Margo: Hi there. A couple of days ago Webdiarist Ernie Graham emailed me saying he wished he could write something for Webdiary but didn't feel adequate. I sent him the piece by John Pratt, also on debut, and suggested he have a go. Maybe it's a sailor thing, but he too has done it! Thank you Ernie. I reckon we'll get this Webdiary show back on the road due to troopers like you.
I vote Labor because I love my country and its people.
My Ancestors were related to the Dukes of Montrose in Scotland, however, our Clan, even with its own tartan and crest, was so poor and hungry after the English occupation that they were apparently caught stealing cattle for food. The story goes on to say that the “culprits” were banished to Ireland (Australia was not yet available) and settled in Country Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
My Great Grandmother and Great Grandfather Robert Graham migrated to Australia in the year 1849, but in different ships. They met soon after and were married within six months of their landing.
They raised several children, one of whom was my Grandfather John Graham.
Grandfather John built up a business as a Drayman (I guess that is a truckie today) and helped to raise a family of seven sons and two daughters, with the most gentle and intelligent woman one could imagine - my 4’10” Grandmother Mary. Grandfather John drowned in White Bay when he was 46 years of age while swimming after a hearty Xmas dinner.
One of the sons of John and Mary was my Father, George Graham, who built up his own furniture business in Leichhardt, NSW.
At the outbreak of WW II, my oldest brothers enlisted in the Army and served in the 6th and 9th Divisions of the AIF in the Middle East, New Guinea and Borneo.
The 6th and 7th Divisions were brought back from the Middle East by the then Labor Prime Minister John Curtin to help defend Australia, which had been considered lost by the Churchill ministry in England. The 9th remained and honoured themselves at both the defence of Tobruk and the capture of El Alamein.
I had left the Public High Schools of Stanmore Commercial and Leichhardt Technical in 1944 at the age of 14 years, which was the custom in those days. There was always security of employment and apprenticeships – every job was considered to be full time.
My Father died from heart disease at the age of 46 in 1946 and my brothers took over the business with my Mother.
The early death of my Father had a deep effect on my life and at 16 I left home to fend for myself. With a close friend, I joined the Royal Australian Navy in late 1947 and was inducted in January the next year.
Eventually I became a Seaman Petty Officer with the specialist branch of Physical Training Instructor (don’t hold that against me, John Pratt). I served in BCOF Japan, Shanghai in the “Amethyst Incident” in ’49, the pre-Korean War confrontation and the Malayan Emergency.
I became a Freemason in 1950, which demanded a standard of honesty and integrity. My male forebears, mostly in small business, were proud to prove their veracity by also facing the stringent tests required by Masonry. And, for those who have other views, the Lodge, as shown on TV, respects the God of all people.
At the age of 22 years, I had married and was the father of three sons, including twins. Unfortunately, the relationship didn’t survive past the sons being in their late teens. This was after years of problems due to my service commitments and the Menzies’ era of “never never” owning anything due to his “hire purchase” plan. Much too much pressure – so I do understand the problems of the young today.
After 12 years of regular service, I signed on for 5 years in the Fleet Reserve, during which time I did a stint as Barman/Cellarman at Helensbugh Worker’s Club, NSW.
I re-married in 1975 and my Wife and I have been closer than I have ever been to anyone in my life. We are now in our 33rd year of marriage.
My application for a position as an Operator at Caltex Oil Refinery Kurnell was accepted in 1960 and I have never regretted the 28 years I worked there. This company, regardless of my Union involvement as a delegate for 22 years, was very fair to me when I had to retire in 1988 due to old injuries and other physical problems. I was unable to carry out my duties as a Head Operator but the Company looked after me and helped me to get on my feet (so to speak).
There was no angst, no attempt at confrontation – and especially no WorkChoices. I was part of the Union of Employees, they were part of the Union of Employers, and the mutuality consideration was demonstrated by the Company treating me with a respect that I, indeed, held for them.
My history of 'true' Liberal parents and my seventeen years of military service to my country helped to give me a 'Big Picture' of that which is really the heart of our Nation across the board. A lesson in what really matters in an Australia of which we were all once so proud.
I joined the Labor Party some time after Howard’s election wins in 1998 and 2001 because of his obvious plans to divide our Nation into Haves and Have Nots. My Wife has her own values, but nevertheless, also joined the Labor Party as the only organised opposition left to an expanding dictatorship that I call Howard’s “New Order”.
Older Australians and Veterans will know what I mean.
Without Margo’s Webdiary and the Management Team, where could any Australian today, find a place to really express their views? Certainly not in the Corporations’ media.
"How does Howard get away with it?"
There are so many things that this fascist has done surreptitiously, and got away with it, that putting them all together has been extremely difficult for the ordinary media-spun citizen.
Although many of us, even over years, have painted Howard as a fascist, for me at least, it took the Alison Broinowski's article Is Australia Fascist to put it all in perspective.
We know that concentrating on Howard doesn't remove the cancer of fascism, because it is inherent in every member of his "New Order" -as indicated by their obvious pleasure in developing and enforcing authoritarian laws.
We know that we can only help future Australians by removing every one of them from office.
However, we should "never ever" forget WorkChoices as the cause celebre that made many apathetic voters sit up and take notice.
As long as he has bought the venal media, the problems that the "New Order" should face are still behind the "smoke and mirrors".
This is a major issue of similar bastardry as the Hitler crushing of Unions in the 1930's. It is an old issue now but, I would like to repeat an article I wrote in the Canberra Times HYS on Friday, 27 May 2005 id=95275.
"IMAGINE"
1) IMAGINE a nation where the Associations (Unions) have sway over the Business community to an extent where they are NOT making a profit, or enough of it, to maintain their business?
Unsustainable?
2) IMAGINE a nation where the mainstream workers have no Associations (Unions) and the Business community have all the rights, no genuine regulations or accountability, and the workers have no recourse but to obey completely all demands, including those of a unnatural nature, of the employer?
Unsustainable, the absence of choice and diametrically opposed to democracy.
3) IMAGINE a nation which had business Unions like the Chamber of Commerce etc. - and every worker had a Union which could make that person feel "epluribus unum" and NOT alone. They could bargain with one another for a just outcome and, if unsuccessful, would approach an independent body (like the Federal Industrial Commission) for an Umpire's decision?
Sustainable and fair?
In 1) we have a position of imbalance in the workplace and the nation would go broke. That is certainly not the case at present since the profits of business are extremely high.
In 2) we have the Howard government's objective and a major problem for all Australians, no matter who they voted for. It is a policy of pushing the workers too far and must create an equal and opposite force for the right to enjoy the benefits of the nation they have helped to create and defend.
In 3) you have the current situation which has been attacked and weakened by Howard and the media over the last 10 years - but at least it is not quite at the "cusp" of the abyss - YET!
We are now entering the most dangerous period of totalitarian control in the history of our nation.
This is NOT a government which "acts for the people" - and since 47% plus of our voters are NOT having their democratic rights considered, an affordable and universal "voice" is badly needed.
END OF QUOTE.
When I wrote that opinion, some people ridiculed the idea that Howard's government was fascist. Not now I venture.
As time passed, Howard's "New Order" has increased its authoritarian control of the Australian people.
There is one thing we should all realise - to re-elect the fascists would be the last "free" vote we will ever have.
NE OUBLIE.
Conned by both sides
Ernie, thanks for the welcome. But we've been conned by both of the lib/lab coalition for the last 30 years, since they began privatisation. The further the current campaign goes on, the closer both factions get in their policies. Nothing changes, they just lie more.
Whilst these ideological moronic liars are allowed to continue being unaccountable and not subject to the laws relating to false and misleading statements and information, then nothing will change.
No amount of flag waving, will make any difference. Except for industrial relations, which slowly but surely the labor party is moving towards their factional twin, they are no different. Name one labor policy that is really different to the liberals and beneficial for the people and the countries real future, they are all orientated towards economic growth at any cost.
