The Demonising Of Youth Crime
Australians like to pick on the powerless. Older Australians in particular exemplify this trait in the demonising of youth crime. Let’s get one thing straight, the political and societal campaigns against this apparent scourge are not about changing things but about punishment and revenge. The vast majority of us have never been personally affected by youth crime but take up the cudgel anyway out of spite or some such motivation. Those who vote for tougher penalties are not interested in solving what lies at the core of criminality but rather in gaining satisfaction from punishing perpetrators. Youth crime is a trope. Children, as a group, are generally powerless to combat such societal moves, as they aren’t organised and have no social voice.
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Socrates Was An Old Soldier
Socrates was an old soldier, who fought for Athens well into his 40’s. Alcibiades was instrumental in his downfall, in many ways, as it was the impetuosity of this young man that ultimately poisoned the well of public opinion against Socrates. Much of what we think we know about Socrates comes from the writings of others – Plato and Xenophon in particular. Interestingly, Xenophon was an Athenian who spent much of his life living in Sparta. Alcibiades, of course, fled to Sparta in an act of treasonous betrayal before returning when Athens was defeated by the Spartans. Democracy fell and the 30 Tyrants were installed to run Athens – Socrates is associated with these tyrants, as he served in an official capacity as a public servant during this oligarchic period. It was a time of great political upheaval, obviously, and Athenian citizens of standing would be hard pressed to avoid taking sides, I imagine.
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Career Politicians Killing Democracy
Australia is one of the most secretive democracies in the Western world, according to those in the know. International experts have deemed our governments more secretive than the United States in the way we go about the business of government. In my estimation it is career politicians killing democracy, which is at the heart of this problem. Careerism invariably puts the interests of the exponent over that of the community when it comes to cutting the mustard. Politicians in Australia like to stay in their comfort zone when it comes to governing the country or the state. Avoiding the glare of the media and the voting public, whenever possible, is always high on their agenda.
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Hugh White Hoists Up AUKUS White Flag
Australia has a lousy record when it comes to submarines. It seems submarines bring out the worst in our defence force and our national security aspirations. Hugh White hoists up AUKUS white flag in recent essay. Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at ANU, Hugh White knows a thing or two about this topic and Australian national security capabilities. Younger Aussies may not remember our ongoing challenges with the Collins class submarines. They may not be au fait with our dalliance with the French in regard to supplying us with submarines pre-AUKUS. The Japanese were in the running there for a while too. Basically, submarines and Australia have a perpetually sinking relationship, it seems.
Conservative Media Always Being Negative About Renewables
Have you ever read a positive article about renewable energy published in the Murdoch newspapers or on their networks, like Sky News Australia or Fox News? No? Why is that I wonder? Why do they consistently belittle and denigrate all efforts to transition to this cost effective and potentially planet saving technology? How is the conservative media always being negative about renewables helping the nation and the world? Where is the balance in their reporting and editorial policy on energy matters? Unless you are a complete idiot you have to see that something is going on here. Something underhanded and definitely not in the interest of the country and its people. Greedy men more interested in their wealth than the nation being smart for the benefit of the many.
WTF Is America? Who Is The USA?
A nation in the grip of Trumpism sees the demise of President Joe Biden for future re-election. No matter the irksome words emerging from Republican candidate Donald Trump a goodly part of America backs him. A gun crazy culture nearly witnesses the assassination of yet another political leader and that makes him some kind of hero in their eyes. WTF is America? Who is the USA? A multiracial population resides in America and still the white identity wants to hoard power for itself. Make America Great Again – was that back when white Protestant men controlled all the levers of state power?
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Dumb Americans & Trump
If you talk to most Australians about America and Trump the general consensus is that America’s love affair with Donald Trump puts them in the ‘too stupid to believe’ category. Dumb Americans and Trump. Are they really believing the non-stop lies coming out of Trump’s mouth? This has most of us rolling our eyes in disbelief. Dysfunctional relationships are often like this – you know when a close friend falls for a complete arsehole and cannot see him or her for what they truly are. It happens and the destructive consequences of such hook ups may go on for some time. In this instance, with a fantasy creation like Trump ascending to the highest office in the world, the impact is felt far and wide.
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OMG Biden Is Too Old!!!
How old is too old to be the President of the United States? 81? 82? 83? 84? It seems in the land of the free you can never be too old to lead the world’s most powerful nation. The recent televised debate told us a different story, however. This contest of words, where no teleprompters were allowed, dropped Joe Biden in the deep end of a pool of shit. Up against the world’s greatest liar in Donald Trump – a man who spent 14 years on TV being trained to perform in this medium. OMG Biden is too old!!! The worldwide audience exclaimed in panic.
