Category: Informed Comment

Informed Comment

ScoMo plays Djoko but Dutton buys tanks – » The Australian Independent Media Network

The saga of a tennis star’s visa cancellation certainly serves to highlight the incalculable damage the federal government is suffering as it utterly fails to deal with a pandemic catastrophe which its own Libertarian easing of restrictions helped create. It also exposes a mind-boggling degree of incompetence and miscommunication, of posturing and dissembling that would be comic were it not so toxic to the health of the commonwealth.

Source: ScoMo plays Djoko but Dutton buys tanks – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Anachronistic Frivolity: Australia’s Recent Tank Purchase – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Critics of the purchase have included otherwise hawkish pundits such as Greg Sheridan of The Australian, who spent some of last year shaking his head at the proposed acquisition after it was announced by the US Defence Cooperation Agency. The decision, he opined unleashing his talons, was one of “sheer idiocy,” an “anachronistic frivolity.” Tanks and other heavy, tracked vehicles would “never be of the slightest military use to us.” Sheridan poses a range of questions. In any confrontation with China, could a tank defend shipping in the South China Sea? Or “take out enemy submarines?” Or “deliver attack missiles over hundreds of kilometres?” His solutions: buy more jets, manufacture more drones, and address naval capabilities. Others also argue that Dutton, were he to be genuinely interested in Australia’s security and safety, would be spending more time on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and coping with the threats posed by climate change, or investing in pandemic responses. Now that would be a big ask. The tank fraternity, a gathering of near cultic loyalty, are swooning in triumph. As Peter J. Dean, director of the Defence and Security Institute at the University of Western

Source: Anachronistic Frivolity: Australia’s Recent Tank Purchase – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Big business profiteers ride Omicron wave, private hospital profit wave is next

Big business profiteers have made out like bandits through the Pandemic, emboldened by myriad failures of government and community panic. Callum Foote and Stephanie Tran report on the RAT test wave and the wave of private hospital profiteering looming in its wake.

Source: Big business profiteers ride Omicron wave, private hospital profit wave is next

Informed Comment

Djokovic case makes Australia an international laughing stock

Whichever way the Federal Circuit Court decides, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews’ decision to cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa has made Australia an international laughing stock. It highlights the dangers of ministers and prime ministers becoming involved in individual visa decisions for purely political purposes. But how did it come to this?LNP

Source: Djokovic case makes Australia an international laughing stock

Informed Comment

Teachers are not babysitters – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Health- medical frontline staff shortage, Education- Teaching Staff Shortage and  Morrison is yelling “Let it RIP”.

We all want our kids to be back at school, learning and playing and doing all the normal kid stuff. But these are not normal times and teachers are not easily replaceable babysitters.

Source: Teachers are not babysitters – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Visa Gridlock: the migration surge is coming … but who is it? – Michael West Media

Australia immigration, visas, Abul Rizvi

The Morrison government, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke and the business lobby desperately want a surge in immigration to fire the economy but 330,000 migrants are stuck on bridging visas as the permanent migration program remains – contrary to reports – mired at an intake of 160,000. Former immigration chief Abul Rizvi on a murky MYEFO and the migration backlog.

Source: Visa Gridlock: the migration surge is coming … but who is it? – Michael West Media

Informed Comment

Djokovic unhappy but Australia’s refugees face lifelong persecution

LNP supports privatized Prisons for Profit and Prisons for Profit support the LNP. Isn’t that a perfect Quid pro Quo policy? The LNP’s urgency in privatizing all government services is not just a Quid pro Quo movement described by Mussolini as the ideal state. He called it Fascism. However quite the opposite of the ideal Australians strive for called Democracy. Save Our Public Service

The immigration detention industry in Australia profits from imprisoning refugees. The Australian Government outsources the day-to-day management of its cruel immigration detention system to private corporations who, in turn, make political donations to them. One of the largest beneficiaries of Australian Government contracts is Serco Group, which has an octopus-like grip on many former government and community services in the UK and across the globe that are now privatised for profit. This human rights-abusing “profit before people” approach must be stopped and the rights of asylum seekers upheld everywhere.

