Simple solution.
Have a "Keep the Bastards Honest" party with at least 2 alternating ( one comes up each senate term) senate seats for each state, that can't block legislation if/when the people "trust" a major party sufficiently to vote it numerical control of the senate, but otherwise can when the lower house goes off the rails .
Then the H of Reps would be the forum of legislative politics and grandstanding etc, etc. and the Senate would actually be the House of Review.

Just a roughed out "gem" of a thought that needs more work/thought.

The Westminster System relies on 2 strong ideologically distinct parties to work in the lower house and whoever has a conscience to sit in the Senate. So more independent Senators, perhaps.

@Banno,
Agreed.
Who cares what the peons need so long as its a major party's elite who tells them what they can have. Not some grassroots independent with working ears.

"Prime Minister, the peasants are revolting!"
"Yes, they are aren't they."

a skeptic's wink & cynic's smile

@Pierre-Normand,

Hope your's was as grammatically correct as Bentham's generally was also.

wink & a smile.

@Wayfarer,
Do you imagine/think that the USA would convert to metric if we and the few other contrary countries converted to driving on the wrong side of the road like Norway, or whoever it was, did in "recent" history? Donny T. could put a tariff on imported measurements then. It could work like a worldwide GST or VAT on everything.

@Arcane Sandwich,
Mmm! Everybody has the right to correct/rewrite history in their own "image". So no argument and no agreement on the continental debate.

paternal but not superior smile

@Arcane Sandwich,
Geologically, continents are temporary platforms partly above sea level. Biologically, continents are big petri dishes for life to escape water logging... in places, of course.

Having their own whole continent each may be why attempts to unite NZ and AU into one country have so far failed. The rest of the world and D. Trump couldn't stand one country owning two whole continents at once.

Just a thought.

Smile sideways

Question.
Was it Jeremy Bentham who wrote one paragraph,one sentence, one page long style English?
Used to love that. A good primer for short term memory loss sufferers.

smile

@Arcane Sandwich,
You're lucky Gonwanaland, or whatever it's called, broke up, or you may have been lumbered with gum trees as native species. Or not?

chuckle and smile

@Arcane Sandwich,
Sounds like the world over, short term gain ignores long term pain. We're all guilty of it... in someway or other, our descendants will claim and complain.

wry smile

@Wayfarer,
Interested in art (graphic) history. No interest or capability in its creation. Dislike even house painting. A recognized incapacity which needs no excuse.
Like you, enjoy Albert's art, no interest in that item of Vincent's art. But, many BIG art prize entries don't interest either. Personal taste needs no justification unless it comes with social status/responsibility.

Just an opinion/thought.

@Arcane Sandwich,
Was there marsh/swamp/wet lands, that it was "decided" had to be removed, where the Eucalypts were planted in your town?
They were often touted as a "warm" climate swamp drainage/reclamation "devise"...e.g. under Fascist rule, the malaria infested swamps between Roma and Ostia were planted with Eucalypts which led to the first relief from that summer plague since Roma's foundation. As you may be aware.
In the dry parts of much of Australia, a line of healthy gum trees (Eucalypts) in an otherwise low scrub or scarcely grassed dry region, indicates at least seasonally abundant water...usually!

At approx. 3.30 pm, cooler day here. Only 38C. Relative humidity < 20%.. (recording devise bottoms out at 20%.) Overnight minimum was 18C. Quite bearable for this time of year.

cheerful smile

@Ayush Jain,

Didn't realize you were lurking. Not being awful to you, but will have to get back as soon as practical (< 24 hrs hopefully) to you.
Looking forward to a discussion. Interesting OP.

Cheery smile

@Banno,

Heard the ABC RN Radio interview, a coupla days ago. Meant to mention it.
Probably had an influence on above comment.
With politics,it's often hard to sieve out the influences

cheery smile

The major parties look like bleeders after the Vic by-elections. Further drift to cross benches in the primary votes. Minority govt federally looking more likely if dissatisfaction in Vic is a nationwide phenomenon?

