So in the last few weeks, it transpires that the USA is pretty much spying on anyone and everyone in the "war on terror". This includes hacking into the mobile phones of the presidents of countries that are allied to them. It's hard to see how listening to Angela Merkel's phone conversations and messages is going to set back a terrorist group in any way. And the sheer volume of the data being collected, over 70 million phone records in just a 30 day period in France, belies any notion that this can be limited to known or suspected individuals. Little wonder then at the resultant backlash from the French, German and Spanish governments.
What's more intriguing in this climate, is the absence of any noise whatsoever from our Government. Do we not have questions? Do we already know it's happening and are quite happy about it? I can't believe that even the most pro-US administration could accept the Prime Minister's phone being routinely hacked. Maybe we naively assume that it couldn't be happening here.
I think we should at least be asking.
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Elections. Again.
Whenever we have elections and, having them nationally every 3 years and state-wide every 4, this seems often, I find myself thinking of the infamous (but not necessarily actual) exchange in the 1956 American election:
Woman voter: Senator, you have the vote of every thinking person!
Adlai Stevenson: That's not enough, madam, we need a majority!
I think he'd have felt right at home in our election.
Woman voter: Senator, you have the vote of every thinking person!
Adlai Stevenson: That's not enough, madam, we need a majority!
I think he'd have felt right at home in our election.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Freedom From Choice
One of the tragedies of a federal system is that you have a lot of politicians. If it's not bad enough having to put up with the bickering federal parliament, we also have to plumb great depths of despair at the state level.
And things are bad in this state. On the one hand if it wasn't bad enough to have endured one of the most ineffective and corrupt state governments in NSW history, we now have the unsightly race between ex-ministers scrambling to distance themselves from Eddie Obeid and shouting loudly how little they had to do with him. It's remarkable - he apparently accumulated all that money and an Order of Australia without anybody knowing him.
You would think any change could only be for the better but unfortunately, the crooked only seems to have been replaced by the cretinous.
Govt:: Need some infrastructure?
Public: A second airport would be good.
Govt: Um no, but how about a floating helipad in the harbour instead? Or, perhaps a second casino, you know, with a view of the one we already have? Or how about we start mining for gas under your home?
Thankfully, the public uproar resulted in two of these braindead proposals getting dropped (sadly building of the casino goes ahead regardless) but why should it take a public outcry for the correct decision to be arrived at. None of these schemes would have been on anyone's list of things that needed doing, so where do these very bad ideas come from?
Given their huge mandate, you'd think the new government could tackle some of the big issues in the state but the only difference between this government and the previous one would appear to be whose nest is getting feathered.
Government of the people, by the people...but for whom?
And things are bad in this state. On the one hand if it wasn't bad enough to have endured one of the most ineffective and corrupt state governments in NSW history, we now have the unsightly race between ex-ministers scrambling to distance themselves from Eddie Obeid and shouting loudly how little they had to do with him. It's remarkable - he apparently accumulated all that money and an Order of Australia without anybody knowing him.
You would think any change could only be for the better but unfortunately, the crooked only seems to have been replaced by the cretinous.
Govt:: Need some infrastructure?
Public: A second airport would be good.
Govt: Um no, but how about a floating helipad in the harbour instead? Or, perhaps a second casino, you know, with a view of the one we already have? Or how about we start mining for gas under your home?
Thankfully, the public uproar resulted in two of these braindead proposals getting dropped (sadly building of the casino goes ahead regardless) but why should it take a public outcry for the correct decision to be arrived at. None of these schemes would have been on anyone's list of things that needed doing, so where do these very bad ideas come from?
Given their huge mandate, you'd think the new government could tackle some of the big issues in the state but the only difference between this government and the previous one would appear to be whose nest is getting feathered.
Government of the people, by the people...but for whom?
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Say It Again and Again and...
I heard our Treasurer this morning again talking about our "patchwork economy". I must have now heard him use this phrase 5 times (in about 3 minutes) over the week.
Somebody needs to explain to these guys' script writers that there's a fine line between "staying on message", as they like to call it, and sounding like a kid who's showing off the new word he's just discovered.
Somebody needs to explain to these guys' script writers that there's a fine line between "staying on message", as they like to call it, and sounding like a kid who's showing off the new word he's just discovered.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Trump Card
What a card that Trump fellow is! I heard this morning that he was being talked about as a possible Republican candidate for the next US presidential election.
