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

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.

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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?

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That's the price of having good coffee. — Banno

An examination of the coffee industry would show little GREEN about it... just to add to your point.

Take advantage of the preferential system to express your dissatisfaction while still not supporting the Libs? — Banno

Could be dangerous this time round.

I think this 'price controls on supermarkets' is populist talk-back radio nonsense. We don't live in a command economy. — Wayfarer

Agreed.

I'd like to see the two largest broken into four. — Banno

Twice as much work for an under resourced ACCC, just as much collusion and an excellent reason to raise prices by all four... less return to scale purchasing power, (quote/unquote) will be their excuse, for sure.
A suggestion: Just buy (properly researched) specials only of what you know you (will and do) need and curb your impulsive unneeded buying. That wastes their ad dollars. Supermarkets hate tightfisted savvy customers. They will lash back somehow, so be prepared.
All of the above is easier said than done, malheursement!
Please pardon the poor high school French affectation.

just an uncomplicated smile, this time.

67c54c24c10f7f8aca08c4e3_Electoral-Map-All-Candidates.jpg — Banno

Where's Helen Haines, Ind. for Indie, NE Vic ? Or is this election blinding one of its ( oh so clever!) citizens. She should have done enough to get back in in this "hung parliament" election.
Addendum: Found her over in the S. A. Independents with a long line back to her electorate. Sorry, can't see for loooking

Also, the Dutton excise exercise is to win votes in the outer city electorates and in the bush where the savings will/may be worth more than a fiver to the households' weekly driving costs. It's not likely to impress city and enviro voters despite the fact that all prices should drop proportionately due to everyone's reliance on oils for transporting... not that the transport or any big companies will reduce their potential profit rises by reducing their charges.

normal slightly bored/fed up smile

. The Libs are of course doing their best to appeal to ACT voters by promising to sack 40,000 public servants. — Banno

At least put an exclamation mark at the end of that sentence....in case we miss your sat/casm!

big smile

If I were you I would limit purchases from the US due to carbon emissions involved in shipping. — frank

Why stop at the US. Let's return to living off the produce of our backyards and bare hands only and walking to a common bartering point, in the nude if we don't have a fig tree leaf, to get the specials of the week.
We like our gadgets and they all come to us via emissions. Where they are made shouldn't concern us if we "can't' do without them.

Smart countries/a smart scheme would buy up big those "things" only produced in the US, warehouse them, wait for all the other countries to escalate the tariff war with the US with their own anti-US tariffs. Then sell US made goods/things to the other countries at under their anti US tariffs prices.
All we got to do is stay on everybody's "good side" and apply no tariffs to anyone, meanwhile growing our own home made industries off of the taxes, paid ( or not) by participating smart companies in the above scheme.

Simple!

Oh, for a world of fair and considerate business dealings.

yet another sad smile with a suggestion of a laugh

I’m afraid to say nothing about Clive Palmer is fresh. Everything about him is stale, verging on putrid. That media organisations have to feed off his hubris is disappointing in the extreme. — Wayfarer

Agreed. Not his blood though, just the dollars bilked from the nickel refinery workers of Townsville and all the other blood, sweat and tears ripped off in other close-to-the edge dealings that pass for sharp usiness practice nowadays ( and in the past history of big "C" capitalism without conscience).

again another sad smile

he general idea is in requiring reference to original sources of information as opposed to hearsay or entirely fabricated accounts found on social media and they repeating it as fact.

example, if Trump announces that the US is leaving NATO in a post in X with Elon applauding the act, would it still be OK to post this? — ssu


This would be an exception it seems because it's not hearsay. It's from the horse's mouth — Hanover

Legal brain in action.

"The intention of the legislation should hold sway over nitpicking its wording." If no judge has said that yet, it's about time one did.

Opening a can of good intentions, the moderators were presented with a can of worms.

sad smile

uclear an expensive threat to Queensland's drinking water and communities — Banno

Hmm. Interesting concealment of facts by you know who.

Nuclear Power – Research Summary: Department of the Premier and Cabinet — Banno

Have to read those 20 pages later. Hunger may distort a full appreciation.

still tired smile

Might look for another version... — Banno

Thanks.

tired smile

Australia does not have much water. — Banno

This was removed "pending review". Even the Guardian reads your posts. Are your a Murdock lost/forgotten child. Who runs the Guardian, anyway?

Time for tea, that is cook and prepare!

sly smile

He has capabilities?? — Banno

Of course. He can dodge and weave and backtrack better than D Trump, so he is a worthy adversary. A bigger bully ( look how coherent the Libs have been ,up until recently, over the last 2 1/2 years) is what this country needs to deal with foreign bullies, not a mumbler like Albo (if he wins his seat, just added this to show no bias).

off to a good start smile

This thread is doing OK, but we all seem to basically agree... it really needs some conflict. — Banno

Let's do it ourselves.