Wonder how the great Mandates argument with be spun by the main party with less than 30% of the primary vote in a minority govt.? That will be the eleventh great wonder of the world!

And how many minority govt. election cycles, will the country tolerate before a big swing back to a major party, will the coalition handle before the Nats. go it alone?

Just a thought.

usual smile

@Ayush Jain,

The internal logic of this OP appears strong.
A three part question though.
From where, how and why did the fundamental "curiosity", that is a universal force driving the evolution of complexity and consciousness, emerge/originate?

curious smile

Perhaps the issue of human relationship to Nature is based, "loosely speaking", on the human belief that Nature is fixed, whether in its manifestation or its processes while humans are changing in their involvement with Nature.
That may not be true. Maybe humans (including their issues of mortality) are just part of Nature's current manifestation and current processes?
Just a thought.

quiet smile

@Wayfarer &@Arcane Sandwich,

In the late 1960's Australia, A.N.'s watercolours were highly sought after and regarded as breaking away from the Euro. watercolour styles. ( Note: "breaking away from", not "different to"). They were regarded as sophisticated in comparison to the now highly commercialized but then considered "primitive", "traditional/dot" finger paintings.
How the appreciation of art oscillates powered by sale prices, that is if art gurus/critics/schillers/sprookers even consider the arts in more than a superficial philosophical and psychological manner when commenting on particular art in their 30 second bite on media shows?
The current "Who has copyright?" question regarding Aboriginal art works and the whole question of who can use that "style" is currently going through its legal and legislative process.
But haven't heard of a question being raised about any other "style" only belonging to a specific or specified group of people in Aust.

curious smile

@javi2541997,

Thanks for the video. Interesting as an attempt to show a scientific understanding of how we perceive silence, but not too sure about philosophically "hearing silence". Can the profoundly deaf from birth hear or perceive silence?

Here's another question generated from the observations made here so far.

What becomes of silence when sound happens? Does it continue separately from sound, in the same or different "dimension"/universe/ form and how can an observer "know"?

Another.

If sound is not generated/created by/come from silence, what is the field of interaction/the dependency/the need for both to bear any relationship to the other. Or are we just being lazy, binary only thinking philosophers using the one to philosophically explain/understand the other?

@Bret Bernhoft,

Sorry. Not the intention to co-opt or redirect your OP. Just encouraging and enjoying a good meandering while staying on or close to "answering" what is understood to be the main objective of your OP..." What do (we) understand to be the philosophical significance of silence?"

happy smile

Have we limited our philosophic acknowledgement/understanding of silence by pairing/opposing it to sound/noise because we believe in/accept/get bogged down in the limits of individual perception?

Having difficulty in expression of this question possibly due to the normal philosophic/logic based requirement of subject/object (without entering into the 'of its self' arena of debate).

Another approach!

If we could not hear, but were aware of the effects of sound vibration on our environment e.g. ripples on still water, pricking of dogs' ears like our current understanding of radiation but inability to notice it immediately without instruments of measure, then would we link sound and silence other than in our perversity to think in "either/ or, yes/no, is/is not" terms.
Or maybe, not even have a specific word for the absence of sound. Just like there is no specific or general word for the absence of radiation...to keep with the analogy. (And trying to posit a break in the association between them to see where that may lead.)

So if you're still reading this, this comment is attempting to suggest silence may be more than not sound. But in what way is the unanswered question.

struggling smile

@theThomist,

Will be keeping a look out for more.

encouraging smile

@Shawn,

Sitting reading this OP and comments in 41C heat. Would you like to speculate on your expected reaction to your contribution?
Or is something been missed?

genuinely curious smile

@javi2541997,

Not "trust Chinese AI"......heaps of reasons/rationales ranging from the competitive to the suspicious. It is difficult to trust in opacity in the current spin of global international politics. Probably no more than in the past! Just currently more "gaslighting"... if that the right term?

