Comments

  • Australian politics
    Beats me why they’re getting so much media attention. It will be good when Parliament resumes and there’s some actual legislative action to talk about.Wayfarer

    Yeah. In the meantime, the Media has to create some sort of content to justify all of its many political gurus. Hence the concentration on the only game in town until parliament starts in mid July. At least, we're see the content of the enema bowl,a rare sight where the internal workings of the Coalition is concerned.

    wry smile
  • Australian politics
    It’s a temporary separation, ‘let’s live apart and work things out’. Early in the election cycle. They have no chance of any kind of electoral success as separate parties, if by some miracle the liberals come back from the dead they’d still need to form a coalition govt with the nationals to create a majority.Wayfarer

    Well predicted

    Sometimes fairness isn’t fair.Jamal

    Yeah, sometimes it's just blonde. Gravity is not too dependent upon page number.

    Just a thought or so.

    slight smile
  • Australian politics
    The Nats have split from the liberals.Banno

    Yep, and now all that needs to happen is unions and farmers to find common cause and form the farmers and consumers union and the FACU political party.

    Littleproud's proudest day! What do you reckon, one more election and the Nats are gone into the political wilderness with the Kaffir Party or back into bed with the Libs?
    The fallout for the Nats should be interesting at the next round of states' elections.

    smile
  • Australian politics
    @Wayfarer,

    You could be right. Time and changing circumstances will tell.

    smile
  • Australian politics
    Waters as Green's leader, not Hanson - Young. Mmmh! Let's see how that works from a "difference that women bring to politics" point of view. Not intending a sexist comment, just don't prescribe to the "women are so different to men in how they get things done" argument often trotted out to justify equal representation of the sexes in organizations, but still acknowledging the existence of the glass ceiling in many organizations currently.

    smile
  • Australian politics
    I think the expression is richer than that. It suggests that providing the press (those ravenous, dumb birds) justifications and prevarications is analogous to a ritualistically conducted feeding frenzy.Tom Storm

    Absolutely agree to BP's intention of directing or creating a feeding frenzy, but as unsubtle as he was, he knew that always giving the press something to cluck ( Keating's bark) about after he met with them, kept his govt on the front pages of the parochial Qld papers, in preference to other states' and federal issues/ political parties..And that once that feeding frenzy went off the boil, he would have something else to get the next frenzy fired up about...the caravan would have moved on to another feeding frenzy ground. Get the intervals moving fast and short enough, and no great depth of each issue would have time been spent exploring.

    Just one interpretation, of course.

    smile
  • Australian politics
    Geez this Albert Namatjira Price has tickets on herself. Glad her party is going to be in the wilderness for the next decade or so.Wayfarer

    Depends on which party she tries out next?

    Sure. But there is an (un)natural match between Rinehart and Price.Banno

    Like between the farmer section of the Nats and the trade union section of Labor. Not being a smartarse either. Just lateral thinking across traditional presumptions in areas of economics, environment, wage structure, transport, retail and the city / rural divide.. amongst others.

    (I was thinking of posting a gif of a pole-vaulter who's pole breaks in lift-off - does happen - as a comment on her sudden defection to the Liberal Party in the hope of becoming Deputy Leader of the Opposition. But couldn't be bothered.)Wayfarer

    Sounds like a possible paper comic.

    'the dogs bark.Wayfarer

    Bjelke Petersen's press statements...."feeding the chooks". In reference to giving the press a purpose.



    smile
  • What are you listening to right now?
    This is another thing:Jamal

    Talent like this makes one love life all over again.

    smile
  • Donald Trump (All Trump Conversations Here)
    It becomes just another tax now. Maybe that was the intent in the first place, but he hyped it up, to try and get some bonus effect.Metaphysician Undercover

    Inciteful smile
  • Australian politics
    Rynhart won't be happy with a "moderate".Banno

    She's hardhearted and thick skinned enough to handle that minor detail.
    Taylor and Price will have to plot better for next time. And a next time there will be. Just how soon is the question.

    smile
  • Australian politics
    Both Jenny McAllister and Mark Butler taking on the NDIS. Too much for one?Banno

    Move one after they get it sorted quickly... all that private provider inefficiency?
    Maybe?

    smile
  • Australian politics
    Do you think he has a vision?Tom Storm

    We'll know if/when he shares it.