Economic growth means continuing environmental destruction, privatisation, reductions in services, more money and control for the rich and less for the rest. Big pay rises for politicians, the elite bureaucracy, business leaders and less and less freedoms income and spare time for the people. It's just like the supposed low employment figures, if you do one hour a fortnight, you are classed as fully employed. The labor party certainly supports this approach. Just like they accept part time jobs of more than one hour a week, is classed as job creation.
Labor like the Libs, will do nothing for people, just their vested interests, which are the same as the Libs. They both get donations from the same companies, and that's who they are beholden to, not us or the future.
Remember Work-no-Choices?
Will any contributor deny the facts that our voters must finally realise that they have been conned by a venal media for at least 3 elections?
Will any contributor state that facing the sack at any time any day or night and without even being entitled to any warning - is good enough for Australian employees?
Is there really a "warming" in the community to the fact that those not on individual AWAs, WILL soon be, should Howard be re-elected?
Is everybody quite happy with the totally employer controlled and Howard judged, "appropriate compensation" for the loss of Annual Leave, Long Service Leave, Shift Penalties etc?
And the suggested Hockey examples of "a gym membership" - or a "parking spot"? As to the latter, the venal media pointed out that in Sydney that could be worth $10,000! Gee whizz, I can just see the employers offering that.
In the final analysis of these AWAs, the only choice for the begging Australian employee is to accept what is offered or "hit the highway"! And the employer then fills out another 457 visa!!!!
The appeal that Howard's Joe Hockey spells out, without a smile, is that after all - these foreign Corporations ARE REALLY PROVIDING JOBS FOR AUSTRALIANS. Fair dinkum - in our country - using our natural resources - and advertising to continue that ultimate power to help the fascist government which has created this situation?
And after all, Howard says that any job is better than none for Australians.
Is that what Australians have fought and died for? Because it is only the career Service elite that MAY join the working class to fight the wars of a Nation. Certainly not little Johnnie!
Has anyone seen facts and figures to prove the outlandish claims of jobs made by Howard, Hockey and Robb? Is there any finite details in the Federal government Agency named the Australian Bureau of Statistics?
Howard's Work-no-Choices gives Australians over to the charity methods of the 19th Century English "Master and Servant". That's "moving forward" to the peasant past.
One hundred and fifty (150) years of progress reversed.
The people of Australia, whether retired or not, have only one more chance to save our Nation from being another U.S. possession.
The re-election of the incompetent and dishonest Howard "New Order" will create a situation where they still control the Senate and that gives them carte blanche to further force our people into the charity of the foreign Corporations.
Soon, the two "Judas Sheep" in the Senate - Barnaby Joyce and the "Family First" (what's in a name) Fielding will try to convince us that THEY will be the checks and balances of the Howard "New Order". Struth!
Just have a quick look at their past and you will see that every change in Australian laws that Howard has wanted - they have voted for!
Beware - all levels of Australians - when Howard announces the election - and it could be as late as next April - you will have just one last real choice - to vote them out of office.
I kid you not!
NE OUBLIE.
Remember the last Labor years
Ernest William, as someone who has admitted that you do not read or watch the venal media how do you know that the voters were conned?
This has always been the case ever since I can remember, if somebody is not doing their job they have to go. It happened to Crean,Beazley and Latham and it will probably happen to Rudd at the end of the year. You as a union delegate for 22 years saw the decline of the Unions and you did nothing about it.
WorkChoices - White coolies and lies.
JUST IMAGINE that with a Labor government, the media would police them as "never ever" before. A good thing for information that has been so much hidden or destroyed by the Howard regime.
JUST IMAGINE that the perception so far of Kevin Rudd being absolutely honest to the Australian people would give us back our democracy, and with it, accountability and punishment for political crimes.
JUST IMAGINE that the "Union Thugs" were really normal and decent Australian workers who have been guilty of the crime of safety arguments with the foreign Corporations, and have been used, abused and denigrated by the Howard Corporation's government of dishonest, rorters, incompetents and just plain liars - to take the media heat off them.
JUDGE them by the obvious fact that swearing in the workplace is not as bad as deceiving, lying and betraying the entire nation.
And NONE of them have been forced out of the Liberal/National parties! Surely that tells us something about Haves and Have nots?
JUST IMAGINE that Kevin Rudd has tried so hard to be "squeaky clean" (as indeed do the African Americans) that he does not have the advantage of just one Australian Journalist to "push his barrow".
THEN IMAGINE that Labor is elected and the Corporations are forced to share OUR wealth of natural resources with our people.
And that the almost forgotten Human rights; Rights at Work; Education; National Security and the right to a "living wage" will return to our population.
There is only one more chance - think and reason your future.
NE OUBLIE.
Truth must be a Howard liability.
Sometimes I am sure that the media spins for their now biggest advertiser, the Howard government, should make them equally guilty for the intentional misleading of the Australian people.
It seems to me a matter of put in a position of power, a corruptible and narcissistic agent whose only objective is to increase the wealth of the wealthy along with the necessary loss of living conditions for the rest".
I have watched Joe Hockey with disgust at his regular statements that "Big business is giving jobs to Australian workers". Fair dinkum.
And Howard declaring that any job is better than none for Australians.
Can you really imagine, as a nation, what their attitude means?
We survive on the charity of the corporation unions in a country which is classified as being prosperous! Fair dinkum.
How many of these bludging CEOs have served our nation other than plundering our resources? Why wouldn't they spend a few millions to save their agent for billions?
I always get upset at the "New Order" Liberal line that we Australians should be appropriately grateful for the foreign Corporations plundering our natural resources.
We should be grateful that the massive record profits these foreigners have been making have allowed us to have a job – occasionally – without security and at their discretion.
As a case in point regarding the jovial face of Joe Hockey, I quote an article in the SMH dated 8 April 2007:
And, of course, if that is successful due to us flailing ourselves with another period of the New Order – the hateful parts of the legislation will not only be returned, but increased.
NE OUBLIE.
Truth
Ernest William, sit back and look at the truth. The Labor Party is the same as at the last election – except for Latham and Beazley. The only change is they have a new Leader (and they are good at that, they have had more leaders than any other party), Kevin Rudd the man who said ""he is not ready to carry the baton", and a Deputy (Gillard) who said she was 100% behind Beazley. As for the rest, it's the same old tired team: Crean, Albanese, Macklin, the Ferguson's etc, etc.
Gillard did not understand Medicare Gold, and she has no idea what her current portfolio is all about. Rudd was going to China to tell the Chinese how to cut their CO2 emissions, but has put that trip off. I can well imagine that the reason for this is that he cannot leave the country and leave the Labor Party in charge of Gillard, (she could well stab him in the back) plus the fact like his trip to Washington he would have nobody to talk to. However he must be a very handy person to have around if the shadow cabinet want to order sliced beef in black bean sauce from the local Chinese, and they cannot read the numbers.
By the way, Ern, the latest odds at Centerbet is Labor $1.87 Coalition $1.90.3 cents, a difference that relates to maybe the loss of one seat. I cannot wait till election night to log on to Webdiary – it is going to be a memorable night.
Lib/Lab, the evil twins
It saddens me that people have not evolved past believing that either side of the two faction single party system running our country, are different, whilst in fact they are virtually the same. The only difference between their policies is in the misleading and downright lies and rhetoric that they peddle and that the deluded masses accept. Once they are elected, they change their minds, drop the lies they peddled, and continue along their path of social destruction.
Why are people clinging to this failed, past its use by date, system that is totally orientated to corporate control, disenfranchising the people through the bizarre mantra of constant and unsustainable economic growth and monopolisation, of every facet of society? There is no credibility in either of their approaches, nothing changes just gets worse and worse for the people. They now have the populace living to work, rather than working to live. People are enslaved to debt for their entire lives and beyond; the rich get richer and the rest just become debt ridden. There is no competition in business, just monopoly conglomerates; all controlled by the same vested interests. Yet all people can do is go on flogging the verifiable unsustainable merry-go-round approaches of these evil people by arguing about who has the best lies to peddle.
