Author: peterimrich

Media July 23, 2019

Combatting fake news

Which organisations are the primary generators of destructive falsehoods in Australia? Here, IA’s trusty Facebook friends have been helpful once again.

The groups nominated most frequently by readers include:

News Corp;
commercial radio and television newsrooms;
the Institute of Public Affairs;
the Liberal Party;
the National Party;
public relations consultants used by the above parties;
big business peak bodies;
the big four banks and some other finance corporations;
mining and forestry corporations and industry groups;
some municipal councils;
some property development corporations; and
leadership teams of some rich mega-churches.

via Combatting fake news

Humour July 23, 2019

Trump Says He Disagrees With ‘Send Her Back’ Chants

via Trump Says He Disagrees With ‘Send Her Back’ Chants

Informed Comment July 23, 2019

Of course Donald Trump is a racist – and his Wall Street enablers know it | Robert Reich | Opinion | The Guardian

Donald Trump greets business leaders beside president and CEO of JP Morgan Jamie Dimon, at the White House in 2017.

via Of course Donald Trump is a racist – and his Wall Street enablers know it | Robert Reich | Opinion | The Guardian

Democracy, Uncategorized July 23, 2019

ICE Raids, Asylum Seekers and the Othering of People of Color | The Smirking Chimp

English speaking governments backed by Murdoch media have broken International Laws Human Rights Laws and diminished the meaning of Democracy faster than in any time since WW2

via ICE Raids, Asylum Seekers and the Othering of People of Color | The Smirking Chimp

Humour July 23, 2019

White Supremacists Warn Idealistic Trump Some Compromise Will Be Necessary To Achieve Their Goals

Expressing concerns that the President’s constant attacks on racial minorities could end up hampering the progress that has been made, white supremacist leaders warned Donald Trump Friday that some compromise will be necessary to achieve their goals. “We appreciate that President Trump is an idealist who wants real change in this country, but if he wants to see a white ethno-state he needs to stop taking such extreme positions and build a coalition,” said Stormfront spokesperson Marshall Riley, who claimed Trump’s fiery rhetoric and refusal to find common ground threatens to alienate the moderates who white supremacists rely on to advance their agenda.

via White Supremacists Warn Idealistic Trump Some Compromise Will Be Necessary To Achieve Their Goals

Trumpland July 23, 2019

Trump Promotes Far-Right Commentator Who Blames Jews For Deadly U.S. Synagogue Attack | HuffPost Australia

via Trump Promotes Far-Right Commentator Who Blames Jews For Deadly U.S. Synagogue Attack | HuffPost Australia

Israel, Uncategorized July 23, 2019

When Zionism imagined Jewish nationalism without supremacy | +972 Magazine

In his recent book, Dr. Dmitry Shumsky shows that, contrary to popular belief, the forefathers of Zionism did not envision a state based on Jewish supremacy. And yet Zionism, he says, inevitably involves the oppression of Palestinians.

With extensive quotes by Zionism’s forefathers — Leon Pinsker, Ahad Ha’am, Theodore Herzl, Ze’ev Jabotinsy and David Ben-Gurion — he shows that over the course of Zionism’s first five decades, from the late 19th century until the early 20th century, the movement didn’t aim for establishing a “nation-state” the way it is commonly understood today, and as is reflected in the Jewish Nation-State Law. According to Shumsky, the Zionist leaders envisioned the Jewish state as a multi-national one, or even as an entity within a larger framework, similar to the federalist structure in the United States.

via When Zionism imagined Jewish nationalism without supremacy | +972 Magazine

LNP Government July 23, 2019

How good are jobs? How wrong is Morrison and his government? – » The Australian Independent Media Network

How good is a job. ScoMo? Under the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Coalition government the experience of work has not been good at all, over all. Degrading, depressing and dehumanising if you must know. Wise up. It’s not the job, it’s the nature of the work that matters. And the workplace. It must, at least be safe, supportive and protect workers’ rights to be respected and valued.

Your IR policies, your vicious war on unions and on workers’ rights to organise; their right to expect a fair wage, fair dealing and safe conditions – has been nothing short of an indictment of your corrupted government and its capture by captains of mining, commerce and banking at the expense of those whom you were elected to represent and protect. Urgent reform is needed before the decline is irretrievable.

via How good are jobs? How wrong is Morrison and his government? – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment, Uncategorized July 23, 2019

Yes, Barnaby, you were wrong – » The Australian Independent Media Network

via Yes, Barnaby, you were wrong – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment, Uncategorized July 23, 2019

There is also a drought of compassion – » The Australian Independent Media Network

via There is also a drought of compassion – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Fight against Fake News, Fighting Fake News, Uncategorized July 22, 2019July 22, 2019

Old Dog Thoughts- A most ashamedly Australian story and an even worse a denial.

