Jacques reflects on the double arrival of reports of two Royal Commissions, a federal one about 'aged care' and a Victorian one about 'mental health services'... What both clearly reveal is two 'systems' absolutely and disgracefully dysfunctional and – in reality – harming those who are supposed to be cared for. If we do need so many reviews and commissions about so many 'symptoms' of our society's workings, will we ever try and figure out whether the entire caboodle probably needs some reviewing...? Just wondering....

'Care' for the 'aged' needs more than caring for their health... The place and role of elders in our society needs consideration... and mental 'health'  needs the prevention of illness first and foremost and that requires a bit more that just more psychiatrists and psychologists and pills... and let's make sure that both commissions have not been 'delaying tricks' as their 'findings' have been knowns for a very long time!

Paul Verhaeghe (2014) What about me? The struggle for identity in a market-based society Melbourne: Scribe