Without accountability in government and business, we have only one outcome – social collapse – and we are seeing this outcome looming up in front of us.
It is possible to predict an American client government.
In an effort to replace my short-comings in education with the value of experience, I submit the following:
I posted this article in WB dated May 26, 2006 - at 10-28 am.
Spot on Keith.
"May I add to your opinion by just saying that we have to direct our energies to Howard since only he and his conga-line can do anything about this apparent menace. The cavalier attitude of the U.S. and the U.K. in using depleted Uranium weapons in many countries has been of concern to many people - however, I envisage a much closer danger in Howard's most recent "diversions".
JUST IMAGINE that a government that has been in power for 10 years (with N.T.conservative administration for half of that) and, who has denigrated the indigenous Australians regularly, SUDDENLY has a new-comer to the spin i.e., Mal Brough, screaming about the Aboriginals morals and even threatens the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory with another fascist take-over.
JUST IMAGINE that as this becomes a media hyped subject, Howard announces that the demands a "Nuclear debate" to consider where we MAY have Nuclear Power stations and where we MAY dump the waste in Australia.
Since the Northern Territory people have objected robustly to their Territory becoming a Nuclear waste dump - JUST IMAGINE that Mal is providing a convenient excuse for the removal of the Aboriginies from those "outlying areas" to facillitate the creation of a depopulated large slice of the Territory for Howard's nuclear dumping ground.
For several years Howard has been pushing a "rough and ready" rail line from Perth through Sth. Australia and the Northern Territory to Darwin. JUST IMAGINE that that line which is so rough that most people would not use it, but is a convenient method of transfering Yellow Cake to Ports for exporting and returning the waste to the Australian dumping ground.
JUST IMAGINE that this opinion meets all the criteria of another Howard "sell out" and an infinite time-line for a real "On the Beach" scenario.
There is no truth - only the powers that be.
End of quote.
You are kidding
Ern, with thinking like this, no wonder Labor cannot win an election.
But where's the penicillin?
Roger, you've taken me on a trip down memory lane with Spy vs Spy vs Spy. Over 40 years since I last read Mad. You might have noted my references to Python at times, this is because such material starts to look more like reportage than satire or send ups. Tuckey and Heffernan are evidence to support that contention. There are many more. But special mention to Lord Downer - I had to spend far too much time for study purposes reading his outpourings for my liking.
On the matter of masquerades, I recall our resident wit, Frere Jihad Jack, explored that idea. It is possible given the standard of some of the pro-runt material that is posted.
I saw much in Ern and Margo's comments about another Tampa and that is now being developed elsewhere. The reliance on union bashing seemed risky as it is so old and something else is needed. Cynicism seems, unfortunately, both a natural and necessary reaction to politicians in general, particularly in the major parties. And most especially in respect of Howard.
So what is the solution? Where is the penicillin? Voting for minor parties is a start. At least develop the opportunity for alternative voices to be heard. Then something more fundamental?
Just switched on the news, and the runt certainly has got his talking point. How many people will believe he actually cares about our Indigenous peoples will tell us much. It is something, I suggest, his record does not support.
Margo: Indeed.
Putting aside the "Shock & Awe" diversion.
Any organisation is entitled to justice in a democracy.
I would like to quote an article I posted in the Canberra Times HYS dated 14 October 2005, id=106478:
UNIONS - THE ONLY CHOICE.
I am a life-member of the AWU, and a Labor voter.
I represented my workmates as an ordinary, voluntary unpaid Unionist for 22 years.
I had clashes with many major figures in the Union movement on behalf of my members and even went to Court once to dispute issues on which my members did not agree.
We didn't win them all but, WE DID HAVE AN AVENUE TO VENT OUR ANGER.
With all of the angst with which any organisation must deal, the Union movement NEVER EVER sold out, me or my workmates for their own purposes.
Whilst I may not have agreed with everything they advised, I always had the feeling of SECURITY in that, IF my employer ignored the rules which protected workers, the Union would come to our aid.
They protected our families in dire circumstances - they aided especially in the safety of the workplace - in essence, they gave more than they got.
It is said, correctly, that several ex-Unionists have moved into the Labor Party hierarchy - for goodness sake, what other party cares for the workers?
The lines between the profits of the employers and the fair day's pay to the workers were once clearly laid - and was beneficial to both parties.
The only reasonably FAIR way employees can possibly "negotiate" with their employers is - with ONE VOICE - one which is versed in and dedicated for the future of the employees, their safety, their security and their families.
I believe that Howard's "White Coolie" policy is causing a mini-revolt in his own sycophants - hence the reason that he disgustingly decides to spend multi-millions of our money to his benefactors - to allay the fears of those who will surely lose their comfortable seats at the next election - no matter what tripe the media claims.
End of quote.
COMMENT: When Howard's taxpayer funded ads appear, remember that the mention of "collective bargaining" refers only to the "right" of the small businesses to apply for it to "negotiate" with big business. Workers are not included in this "right".
NE OUBLIE.
Mad Always Dished Out Equally Tough Treatment
Roger Fedyk, whilst you are probably right, about the type of propaganda, that comes through rose tinted glasses, I think it a bit unfair picking out Alan Curren alone for special treatment. A cursory reading of any thread reveals he is far from the only one. In fact there are at least two (possibly three) threads dedicated to this exact purpose, with one or more economic claims being little better than dubious.
Roger Fedyk:
I agree, so why pick one "house" out? I believe that it is in all our interests to be even handed with any criticism we make.
I have e-mailed Mike Kelly with my protest.
Protesting to Gary Nairn as another of Howard's robots is useless.
Margo, my understanding after listening to the T/V report on Howard's speech and Kevin Rudd's reply was as follows:
Howard's words to the media representatives included this gem: "We are prepared to apply the same principle to all sections of the Australian Community". That could well be prophetic should he be re-elected.
In other words, Howard is prepared to do it to any Australian and I for one believe he certainly would.
My take on Kevin Rudd's reply seemed to be "we will assist in overcoming this problem" or words to that effect. But I am not sure.
Clare Martin will assist because as a Territory Administration she has no choice.
However, our protests could still put some fire in the bellys of the federal labor party to refuse to be a part of an act of extreme fascism when Howard recalls parliament.
Let this crime be on the heads of the decrepit Howard "New Order" and no other.
Even if the introduction of such "emergency" powers had an even chance of succeeding - it still would not justify the means.
Like Howard's judgment in all matters - use blackmail, force, lies or any means that might just play to the bigotry of the "swinging" voters.
Indeed this is another "Tampa" with the twist that Howard "will decide who lives in these towns and the manner in which they will do so".
Fair dinkum? Not again - please.
Cheers Ern G.
Margo: Ern,. my guess is that Rudd will try to go along with Howard to stop himself being wedged. There's a mix of bad and good in Howard's plan. I think there'll be trouble in the ALP over some of it. We'll see if Howard tries a Tampa play by putting up some stuff he thinks Labor could never agree to. The problem is that with the Tampa legislation part 1 - which allowed officials to kill boat people without recourse to the Courts! - dissident Libs were quiet because it was close to the election and they knew the Senate would knock it off. It did, then Howard put up something more reasonable and Beazley agreed. Then Howard ran the line throughout the 2001 campaign that Beazley had squibbed it. Good wedge. This time Howard controls the Senate, so it's harder to run that play. We'll see what the detail is like. I think this policy is part of the election game - otherwise Howard would have done something in 2001, when the very same issue hit the headlines for weeks, about the same time as a Queensland report very similar to the NT one now. Nothing happened then. For a Webdiary reprise of the 2001 scandal, see the links under Here I am. In particular, see Time for action (June 2001).