Peter Dutton should be the next PM (if he wins his seat), because.... spellcheck is American and doesn't recognize "Dutton" as a word/entity. Therefore, because Trump is imposing tariffs on us, we need a strong leader who is an unknown quantity to the advisors encouraging Trump's economic and foreign policies/adventures and who can keep them in fear/the dark of his (Dutton's) capabilities to damage the Trump administration's appeal to all good American patriots.
All agreed?

A balloon smile

Wonder if we can get Clive on the forums? — Banno

Too many of his accolates already here. You know how modest Clive is in giving his underlings credit for for coming up with his great ideas. Which raises the question,"Who modelled himself on whom, Donald or Clive?" And relative age may not hold the answer, as presumably, both can read and listen, although that could be contested.

chuckly smile

@Banno,

"The Chaser", definitely required reading in schools, particularly in the creative arts and English classes.

Big smile

Why oh why does Clive Palmer keep appearing with his buckets of money and gormless advertising campaigns? The Australian Trumpets or whatever he's calling himself now is beyond ridiculous. A boil on the arse end of politics. — Wayfarer

At least it keeps some fresh blood running into the big media's collapsing advertising veins. A fact not mentioned by big media as it bewails its losses of ad dollars to those dreadful social media mob.
Shame there aren't more Clives running political campaigns with the same finesse.
Can't think of anything better to say about Clive.
quizzical smile

For me it is obvious, since we had a case in the Netherlands that touches on this exact subject, the end result of which was thousands of families being crushed by the government apparatus for wrongs they had not committed. — Tzeentch

Robodebt on steroids in Australia. Turned out the Aus Federal govt method of calculation was illegal.
Life in the checks and balances of nations.

sad smile

hand, we are so ready to expect government to address and solve problems for us, but then hating government for all the ways it fails to do so and wanting to punish them for it. — Wayfarer

More than a current cultural paradox. Been a way of redirecting self inadequacy and limitation since Mose's was a lad. Scapegoating.
We just hate being called out for our own small mindedness and selfish thoughts/deeds...maybe?

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Life wasn't better fifty years ago - I know, I was there — Banno

Mmmm, agree! And 50 yrs before that wasn't better either, according to elders of 50 yrs ago. And they ( the elders) also carped on about how they didn't know where the world was going to. And no difference in attitude since 1925 (selected as 100 yrs, not as a defining yr), just some good and bad times, some better and some worse.
Probably defined every election in the last 100yrs...fear of the future unknowns as seen through the "20/20 hindsight" of the recent past at each election time.
We keep doing this short vision voting repeatedly expecting a different result. Of what is that the definition?

sad smile

Another weekend gone and no election date announced. Albo's got nerves of steel (any pun implied is accidental, if that's not too much of an oxymoron) or wants the shortest run up possible. Meanwhile, Dutton and Albo are both magicians on either side of the stage pulling rabbits out of their Akubras/safety helmets. Can't hear much applause for either from the public audience.

Good time to be a journalist, no shortage of grist (or is it "grit") for the news mill. Shame they are being laid off as jobs are lost in the print news industry. Could have a seachange and run for election!

sympathetic smile

Orange is bush teal? — Banno

Read that, at first glance, as "Orange is bush tea?"... Thought: Rooibos???

Been hacked and F/book site/persona stolen, so a quick precises anytime you see something relevant would be appreciated. Or another addy for Independent News AU, free of course.
Did find a youtube called "Time to shine a light..." accredited to INAU...is that the one?

impoverished smile.

Presume, assume, deduct..... the fodder of philosophy?

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Mmmm! Try to be internationally even handed, but always see a bias which presume others see through.

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All in all, too close to call, although I did notice some street-level campaign activity in my district today. — Wayfarer

Agree with your extra issues and analysis and the "Incumbency" factor although, historically ( with some noticeable exceptions e.g. Qld' Campbell Newman one term), there is a "fair go" factor of at least two terms to make good election promises in the minds of Aust voters...to date.

"Campaign activity"... nothing here in rural NE Vic village, yet. But that doesn't mean much... The world could be on the verge of..... and the locals only talk about the weather while waiting to collect their mail which is not delivered within the 40-50 home, 100 person village.
A worry when the town holds one of the best attended Anzac Day each year in the local council area. Granted the average ( not mean) age is around 60-65 and the local primary school has been closed for two years because there was/is less than 6 children. Rust belt!

