PRIME Minister Michael Rimmer, in The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer, overcame one of the main objections to consulting the masses on political questions – cost – by installing in every home a Yes and No button above the television set. Continue reading “You can’t vote for everything”
Category: Uncategorized
The Constitution. Rights, what rights.
SO OFTEN when some injustice or unfairness arises, the aggrieved parties imagine the High Court and the Constitution will step in to save them. Most recently it was by Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest the head of the mining company Fortescue Metals. Continue reading “The Constitution. Rights, what rights.”
Danger of government by media reaction
CORPORATE managers in Australia should now get out their risk lists and add a new heading: a media blitz. In just a few days, a media blitz following one Four Corners program has put in jeopardy a $320 million-a-year industry – the live cattle trade with Indonesia. Continue reading “Danger of government by media reaction”
Carbon tax OK even if no climate change
NEW taxes, like the carbon tax, naturally alarm people. In the mid-1690s, for example, the revenue in England was being depleted by, among other things, people clipping coinage. A mooted income tax was decried as an impossible invasion of privacy. Instead a window tax was introduced in 1696. You paid tax if you had more than 10 windows. Continue reading “Carbon tax OK even if no climate change”
Editing key to papers’ online survival
SUB-EDITORS edit the news; they are not themselves the news. At least until recent days. Continue reading “Editing key to papers’ online survival”
“Sustainable population” ruse fails water test
SUNDAY used to be the key media-manipulation day. Now it’s Friday. Continue reading ““Sustainable population” ruse fails water test”
Congregation sinned against keeps faith
(An occasional series of articles written before www, now scanned. This one from 14 November 1990.)
THE Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem celebrated its 182nd anniversary last Sunday. It was formed in 1808 after the First Baptist Church refused entrance to black Americans. Continue reading “Congregation sinned against keeps faith”
Stanhope, spared media blow-torch, does well
WHEN Robert Menzies was Prime Minister he could take himself off to England for weeks at a time to watch the cricket. He was Prime Minister for 16 years and party leader for longer. Continue reading “Stanhope, spared media blow-torch, does well”
Your guide to Budget doublespeak
JUST to help you next Tuesday I am going to list 13 Treasurer’s tricks. I am sure there are more of them, but these are the main ones I have seen being refined at several dozen Federal and ACT Budgets lock-ups over the past couple of decades. Continue reading “Your guide to Budget doublespeak”
England’s cheated princesses
THE odds are probably a bit higher than one in four. These are the odds of Prince William and Princess Kate having a girl first followed by a later boy. Continue reading “England’s cheated princesses”