DONALD Trump and Pauline Hanson both fail the tests of logic and history when they call for bans on Muslim immigration because of its “threat” to American/Australian or the American/Australian way of life.
Continue reading “The importance of religious tolerance”
Month: September 2016
The challenge of the dentally challenged
MEDIBANK Private’s decision this week to pay a little bit for dental checkups comes just as I am feeling like “Jaws”, the character in the James Bond movies. Continue reading “The challenge of the dentally challenged”
Exhaust yourself on election day, I say
NUMBER to the bitter end, I say. The electoral roll for the 15 October ACT election closed this week. As voters make up their minds, the experience of the recent Senate and Northern Territory are instructive. Continue reading “Exhaust yourself on election day, I say”
Political donation reform can meet constitutional problem
AT LAST some agreement among the three major parties. All agree that it is not acceptable for a frontbencher to take money from a corporation with strong ties to the Chinese Government. And that it is a resigning offence. But something does not quite add up in the case of Senator Sam Dastyari having some expenses paid by the corporation. Why isn’t it equally unacceptable for any Australian MP to take any foreign money? Continue reading “Political donation reform can meet constitutional problem”
The fragility of democracy
AFTER the collapse of communism and the holding of mostly free and fair elections in nearly all the Eastern Bloc countries, US policy makers made an historic mistake. They thought events were confirming their belief that there was a natural progression in political development that led to liberal democracy as the highest and best form of government, and that once achieved there would be no going back. This was because people would see democracy’s obvious advantages. Continue reading “The fragility of democracy”