Is Howard sincere and trustworthy?
Ernest: "However, our protests could still put some fire in the bellys [sic] of the federal labor party to refuse to be a part of an act of extreme fascism when Howard recalls parliament...
"Even if the introduction of such "emergency" powers had an even chance of succeeding - it still would not justify the means...
"Indeed this is another "Tampa" with the twist that Howard 'will decide who lives in these towns and the manner in which they will do so'."
It would still not justify the means! The "it" we are talking about here is the ending of the widespread sexual abuse of children. What means would you suggest then? Throwing yet more money at the problem?
John Howard has managed to convince an awful lot of Australians to date that he is somewhat less honest and considerably more self-centred than he pretends to be. Here he undoubtedly sees an opportunity to rebuild his image somewhat, and when he says that he was appalled by the Little Children are Sacred report, I am quite prepared to give him the benefit of any doubt.
There is also no doubt in my mind that without the opportunity for gain in political capital out of this, Howard is a smart enough politician to decide in favour of blaming it all on inaction by the Labor states. Such decisions in the past have been Howard's aces in the hole: the gun laws, East Timor, support for the US in Afghanistan and (initially at any rate) in Iraq.
However as the ABC report (at http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2007/s1958368.htm) shows, Howard may have opened a can of worms for himself. From that report: More alcohol restriction on aboriginal land; welfare payments conditional on children attending school and being properly fed; compulsory AMA run health checks for all aboriginal children; et cetera. Nobody can oppose all that easily.
But here is the petard of his own making that Howard risks being caught on:
"Mr Howard wants the NT Government to cooperate, but if it doesn't, legislation will be passed to override the NT Self-Government Act, and the Northern Territory Land Rights Act."
Under the Federal Constitution, federal legislation overrides state legislation. Recently the Federal Government announced that it was assuming control of the entire Murray-Darling water system, and commenced talks with the states to get this done with minimum fuss. (While a federal government has to be careful as to what it calls the Labor states out into the street over, the same does not apply to the territories, whose populations are not so powerful federally.)
Howard could also hold a referendum at the same time as the federal election on a question like: "Should the Commonwealth have the power to end the sexual abuse of children in situations where state governments have failed to do so?" Think hard before saying no to that.
We also have a Highway Patrol situation here. That is, where the police based in Town A book the errant motorists of Town B, and vice versa. (The local cop has to be able to live peacefully in the town.) Clare Martin's government could stir up a lot of trouble for itself amongst its large Aboriginal population. Howard has obligingly relieved Martin of the task.
I don't see our opinions as different, Ian MacDougall.
I agree with your basic opinion that this is becoming a political exercise.
What I am saying, Ian, is that I do not believe, and never have, that the end justifies the means. That is just the excuse of tyrants.
It has been a major excuse for some of the most horrendous crimes in the history of the world. Surely you would agree.
You say: "What means would you suggest then?"
I would suggest, Ian, that the rule of law be applied equally to all Australians, new or old. If a law has proven to be unjust to the citizens of the country of which we are discussing, then the law should be changed – or the government should be.
These people on whom Howard and his tax collector Mal Brough are forcing unbelievable restrictions have a God given right to be treated equally as any other citizen.
If you believe that they get too many benefits, then treat them as you would any other Australian.
If you believe that their culture encourages child abuse and pornography, then use the laws that currently apply equally to all Australians.
Ian, just consider the consequences of a precedent being set on the nebulous basis of "We will stamp out child abuse and pornography" by Howard's statement that "We are prepared to apply the same principle to all Australian communities".
Are our laws so suddenly useless that the Howard government needs to vary almost all of them?
I would like your answer, Ian.
NE OUBLIE.
Welfare payments
Ernest: Aborigines in my view should have their welfare payments stopped if their children are abused or miss school, if they are violent, don't pay their rent, or smash up their public housing. The power to decide on this should be vested in community based police. Their communities must effectively be rebuilt from the ground up if their members, and particularly their youth, are to have any future.
These views do not come from John Howard or Mal Brough. Nor are they my original views, though I endorse them. They are the opinions of the most outstanding contemporary Aboriginal leader, Noel Pearson. From the Australian's report:
"ABORIGINAL families would be stripped of welfare payments if their children were abused or missed school under a plan by indigenous leader Noel Pearson to make benefits conditional on behaviour. Payments could also be stopped if public housing was damaged or rent not paid, or family violence offences committed.
"In the most far-reaching reforms ever outlined for Aboriginal communities, Mr Pearson also recommends a community-based ‘cop’ be established with enough powers to withhold welfare entitlements.
"Just days after a landmark report found sexual abuse was rife throughout indigenous communities in the Northern Territory, Mr Pearson's Cape York Institute has called for all welfare payments to be conditional as part of a program to rebuild ‘social norms’. "
Special situations require special measures. Despite all the efforts and money devoted to the problem, the Aborigines in the main are lost on the margins of multicultural Australia. Pearson's whole approach is for the governments to stop enabling infantile and irresponsible behaviour, and to find ways of encouraging Aboriginal responsibility. Education and skills acquisition are vital. Likewise severe penalties for child sexual abuse, regardless of the personal history of the abuser. And if parents will not order their spending priorities towards their families and away from drugs and grog, then sadly, they will have to have it done for them by the State.
I stress that this by no means applies to all Aboriginal communities. But it is a major problem.
You don't have to go to the NT to see Aboriginal communities in chaos, and their kids running wild, with clearly no future. Just go to Wilcannia, NSW. Crossing the Darling into the town is like driving into a war zone. I kid you not.
Ne oublie indeed.
J'attendrai.
"There but for the Grace of God - goeth I?
If ever anyone needed proof of the totalitarian intentions of the Howard "New Order" - just remember what he is now doing to an entire race of people - the Koories!
He has decreed that he will take over entire Aboriginal settlements, from the elected Territory government and will control EVERY aspect of their lives, financially, physically and mentally.
No matter what you were going to vote in the next election, this act alone should ensure that the Howard Liberals are thrown out of power by every decent Australian.
It should frighten the hell out of all of us!
You must remember that the Howard "New Order" is well known throughout the entire world for its abuse of Human Rights.
You must remember that his sneaky method to introduce "emergency powers" in this fashion has nothing to do with compassion for the Aborigines (who as a dedicated racist, he has always ignored) - and everything to do with the election! Shock and Awe indeed.
Remember "Tampa", "babies overboard", the sinking of the SIEV X?
Remember the ASIO Bill, anti-Terrorist and Sedition laws, Hicks, Habib, the Bali nine, the abuse of Freedom of Information and the Constitution.
Remember the "little bit of bad medicine at a time" Howard tactic - like the removal of unfair dismissal laws for small businesses - first 10 employees (OK) make it 20 (OK) then make it 100!
This is nothing more than another abuse of power and human rights by a person who has a record approaching that of the ghettos in Poland by Adolf Hitler.
Laws are out there for the punishment of wrongdoers - not for the "Lock-down" of entire towns and punishment being forced equally among the guilty and the innocent.
Think and reason - IF the crimes alleged in these towns are correctly assessed as a great number - then the perpetrators must be known? The law should deal with them - NOT a dictator.
This act of bastardry should be condemned by every democracy in the world.
If the United Nations sit still on this, it is indeed a "paper tiger".
If the Labor State governments and the Federal Opposition go along with this, as the lying rodent has challenged, they too will have become a part of Howard's "New Order" and I would not hesitate to resign as a member of the Australian Labor Party.
Again Howard moves in a way that will split the people of this once free Nation.
Tom Paine, the great American revolutionary and author of the "Rights of Man", wrote "He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself".
NE OUBLIE.
Margo: They HAVE gone along with it!
Get real
Ernest William: "If the Labor State governments and the Federal Opposition go along with this, as the lying rodent has challenged, they too will have become a part of Howard's "New Order" and I would not hesitate to resign as a member of the Australian Labor Party."