Source: Djokovic unhappy but Australia’s refugees face lifelong persecution

Informed Comment

Now let’s get this straight: We don’t have the best… – » The Australian Independent Media Network

My thought for the day We live in dark times where horrible things are being perpetrated on us. The shame is that we have normalised them and adjusted accordingly. ( John Lord )

Source: Now let’s get this straight: We don’t have the best… – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Michael Pascoe: The Great Golf Rort where Labor seats need not apply

golf

Then there is the issue of why the federal government is throwing millions of dollars at golf clubs at all – they are, after all, private businesses, whatever their ownership structure, and part of the big business that is golf.

Source: Michael Pascoe: The Great Golf Rort where Labor seats need not apply

Informed Comment

The Secret to Tenacity | The Smirking Chimp

How do reformers maintain their strength and commitment over so many years? Continuous activism is exhausting. Burnout is a constant hazard. What’s the secret to their tenacity? I can think of three:

Source: The Secret to Tenacity | The Smirking Chimp

Informed Comment

Morrison Government threatens Australia’s democracy

Let’s turn to Australia. Let’s have a quick look at the fascism check-list for the Morrison Government.

Source: Morrison Government threatens Australia’s democracy

Informed Comment

Skilled migrant arrivals hit 20-year low – but Covid is not the reason for innovation deflation – Michael West Media

Migration

The drop in skilled workers arriving in Australia has hit the economy, and it began six years before the Pandemic. Alan Austin reports on the decline of innovation and the jobs crisis.

Source: Skilled migrant arrivals hit 20-year low – but Covid is not the reason for innovation deflation – Michael West Media

Informed Comment

While university jobs disappeared, Jobkeeper provided a windfall to wealthy private schools – » The Australian Independent Media Network

The resource advantage of private schools is set to continue for the rest of the decade under the terms of the Commonwealth-State bilateral funding agreements. Private schools will be funded at over 100 per cent of their Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) while public schools will be funded at less than 91 per cent of their SRS in all states except the ACT. As a result, public schools will remain massively under-funded. It points to the need for a comprehensive overhaul of school funding.

Source: While university jobs disappeared, Jobkeeper provided a windfall to wealthy private schools – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

The Potterizing of America: As the Child Tax Credit Ends, Big Corporations (and Their CEOs and Investors) Keep Raking It In | The Smirking Chimp

This is what I mean when I say America has been Potterized: People at the top — top corporate executives and big investors — are doing better than ever. Everyone else is being squeezed.

Source: The Potterizing of America: As the Child Tax Credit Ends, Big Corporations (and Their CEOs and Investors) Keep Raking It In | The Smirking Chimp

Informed Comment

Whopper Returns: Tax Office fee bonanza the latest in the privatisation of government – Michael West Media

ATO, tax, outsourcing

There are few government agencies which have escaped the privatisation fetish of the Coalition. Callum Foote and Michael West report on the hypocrisy of the “personal responsibility” mantra amid concerns raised by Australian Tax Office insiders over the surging use of external consultants and lawyers.

Source: Whopper Returns: Tax Office fee bonanza the latest in the privatisation of government – Michael West Media

Informed Comment

Édouard Louis: Why Is Individual Responsibility Only for the Poor?

Is he describing Scott Morrison PM?

French author Édouard Louis is famous for his works portraying the daily humiliations of working-class life. In an interview, he explains how our rulers avoid responsibility for their decisions — while blaming the rest of us for how we cope with the consequences.

Source: Édouard Louis: Why Is Individual Responsibility Only for the Poor?

Informed Comment

The Week Ahead: The Start of Accountability for Trump’s Attempted Coup? | The Smirking Chimp

Yet if we do not strengthen voting rights, and if Trump and his accomplices are not held criminally accountable, we are inviting another attempted coup. Next time, it could succeed. Your thoughts?

Source: The Week Ahead: The Start of Accountability for Trump’s Attempted Coup? | The Smirking Chimp

Informed Comment

How to solve the RAT supply dilemma – » The Australian Independent Media Network

The federal government could procure the needed supplies and provide them to pharmacies for free who could then distribute them for a set dispensing fee that covers their fixed costs – no mark-up, no GST, limited supply per person.Other businesses could buy them in bulk for workplace testing for cost price from the government who would act as the wholesaler.That’s why we have a universal healthcare system.Use some of the Medical Future Fund that Costello is hatching if you really need some cash to pay for it.Or stop spending billions on war toys we will never use.Priorities.It’s not rocket science, troops.