Keeping the flame alive smile

@DifferentiatingEgg,

Thanks for that. Comprehensive savings on taxes. Understand now, (from an outsider's pov) another reason why signing up in the military is so attractive to US youth.

thoughtful smile

If you were a 100% disabled military veteran, you'd not have to pay taxes either. — DifferentiatingEgg

As in income taxes or any type of tax including tarrifs on imported goods and services? Or do you mean by "100% disabled", dead?

curious smile

With the lead up to the (yet to be declared) Fed elections, are the major players/parties all playing the populist card or are they taking a gamble and hanging their petards to the right,center or left, "philosophically"?
Historically (last 50 years, at least), the Aust voter seems to generally favour the center it may be/has been suggested.
Does anyone have a view on whether the outcome of this election may be determined differently or not, and why?

Despite the "experts" leaning on the cost of living as the make or break of this election, that has been the prediction at many past elections and few policies of the major parties have a great distinction in this area, this time,..yes...no?

Just a thought teaser to stimulate!

non partisan smile

NA tests show that British Celts had matriarchal societies prior to the Roman invasion.. Wow! — frank

Surprised? You mustn't have had much to do with old Scots and Irish families. Matriarchs are still their backbone in many families and it is expected and accepted as normal by family members of all sexes. Not saying all S&I families though, there's been dilution with out-marrying and some notable variance within social classes of S&I families, anecdotally speaking.

Just an observation of how we come from diverse backgrounds

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Imagine if the present would have been a nice box of tulips! — javi2541997

Imagine if she was aware of the origin of tulips. How likely would you say/guess?
Wonder where the Turks got their original bulbs from? Probably Central Asia where every exotic ( to Europe) vegetable came from via other countries. Only a slight exaggeration.

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Looming ( but as yet, undeclared) election, extra 8 billion dollars for X over the next 4 years,opposition matches dollar for dollar + a little bit extra ( how much extra exactly, undeclared), the promises do flow from on high.

smiling at the predictability of it all

Blood Lines" by Nelson DeMille et al.

Apart from spellcheck not keeping up with the DeMille name, good thriller writing with consistently simple sentence structure, character complexity and nicely rejuvenated "mole in the spy agency" plot.
Minimal brain tax.

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@Vera Mont,
Sorry to appear to join the negative pile-on, but the first reaction/thought was of everyone being the servant of those that surround them..progress and change brought to a halt.
The second thought was how dangerous this would be to individual safety, short circuiting self preservation even just slightly.
Just initial reaction.

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@Relativist,

Agreed. You're more succinct.

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But something to bear in mind, is that DJT is making an enormous number of enemies. Who in the intelligence community or defence is likely to support him, after the way he’s denigrated them? — Wayfarer

Any visible opposition to DJT from these areas will be spun to give DJT the "Proof" of the "Deeeep State". At least in the current environment.

If push really came to shove and it comes down to ordering troops in against protestors……. — Wayfarer

The protestors will be labelled... traitors, unamerican, mostly illegal immigrants, deviants... the usual tropes, by DJT.

And who will protest such labelling? Obviously not the "average" US citizen or that would have happened by now. So far just tacit support for the President.

Sounds like similar vibs happening elsewhere in the world not just the US.



Just surmising.

sad smile

Well, Trump can obviously give absolutely anything as an executive order, because why not? He doesn't care a shit about how the Republic works and is sidelining the Congress and attacking the judiciary. — ssu

So, in your opinion, there is no legal or de facto barriers to stop Trump from declaring himself El Presidente for life with unlimited executive powers?

Sounds like the USA's constitution and political structure isn't worth defending because the Founding Fathers created a flawed country that has lasted well past its use or repair by date.

Due for a new model? Maybe it's getting that new model now?

confused and surprised by the evidence smile

@Wayfarer,
Maybe?
Better ere on the side of caution, even here.

sad self preservative smile

Repetition gives similar outcomes..... the promise of the Universe!
Simple enough for wanna be dictators to understand.

sad smile

Of course, where does that leave the USA's ex allies, now Enemies?
Time to get thinking and doing with the short, medium and long term implications at the top of the agenda.....perhaps.
Probably need to scrub out the local political toilet first.
Not meant as commentary one way or the other party wise, just how they do or don't interact. That's what needs the dunny duck/Ajax clean.
Pie in the sky?

wishful smile

So Congress has entirely abdicated any responsibility to try and restrain him. — Wayfarer

You don't think that there's enough wanna-bes (power hungry) in the Congress to slow the Trump march down? Or don't they have the political/constitutional power to curb a runaway president? Or is it more of a "Roman Senate vs Julius Caesar" rerun?

Unfortunately, the overall impression is one of lacking the resilience for those reasons (et al) that you outlined.

Insightful and considered as expected, thank you.

And, no, your pocket is not wet. Just we're in agreement, this time.



thankful smile