Apparently, he's not happy with the current approach to Libya. If it was up to him, having decided to intervene, the Americans would just go in there and take the oil, generously leaving plenty for the Libyans to be able drive their cars. "You know, in the old days when you have a war and you win, that nation's yours," he said. Funnily enough, that sounds rather like colonialism, which I thought was something America at least pretended to disapprove of.
No doubt it's all just a publicity stunt but then again, he could make it a much cleaner situation in Libya by simply insisting that Colonel Gaddafi appear on a new "Presidential Apprentice" show and telling him "You're fired". He'll probably do that after he's invited Barack Obama onto the show to tell him the same thing.
Apparently, he's not happy with the current approach to Libya. If it was up to him, having decided to intervene, the Americans would just go in there and take the oil, generously leaving plenty for the Libyans to be able drive their cars. "You know, in the old days when you have a war and you win, that nation's yours," he said. Funnily enough, that sounds rather like colonialism, which I thought was something America at least pretended to disapprove of.
No doubt it's all just a publicity stunt but then again, he could make it a much cleaner situation in Libya by simply insisting that Colonel Gaddafi appear on a new "Presidential Apprentice" show and telling him "You're fired". He'll probably do that after he's invited Barack Obama onto the show to tell him the same thing.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Voting On The Big Issues
I was impressed at the range of upper house options I was given to choose from when voting in the recent State Election.
Obviously, I didn't bother trying to find people from the list of over 300 names under the line. Seriously, does anybody really do this? We could save a lot of paper by not bothering with that part of the form or just printing a few of them and handing them out on request to the very keen.
Going instead to choose from the list of parties, I realised that I didn't know too much about any of them. Some of them appear to simply name themselves after their sole area of concern. This is why, in a time where there are so many major issues being debated, we have a "No Parking Meters" party. These guys obviously have their finger on the pulse of what really matters to people.
Similarly, we didn't just have a Fishing Party, we also had the Shooters and Fishers party. They didn't even preference each other. I'd have thought that both at least being into fishing, they'd form some kind of anglers' tactical alliance. For the voter, trying to differentiate between them, the only tip I could have given was that one of these parties would not approve of shooting fish in a barrel.
Obviously, I didn't bother trying to find people from the list of over 300 names under the line. Seriously, does anybody really do this? We could save a lot of paper by not bothering with that part of the form or just printing a few of them and handing them out on request to the very keen.
Going instead to choose from the list of parties, I realised that I didn't know too much about any of them. Some of them appear to simply name themselves after their sole area of concern. This is why, in a time where there are so many major issues being debated, we have a "No Parking Meters" party. These guys obviously have their finger on the pulse of what really matters to people.
Similarly, we didn't just have a Fishing Party, we also had the Shooters and Fishers party. They didn't even preference each other. I'd have thought that both at least being into fishing, they'd form some kind of anglers' tactical alliance. For the voter, trying to differentiate between them, the only tip I could have given was that one of these parties would not approve of shooting fish in a barrel.
Monday, March 28, 2011
The Biggest Loser
England losing to Sri Lanka by 10 wickets with 10 overs to go was a pretty dismal effort, the symmetry of the scoreline only serving to magnify the scale of the thrashing. Not one wicket taken. You really shouldn't be getting clobbered like that in the knock-out phase of the World Cup.
As bad as that was though, England weren't the biggest losers of the evening. Not even close. For at the same time, we also had the State Election results in NSW. Such was the one-sided nature of this contest that the words "bloodbath" and "slaughter" were being used to describe the result. And that was in the opening remarks to the coverage - before there were any results to report on. I've never seen an election where there was so much certainty before they started counting. And so it turned out. According to Luke Foley, who had the unenviable task of being the Labor spokesman for the coverage, it was their worst performance since the 19th Century. Now that's some defeat.
As bad as that was though, England weren't the biggest losers of the evening. Not even close. For at the same time, we also had the State Election results in NSW. Such was the one-sided nature of this contest that the words "bloodbath" and "slaughter" were being used to describe the result. And that was in the opening remarks to the coverage - before there were any results to report on. I've never seen an election where there was so much certainty before they started counting. And so it turned out. According to Luke Foley, who had the unenviable task of being the Labor spokesman for the coverage, it was their worst performance since the 19th Century. Now that's some defeat.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Not Sure Why Zone
So we've got a No Fly Zone. I remember when that was achieved by just spraying the room with Mortein. These days apparently it means bombing every piece of military gear in sight.