Source: How to solve the RAT supply dilemma – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Michael Pascoe: No, there is no wages growth over the next four years

Frydenberg The Carpetbagger’s Pitch

Fairly typical of government’s successful pre-MYEFO marketing was: “The update will also forecast an associated uptick in wages growth of about 11 per cent between now and 2024-25, which is up from the 9 per cent forecast in the May budget, and worth about $10,000 to those currently earning $90,000 a year.” Sounds good, doesn’t it? But it’s the old trick of adding up a number of years and ignoring inflation and taxation, never mind interaction with the transfer system. The document itself forecast “wages growth to outstrip inflation over the four-year forward estimates”. But that was only for pre-tax wages. After-tax is still going backwards over that period.

Source: Michael Pascoe: No, there is no wages growth over the next four years

Informed Comment

US could be under rightwing dictator by 2030, Canadian professor warns | US politics | The Guardian

Donald Trump speaks in Greenville, North Carolina, last June.

The US could be under a rightwing dictatorship by 2030, a Canadian political science professor has warned, urging his country to protect itself against the “collapse of American democracy”.

Source: US could be under rightwing dictator by 2030, Canadian professor warns | US politics | The Guardian

Informed Comment

Know your Premier – » The Australian Independent Media Network

As NSW records over 22,000 new cases of COVID and the number in hospital races towards a thousand, it’s worth getting to know the man who decided to “open up” just as the Omicron strain was taking off.At 39, Dominic Perrottet is our youngest premier. He is one of 12 children and is about to become a father for the 7th time.His younger brother gave an interesting defence to police when he faced allegations of rape in 2017. Mr Perrottet, who comes from a large family belonging to the conservative Catholic order Opus Dei, later told police there was no way they had sexual intercourse. “It’s against my religion,” he said.Dom was born in 1982 and was preselected in 2010 for the NSW seat of Castle Hill. Prior to that he had completed a commerce/law degree which takes 5 years. He apparently worked briefly for a law firm but it was purely a stepping stone as his political ambitions were clear, serving as the President of the NSW Young Liberals Movement in 2005 and on the NSW State Executive of the Liberal Party from 2008 to 2011.Perrottet is an electorate hopper, moving from Castle Hill to Hawkesbury to Epping, wherever he sees the cushiest path.

Source: Know your Premier – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Olde Pascoe’s Almanacke reveals pirate prefers plank to politics in 2022

2022 coming to get you

If you think you know the sound of horror, try the unmistakable thump of a bloody pirate demon’s wooden leg coming down the stairs accompanied by the scratch of a hook hand gouging the railing for balance. Yes, it really is worse than fingernails on a blackboard.

Source: Olde Pascoe’s Almanacke reveals pirate prefers plank to politics in 2022

Informed Comment

Rupert Murdoch media inquiry misses the real bogeys – Michael West Media

Rupert Murdoch, News Corp Australia, media inquiry

Half a million Australians have called for a Royal Commission into Rupert Murdoch’s abuse of power and Australia’s media concentration. But are News Corp thuggery and media diversity really the main game? Michael West investigates a mollycoddled media.

Source: Rupert Murdoch media inquiry misses the real bogeys – Michael West Media

Informed Comment, Nuclear Energy

IKEA it ain’t: don’t go looking for friendly nuclear option, no matter the spin – Michael West Media

SMRs, small nuclear reactors, modular reactors

Despite the Murdoch media hype over small nuclear reactors as a solution for Australia’s “clean energy” future, this is costly technology which barely exists in a commercial sense. Noel Wauchope explores the murky world of funding for Small Nuclear Reactors (SMRs).

