41 posts tagged “politics”
Here is their excellent response.
There is also a link on this site to a letter signed by a number of concerned groups including Save the Children Fund. They correctly recognise this approach is not targeted in the correct area.
I know we are now getting closer to China and that's not a bad thing, but trying to mimic China's censorship tactics is following them just a little too closely.
With the experts available to Conroy, I don't understand why his approach is still being persisted with. He can't possibly believe he is on the right track so he must have alternate motivations.
Is he religiously inspired? Quite often folk who are will follow any suggestion they think "feels right" in the hope it turns out for the better.
Perhaps he wants to appear to be doing something? Looking busy is not a bad tactic unless someone starts actually looking at what you are doing. I have seen this used successfully in the Public Service.
From a more sinister viewpoint it could be aimed at shutting down the more revealing information streams like Euthanasia sites or real data from areas where our troops are stationed. I don't think this one is the case but I think young Stephen is an optimist if he thinks other Governments of this country wont use it this way in the future. Can you imagine leaving information sources in the hands of someone like Phillip Ruddock or Tony Abbott? It would simply be too irresistible to these folk who think it's their God given right to manage our lives.
Trouble with the "better half" has caused an unwelcome focus on some of young Silvio's appointments to positions in politics that would normally go to politically experienced folk. Instead they seem to be going to young attractive female candidates with little or no experience.
How do you get yourself out of the spotlight? Why, stand next to someone even more bizarre.
Sound the bugle. Col. Gaddafi has come to the rescue.
The context for the big break was Italy apologising for their occupation of Libya from 1911 to 1943 and handing over some US$5bn by way of compensation. Tied into the deal was Oil and Gas privileges and full access for Italian patrol boats to Libyan waters.
The payoff was the bizarre behavior of Gaddafi. The 200 strong all female body guard, and 50 limos carrying these folk around which grid locked traffic around Rome. He pitched his Bedouin tent in Central Park which was responded to with "No camping" signs being erected by protesters.
Even more bizarre was Gaddafi pinned a photo to his chest of a Libyan guerrilla being captured by Italian troops. The Left wing pollies responded with a photo of a Lockerbie victim to remind folk of the colonel's part in the tragic bombing that Libya ended up paying reparations for.
Meantime young Silvio has taken a break from the front pages, no doubt considering it was $5bn well spent. I can just imagine how annoyed the families and friends of the Lockerbie bombing are feeling right now.
New Scientist has an interesting item addressing the Alcopops tax. The Medical Journal of Australia has received four letters covering 50 health researchers who want the money to go to an independent research body as opposed the industry funded DrinkWise "evidence based" research body.
Sounds like a good idea to me but in the world of politics things can get a little tricky and there is a large amount of money available to bend a decision in favor of the grog industry. Already we have seen an independent senator, allegedly pro family, vote to return the previously collected tax to the industry. Happily another piece of legislation quietly passed through the House that has stopped the money being returned.
That's a good start but getting the money to a research body that is not associated with the industry would certainly look better even if it is compromised further down the track. This is not to say the current body is corrupt, but the fence between the research and the industry is automatically higher and therefore harder to hurdle.
Doubling the size of the submarine fleet must have some sort of reasoning behind it but I'm stuffed if I know what it is. The wacky proposal that this would allow us to face off against the Chinese is bizarre to say the least.
Unfortunately this enthusiasm doesn't extend to our troops serving in the lost cause of Afghanistan. The request for better armour for their vehicles remains largely unmet and the Minister appears in no hurry to remedy the situation. It seems our troops are highly respected in front of the cameras but invisible when the photo op has passed.
I guess I should not be surprised by this situation. When I was serving, badly needed infrastructure used to be planned for the next budget, then something sexy, shiny and lethal would be proposed and the needed stuff would be pushed back again.
What is really tragic here is the lack of outrage from the Public. The highest risk to our kids is road side bombs and unprotected vehicles have no way of surviving when one explodes underneath them. Can you imagine the Health and Safety bodies accepting companies in Oz not protecting their workers from the thing most likely to kill them? It wouldn't be tolerated.
So how come the Government doesn't have to play by the same rules?
Watching the Lehrer News Hour and reading various blogs of late it appears the US is locked in furious debate over how to deal with the breaking of the Geneva Convention and other presumed misdeeds by George W Bush Junior‘s Administration.
It’s certainly a tricky problem with lots of light and shade but it also has a bit of scaremongering being generated by folk who have a lot to lose.
The first non-issue is the claim that folk following orders will be prosecuted. Hardly likely and it smacks of desperation. There are much better defences than this line. Obama himself has said they will not be chasing down the torturers (oops. I mean interrogators). The focus will be higher up the chain of command.