Now don't get me wrong, when it comes to colonels, I'm more of a Sanders man than a Gaddafi fan, but to me, apart from the fact that shooting up tanks and supply trucks seems to be more of a "No Drive Zone" approach, it also seems that we're a bit more involved in the war than is suggested by the term "No Fly Zone". So it's another war with a spurious euphemism used at the outset to justify it. That would be this war's "Weapons of Mass Destruction" then, no doubt to be followed at some point by an emphasising of the need for "Regime Change".
Of course when I say "We", I don't mean Australia. No, when our former Prime Minister was out on the hustings spruiking the No Fly Zone, what he really meant was just that one should be set up. With other people's planes. After all, it's very important to make sure other people stand up for what you believe in. Somebody's got to fight for my right.
Makes you feel so proud.
Now don't get me wrong, when it comes to colonels, I'm more of a Sanders man than a Gaddafi fan, but to me, apart from the fact that shooting up tanks and supply trucks seems to be more of a "No Drive Zone" approach, it also seems that we're a bit more involved in the war than is suggested by the term "No Fly Zone". So it's another war with a spurious euphemism used at the outset to justify it. That would be this war's "Weapons of Mass Destruction" then, no doubt to be followed at some point by an emphasising of the need for "Regime Change".
Of course when I say "We", I don't mean Australia. No, when our former Prime Minister was out on the hustings spruiking the No Fly Zone, what he really meant was just that one should be set up. With other people's planes. After all, it's very important to make sure other people stand up for what you believe in. Somebody's got to fight for my right.
Makes you feel so proud.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Words Of A Thousand Men
Amidst all of the many remarkably non-revelatory WikiLeaks stories, it was heartening to see the word "feckless" still in use, having been used to describe Silvio Berlusconi.
I last heard it in Nick Lowe's Rose of England, where "for her feckless boy she did weep and wail".
It brings to mind the image of everyone scurrying for their dictionaries to look up "recalcitrant" after Paul Keating famously dismissed Mahatir, the Malaysian Prime Minister, for so being.
I last heard it in Nick Lowe's Rose of England, where "for her feckless boy she did weep and wail".
It brings to mind the image of everyone scurrying for their dictionaries to look up "recalcitrant" after Paul Keating famously dismissed Mahatir, the Malaysian Prime Minister, for so being.
Friday, November 26, 2010
MyProblem
So to follow-up the MySchool website, we now have MyHospital as the Government gives us all the "transparency" I don't remember anyone asking for. It's funny how there's a lot less disclosure about the things people are asking for, especially if it involves their own plans: MyNationalBroadbandNetwork anyone?
While they're at it though, how about a MyPolitician site so I can look up to see how much taxpayer-funded expenditure he/she is running up and how many hours he/she is actually spending in Parliament.
While they're at it though, how about a MyPolitician site so I can look up to see how much taxpayer-funded expenditure he/she is running up and how many hours he/she is actually spending in Parliament.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Waiting, Waiting...
I should have known we'd still be waiting to find out who'll be running the country. After all, it took me an hour to vote on Saturday. Apparently someone had forgotten to bring the electoral rolls. You can only wonder. I ask the blankly smiling people with their "Moving Australia Forward" t-shirts if they could start by moving the queue forward. What is it with these volunteers anyway? Don't they realise that their unquestioning enthusiasm comes across like religious zealotry? And I don't talk to those people either! Actually that is an important election tip - always wear headphones (even if they're not connected to anything) to discourage people handing out their rubbish.
To add insult to injury, after queuing for the hour, the guy then asks you if you've voted anywhere else. The polls have only been open for the same hour I've been standing in line. How the hell could I have voted anywhere else?
I am however, forced to spare a thought for 2 other lots of people waiting for much, much longer.
Firstly, 33 miners trapped in Chile, having been found alive days after they had been given up for dead, are now waiting for a relief tunnel to be drilled. The piece of equipment is being sent out there from Australia and according to the news yesterday, they should be out in a few months. Months! They're also having to get NASA to help with getting them food. Hopefully, this will be one of the great survival stories of the year.