Source: IKEA it ain’t: don’t go looking for friendly nuclear option, no matter the spin – Michael West Media

Informed Comment

Want to Know What to Do about Trump? You Might Start With “It’s a Wonderful Life” | The Smirking Chimp

But in more recent years I’ve come around. As America has moved closer to being an oligarchy — with staggering inequalities of income, wealth, and power not seen in over a century — and closer to Trumpian neofascism (the two moves are connected), “It’s a Wonderful Life” speaks to what’s gone wrong and what must be done to make it right.

Soon after “It’s a Wonderful Life” was released, the FBI considered it evidence of Communist Party infiltration of the film industry. The FBI’s Los Angeles field office — using a report by an ad-hoc group that included Fountainhead writer and future Trump pin-up girl Ayn Rand — warned that the movie represented “rather obvious attempts to discredit bankers by casting Lionel Barrymore as a ‘scrooge-type’ so that he would be the most hated man in the picture.” The movie “deliberately maligned the upper class, attempting to show the people who had money were mean and despicable characters. This … is a common trick used by Communists.”

The FBI report compared “It’s a Wonderful Life” to a Soviet film, and alleged that Frank Capra was “associated with left-wing groups” and that screenwriters Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett were “very close to known Communists.”

This was all rubbish, of course — and a prelude to the Red Scare led by Republican Senator Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin, who launched a series of highly publicized probes into alleged Communist penetration of Hollywood, the State Department, and even the US Army.

The movie was also prelude to modern Republican ideology. Since Ronald Reagan, Republicans have used Potter-like social Darwinism to justify everything tax cuts for the wealthy, union-busting, and cutbacks in social safety nets. Rand herself became a hero to many in the Trump administration.

Source: Want to Know What to Do about Trump? You Might Start With “It’s a Wonderful Life” | The Smirking Chimp

Informed Comment

Strong points? I don’t think so – » The Australian Independent Media Network

I keep reading that the Coalition will play to their strong points in the upcoming campaign which, according to some, are national security, the economy, cost of living, and something that hovers around vaccine rollout/post-pandemic recovery/getouttamyface freedom.

Source: Strong points? I don’t think so – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Top 6 Ways our World Changed in 2021

It is time to look back at 2021 and consider the most consequential developments, as covered here at Informed Comment.

Source: Top 6 Ways our World Changed in 2021

Informed Comment

I’m a climate scientist. Don’t Look Up captures the madness I see every day | Peter Kalmus | The Guardian

‘The Earth system is breaking down now with breathtaking speed.’

Warning from the field “look straight at it”

We also need stories that show humanity responding rationally to the crisis. A lack of technology isn’t what’s blocking action. Instead, humanity needs to confront the fossil fuel industry head on, accept that we need to consume less energy, and switch into full-on emergency mode. The sense of solidarity and relief we’d feel once this happens – if it happens – would be gamechanging for our species. More and better facts will not catalyze this sociocultural tipping point, but more and better stories might.

Source: I’m a climate scientist. Don’t Look Up captures the madness I see every day | Peter Kalmus | The Guardian

Australia's Shame, Informed Comment

Australia standing proud — and increasingly alone — as property haven for international criminals  – Michael West Media

We saw how Vanstone and Guy cozied up to Australia’s Mafia Dons. They certainly weren’t the ALP being offered incentives.

Australia is cementing its name as a haven for money-launderers in global regulatory circles. Now that former laggard America is reforming however, the 64 billion dollar question is: will Canberra finally leap into action? Nathan Lynch examines how Australia has been exposed by the changing climate in Washington.

Source: Australia standing proud — and increasingly alone — as property haven for international criminals  – Michael West Media

Informed Comment

How to Overcome the Tyranny of Stuff | The Smirking Chimp

Life in a recycled economy would be a lot cheaper. We wouldn’t need to buy nearly as much. So we wouldn’t need to work and earn nearly as much. We’d stop measuring our wellbeing by the Gross Domestic Product or even by the unemployment rate, because part of our wellbeing would be outside the production-consumption system of capitalism. Nor would we be relying on generosity or social solidarity. Most of us already have too much stuff — or we have the wrong stuff for this particular time in our lives. We just need a better system for reallocating stuff already produced that’s not wanted or not being used by the people who have it, and getting it to the people who do want it. Not only would this generate less waste and a cleaner environment. It might also make a dent in poverty by more systematically getting stuff to people who really need it. Stuff is now inundating us. It’s strangling the world. Could a recycled economy be part of the solution? What do you think?

