commit, you don't give the community "the songs" you have to offer. Instead you rot on the vine, and the community gets no benefit of the songs you may have presented. Finally, depression and illness will come and a life that might have made a contribution will end those songs still unsung.

I decided that I'd do my best to sing anyway. Sadly I sing out of tune much of the time, but I promise to get better. If you want to follow that personal note see: http://www.ate.co.nz/journal/.

John