THE last Newspoll for 2016 reinforced the basic political conundrum of this decade: Voters crying: “Me; me; me,” But also demanding governments make sure they address all of the important national-interest matters: budget deficit, economic growth, education, health care and infrastructure. Continue reading “Doing nothing pays. Paralysis sets in”
Month: December 2016
International disorder and dashed democracy
LIBERAL democracy and the rules-based international order received the biggest set-back in 2016 in any year since before the Berlin Wall came down. The only year that comes close is 2003, the year of the illegal invasion of Iraq based on concocted intelligence. Continue reading “International disorder and dashed democracy”
The inagile emptiness of our Prime Minister
WHEN I attempted to transfer everything from my iPhone 6 to my new iPhone 7 this week, and what is supposed to be the gold standard software for music and media management – iTunes – deleted nearly all my music, and then the back-up external hard drive also failed, a bucketload of Anglo-Saxon nouns and adjectives emanated from the home office. Continue reading “The inagile emptiness of our Prime Minister”
$15,000 a year a fair payment for everyone, especially the disaffected
IN THE wake of Brexit, One Nation, Trump and the general alienation of those who have lost their jobs, wages growth and sense of purpose to globalisation, Australia should join Finland in considering a minimum-payment scheme. Continue reading “$15,000 a year a fair payment for everyone, especially the disaffected”
Court document shows how Qld stole $500m in Indigenous wages
IN 1964, Hans Pearson – an Aboriginal man with a wife, Anna, and eight children – was granted an exemption from the legislative scheme under which wages earned by Indigenous people (mainly stockmen) in Queensland were paid into a state-run fund. Continue reading “Court document shows how Qld stole $500m in Indigenous wages”