Source: How to Overcome the Tyranny of Stuff | The Smirking Chimp

Informed Comment

For Republicans, There Will Be No “Return to Normal”

Rightward Republican Party radicalization is well-positioned for continuing political success, even as it promises to bring political and economic instability for the country and the world with it.

Source: For Republicans, There Will Be No “Return to Normal”

Informed Comment

#10 TOP IA STORY OF 2021: Australian Proud Boys on the hunt for social media commenters and the elderly

A division of the Proud Boys in Albury has resorted to harassing social media commenters and elderly residents who they don’t agree with, writes Tom Tanuki. THIS TALE ends with a group of MMA fighters hunting an elderly Albury man. Bear with me.

Source: #10 TOP IA STORY OF 2021: Australian Proud Boys on the hunt for social media commenters and the elderly

Informed Comment

In Six Weeks Ahead of Christmas, Rich Nations Snagged More Vaccines Than Africa Got All Year

A healthcare worker prepares a coronavirus vaccine dose

“Extinguishing the threat of variants and ending this pandemic requires vaccinating the world.”

Source: In Six Weeks Ahead of Christmas, Rich Nations Snagged More Vaccines Than Africa Got All Year

Informed Comment

Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald & Chris Hedges on NSA Leaks, Assange & Protecting a Free Internet | Democracy Now!

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Glenn Greenwald and Chris Hedges discuss mass surveillance, government secrecy, internet freedom and U.S. attempts to extradite and prosecute WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. They spoke together on a panel moderated by Amy Goodman at the virtual War on Terror Film Festival after a screening of “Citizenfour” — the Oscar-winning documentary about Snowden by Laura Poitras

Source: Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald & Chris Hedges on NSA Leaks, Assange & Protecting a Free Internet | Democracy Now!

Informed Comment

2021 forever remembered – » The Australian Independent Media Network

My thought for the day Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.{ John Lord }

Source: 2021 forever remembered – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

When Congress Returns: Its First Priority Must Be to save American Democracy from the Big Lie, Big Anger, and Big Money | The Smirking Chimp

So what’s really motivating Manchin? Four possibilities: West Virginia is a coal state, and Manchin doesn’t want to do anything that might dampen coal production (the bill has a number of environmental measures). Possibly, but Manchin must know there’s no long-term future in mining coal regardless of what happens to this legislation. There are far fewer coal jobs left in West Virginia than there are jobs in health care. The legislation would, however, help West Virginians transition from coal to new and better jobs. And help them survive in the meantime.

He’s self-dealing. He owns stock valued at between $1 million and $5 million in Enersystems, a coal brokerage firm he founded in 1988? Last year he made half a million dollars in Enersystems dividends (roughly three times the $174,000 salary he made last year as a senator).

He’s takes bribes. He collects more campaign money from coal, oil, and gas companies than any other senator. (In June, Exxon lobbyist Keith McCoy told the Greenpeace investigative unit that Manchin participated in weekly meetings with company operatives.)

He loves the power and attention. Who ever heard of Joe Manchin before the Biden administration?A minor-league Democratic senator from a small, poor state suddenly has the national spotlight and has become the biggest spoiler in the Democratic Party.

Frankly, your guess is as good as mine.

Source: When Congress Returns: Its First Priority Must Be to save American Democracy from the Big Lie, Big Anger, and Big Money | The Smirking Chimp

Informed Comment

Alan Kohler: Prepare for a March election and then a horror budget in May

Alan Kohler election

The sting is not just in the scorpion’s tail but in its nature.

Since the election of the Whitlam government in 1972, the average tax to gross domestic product ratio during three Labor governments was 20.4 per cent while during the three terms of Coalition government it’s been 22.4 per cent. In other words, Australia’s highest-taxing party is the LNP, quite comfortably.

To be clear: The only reason the Coalition is able to say that it’s keeping the taxation to GDP ratio below 23.9 per cent is because it is running huge deficits.