Look what he did to us on the Indigenous AFL Day Mum. NZers can do the Haka.

Fighting Fake News with Real,22/7/19; Andrew Bolt claims victimhood; Adam Goodes is however a Real Australian of the Year;

Meet the Trumps, Uncategorized July 22, 2019

Choice Of The 2020 Election: Either Stand With Trump’s Racism Or Stand For America | Crooks and Liars

Screenshot_2019-07-21 Choice Of The 2020 Election Either Stand With Trump's Racism Or Stand For America.png

via Choice Of The 2020 Election: Either Stand With Trump’s Racism Or Stand For America | Crooks and Liars

Meet the Trumps, Trumpland, Trumpland Revealed July 22, 2019

The Politics of Fear is intended to make us Dumb and Tribal, if we Let it

via The Politics of Fear is intended to make us Dumb and Tribal, if we Let it

Polls July 22, 2019

‘This Man Can Beat Trump’: Sanders Viewed Most Favorably of 2020 Democratic Candidates | Common Dreams News

A new Gallup poll showed that Bernie Sanders is the most favorably viewed contender for the Democratic presidential ticket.

Gallup released the results of the poll on Friday. It was conducted July 1-12, after first round of Democratic debates, and measured 10 Democratic White House hopefuls.

Sanders led the pack, with 72 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters viewing him favorably. Former Vice President Joe Biden followed at 69 percent. Rounding off the top half of the pack were Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 59 percent, Sen. Kamala Harris at 54 percent, and Sen. Cory Booker at 44 percent.

via ‘This Man Can Beat Trump’: Sanders Viewed Most Favorably of 2020 Democratic Candidates | Common Dreams News

Israel July 22, 2019

Can Israel conceal War Crimes by Emptying its Archives?

via Can Israel conceal War Crimes by Emptying its Archives?

UK, Uncategorized July 22, 2019

Boris Johnson is tipped to be the next British PM. Could he be the world’s next Donald Trump? – Analysis & Opinion – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

A blond man in a suit holds an ice cream with a tiny British flag stuck in it

via Boris Johnson is tipped to be the next British PM. Could he be the world’s next Donald Trump? – Analysis & Opinion – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Murdoch Media, Murdoch Press July 22, 2019

Intervene: How the Government can secure media diversity

IN RECENT MONTHS, many questions have been raised over the degree of influence Australia’s media corporations are having on the day-to-day lives of Australians.

The latest Federal Election makes it clear that Rupert Murdoch remains powerful.

He and his News Corp entities have had an enormous grip on much of the news media, particularly in print and online formats, which we consume daily.

When joined by Australia’s television juggernauts Seven, Ten, Nine and Win, and radio broadcasting giant Macquarie group, it becomes increasingly alarming as to the lack of diversity displayed across Australia’s media landscape.

Intervene: How the Government can secure media diversity

Informed Comment July 22, 2019

The failure of the small government approach – » The Australian Independent Media Network

via The failure of the small government approach – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Tony Abbott July 22, 2019

‘Dark satanic mills’: Tony Abbott continues his crusade against wind turbines | Australia news | The Guardian

Alan Jones interview with Tony Abbott was as tired as one could get a repeat of on 9 months ago neither had anything new to say (ODT)

Asked by the Sydney radio 2GB host Alan Jones on Friday morning whether his successor had been “sticking them [wind turbines] up there” in his former electorate, Abbott replied there had been “a lot of wind, but not too much action”.

“And thank God,” he told Jones. “Because the last thing we want is what I regard as the dark satanic mills of the modern era spoiling our landscape.”

“Absolutely,” Jones said. “Absolutely.”

Abbott said he was comforted by the energy minister Angus Taylor’s pledge to keep Australia’s coal-fired power stations open.

Abbott declared in 2015 he wished the Howard government, of which he was a member, had never implemented the Renewable Energy Target. He then signed Australia up to the Paris agreement while prime minister but later campaigned for Australia’s withdrawal when he was returned to the backbench following a leadership coup.

via ‘Dark satanic mills’: Tony Abbott continues his crusade against wind turbines | Australia news | The Guardian

Right Wing Christianity, Uncategorized July 22, 2019

Christianity, intolerance and Christopher Pearson

If there is a so-called heaven that the “good” go to after death, would we want to go there anyway? If it was to be full of Pentecostal politicians, bigoted sportspeople and a bunch of other rich but mean people, I think the answer is no thanks.

via Christianity, intolerance and Christopher Pearson

Informed Comment, Uncategorized July 21, 2019

Trump versus the Democratic ‘squad’: A battle for America’s soul

Any Australian who has been paying even a bit of attention over the past decade would recognise these slogans. They are a staple of the nativist and racist faction of the conservative side of Australian politics.