    Admirable interview of Husic on 7.30 Report last night. Very much the consummate polly. Cultural background with Churchillian undertones being leveraged, perhaps?

    Unsure smile
  • Donald Trump (All Trump Conversations Here)
    But, make no mistake, this is not a thought-bubble - it’s been the trend of the Trump administration right from the beginning of his first term.Wayfarer

    Another shortcut, cost saving exercise to make the Trump Admin look effective to the disinterested.

    A possibility

    Meanwhile, me waiting for a ssu prediction to come true:NOS4A2

    Shows a lack of friends, being left to skeletonize on a park bench.

    An alt interpretation......just kidding

    smile
  • Donald Trump (All Trump Conversations Here)
    @Wayfarer

    As is well known, if there is a time gap long enough between a Trump statement/tweet and how long it takes to make another tweet ( that is more than 5 minutes), the former can not be relied upon to be put into practice. So,don't get your hopes up.

    'onest smile
  • Australian politics
    It isn’t settled yet, until the final announcements are made by Albanese. I should wait until then.Wayfarer

    Quite true. But will Anthony be looking short, medium and/or long term next week? He's steady which is useful in this situation if he has the faction numbers.
    Don't follow factional Labor ( or any party) politics,probably should for a better understanding of policy decisions. Learning from the comments here though,in an intuitive way. Never too old to learn,if you want to, particularly when presented with a "new" area of.....(anything).

    slightly naive smile
  • Australian politics
    Angus Taylor or Sussan Ley.Banno

    Hope it's Angus. Better chance of them losing the next election.... if that would be best for the country when that election comes around.

    After such sterling service.Wayfarer

    Must have missed " such sterling service".
    Agree though with your sentiment, other front bench portfolios should have been offered to Husic and Dreyfus (particularly with the irony of the latter's historical namesake and the Att-Gen portfolio he had). Or maybe a couple of new or divided portfolios could be useful in this factions' biff?

    with a bang or with a whimper...Tom Storm

    Good one, assuming two minds are clicking on this.

    open smile
  • Australian politics
    Jaquie Lambie only has a half a quota so far. She might be out.Banno

    Felt she performed well this election too.... in some reasonably important areas. Can speak straight sense when all around are mealy mouthing. May not agree with her always,but she put some of the common back into common sense politics... at times, using her trademark "common language".
    Brought back memories of radio archives of the Chifley era and the hustings or whatever that whistle stop imprompture speaking was called when there was a wider and more noticeable variance in pollies' accents.

    retiring for the day smile
  • Australian politics
    I think WA is more progressive now.Banno

    Agreed. Qld once had a progressive rep....death penalty, etc. Then SA....drugs, sexuality.
    But, having some exposure (13 yrs) to Vic, NSW and Qld education systems... well, 50 yrs ago, moving around the country, did not make the getting of an education easy. Had to be keen, to get to higher ed with no money behind you, until Gough.
    But your round up describes what it was still like 30 yrs later.... unchanged seats, just different occupants when the music stops.

    smile
  • Australian politics
    Wondering if the National Polling companies will pay bonuses this year for getting it close to right?

    stirring smile
  • Australian politics
    With 50 different controlling states, educational standards would struggle to be standard. Our own 7+ systems are bad enough.
    Another area of reform for Labor? They're moving to standardize road rules,maybe nationally standardized education could be sold as a productivity improver? ( "improver" is a non word according to Spellcheck. Oh, the irony in this US related context!)

    more head shaking smile
  • Australian politics
    Wondering if so much of the world's problems can be sheeted home to the "US education system",if that's not an oxymoron itself. No offence intended... with Spellcheck claiming "offence" is incorrectly spelt.
    Just a speculative query.

    head shaking smile
  • Australian politics
    .can he tell Australia from Austria?Banno

    No better that the highly acclaimed US POST.
    There is still a parcel addressed to Benalla Vic. Australia in the US POSTAL loop between Alabama USA and Austria, 4years later. True story.

    faintly amused smile
  • Australian politics
    (Oh, and Trump said he didn't even know the name of who Albanese was running against, another great morale boost for the vanquished.)Wayfarer

    Probably would have said the same to Dutton in the same situation.
    Bet he didn't interrupt a game of golf to make the phone call.

    cynical smile
  • Australian politics
    What is a worry in world affairs is, at this point in time/history, Labor will be dealing with the Trumpian Effect throughout their term. Getting ahead on that will be like discerning the future by inspecting the contents of capital cities sewage plants.... Moonie Ponds??? (apologies to residents of aforementioned suburb, but just had to...)
    Have the Trumpettes won any seat yet? Sick of their youtube ads!