It is budgeting to finance an average of 4 per cent government spending with bonds rather than tax.

That’s why next year’s budget will have to be brought down after the election rather than before it: They’ll have to get started on the spending and welfare cuts early, and such budgets are always best in the first term, just after an election.

Source: Alan Kohler: Prepare for a March election and then a horror budget in May

Informed Comment

As a fish rots from the head, so is Australia’s democracy – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Today we discovered that over the past four years the Coalition has spent three times as much on Liberal electorates when compared to Labor-held seats. This proves that we should move house if we want some of our taxes to come back to us, or maybe just vote them out. Which brings us to accountability. No bill has been seen. Morrison blames Labor because he cannot get his own pathetic version of an integrity commission past his own backbenchers. Ask yourself why he won’t legislate a national integrity commission. Ask yourself why he vilifies the NSW ICAC every second day. You know the old saying – if you’ve done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear. The verdict is that, for me, the Coalition government is the single worst government in living memory, possibly in our history of representative government. From the top to the bottom they shred convention, they outsource our governing functions to multinationals, they have starved our elderly in aged care, they keep the unemployed poverty-stricken, they are fanning the flames of conflict with China, they have destroyed our social fabric, and they run kangaroo courts. There’s not a lot to like.

Source: As a fish rots from the head, so is Australia’s democracy – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Well-being and security for all or wealth and privilege for a few – Labor and the LNP are far from the same. – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Liberal/Nationals governments talk a lot about “the economy” and very little about society. “The economy” is about allowing rich people to get richer so they will then employ people who work to make them even more money. The lower the labour cost, the higher the profit. “The economy” is about the GDP – a number that is easily manipulated by including a big government program when it needs a boost. “The economy” is about the budget, an obscure set of figures which are ripe for cherry-picking – a guess based on convenient assumptions, which can decide to leave stuff out at will, which never ends up being accurate, where debt and deficit can be a disaster one year and a wise investment the next. The LNP would have us believe that they are very concerned for our mental health and well-being as a result of the pandemic. Prior to that, not so much. When, in February last year, Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers suggested Australia should consider adopting a wellbeing budget, Josh Frydenberg absolutely ridiculed him.

Source: Well-being and security for all or wealth and privilege for a few – Labor and the LNP are far from the same. – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Albo seems to be everything that Scomo isn’t – » The Australian Independent Media Network

My thought for the day The way you think and feel about yourself affects every aspect of your life. When you love, accept, respect and approve of yourself, you validate your existence.( John Lord)

Source: Albo seems to be everything that Scomo isn’t – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Eight years in, how do our Coalition economic management gurus measure up? – Michael West Media

Australia debt

”Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.” So said Warren Buffett. And the tide has ebbed on the Coalition’s claim to be superior economic managers. Exposed by its bungled response to the pandemic, both in the provision of health protections and economic safety nets, the government has proved Buffett’s aphorism. Alan Austin crunches the numbers.

Source: Eight years in, how do our Coalition economic management gurus measure up? – Michael West Media

Informed Comment

Coalition pumps more money into keeping Australia ‘safe’

BUILDING MULTIPLE PEARL HARBOURS  TO KEEP US AND THE LNP’S ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT SAFE. SURE SOUNDS LIKE A MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY TO ME. “WANTED” A SHORT TERM  BOGEY MAN FOR HIRE.  A FUTURE APOLOGY GUARANTEED ALONG WITH BENEFICIAL TRADE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES AT A LATER DATE.

ONCE UPON A TIME, our political masters announced economic plans and industry policies. Defence and military spending were not central planks of industry policy. Something changed. In the Alice in Wonderland world of late capitalism, militarisation, war preparations and defence spending have, apparently, become central to our economic welfare.

Source: Coalition pumps more money into keeping Australia ‘safe’

Informed Comment

Anti-lockdown movement rolling over for UAP

Preferences and power of Billionaire Clive’s money are all for the benefit of the LNP and assured and underpinned by a quietly understood transactional Quid pro Quo arrangement.

Members of the anti-vax movement have been showing support for the United Australia Party, two factions that share similar characteristics, writes Tom Tanuki.