Now they have become embedded in American political discourse during a week in which President Trump shamelessly lied about four female members of Congress who are also women of colour and progressive Democrats who came to prominence during the “blue wave” of the 2018 mid-term elections.

These women – who have been given the nickname “the squad” – are a major irritation to Donald Trump. They are smart, they’re fierce, they are also women of colour. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez is Hispanic, Ilhan Omar was born in Somalia, Rashida Tlaib’s roots are Palestinian and Ayanna Pressley is African-American.

Tlaib and Omar are also Muslim.

via Trump versus the Democratic ‘squad’: A battle for America’s soul

Fight against Fake News, Fighting Fake News, Uncategorized July 21, 2019

Old Dog Thoughts – Lady Liberty is being dismantled. When elected women can’t have a voice American Independence and values have gone.

Fighting Fake News with Real,21/7/19; Lady Liberty, The War of Independance and their values denied; Politics is has simply become the Roger Ailes show for ratings forget the values;

Trump July 21, 2019

Trump Lies About Congresswomen Of Color Referring To ‘Evil Jews’ | HuffPost Australia

via Trump Lies About Congresswomen Of Color Referring To ‘Evil Jews’ | HuffPost Australia

Trumpland, Trumpsters, Uncategorized July 21, 2019

Trump, Now the Lyncher-in-Chief | The Smirking Chimp

Thus did the president of the United States openly commit both an incitement to riot and promote the malicious exile or other elimination of — the “blowing away of” — four members of the U.S. Congress. That bears repeating. The president of the United States is now publicly advocating — at an unsubtle minimum, “suggesting” — the forced removal, through banishment or murder, of four American citizens; members of Congress, no lees.

Trump, Now the Lyncher-in-Chief | The Smirking Chimp

Fox News July 21, 2019

Plagiarist Monica Crowley Gets Top Job At Treasury Dept | Crooks and Liars

Plagiarist Monica Crowley Gets Top Job At Treasury Dept

via Plagiarist Monica Crowley Gets Top Job At Treasury Dept | Crooks and Liars

Iran July 21, 2019

‘Sheer lie’: Iran elite military show VIDEO ‘proving’ no drone downed by US in Strait of Hormuz — RT World News

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps released footage which it says disproves the US claim of shooting down an Iranian drone over the Strait of Hormuz, showing the video was transmitted after the alleged time it was destroyed.

The elite military unit published the footage on Friday and it was aired and commented on live on the state TV channel Press TV. The video appears to depict American warship USS Boxer sailing through the strait in the early hours of July 19, according to the timestamp shown.

via ‘Sheer lie’: Iran elite military show VIDEO ‘proving’ no drone downed by US in Strait of Hormuz — RT World News

Israel July 21, 2019

Israel shoots boy in head and lies about it | The Electronic Intifada

via Israel shoots boy in head and lies about it | The Electronic Intifada

Australian Politics July 21, 2019

‘Politics off the front page’ is part of Scott Morrison’s bid to dial down the volume | Sarah Martin | Australia news | The Guardian

Shut your collective trap, and go and do your jobs.

He makes a fair point. Politicians in Canberra, including many of Morrison’s colleagues, have been obsessed for years by internal ideological divisions and personality clashes rather than their actual job of serving the Australian people.

Rewind to 2012 and it was Julia Gillard saying the same thing: “What do people want government to do? Talk about themselves, or deliver results? Well I want government to deliver results and that’s what I’m doing as prime minister,” she said (before the talking to themselves crescendoed and blood was spilled.)

via ‘Politics off the front page’ is part of Scott Morrison’s bid to dial down the volume | Sarah Martin | Australia news | The Guardian

Informed Comment July 21, 2019

Know your place; we were born to rule (part 2) – Morrison and the religious connection – » The Australian Independent Media Network

via Know your place; we were born to rule (part 2) – Morrison and the religious connection – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Fight against Fake News, Fighting Fake News, Uncategorized July 20, 2019

Old Dog Thoughts – Unbelievable. 6 Challenges Australia Faces,

Fighting Fake News with Real, 20/7/19; Fascism in America has a bright future; 6 Main Challenges Australia faces;

Trump, Trumpland Revealed, Trumpsters July 20, 2019

Trump Praises Supporters Who Want to Deport Ilhan Omar

GREENVILLE, NC - JULY 17: Supporters of President Donald Trump applaud during a Keep America Great rally on July 17, 2019 in Greenville, North Carolina. Trump is speaking in North Carolina only hours after The House of Representatives voted down an effort from a Texas Democrat to impeach the President. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

Less than two hours after Donald Trump claimed that he was “not happy” with supporters who chanted “Send her back” during his scripted rant against Rep. Ilhan Omar on Wednesday night, the president praised the same baying mob.