I have been telling you for a while now, Rudd is a conman and will do anything to keep his halo intact.
It is about time somebody out there told the truth about what is happening to the all the money the taxpayers give to the Aborigines. It is fine for the "Big Hats" to jump up and down, but they are the ones that are ripping off their own people. Never mind being politically correct, somebody has to start telling the truth about the rorts and ripoffs. If you don't believe me go up to the NT and talk to the locals. Some of the stories will make your hair curl.
As for Ms Martin, she should be drawn and quartered for sitting on the facts for so long and not doing anything. All the the other Labor States are equally bad, and pay lip service to the problems with the Aboriginals.
This may well be the "Tampa" you have all been talking about, but the Rudd L-Platers never saw it coming. Now Rudd has to go along with it all whether it is right or wrong. A pox on all the pollies.
Australian standards have never been so exploited.
It is part of our sporting history that the "fire in our belly" is exacerbated by an Umpire or Referee who is inconsistent in applying the rules. Is that not true?
It gives the contestant, player or competitor the feeling of bias IF rules are applied to one and not to the other. Is that not true?
With the media hype exaggerating the issue of two Union representatives "swearing" and therefore bringing the Union movement and the Australian Labor party into disrepute - is just plain crazy.
IF these people have broken the law - then the law should deal with them.
The fact that they happen to be Unionists - Labor party members - Liberal Party members - Independents or just plain unsure voters - should have no bearing on the issue at all.
Let's have a reality check on this media spin:
But really what does that mean?
Would it be reasonable to accept that, neither Kevin Rudd nor John Howard cannot be held responsible for the actions of their respective PARTY members?
If not, then Kevin Rudd has acted immediately to expel the alleged perpetrators from the Australian Labor Party.
While this would be an action forced upon him by the unsubstantiated claim that Unions run Labor, he did act appropriately for the dignity of the Party he represents by expelling them.
But let's now look at the Howard "New Order":
In my article in Webdiary dated 8 June 2007 entitled "Do you really TRUST the Howard government? Mk 1". I noted the following - in brief:
"Rorting, incompetence, lying and/or under threat of prosecution".
And without elaboration this time, the Liberal Party perpetrators are:
To the best of my knowledge, these Liberal/National Party members and Ministers who have behaved in a disgraceful manner, have not been expelled from their Coalition Parties.
So, the Australian Labor Party in Australia, like the African Americans in the U.S. - must appear to be "squeaky clean" to even have a chance of "rattling the cage of the 'New Order" in Australia.
Who would you trust?
NE OUBLIE.
Margo: Hi Ern. Rudd has cornered himself, and my bet the 'bad behaviour recordings will keep coming'. Who has filmed the big company boardroom discussions, or talks between executives and their lawyers about how to get employees they don't like? If a nasty record of one of those came out, would Rudd demand that the Howard Government cease all dealings with them? Or expel any who are Liberal party members? Ditto for employers who've shown cruel treatment to workers under AWA's. The realities of business/employee bargaining are hard, sometimes real hard. I feel Rudd is on the run because of his mistake in expelling the first union bloke caught on tape at a union meeting. If every party member has to be nice, they'd be far fewer members in both major parties. If this goes on I think Rudd could lose some of his base to The Greens. And at the same time he is expelling all and sundry, big business is ganging up to run ads for the Libs. Weird stuff.
Capital markets
"Perhaps you could ask "Ern the Labor Man" to substantiate his claims that.
1. Howard is about to start Conscription."
That's funny. Who said that? Where?
Ernest William said;
Perhaps because then they'd have do something about it? And what would they do? Are there capital markets in Australia with sufficient resources to finance investment here? Probably not?
At it again.
I'm trying to stop laughing, Roger, as I returned to the pc and saw your response to my exchange with Alan Curran and then another example of his work appears. I am aware of your exchanges with Alan and the unsatisfactory nature of his responses and it is one such exchange that was the basis for my example. This being the "Dr Death" allegation made back in February and responded to by you. The events were as I described them.
I note that in today's post Alan again refers to the hypocrisy of others.
Is there a standard Liberal propaganda book? Could be, although the behaviour, ie., making unsubstantiated and even false allegations and not standing up for them, reflects so poorly on the perpetrators that one wonders why they would not see the process as counterproductive. So much so that one could almost think it a Labor ploy to discredit the Libs. Or the Libs think there are some really stupid people out there.
Similarly, if it is a personal effort by particular people, they either are unaware of how poorly they appear through the use of such tactics or have a low opinion of the intelligence of the readership.
That last point is one that I think is largely misplaced in respect of WD so perhaps a suspicion of mischief making is not out of the question.
You would have also noticed, Roger, that Alan is not alone in his approach as there is the example of L Ferguson. A name for someone union and Labor bashing that is not without irony.
Good to hear from you Roger, I always enjoy your work.
Margo: OK, we'll leave it there, shall we?
Mad Magazine Revisited
Bob, I used to get a real kick out the Spy vs Spy vs Spy segments of the Alfred E Neuman's classic Mad Magazine.
Maybe that is was is going on. Labor is getting people to masquerade as rabid Liberals in an attempt to discredit the Coalition. Perhaps someone will breakout from deep cover and enlighten us all.
But then again, who needs them when we have Wilson Tuckey and Bob Heffernan. Will we forget Labor's infamous arm-breaker, Mark L?
Hmm, let me revert to an old English curse, "A pox on all their houses".
At it again
Bob Wall, "making unsubstantiated and even false allegations and not standing up for them". Perhaps you could ask "Ern the Labor Man". to substantiate his claims that.
1. Howard is about to start Conscription.
2. Howard is about to increase the GST.
In the meantime keep laughing, because you will have very little to laugh about if St.Kevin and Barbie Doll get into power.
Margo: Let's move on, OK?
The debt ridden false economy.
As a devout theorist, who believes that conspiracies are safety valves for competing big businesses, the massive credit card debts and the Liberal federal government's Foreign debt should be front and centre in the election.
The ABS, being controlled by the Howard "New Order" is only printing the information that the Liberals are giving them
I am concerned that the Australian Labor Party has not raised the spectre of the Howard/Costello massive foreign debt!
We must remember the childish Costello throwing his papers and hands in the air and announcing that he had paid off his government's debt! Fair dinkum.
Let's have a reality check of the chicken-livered Peter Costello:
I quote Sauer-Thompson:
End of quote.
I would like the "independent" Reserve Bank Chairman to confirm or deny that statement.
This impending disaster is a typical result due to the Howard Liberals' de-regulation of the Banks and other Corporations.
And I again quote the hypocrites Howard and Costello with their beat up old "Debt Truck" in the 1996 election:
Howard..."The Labor party's foreign debt was an indictment of economic mis-management and a key factor in higher interest rates." [He forgot that his record of 21% interest rates in 1982 are still the highest on record] [Even now his interest rates are the third highest in the industrialised world]
And Costello..."We're pleased to put foreign debt on the agenda in this country because we don't want Australians, bit by bit, to watch their productive assets and their productive capacity go into foreign hands."
And this gem..."There's a question of national identity about this. Do we as a country want to be in hock to the rest of the world?"
I would like to see the Australian Labor Party revive that debt truck.
Howard's sycophants need their hypocrisies exposed.
NE OUBLIE.
The Formula 1 Debt Truck
Ernest William: That Debt Ridden False Economy of yours was a very good post in my opinion.
The late BA Santamaria returned to the issue of Australia's poor trading position vis a vis the rest of the world before he died, and was very concerned that the continual pile up of foreign debt could lead eventually to foreign lenders cranking up their interest rates, in turn leading not just to recession in Australia but to a run on the Australian dollar, and a major economic collapse here. That would not be something anyone should look forward to.