@Banno,

"how Dutton...will step on (or in) this." Probably in his usual way, change the narrative and trundle out some other "wrongdoing" of Labor and Albo to " feed (to) the chooks."

Is anyone else sick of all the isms being flogged currently in Aust politics? Or has the past, more than 50 years' attempts to rid the taint of working class bigotry from our society/nation, been in vain? Or is this interpretation a misstep to idealism by an cynic with a skeptic's thought toolbox?

Lightly jaded smile

@Leontiskos,

Sorry for the tardy reply to your question of 4 days ago.

Just to clarify, the comment regards "omnipotence" was an attempt to clarify/make clearer @Tim Wood's previous entry about "omnipotence" and attempted to clear up any misconceptions of the breadth of the meaning of "omnipotence".
And perhaps, with a light general "warning" about using "omnipotence" in a way that degrades the all encompassing potency of the word's full meaning

Sorry it was not meant as a direct comment about St. Anselm's Proof.

helpful smile

Apart from brief references to Euro populism, this discussion of Laclau's Theory of Populism seems to have evolved into a US political echo chamber only.
Populism is a worldwide happening.
Would anyone like to try Laclau in a more international court?
No issue with the specific, but a wider stage may present a more interactive play.

Sorry about the mixed metaphor.

broadening smile

Perhaps, another way of looking at Omnipotence is that of being outside of/unrestrained by time. That is, there is no limits of causation, there just "is" for that which is omnipotent. Hence, it is difficult to argue any moral obligation (such as to be perfect, for example) upon an omnipotent (anything)...be it a god, idea, reality, as that would de-omnipotent that which it is claimed is omnipotent.

Perhaps, it could be argued that the omnipotent could not be named nor conceived of as omnipotent because that would reduce/take away its omnipotence through that interaction.

It all depends upon how omnipotence is understood and differentiated from such terms as perfect, all being, all knowing, etc. that are often associated with that which it is claimed is omnipotent.

Just a hurried thought.

a 2 cent smile

Compliant bureaucrats brings to mind the state of whistleblowers' protection, their motivations and the damage or otherwise to their careers. And the general state of objective truth in governance and hence back to philosophy.

lively smile

@Banno,

A stacked system, this governing business!

leary smile

@Banno,

Interesting curve put on the meaning/use of "efficiency" for political gain.
Used on both sides of the aisle with small adjustments to the specific departments/projects and desired outcomes.
Efficiency in cost presiding over efficiency of outcome being bullshittedly argued as the requirement instead of each being dependent up/assessed by the other. Appearance vs reality.

So, more of the same pap, wouldn't you agree?

interested smile

@Tom Storm,

Pre-Raeganism, where would this pop notion of lazy pub servants come from and be so persistent in the minds of voters? Or is it ignorance and laziness of not looking into govt operations/productivity to see how the budget estimates stack up against expected/predicted outcomes?

In your experience and resultant opinion?

genuinely curious smile

@Leontiskos,

Oh, we're here.

apprehensive smile

@Banno,

Of course, melodrama is a fringe benefit or smoko break from the clash that philosophic debates tend to take the form of.

wry ( sans any sense of superiority) smile

@Rob J Kennedy

Philosophy is process.

Process[(,that,) is only limited when expressed incorporating (a) subject.

[ The bracketed (,that,) and (a) are optional for the above sentence's intended preferred meanings.]

No expression, no subject, no limit.

And

Perhaps, any form of teaching of process directs and thereby limits process?

Limiting process may cause resentment or enjoyment of process.