“These are people that love our country,” Trump said, echoing his defense of the white supremacists in Charlottesville who chanted “Jews will not replace us” as “very fine people.”

via Trump Praises Supporters Who Want to Deport Ilhan Omar

Trumpland Revealed July 20, 2019

The Bigot in Chief: Trump’s Intolerant Past – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Conclusion: Bigot in Chief
The media and the corporate Democrats are going after Trump and passing meaningless resolutions in the House condemning him for his racist tweets. There is actually a far larger point at play here, and it shows how truly dangerous Trump is.

Consider briefly the definition of the word bigot: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudice. Related terms include doctrinaire, fanatic, sectarian.

All of these terms have one thing in common: proponents lack that quality which being President of the United States most requires: mental flexibility

This is what makes Trump so dangerous: not his racism, not the fact-free nonsense he spouts on a daily basis, but his simplistic, dogmatic and rigid world view. His inability to learn, to change, to adapt. For all the vile crap he has said in and out of office, look beyond that and see the true danger: the man in charge of the largest military in human history is not capable of learning anything.

via The Bigot in Chief: Trump’s Intolerant Past – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Israel July 20, 2019

Pew: ‘Israel is as Religiously Restrictive as Iran,’ as Ed. Minister backs LGBTQ Conversion Therapy

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Haaretz reports that the PewForum has found Israel one of the twenty most religiously restrictive countries in the world. Indeed, it rivals theocratic Iran on that measure.

The report comes in the wake of the controversy stirred by Israeli education minister, Rabbi Rafi Peretz, who this week in a television interview endorsed “conversion therapy” for treating gayness.

Earlier this month, Peretz compared American Jews marrying non-Jews to the Nazi Holocaust.

via Pew: ‘Israel is as Religiously Restrictive as Iran,’ as Ed. Minister backs LGBTQ Conversion Therapy

Uncategorized July 20, 2019

With Support of Just 3 Republicans, House Democrats Pass ‘Historic’ Raise the Wage Act to Guarantee Workers $15 Minimum Wage | Common Dreams News

“1.5 percent of House Republicans voted to raise the federal minimum wage. If we’re being generous with rounding, 98 percent of House Republicans don’t believe in raising Americans’ pay.”
—Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.)

Progressives in Congress were joined by workers, business owners, and labor rights advocates in celebrating the “historic” passage on Thursday of the Raise the Wage Act, aimed at guaranteeing all American workers a minimum wage of $15.

Two hundred thirty House Democrats were joined by only three Republicans—Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Will Hurd of Texas, and Christopher H. Smith of New Jersey—in supporting the Raise the Wage Act (RTWA), which would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025 and end the use of sub-minimum wages for tipped workers.

via With Support of Just 3 Republicans, House Democrats Pass ‘Historic’ Raise the Wage Act to Guarantee Workers $15 Minimum Wage | Common Dreams News

Enviroment July 20, 2019

10 Ways Andrew Wheeler Has Decimated EPA Protections in Just One Year | The Smirking Chimp

via 10 Ways Andrew Wheeler Has Decimated EPA Protections in Just One Year | The Smirking Chimp

Humour July 20, 2019

“How Good Is PR?” – » The Australian Independent Media Network

“Hi there, this is your head of Public Relations, Scott Morrison with a very important massage:

“In 2017 over 3000 Australians died by their own hand. It’s affecting our young people, it’s affecting our veterans, it’s affecting boys and girls in remote indigenous communities. It’s affecting middle-aged men 45-50 living in suburbs, the highest rate of suicide in the country. Now just this week acting on OUR initiative to make a towards zero goal a national priority, I appointed Christine Morgan as the national suicide prevention officer and that should be enough so we don’t have to worry about doing things like raising Newstart because HOW GOOD ARE JOBS? We certainly don’t have to worry about Robodebt because people should pay back money which they can’t prove they don’t owe and certainly nobody can prove that they topped themselves because of the debt.

“As for those on Manus and Nauru, we don’t have to worry because our towards zero only includes Australians, so they won’t go into the statistics…”

“How Good Is PR?” – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment July 20, 2019

Why I’m not signing up to demand the Government legislate press freedom laws

via Why I’m not signing up to demand the Government legislate press freedom laws

Humour July 20, 2019

Chronic stupidity – a guide – » The Australian Independent Media Network

via Chronic stupidity – a guide – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Uncategorized July 20, 2019

Josh Frydenberg goes full Trump on the Reserve Bank

WHEN FACED with criticism or hard questions about the state of the economy and the current economic downturn, the Morrison Government has developed a very simple narrative to base its responses around: ‘Everything is Awesome’.

Despite a number of economic indicators ringing alarm bells and warnings from the Reserve Bank that interest rate cuts alone were going to be insufficient to get the economy out of its current downturn, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg continue to insist that the “fundamentals are strong”.