It is well to remember that in the Depression of the 1930s, Australia's peak unemployment rate was only eclipsed by Germany's, and was a bit over 30%. That was due I believe to the fact that Australia had an industrial 'first world' economy internally, but the trading face it turned to the world was that of a 'third world' exporter of primary products. Though manufactures have caught up somewhat, that is still largely the case.
Lots of people can go down to their bank, take out a personal loan, and throw a party. But to do it year after year after year, with no turnaround in sight, no repayment of any of the loans, and continual rolling of the interest debt, seems to me to set up a massive fools' paradise. Where the empire of Alan Bond was founded on a mountain of debt, one might say that the economic foundations of post 1984 Australia are a full Himalayan Range of it.
Australian banks it seems, still have little trouble finding lenders overseas. But when their sources of credit start to dry up (and they will, because nobody yet has been prepared to keep lending indefinitely) then look out. A massive economic rearrangement of Australia will likely follow.
Formula 1 Racer and the Debt Truck
Ernest William Graham: The Treasurer has attacked the ALP on the grounds that the economy is "a finely tuned, delicately balanced Formula 1 racing car." He says Rudd & Co can't drive it without wrecking it.
On this point, the cartoon by Geoff Pryor in The Canberra Times of 16.06.2007 at says a lot, if not all.
Come to think of it though, one of those mightn't be bad to use as a debt truck.
Where do you stand?
On one hand, in desperation, the Howard "New Order" Liberals have forced the Corporation Unions to come out and clearly state that the WorkChoices legislation, in its entirety, is solely for them and their shareholders! That is likely to be less than 10% of our population.
It is so important that they are prepared to spend millions of dollars in propaganda to maintain their Corporation's government in power irrespective of the wishes of their shareholders.
This should backfire on them and the Howard corporation - big time!
You also have three elected Liberal MPs being investigated by the Australian Federal Police. One has paid back the taxpayer funds that he rorted but - why isn't the law dealing with him and the others?
On the other hand, you have the Labor Party being forced by propaganda to disassociate itself from elected employee Union representatives in the work place who, break the law? The law should then deal with them.
What is missing here is the freedom of association, a basic human right. As a Union delegate for 22 years I will attest to the following:
To single out two feisty elected leaders in the Union movement for their indiscretions and claim that their behaviour is that of all members and leaders of the Unions is just plain stupid and typical of the Howard "New Order" lies and deceptions.
The days of "Communists under the bed" and "bludgers in swimming pools" by the real Liberals, are well and trully over.
Now we have a burgeoning cancer of foreign "investment", foreign ownership and $532,000,000,000 in foreign debt.
So, where do we stand?
Ten per cent of our population running the nation for the benefit of themselves alone?
Or 17% of our work force being unionists [and lessening monthly, according to the Liberals] having a say in their workplace safety and welfare which directly effects them and their families?
Indeed - where SHOULD we stand?
NE OUBLIE.
Where do you stand
Ernest William, could you tell me what the difference is between the Corporations Unions spending millions of dollars and the Labor Unions spending millions of dollars.
Why have Rudd and Gillard only just found out about McDonald (the union thug). This must have been common knowledge even to an ex Union delegate like yourself. Could it be that Rudd realises that the public do not want these thugs running things.
Yet you yourself lump all Corporations unions together, more Labor hypocrisy.
An example required?
Alan Curran, you failed to answer the question asked. Perhaps if I provided an example of the behaviour in question it would be easier for you. Then the matters of honesty and hypocrisy can be readdressed. So, do you need an example?
Opinion please.
Alan Curran, I note you are pointing out an alleged omission on Ern's part. I also note that you are both free with your opinions and make much about the alleged dishonesty of some people. Therefore you might just be the person who can provide an opinion of some behaviour I have seen.
The behaviour is of a person posting allegations against a public figure which are then rebutted by another person. Rather than acknowledging the rebuttal, the person fails to make any response on the matter until several months pass and he posts a variation on the original allegations. When asked for substantiation the poster in question again fails to respond.
What do you think about that kind of behaviour?
Trolling For An Opinion
Bob, I wonder just who you might be talking about? For example, I have some posts addressed to Alan which sit there in stoney silence, their questions unanswered.
I wonder why he doesn't respond. But them again he spends so much time running around the various forums blurting anti-Opposition propaganda, I assume that he just does not have enough time in his busy day.
It also leads me to wonder whether there is an officially sanctioned propaganda book that is issued to blog contributors from "Liberal Party Central" because so much of what I read is similar. Still, to be fair, there may also be zealots who of their own volition make this stuff up.
For those contributors who use the "insult-then-move-on" style, I also wonder whether they might not be more accurately called trolls. Alan, of course, is excluded. What do you think?
Opinion
"Unbelievable Truth" Mark 2.
I cannot with certainty put a name to each of "faceless people" who lead these Corporations, but at least I can give you the structure and titles of the 29 Employer Unions that control the Howard Liberals.
Source: http://www.atua.org.au/ptta/022.html
All have different formal establishment dates and "With some exceptions these Peak Councils are not registered under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act - 1904 or the Industrial Relations Act 1966 but their affiliates are often registered Organisations".
These Corporation Unions were publicly asked by John Howard to assist him in the media Corporation's Advertising blitz to maintain him in government.
By far the major issue for these unelected and mainly foreign owned Employer Unions is to support the draconian WorkChoices Laws.
Many of us have consistently claimed that the Laws were introduced by an arrogant Corporation's government for the Corporations.
At least the desperation and political bias of the Employer Unions confirms that fact.
The Howard "New Order" would like you to believe that these multi-national Employers are creating more JOBS due to those laws. With these laws, amalgamations and the often hostile takeovers in Australia - I can assure you - the opposite is true.
Reasoning and logic will guide you to realise that NO employer, large or small, will employ even one (1) more employee than the absolute minimum required to produce the maximum profit.
The proof of literally thousands of JOBS being lost is even reported by the Howard media but I have not seen or read of any substantial proof of the 300,000 that Hockey and Andrew Robb claim.
Especially since there is supposedly only 250,000 oppressed by individual AWAs at present --- that number will explode should Howard succeed in the federal election.
NE OUBLIE.
5000
"The unbelievable truth".
I cannot understand for the life of me, why any decent Australian would vote for the Howard Liberals. [They are not Liberals anyway]
Firstly, I would not consider an Australian a decent person - if that person voted for the Howard "New Order" knowing full well that they lie consistently; that they do not keep their promises, core or non-core; that they are rewarded for failure and dishonesty; that they "farm out" their responsibilities to chosen private companies and that they consider themselves a Corporation with the predatory Corporation's values to shareholders only.
They function entirely as a Corporation. If the person has been a great sales person [or Minister] without any semblance of honesty or decency - that person will be appropriately rewarded by the Howard Corporation.
The problem there is that the voters for Howard's Corporation are merely "stakeholders" and as such are treated as commodities to be used to enrich the mainly foreign Corporations.
Surely there is no other plausible explanation.
Secondly, the obvious intentional dividing of our people on every available contentious issue would be the objective of a group consumed by power and devoid of responsibility.
This government has done nothing to unite our people - so much so that the Australian Flag is now considered by many, as an indication that the flag bearer is a Howard "New Order" supporter and un-Australian.
It should have been inconceivable that Australia, which had democratically elected a government, could be forced into an illegal invasion of another sovereign country and based on a lie.
And this, while being aware of an 87% opposition from the people they purport to represent! Fair dinkum.
I shudder at the prospect of the Corporations and their media considering that the Labor Party could really be a threat to their totalitarian control of our country.
The venal media cannot lose - their opinions could influence the future of our generations - but - their responsiblities are only to their shareholders.
Hence the arrogance and patronising attitude of Howard, Abbott/Costello and their "silent servants".
Remember - whatever the Howard "New Order" claims against the opposition parties - it is for sure, what they are doing themselves.
As the much media maligned Mark Latham so often said: "How does Howard get away with it?"
Be aware Australians, that the media's methods is the same as predatory animals - wound the target and allow the "pack" to consume it.