Another is that anyone who knew of the particularly offensive decisions, like Speaker Pelosi, can be held accountable. That’s a long bow to draw considering these folk aren’t the decision makers, but at least this is a more complex argument than the first one. The tactic here is fear and aimed at the enthusiastic Senators. If you can scare enough of them you might get the numbers to fend off the investigation.
These tactics aside, there are a number of important matters raised about the previous Administration that require urgent attention but caution needs to be exercised.
Firstly, the claim that torture revealed valuable, actionable information. As unpleasant as it is, this has to be examined closely to see if this is just spin. It’s commonly claimed that torture doesn’t work and if this claim is found to have substance then the debate can move on to which tactics prove most effective. Considering the CIA’s record of burning tapes and lying to Congress, these claims may well prove to be a fabrication.
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, with so many folk from the previous Administration confused about the definition of torture, the US needs to think about that definition and make it clear that such confusion will not be tolerated. The damage it has done to the country’s security is immense. In this area heads must roll or the next bunch of cowboys in control will ignore the rules.
But having said that some thought has to be exercised when it comes to the photos showing torture. The Abu Ghraib photos went straight to recruitment posters and it would be a tragedy to hand Bin Laden a free shot at building up his forces.
The previous Administration showed a stunning lack of thought when it came to protecting the country and even to this day seem oblivious to the damage they have done to the US overall. Locking down the responsibilities of an Administration with penalties that apply in the US would seem to be essential in preventing another casual approach to Administrative responsibilities.
Politicians would do well to remember the trouble faced by Augusto Pinochet when visiting Margaret Thatcher in the UK and ending up spending 17 months in detention. Every Government should face the real risk of having to take responsibility for their actions or indeed inaction otherwise we may as well be living in an old Monarchy.
It’s the pigs in Animal Farm all over again.
I am at a loss to understand why we need instant answers these days. A problem pops up like the biker death at Sydney's airport and the immediate reaction is to write more legislation.
No looking at why existing laws are not being enforced, no check to see the "in depth" detail as opposed to what gets served up in screaming newspaper headlines. Nope. Keep it simple. Ban everything you can possibly get to.
Last time I checked it was illegal to deal drugs, carry weapons, and whatever else these characters are doing but rather than enforce the law, the pollies prefer to look busy with an immediate reaction. Looks a hell of a lot like the new Terror laws from little Johnnie Howard.
Legislation is often flawed especially when it is rushed and granting the NSW Police Force more power seems like a solution fraught with danger. Anyone ready to jump to their defence should have a good read up of the corruption rife in the service back in the seventies. And for good measure see who went to prison and how high up the chain of command these folk lived. It went right through the force and into the Judicial ranks. (I wonder how Murray Farquar is going these days?)
I haven't heard the term "Zero Tolerance" yet but I bet it's been used. It's modern speak for Zero thinking.
I think the law abiding riders should get themselves together and converge on central Sydney in a mass protest. Nothing is surer than these laws will be abused against law abiding riders. It sounds like these laws also include parts where you are not allowed to know why you are being dealt with if the cops decide to shouldn't know. The George W Bush special.
Somehow I think if it wasn't time for an election soon in NSW we would not be coping this loss of civil liberties.
This is the first attempt of putting some Zazzle designs in to postings on Vox. And it's the start of a new group devoted to bumper stickers. Feel free to add your own and drop me a line if you need help to get started.
As interesting and smart as President Obama is, the best way to keep him on task is to keep an eye on his work. Something he has encouraged himself. This sticker is to remind Americans that it is in their hands to produce good Presidents.
What a beautiful result.
Here in Oz it's a bit confusing working out how the Republican party can offer "more of the same" for the coming election and have some sort of chance in the polls. After totally failing to rid the world of Osama, and worse, rewarding the 911 culprit with an impressive membership drive, the new team look just as inept as the out going Bush. Still the fantasy exists. Iraq can be won by force of arms.
The drubbing delivered in the half Senate Elections showed just how reactive Republicans are to the wishes of the general population. That is to say, NOT. No change to the Iraq policy. With the upcoming vote Americans have a chance to really punish their deaf pollies but it seems that pipe dream of the destruction of all things non-Christian has closed their eyes to the bleeding obvious.
It may prove instructional to my fellow Aussies to read this primer for what makes a Republican. They will still look a bit wacky but at least we might be able to predict what path they will follow if they win Government again.
I especially like point 7.
In order to be a Republican, and vote accordingly, you need to believe:
1. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's Daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.
2. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.
3. The United States should get out of the United Nations, but our highest national priority should continue to be enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.
4. A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multinational drug corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.
5. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.
6. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle and berate our longtime allies, then demand their cooperation and money.
7. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health care to all Americans is socialism.
8. Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.
9. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.
10. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness, and you need our prayers for your recovery.
11. What Bill Clinton did in the 1960's is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '80s is irrelevant.
So there you have it. Logic comes a poor second when US politics gets fired up but it may give some predictability.My Groups
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