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A lot of Australian politicians have a problem because Trump’s America has gone batshit crazy. Why is this a particular problem for them? Basically because they and their parties have been following the American lead for decades. Pissweak Aussie pollies have been following in the shadow of big brother for the longest time. Not having to really think for themselves or come up with anything original has attracted a certain kind of Australian to their ranks. This applies to both sides but the Libs and Nats in particular have been drinking deeply from that stars and stripes cup for many years. Australian politicians bereft of inspiration now.Continue Reading

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The true story behind the Trump tariffs will blow your mind. You may or may not know that the key economic advisor behind the tariffs is one Peter Navarro. Donald Trump originally came across Navarro thanks to son in law Jared Kushner. Apparently, he did an Amazon search for books on economics and found one with the catchy title – The Coming China Wars by Peter Navarro. In that book Navarro references repeatedly an economist named Ron Varo to bolster his economic theories about the effectiveness of tariffs. It turns out that Ron Varo does not actually exist and is an anagram of Navarro’s own name. The dishonesty of these right wing extremists around Donald Trump is gobsmacking.Continue Reading

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In the wake of Trump 2.0 and the growing realisation that America is completely on the wrong track or, indeed, coming off the rails, do we need to de-Americanise Australia? Take a moment to consider how far down this Americanised route Australia has already travelled. In this Neoliberal Era, in which we live, it is big business running the show and Corporate Australia has imported most of their ideas and ways of doing things from the Yanks. Over decades, we have brought in American CEOs and many of our home grown business leaders have done their MBs at US higher learning institutions. Things like outsourcing jobs overseas to reduce labour costs and the rise of private equity investment are all American initiatives. Australian big business is very US orientated in the ways it goes about things.Continue Reading

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Imagine electing a President capable of turning the world against you in record time. Trump making America hated globally. Have you ever had a relationship with someone who turned out to be the most selfish person you have known? Someone who may have started out promising you a shopping list of goodies but ended up costing you big time? I think many of us have met such individuals in out time. Donald J Trump is that man for the United States of America. Former friends and allies are having to make other plans, stung by his callous disregard for them.Continue Reading

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I don’t know if you have ever heard of the Trojan Horse? This is a device contained within the ancient story known as The Iliad. Whether it actually existed is debatable but it has become a popular symbolic metaphor down through the ages. Basically, it was a very large, hand constructed, wooden horse like tower. The story goes that the invading Greeks built it, hopped inside, and had it moved in front of the gates to the city of Troy. Eventually, the Trojans were intrigued enough to move it inside their city gates and later that night the Greeks snuck out and opened the gates for their army – final outcome the fall of Troy. Why someone would want a bloody big wooden horse structure, I don’t know. There are reasons given that the Trojans thought that it might be a gift from the gods. ‘Beware of Greeks bearing gifts’ – is one of many sayings to emerge subsequent to the reading of this chapter of The Iliad. What is today’s Trojan Horse?Continue Reading

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The LNP Coalition in Australia is a right wing political party, no longer in the mould of its founder Robert Menzies. Its current leader Peter Dutton continues to take the LNP further right via divisive commentary and policies. Why they call Dutton ‘Temu Trump’? Peter, like many on the right, see Donald Trump as an inspirational model for extremist anti-government behaviour. Blame the government for everything is a popular sentiment in America. The LNP encourage similar attitudes here downunder, as they seek to tap into societal grievances toward bureaucracy and red tape. Slash the civil service and reduce the government services provided to minority groups and those who support centre left political policies is a long held Coalition position in Australia.Continue Reading

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Donald Trump’s chaotic governing style and tariff heavy economic policies are playing havoc with the stock market in the US. Trump slump costs investors $5 trillion. What’s next? Trumpflation?  Most economists predict that things are only going to get worse for the nation, globally, and for ordinary folk. Those of us with superannuation are already paying the price for those Americans who elected Trump to the presidency via our losses on the stock market. Trump 2.0 and its culture wars are raging through the US. Mass sackings, mass deportations and mass losses on Wall Street.Continue Reading

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Do you know who is driving the bus? By this I mean, who is leading our societies and who is making the important decisions that we all follow? It is not the obvious candidates and by this I refer to the politicians. Business leaders make the decisions which effect our lives and livelihoods. These profit driven CEOs are laser focused on the bottom line for their companies and shareholders. A major shift has occurred over the last 35 years, where workers and consumers have been shunted to the back of the queue and shareholders have become everything to companies under the guidance of their boards and CEOs.Continue Reading

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Welcome to Neoliberalism. Bienvenida. Here in downtown Neoliberalis there is a new kind of freedom. You are free to pay for everything. User pays, you see. There are no evil socialist  institutions, none left anyway. No universal healthcare. No social security, no welfare from the government. Indeed, we are doing away with the whole concept of government. Business can do it better. Business can do it cheaper and much more efficiently. Then, we don’t need public servants, do we? Non, monsieur. Only honest, salt of the earth billionaires to run the show. Welcome to Neoliberalism: Be free to pay forever.Continue Reading