    After an "attempted" objective rereading of these two comments, whoever wrote them could be called "a whining little bleater", in times gone past!

    concerned smile
  • Australian politics
    It could be said that Labor has a better recent history of use to abuse ratio as far as the application of diplomacy to foreign affairs than the Coalition. Maybe Labor applied a little bit of this attribute to internal affairs in their election run up? While the others took their usual Bjelke-Petersen approach of "Don't you worry about that!/ Believe me, I know what's best for you!" to a more discerning 21st Century Australian public.

    just a happy smile tinged with apprehension for the next 3 yrsish
  • Australian politics
    Do informal votes still automatically count as primary votes for the incumbent or their party? Would be tricky if the incumbent was an independent not running again.

    Can't remember where that idea came from?

    Oh yes, that it! To stop dissent for compulsory secret voting.

    curious smile
  • The Hypocrisy of Conservative Ideology on Government Regulation
    If everyone lowered their economic/wealth expectations to the same level, that is barely above hand to mouth, and did their expected social obligations, this OP would be unnecessary..
    But what's the chances of that without a brain altering pandemic? Even cataclysmic world events haven't.
    It's not a hypocrisy of political leanings. It's obfuscation by rhetoric. Government and business may change its shape but never its yearning for power, its vulnerability to corruption and the target on its back for the disaffected. And we all know it but it suits some of us to claim otherwise.
    Just a suggestion.

    smile
  • Australian politics
    And anyway, the western world ( in particular) is moving away from left/right optics politics to radical hero/strong man image politics, it may be seen and argued by some.

    rant ending, slightly embarrassed smile
  • Australian politics
    Sky news, after a few days of begrudging headlines suggesting that the polls indicate the Libs might not win, have today turned on the Teals.Banno

    That's Plan B for the right/more conservative.
    If you can't win, be disruptive....(like the Trumpetty Party.)
    And sling beaucoup mud and tell everyone later, at every opportunity when in opposition, "See, I told you so!"
    Mind you, that seems to be either side's Plan B when in opposition.
    Why can't oppositions in democracies go along with "good" legislation and talk about how cooperative they were in that previous term? Probably because of the Westminster System of adversity governance!
    We really need a change to more nuanced governance or it's the US style for us.
    Perhaps that change is in the making with the occasional seat going to new parties? But do they( the newer parties) understand their full potential future role? A Senate down change, possibly.
    Stability is the stumbling issue, of course.

    smile
  • Australian politics
    Those who would change their vote because of some last minute change in policy place too much trust in politicians.Banno

    Even when the last minute change in policy of Party A or Independent B will negatively affect the voter, changing the vote away from Party A or Independent B is not placing too much trust in politicians. That's strategic voting for self interest...... the current interpretation of Democracy's best workplace practice, isn't it?

    if only it was otherwise smile
  • Australian politics
    With postal voting opening on the day after Easter Monday, only the can't care less and the old and terrified will be postal voting early....Why?
    'Cos no one really knows which political party will be springing a doozy or two of a policy at the 11th hour.
    There only seems to be one consistent policy between the two major party groups and that is 'string out the drip feed for as long as possible to appear to be having an election battle'.
    The reality is there's little on offer for the voters and little difference between the actual lists of promises.
    It's an acute lack of options on offer this election with a huge bunch of problems to be resolved in the upcoming term..... like a poisoned chalice on offer but no one wants to get too close to handle it in fear of getting it wrong and falling out of favour at the next couple of elections. ( Rather like the looming
    $ trillion deficit white elephant of the last Fed election.)
    Put simply...classic political arse covering. Effective leadership? Not around here, mate!