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Fiction Over Facts: Political Narrative’s Meat In The Sandwich
Sam Lebovic in his 2023 book State Of Silence revealed the prominent place of fictional novels in the development of espionage legislation at the turn of the 20C. In Britain, the emergence of the spy novel genre fed directly into the appetite of the public and legislators to lay the groundwork for the national security state. The United States followed suit via the creation of the Espionage Act in 1917, as concerns about German spies were inflamed around WW1. Protecting national interests from the dastardly deeds of foreign spies on American soil became an emerging key role for government. The FBI would rise up under Director Hoover and reach its early apogee during the WW2 Nazi spy ring arrests in the US. The ever increasing power of the national security state and its many agencies throughout the 20C would see more state secrets kept from the people. This has created the deep distrust and proliferation of conspiracy theories in America today. Much of this is fed via fiction presented on TV, at cinemas, in books, and increasingly on social media platforms. Quite simply the general public has far greater access to entertainment than it does to any real facts when it comes to issues pertaining to national security. Fiction over facts: Political narrative’s meat in the sandwich.
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Corrupt Supreme Court Betraying The Rule Of Law In America
I have always said beware of those that dress up in uniforms, as they hide their true human failings behind them. SCOTUS has again proven this truism. These partisan justices cloaked in their black robes are failing the most basic applications of the law. Corrupt Supreme Court betraying the rule of law in America, as they consider the Trump claim of presidential immunity over election interference in the 2020 race. The US system of administration, which puts these 9 men and women at the very top of the judicial tree is dependent upon their decisions as final arbiters.
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Conservative Media Always Being Negative About Renewables
Have you ever read a positive article about renewable energy published in the Murdoch newspapers or on their networks, like Sky News Australia or Fox News? No? Why is that I wonder? Why do they consistently belittle and denigrate all efforts to transition to this cost effective and potentially planet saving technology? How is the conservative media always being negative about renewables helping the nation and the world? Where is the balance in their reporting and editorial policy on energy matters? Unless you are a complete idiot you have to see that something is going on here. Something underhanded and definitely not in the interest of the country and its people. Greedy men more interested in their wealth than the nation being smart for the benefit of the many.
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Trump The Bible Salesman: The End Must Be Nie
Donald Trump is selling $60 bibles to the American public. If you wanted to witness the lowest point of this saga and American popular culture this is pretty close. This guy has no shame because he has a complete absence of integrity in the first place. Trump would sell his own mother if there was a buck in it. He cheats at golf, constantly, which defeats the whole purpose of playing the game. Trump the bible salesman: The end must be nie. The United States of America has become an international laughing stock.
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Hugh White Hoists Up AUKUS White Flag
Australia has a lousy record when it comes to submarines. It seems submarines bring out the worst in our defence force and our national security aspirations. Hugh White hoists up AUKUS white flag in recent essay. Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at ANU, Hugh White knows a thing or two about this topic and Australian national security capabilities. Younger Aussies may not remember our ongoing challenges with the Collins class submarines. They may not be au fait with our dalliance with the French in regard to supplying us with submarines pre-AUKUS. The Japanese were in the running there for a while too. Basically, submarines and Australia have a perpetually sinking relationship, it seems.
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Private Wealth Vs The Public Good
Life in Australia, a centrist Westminster democracy, and a mixed economy of both planned and free markets has always been a balance between private wealth and the public good. Today, however, we are seeing the uneven fruits of imbalance in the housing sector in particular. Ever since John Howard brought in the capital gains tax discount some 30 odd years ago – inflation in the residential property market has run riot. It has now reached an apogee of unaffordability for many Australians, most of them younger and losing the aspirational dream of home ownership in their lifetimes. Private wealth vs the public good – tough conversations need to be had to address the severe problems around this matter.
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Supreme Court Fails America & The Rule Of Law
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has failed to uphold the rule of law when it comes to the insurrectionist actions of Donald Trump. It is a pretty worrying situation when the highest court in the land plays politics over upholding the constitutional laws of the land. Supreme Court fails America and the rule of law. America has ended up with an activist conservative majority of justices, who are hellbent on protecting Donald Trump by hook or by crook. These 5 guys have been placed in positions of unassailable power, at great expense to those with vested interests, to ensure that Republican endorsed values and politics get the nod.
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