NE OUBLIE.
Problems seem lesss when you have an alternative.
By removing him, I [we] have a chance of removing Howard. Why? Because it is people like Mr. Nairn who brown-nose Howard to maintain their position of power and wealth.
Eden-Monaro was once a proud and prosperous Labor electorate - until the political tsunami of 1996. That year was the corporations’ victory.
We now have another Labor candidate who may bring back to our electorate, a speaker and advocate in the Parliament for the people of Eden-Monaro.
As Labor Party members, my Wife and I have received a "Webdiary type of identification" from one Mike Kelly (Colonel RAR Rtd).
In my mind this person provides a balance between the conservatives in our population and the workers who are the backbone of our country.
Because Mike's letter to Party members makes his history common knowledge, I quote some of his disclosures.
If anyone understands the high unemployment rate in Eden-Monaro; the draconian WorkChoices laws; who appreciates the trials and tribulations of the working classes – I feel that this fellow stands the litmus test.
There is just no future for Australia in being a corporation with a working poor of white coolie Australians and 457 visa slaves.
NE OUBLIE.
Margo: The Government refused to let Mike Kelly give evidence about the Abu Ghraib scandal - now we know why. See Webdiary's reports Was Australia complicit in US war crimes at Abu Ghraib?, Misleader Hill asks fellow Abu Ghraib misleaders to inquire into themselves.
Alternative????????????????
Ernest William, just what we need - another union hack from the Storeman & Packers. He forgot to tell you that he is also looking forward to be sitting on a fat salary, whilst unemployment rises under a Labor government. He will also be just as happy sat on the Opposition backbench, where he will not have to do anything.
"Eden-Monaro was once a proud and prosperous Labor electorate - until the political tsunami of 1996. That year was the corporations’ victory".
That was not a corporations victory, it was the people throwing out yet another failed Labor government.
Margo: Alan, Mike Kelly is a Colonel. He has a strong military record. See here.
The Leopards and their spots.
Perhaps to regain some credibility, Alan Jones [twice gonged by Howard] advises the older population that Coles and Woollies are ripping us off. Fair dinkum?
This has been evident for many years as [IMHO] the monopolies created by the rush into Globalisation have created sub-companies to control the food from primary producer to retailer.
This will eventually destroy most, if not all, of the small businesses. And yet, they still vote for their enemy, Howard.
Costello tells us that the Australian Bureau of Statistics has stated that we have consumer confidence! What he doesn't say is that the "statistics" produced by the ABS [as an agent of the Australian government] are those supplied to them by the Australian Government of the day - namely Costello himself.
Almost all products other than food are having a garage sale with up to 70% off being common. Is this due to the end of the financial year and the prospect of a federal election? Or of a stable and confident economy?
The latter is up for reasoning. It could be that people are confident of the economy as Costello says or it could be that the offers are so good that the $34 billion credit card debt will balloon even further. Or perhaps the $532 billion foreign debt may increase to a situation where we cannot afford the interest on those debts?
Or, it could even be that, out there, there is a feeling of anticipation that Labor may at last relieve our insecurity by Australia deciding on a change for the better.
IMHO, the biggest con perpetrated by the Corporation's media is the supposed prosperous economy!
There is no doubt that the profits of the Corporations have increased remarkably over the last several years but - was that really due to the Howard economic management or the commodities boom?
The media continue to mention the four interest rate rises since the election in 2004. Is it not true that there have been eight (8) interest rate rises since 2002? And we currently have the third highest interest rates in the industrial world? Not bad for a "booming economy"?
The "Jolly fat fellow" Joe Hockey, must have been chosen by Howard to take the flack of WorkChoices because of his Shrek appearance.
Like Costello, he plucks figures from thin air and claims that the web of deceit called a "safety net" will make being sacked a pleasure.
And no one in the media asks them to substantiate their figures.
Be aware of the "New Order" mentions that they would claim as mandates IF they are elected to bury our Nationality viz:
Already I have mentioned the following "suggestions":
And now some more "mentions for mandate":
There will be more collusion between the Howard Corporation Government and the Corporation Unions who are the sole beneficiaries of the current WorkChoices laws.
And just remember this. There is no such thing as "full time" employment when the employer has the right to sack the employee at any time, day or night, and without any excuse.
However, YOU have the final say by sacking a government which would dare place you in a "charity" situation for foreign Corporations.
Keep your minds and eyes open wide or you will miss the trickery.
NE OUBLIE
Get real, Joe Hockey.
I think that the description of Joe Hockey as Shrek is plausible.
No doubt the jolly fat fellow image suited Howard's anointment of this person to try to salvage the sinking Liberal New Order.
While he plucks figures out of the air, and is never ever asked by the media to substantiate them, he states: The unions are front and centre of the ALP but the corporations are not front and centre of the Liberal Party. Come off it, Joe!
Howard invites Liberal Party delegates and business observers who pay $8,000 for the privilege of a lavish banquet and – as Tony Abbott says – to John Howard's private home. The last I heard was that Kirribilli House belongs lock, stock and lounge room, to the Australian people.
These corporation bosses were overseeing and joined with Liberal Party stalwarts as brothers in Arms and - Joe says that they are not front and centre of the Liberal Party. Fair dinkum.
The truth is of course, that the Howard New Order is nothing more than another corporation in concert with the corporation unions.
They all come up front and centre every three years to frighten the populace into voting for their corporation, the Howard New Order, for another term of plunder, lies and deception.
They are one and the same with the business objective of profit and more profit regardless of the cost to Australia, the taxpayers, their families, or future generations.
Does anyone wonder what the venal media and the Howard sycophants would say if Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard were to invite trade union representatives to oversee a Labor Party delegates' meeting and, pay $8,000 a head for the Labor Party?
It is not only the ALP, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard who have an almost insurmountable task ahead of them. It is the entire Australian voting public.
For eleven long years the only lie working for the corporations' media is that the economy, (which continually increases their profits while the incomes and services to Australians lessen in value) will crash around our ears if we vote to get our country out of their clutches.
It is now an almost Sisyphus task for the people of our nation but it should be lessened by knowing that the commodities booms in Australia will not scream to a slithering halt if we dare to vote for Labor.
These are business people and they will do or say anything to continue their Liberal companions in power - except - to kill the mining golden goose in our country.
Just remember that the stated intentions of the New Order is that the removal of unfair dismissal laws will apply to all employees [Costello] and the universal forcing of individual AWAs including Police, Fire Brigades and all other emergency services.
While the media warms to these draconian laws, just remember that they mean that every employee under these schemes cannot have what was once known as full time employment.
Why? Because the WorkChoices legislation provides that ANY employee under these statutory contracts can and will be sacked at any time, day or night without any obligation upon the employer.
That fact removes any consideration of any web of deceit safety net for Australian employees.
Consider that fact as a sound economic reason to sack the Liberals.
NE OUBLIE.
Get real
Ernest William, don’t you find it strange that Julia Gillard refuses to criticise Labor for the use of Kirribilli House by Keating and Hawke? Labor is assuming that the electorate cannot work things out for themselves. The one thing people can work out is when someone is a hypocrite and Labor are the biggest hypocrites of them all. The economy will come to a slithering halt if Labor is elected. If you listened to Rudd on AM and listened to him blathering on about productivity you would realise that he knows nothing about economics. He stumbled and mumbled for 10 minutes. It was pathetic.
The lines are set at last.
Foreign Corporations versus the Australian people.
It is reported that the profits from the exploitation of our natural resources are primarily going to foreign investors and, the Howard “New Order” intends to reduce the taxes to assist those foreign Corporations.
But the Howard government says for Australians, it is “better to have any job than none”.
This means that the Liberals will have to fill that vacuum with other
taxes. This of course will be from the working poor of a “prosperous country”.
I still believe that on whatever issue the Howard “New Order” attacks their opposition it is really what THEY are really doing - or have the intention of doing.