Perhaps this is one answer/simple explanation as to why some of us enjoy, and others have less positive thoughts about, philosophy?



smile

Learning without participating is possible by paying (much) attention, perhaps?

quiet smile

The usual reactionary move against change by conservatism...rinse and repeat.
Keep doing something the same way repeatedly and expect a different outcome. What's that the definition of, again?... or... Again, of what is that the definition?

disappointed smile

Thanks Banno,
Will practice and read and reread and reread ad nauseam, wading through the assumptions of common knowledge until it works. And then practice, practice etc.

exhausted smile

@Banno,
"How will it fly....lunches?"
As usual, it will fly as well as the spin is received and impression making events unfold. Along with ads and the usual detritus used as fishing burly and paid for from the various interested parties' war chests.

From the wage earners' perspective, each election promise's effect upon mortgages and rents will be carefully assessed.

So,climate and energy mitigation, health, education, wages and employment etc. promises will all be most effective if they are couched in immediate cost of living reduction terms.

Credit card health will determine the election outcome. There are not enough wealthy social philanthropists/idealists to sway elections towards long term nation growing and protecting directions.

Oh, "democratic'' elections, when all the isms come out to play, but individualism determines the day!

Just another opinion.

Dumb punter smile

Hard to determine where cynicism (should ) ends and mere skepticism takes over....in the philosophy of politics.

concerned and still smiling

@Banno,
Interesting assumption that any taxes would be paid in the first place by those who do business lunches/junkets/upskilling, team building weekends, going on the reported company tax receipts, or lack thereof, of our "important" industries' giants. That is, the wage earning tax payers pay, through their income taxes, for the privilege of being employed by resource stripping multi nationals gutting the nation etc. Not just picking on the miners either. Motorways etc fall within that variety. Build infrastructure ( for the nation, of course) then toll the public for as long as the infrastructure is usable. Extolled as nation building! Good enough for a couple of reelections and then onto the next big deal. Same actors ( or family of),same modus, same results,same BS. Inventive minds used for spin instead of real repeatable national "wealth" creation. Yeah, get your ( being nice) "irony".

@Tom Storm,
Bit the same, unless you're born with the silver spoon ect.
Rule of voting... believe nothing of what you hear,and only half of what you see and have examined thoroughly. And then, follow the money trail anyway. And don't vote early, that's for the don't cares and the rusted ons, or, in these hard times, the overseas holiday makers.

Whew! Feel better after that. Time to examine the rations for tea, tonight...in these hard times!

relaxed smile

Only gives "half" the picture, plus the glare is too often playing the same role as the fog on the dark side. Something comfortable about short bouts of the dark side....know thy enemy as thy enemy knows you...
But, thanks for the well meaning pep. Looking out for those around you has to be part of the everyman's best take on living a good life.
Just an opinion.
cheery smile

Sorry, still trying to eliminate duplication.

frustrated smile

Sometimes, the feeling is of an exhausted swimmer clinging to a floaty called "Hope they see it" in the stormy sea called "Despondency", at this time in the electoral cycle.

tired smile

@Banno

"Australia has a long history.......before the USA changes its monarch"

Perhaps a Dutton govt next might be good on the face of what you're saying if the electorate was more politically savvy as an outcome. But it's a hell of a risk and the long term benefits look minimal, from the current and historical likelihood perspectives....short memories encourage the same mistakes to be made repeatedly. Wk? Hope vs Skepticism.

trying to find a balanced smile

@Banno and @Tom Storm,

We seem to have an unanimous general agreement of three answers to nil as regards election influences on nation wide surveyed results. But, at an electorate by electorate level, particular issues can have disproportionate influence with the run on effect in a tight national election..at least at the lower house level.
Nice item ( evidence based...) for the ironic wish list, Banno. Not disagreeing though, just living in a too early millenium to hope!

An aside of a non political nature...."an unanimous" or "a unanimous" ? "An" looks correct in print but clashes on the ear when verbalized, personally. Anyone else have this disconnect? Might be merely a local dialect/education blip? Or a personal propensity for an extended pause between those two words when verbalized in a sentence? Probably much of a to do about nothing!

Self deprecating smile