Comments

  • Currently Reading
    I place that book among the most over-rated books of all time. — Hanover

    Agreed, along with "Moby Dick", "Red Badge of Courage",that Atticus/Gregory Peck yarn by what's her name..Harper's Crossing? , "My Brother Jack", and Xavier Herbert's "Poor fellow,My Country..or whatever it was called": just to deter the impression of national bias.
    Basically, most of the high school "books/author you should read". Blatant brainwashing...as it was called way back then.

    cynical smile
  • Australian politics
    Knee jerk/arse covering reaction in Vic to child abuse allegations, "no requirement for reasonable suspicion" to weapon search in Qld, failed liquor law curfews in NT, social media age limits nationwide; to highlight a few govt reactions/ actions.
    Do govts in this country only react to ongoing "tip of the iceberg" problems when they make the headlines or 7.30 Report? Or are politics what run/motivate/highlight govts not striving for good governance?
    Or is this how good governance works? Or is it just the old question in democracies, do govts govern or just politic?
    Are we just too comfortable/complaisant to take an interest in how well governance is operating until we get slapped across the face with a rotten piece of cod?
    Probably the same question can be asked of the bulk of the "liberal" western world's citizens?
    Just wondering "out loud".

    smile
  • Australian politics
    At last the ALP understand the term “diplomacy.” — Banno

    So far, so good. So long as usage reflects comprehension.

    concerned smile
  • Australian politics
    Was that Susan Lee's maiden speech as leader of the opposition, or that only so called when parliament sits in July?
    Just a navelgazer's prayer/teaser, perhaps.

    smile
  • Australian politics
    Presumptuous, to supose that we are not... :wink: — Banno

    Even if only when we can find the time and motivation?

    wry smile
  • Societal Structures: Injustice and Oppression
    Condemnation of what was and what is, with a recommendation of a better what will has had little to commend it when viewed so far. Not that doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome is entirely illogical if, at least, some desired micro change (of outcome) occurs. But who has the patience to wait for their turn/desired micro change to occur?
    Just a thought.
    smile
  • Australian politics
    It would appear that Labor understands broad diplomatic commenting better than the Coalition. The pressure of govt responsibility, perhaps, or dealing with Chaos Pending on one hand and almost normality on the other. Even a pragmatic approach to govt only works locally while certain international affairs require the lightning selection from an amalgam of all philosophic approaches depending on the moment ( or latest utterance of...)
    Just an off the cuff comment distilled from recent observations and a little historical/life experience.
    Any comments on the latest Iran situation and how it will/might/is affect(ing) Australia?

    coaxing smile
  • Bitcoin = Tulip
    So what conclusions can we draw from this? Nothing obvious jumps out at me.
    18 days ago]

    How about a tulip in the hand is worth more than any number of bitcoins in the bust?
    Plenty of money was/ is made growing tulips after the tulip market bust. Will that be the case with bitcoin?
    Maybe ask ChatGPG when will the price of bitcoin fall to zero?
    Sorry, T Clark. Just found another way to stuff up a quote and reply/comment. Will have forgotten how by tomorrow,so don't worry.

    self deprecating smile     — T Clark
  • Australian politics
    Australian smile. — javi2541997

    Spinach stuck on a gold tooth smile?

    Being a good citizen could be dangerous in Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East etc, at the moment. It's hard to know how to behave as an ant when the elephants have a rumble. Run, maybe, but where to? Such is life!

    Anyone have an Optus account or shares? The offered $100 million should help shore up the ACCC's war chest.... after costs and govt "deductions". Same from Qantas in recent years. Another leg of Chalmer's tax reforms? Wonder if anyone's currently part of the targeted 80,000 with supers of $3 million plus.
    A new marketing idea? Drive through shopping centres. Next move along from after hours drive in shopping? Oh well, just ban cars from shopping areas, like machetes. Like Qld's no reasonable suspicion required public stop and search laws. Law and order over social equality and opportunity, as usual.

    barely smile
  • Australian politics
    Keating says — Banno

    At least the sinophile is consistent in mind as he enters the age of incontinence of body.

    Leave politics, write the obligatory autobiography, make yourself available for advice to the party, but don't encourage/feed the barking dogs or your own under fed ego. Unaccepted advice, obviously, for some/many?
    Not a fan of K's foreign policy regards China... too naive/ too economics only orientated.

    The Conversation Review is interesting in highlighting lesser known thinkers. Future directions do need be cross departmental in their scope like the futurist degree at unis.

    @javi2541997
    Not too sure about that. Banno's views are good to get along with here in the forum. What we'd be like else where, who knows?
    But, thanks for the thought. Do you have political aspirations, at this stage in your life? You don't have to be Australian born to be Prime Minister here. And we're always on the scout for overseas educated talent. Don't always appreciate them when they get here though. So, be warned.

    big smile
  • Australian politics
    The women in this party are so assertive now — Alan Stockdale, to NSW Liberal’s Women’s Council

    Or have learnt how to play the game better.
    It's not whether the toilet seat is left up or down after use, but how clean the toilet is left after use. In reference to experience cleaning public and entertainment venue toilets.
    Who cares who rules, it's how they rule and the outcomes.

    ironic smile
  • 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
Home » kazan