“How does Howard get away with it?”. Simply - the media.
I have realised that whatever the Howard “New Order” Liberals advocate is basically the principle of Business, business and business and the devil take the hindmost Australian.
The doctrine of these predatory Liberal politicians is to maximise the profits of the Corporations (mostly foreign) on the basis that they “have invested their money” and this – according to Howard’s “New Order” has provided for the world second class citizens, “any sort of job is better than none”.
Joe Hockey, who many Australians may have considered as a “jolly fellow” has destroyed his credibility by his ad hoc defence of the draconian IR laws.
May I just suggest that, no matter what typical “tinkering” is done yet again by the Howard “New Order”, their intentions are quite clear. Australia is being sold – lock stock and barrel.
And if you let that happen, the “New Order” will claim that they had a mandate.
Think about it!
NE OUBLIE.
Margo: Ern, could you write in the comments box please! I've had to take out the font marks and it's laborious!
Learn by history and protect your future.
Just a few considerations that always seem to raise their heads when a Howard government is approaching an election.
Let us remember the lies, obfuscations, deceptions and just plain dishonesty for which the Howard "New Order" are famous - and will be held accountable for eventually - God willing.
We should also remember that these people run our country as a Liberal Party business with the same grasping greed and lack of decency that the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council Unions demand just to achieve increases in the profitability of the entire cartel (including the Howard Liberals).
So, may you say - we all share? Not so - the more profits the Howard business makes is only matched and increased by the less services we receive and the longer hours our citizens are required to work are for less incomes.
Howard's "New Order" Liberal Party is nothing more than a voter allowed "Insurer" for foreign business - providing for and protecting by law, the "garage sale" of our natural resources.
While the Corporation Unions send billions of dollars profit overseas to their shareholders, the Howard "New Order" continues to "prosper" with surpluses that should be used to improve the services for which we taxpayers pay them.
But no - they use and hoist their profits aloft - just to maintain their position of power and control, each time an election is near.
"The government of a people is what they deserve".
A government of the people should be - "by the people and for the people".
This is OUR country - these are OUR assets!
WHY aren't the "profits" of Howard's "business" translating into increased services for our citizens?
Quite the contrary is happening! Our services are being reduced - the number of beneficiaries of welfare are being reduced - the States are being GST blackmailed - the Public School teachers are also being blackmailed to create a NAZI methodology of a government dictating "how" they can teach.
The disparity between the rich and the poor continues to increase, bit by bit, and is becoming a national disgrace.
And finally - why does the "democratic vote" of a citizen depend on the "charity" of foreign private enterprise?
Many countries before us have rallied to oppose dictatorships by peaceful means.
IF our Australian Electoral Commission is a rare exception to a Howard "appointment" - I for one would be pleased to see that demonstrated in the results of this next "Change for the Better" election.
NE OUBLIE.
Shortening Odds
Ernest William, you say "I for one would be pleased to see that demonstrated in the results of this next "Change for the Better" election".
You know you are not going to get the result you want. Check with Centerbet: the odds are now Labor $1.85 Libs $1.90.They have never been wrong. We really cannot afford to take a chance on Labor again, it's too hard to clean up after them.
Lines set
Ernest William, your support for Rudd and the Unions is becoming a "Cargo Cult" with you - vote for Rudd and everybody gets everything they want. I do not think you have thought through what will happen in the unlikely event that Labor wins the next election.
Labor will do nothing for the workers except make them join the Unions, thus propping up failing and incompetant organisations. Take the latest Union campaign of door knocking the last remaining union members. This is being done at the weekends because the workers are all out working during the week. This will of course change if Labor ever gains the Treasury benches again, the Unions will be able to contact their members any day on any street corner.
By the way Joe Hockey at least understands his IR Laws, unlike Julia Gillard who seems to spend more time doing her hair than reading the Labor IR policy.
However it is all academic as it looks like the Rudd honeymoon is over. His desperate attempts in parliament today proves he is losing it.
Rudd bio
Paperchain bookstore in Manuka, Canberra, is hosting the launch of a biography of Kevin rudd on Thursday, June 21, at 5.30pm. Carmen Lawrence is guest speaker. I wonder if a Canberra Webdiarist would like to attend and report on the event for Webdiary. And, of course, I'd love a review of the book. RSVP Wednesday June 20, Telephone 6295 6723 or email events@paperchainbookstore.com.au
Here's a bit of the blurb:
Rudd Bio
Margo, I think it would be better to wait till after the election. You should be able to pick the book up for about $1-00.
Margo: You're that sure the Coalition will win again, Alan? At the moment, I think the same, but I'm not 100 percent certain. My odds would be 60/40. At least Latham wrote a book that was worth its weight in gold, admittedly after he'd retired from politics. As for me, I'll be interested to read about Rudd. As you know, I thought Labor was insane not to go for him after the 2004 election loss. At the time, Webdiarists preferred Rudd to Beazley by 2 to 1. The last two links are via the National Library's Pandora archive, as Fairfax has seen fit to delete Webdiary's archive from September 2004, when I went on contract, to when I went independent mid 2006. Thank you, Pandora!
The Howard records speak for themselves.
Howard himself and now his "New Order" Liberals hold several records which we are likely to forget with the expected massive American style NEGATIVE politics in the media.
Howard holds the interest rate record of 21% in 1982 and while Liberal Treasurer for four years, had four consecutive deficit budgets.
His Government, besides all of its blunders and blights on our international standing, has the Australian government records for:
Is there really anything dishonest and arrogant that these people will NOT do?
Meanwhile, the "New Order" Liberals continue their practise of accusing their opponents of doing what they are doing themselves.
Whatever Howard or his minions accuse Labor of thinking we can be sure that it is them that are thinking about it. So, whatever he accuses Labor of be aware that it is just another one of his Karl Rove sneaky tricks.
NE OUBLIE.
Black is White
It is ironic that the AWAs created in the mining industry in Western Australia are meant to be an example of how well these documents represent the interests of workers. Safe working conditions clearly should not be an expectation of workers. It's clearly becoming a case of when the Prime Minister says black, after all the spin has been dislodged we know it to be white.
Mr.Hockey has complained about Unions using political means to get their message across to Unionists who might vote for the Coalition. Mr. Hockey should remember that it was the Coalition that spent $55 million on an advertising campaign to soften up the electorate in relation to "Work Choices". The legislation had to be modified; so it is fair to suggest that the advertising campaign was misleading, and the best that can be said about it was that it was unethical. . Good economic management?
Mr. Howard's refrain is you can trust me; in a sense he is right, we can trust him to divide Australians for the benefit of big business.
The pre-election media spin is on.
And right on cue, just like 2001 and 2004.
Howard is always having "two bob each way" by avoiding the issues that matter to the Australian people like Nuclear Reactors and Waste; Climate Change; WorkChoices; Education and Health.
His government's simple method? Appoint subjective people to "committees" or "task forces" to take a lot of time and taxpayer funds to arrive at a decision that he has already made.
Then, as a person who "is not poll driven" he pleads with his bosses in the Corporation Unions to help him to be re-elected so that they can continue to plunder the natural resources of our Nation.
He uses Kirribilli House (which once belonged to the Australian people) as a Liberal venue for fundraising at $8,000 a head and then lied to parliament about it! Not taken up by the media at all?
With his government's well documented record of crimes, lies and incompetence, one must wonder why any Australian would vote for that group of neo-Nazis. Leopards do not change their spots and neither to proven corrupt politicians. I hesitate to guess what another term of the "New Order" would do to our already less than perfect democracy.
One has to think, reason and indulge in some logic.
Then there is the new spin on WorkChoices:
All Australians have to take a good look at themselves and decide whether putting all of the Liberal/National Party MPs out to pasture. They will have wonderful pensions and Australia can breathe a sigh of relief.
There is no truth - only the Corporations' media.
NE OUBLIE.