Secondly, and on a completely more surreal note, I also heard about people stuck in a traffic jam in China for 9 days. Nine days! Where are they going? Is it still worth going there? I mean if you'd been commuting, you've already missed 2 weeks of work (not to mention the weekend) - you've probably been fired for not showing up! It's like that episode of Dr Who where everyone is just driving around under New York for years. Just wait until everyone in China has a car...
To add insult to injury, after queuing for the hour, the guy then asks you if you've voted anywhere else. The polls have only been open for the same hour I've been standing in line. How the hell could I have voted anywhere else?
I am however, forced to spare a thought for 2 other lots of people waiting for much, much longer.
Firstly, 33 miners trapped in Chile, having been found alive days after they had been given up for dead, are now waiting for a relief tunnel to be drilled. The piece of equipment is being sent out there from Australia and according to the news yesterday, they should be out in a few months. Months! They're also having to get NASA to help with getting them food. Hopefully, this will be one of the great survival stories of the year.
Secondly, and on a completely more surreal note, I also heard about people stuck in a traffic jam in China for 9 days. Nine days! Where are they going? Is it still worth going there? I mean if you'd been commuting, you've already missed 2 weeks of work (not to mention the weekend) - you've probably been fired for not showing up! It's like that episode of Dr Who where everyone is just driving around under New York for years. Just wait until everyone in China has a car...
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Election Fever
At least that's what the papers and the pollsters would have us believe but I don't think so.
A quick look at the Top 5 articles from the 4 Fairfax papers on the Web at lunchtime only had one election story making the top 5 across all 4 of them. And that single story only came in at No. 5 in The Age.
Forget the election! Based on the Top 5 list, the scintillating topics of a 30-second boxing match, an intruder, a fake iPod t-shirt, a disappointing city in Indonesia (but sadly, not a disappointed horse), a car-crash, Jason Akermanis getting sacked and even a maid receiving an inheritance all tickled our fancy more.
Clearly everyone is finding this election pretty dull and there's still 5 more miserable weeks to go. Wouldn't it be great though if the media paid attention to their own sites and noticed just how uninterested we are in this election?
Maybe they could stop covering it for the next 5 weeks! I might even buy the paper...
A quick look at the Top 5 articles from the 4 Fairfax papers on the Web at lunchtime only had one election story making the top 5 across all 4 of them. And that single story only came in at No. 5 in The Age.
Forget the election! Based on the Top 5 list, the scintillating topics of a 30-second boxing match, an intruder, a fake iPod t-shirt, a disappointing city in Indonesia (but sadly, not a disappointed horse), a car-crash, Jason Akermanis getting sacked and even a maid receiving an inheritance all tickled our fancy more.
Clearly everyone is finding this election pretty dull and there's still 5 more miserable weeks to go. Wouldn't it be great though if the media paid attention to their own sites and noticed just how uninterested we are in this election?
Maybe they could stop covering it for the next 5 weeks! I might even buy the paper...
Friday, July 9, 2010
Looking For The Specific Solution
This week the Government announced that they were approaching East Timor to be one of our external refugee processing sites.
How about that? All that time they were in opposition protesting about it, I never realised that the problem they had with the "Pacific Solution" was over which ocean was being used...
How about that? All that time they were in opposition protesting about it, I never realised that the problem they had with the "Pacific Solution" was over which ocean was being used...
Monday, July 5, 2010
New Prime Minister
So "Kevin O'Seven's" gone. Guess it was a case of "Not Again O'Ten..."
I don't know why everybody's so relaxed though. Don't they realise Australia's now a Ruddless ship?
As for the discussion over what to call her partner and the suggestions of "First Bloke" etc, while they're amusing, they're also a depressing sign of Americanisation. We haven't called previous Prime Minister's wives "The First Lady" or anything else for that matter, so who cares what Julia's partner is called.
Now on the other hand, if Hilary was to stage a similar coup, or if Sarah was to win the next American election, then indeed it would be a question worth asking. Sadly, I'm sure "First Bloke" would not be the answer.
I don't know why everybody's so relaxed though. Don't they realise Australia's now a Ruddless ship?
As for the discussion over what to call her partner and the suggestions of "First Bloke" etc, while they're amusing, they're also a depressing sign of Americanisation. We haven't called previous Prime Minister's wives "The First Lady" or anything else for that matter, so who cares what Julia's partner is called.
Now on the other hand, if Hilary was to stage a similar coup, or if Sarah was to win the next American election, then indeed it would be a question worth asking. Sadly, I'm sure "First Bloke" would not be the answer.
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