But things have devolved rather rapidly of late.  And now, the greatest letdown of the “freedom” movement – not to me but to itself, a great letdown of its own potential – is the eagerness with which it has rolled over for one Clive Palmer.

The Freedom Movement have been…

Source: Anti-lockdown movement rolling over for UAP

Informed Comment

A Critique of Obscene Wealth | The Smirking Chimp

Unjust, unnecessary, and undemocratic, extreme wealth must and does strive to secure global capitalism’s support and sustenance. The considerable success of these means to secure wealth has now led to the increasing criticism of capitalism. The existing system produces an economic inequality so extreme that it reacts back to jeopardize both obscene wealth and the system itself. At that, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Marx would smile.

Source: A Critique of Obscene Wealth | The Smirking Chimp

Informed Comment

Is Rep. Jim Jordan a Traitor to the United States?

Julian Assange a Wakley Award winning journalist not even living in the US published the truth that has never killed anyone and has been declared a traitor by the United States. Jim Jordan incited and conspired Jan 6th with a cabal, a ring of others to overthrow the duly elected government and continues to do so. America is truley an example of a broken Democracy.

The message from Schmitz that Jordan forwarded was false and misleading, and he sent it with the purpose of obstructing the Congress from certifying the election. So maybe Kirschner has a point. We know that Jordan talked with Trump on January 6. If we ever find out what he said, it could be a basis for a charge of conspiracy sedition.

Source: Is Rep. Jim Jordan a Traitor to the United States?

Informed Comment

You heard that Right – “Peace Movements in Islam” – Juan’s new Book Challenges Stereotypes

This groundbreaking volume fills a gaping hole in the literature on global peace movements, bringing to the fore the many peace movements and peacemakers of the Muslim world. From Senegalese Sufi orders to Bosnian women’s organizations to Indian Muslim freedom fighters who were allies of Mahatma Gandhi against British colonialism, it shows that history is replete with colorful personalities from the Muslim world who made a stand for peaceful methods.”

Source: You heard that Right – “Peace Movements in Islam” – Juan’s new Book Challenges Stereotypes

Informed Comment

Depressed by the press: journalism bows to the authoritarians – » The Australian Independent Media Network

In Australia, for example, coverage of asylum seekers in the conservative, particularly tabloid, media has over the last decade been based too often on the incorrect framing that they are “illegal” and “queue jumpers.” Too rarely is the coverage based on the facts. This media (intended) failure has enabled the government to continue to persecute innocent people who came to us seeking safety.

Culture war “games” have thus turned life and death issues into something too “political” to address (either rationally) or intelligently. The spirit of Schwartz Media, Michael West Media and our other organisations dedicated to holding the powerful to account needs to be embraced by our legacy masthead writers. We need to consider the laws that can be crafted to balance the damage done by Malcolm Turnbull’s 2017 slashing of our media ownership laws. In a moment when the climate and democracy decay form a deadly helix, we cannot afford to have entertainment or agenda masquerading as news.

We need to debate new ways to fund the reliable news utterly critical to the functioning of democracy.

Too much is at stake to allow our news to frame this moment as “business as usual.”

 

Source: Depressed by the press: journalism bows to the authoritarians – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

Mainstream media is Morrison Government’s puppet

Morrison hates accountability — this is no secret. Since the start of his political career, he has acted with scant regard for any form of repercussions and any standards he cannot actively control, he rages against. He has consistently lost his temper in Parliament and the truth is an anathema to him. In many ways, he should be a strong media’s dream. He is a constant source of supercilious behaviour, masquerading as an everyman for which journalists can constantly critique.

The media is meant to act as a watchdog for those in power. Politics already has too few checks and balances to ward off corruption in this country, so a fawning media only emboldens this behaviour further. If some in the media aren’t going to do their job as the Fourth Estate, it seems all rather pointless.

Source: Mainstream media is Morrison Government’s puppet

Informed Comment

Integrity means far more than just not engaging in criminal conduct – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Integrity means the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. That sets the bar far higher than just not engaging in criminal conduct. How many of our politicians would pass a genuine integrity test?

Source: Integrity means far more than just not engaging in criminal conduct – » The Australian Independent Media Network