    His mother would not be proud.Banno

    Can you even presume upon motherhood to be a certain guiding force of good, nowadays?
    Doubtful, it could be argued. Even as your point is taken on board.

    barely a smile
  • Australian politics
    It pays for more trees, as I understand it. Not claiming to be carbon neutral here.Banno

    So the delivery penguin should only exhale where trees can be grown...mmm!
    Have a handle on your carbon attitude...same as here.... use it but minimize where reasonably possible.

    time for tea smile
  • Australian politics
    So first debate coming up - on Sky, ffsake. ↪Tom Storm
    , presumably, will not be watching. Nor will I, because fuck Sky.
    Banno

    Know thy enemy. Sky's a great insight into the mindless. Well, it caters for the m/less!

    small smile
  • Australian politics
    @Banno,

    How does a CO2 offset work? Does the penguin, carrying the piece of art from the US to here, hold its breath all the way? And then breath out, hence not adding CO2 to the atmosphere "of the USA and countries in between"?
    Offsets are carbon tax and don't prevent ( or really discourage) CO2 being added to the atmosphere/environment, one could argue/suggest, perhaps?
    .
    Sorry if your "immediately after Franks" response has not been read, yet... Will hasten to that now....lol

    big smile
  • Australian politics
    The present US administration has shown that it cannot be trusted.Banno

    Agreed.

    One of the unsaid (at least frequently and appropriately enough) comments that should qualify this whole world wide anti US rant.
    Is it the country and its people who can't be trusted? Or the crumbs that have been swept to the top of the political system by the failings within that system? And, please don't quote the more than 50% of the voters story/excuse, we all know how unrepresentative democrazies can be of their populations' interests and wishes.
    Thanks for the opening, Banno.

    belated smile
  • Australian politics
    f I were you I would limit purchases from the US due to carbon emissions involved in shipping.frank

    Banno might have not read yr post but at least others did and the comment that came out of that, albeit 22 days later, is " We'll follow your example because you are in Banno's shoes (i.e. close enough to be Banno) and watch you secure a full knowledge of which of your purchases coming from the US you will limit, setting an example to us who wish to follow your suggestion."
    Purchase of any thing tangible involves carbon emissions no matter how far it travels and how or where it is created. Wouldn't you agree?
    Just a suggestion and acknowledgement that your posts are examined and cause reaction(s).

    encouraging smile
  • Australian politics
    Don't you just love election season?
    Rabbits out of the hat, gaffs, about-faces, intense media scrutiny but not really listening and thinking it through, airlines filling their planes with polies, their helpers and paparratzi, baby kissing,hard hat tours etc, etc. Oh, and the fine line between bs and "truth" being redefined hourly.

    Certainly not Dutton.Banno

    Dutton probably didn't realize there are women in the Canberra PS because "Don't they all work from home?".... another about-face.

    just a smile
  • Australian politics
    Maybe, and this is tongue in cheek, we should invoke National Security concerns about food security, malnutrition and other health security to put a lie to Wayfarer's assertion of not being a command economy. We are, in the national security areas anyway,like all nations.

    Sorry, tea time.



    "starving" smile
  • Australian politics
    Aspects of Australia’s supermarket sector, which is dominated by Coles and Woolworths, are not working well and this is leading to poorer outcomes for consumers and suppliers than would be expected in a more competitive market.

    Just looking into the crystal ball powered by history. Who, as an individual, has the smarts to challenge such an august body of bright individuals' findings when they are ringbarked by politicians wishing for a particular finding/outcome?
    Cynical? No. It's the realpolitik.
    Just can't see an real relief in just splitting up companies when the the Corporation Act allows so many, much used loopholes 'to carry on business as usual'.
    Sorry, Banno... here we aren't fully on the same page.

    smile
  • Do you think AI is going to be our downfall?
    Our downfall, maybe just speeding up our fall?
    Do you see any benefits of AI for humanity? Maybe,we should work towards a curtailment of AI to them?
    The genie is already out of the bottle, now maybe is the time to ask the right questions or curb its potential harms?
    So no, not a downfall. Just, like all new techs, more and different work to do to minimize its faults/flaws and maximize its better qualities/potentials.

    A skeptic approach? Perhaps?

    smile
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