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Government By Autocrat Is Far Worse Than The Alternative

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In: democracy, featured, Government, history, latest post, politics, power

It is patently obvious that government by autocrat is far worse than the alternative. Even those of us largely ignorant to this kind of history would be familiar with the excesses of Hitler, Stalin and Mao. Too much individual power, most often, results in murderous results. And now we have Trump. A president who rules by decree and has little need for congressional support. The right wing narrative has been one of embracing the strongman leader. I mean, whoever thought that re-electing Donald Trump to a second term in office was a good idea must have rocks in his or her head. The abuse of power is worse via the tyrant than the committee.Continue Reading

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Stupid Right Wing Culture War’s Behaviours

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In: corruption, democracy, economics, featured, Government, identity, latest post, media, politics, power

Look around at the evidence of stupid right wing culture war’s behaviours in Australia. Those on the Right champion fossil fuels like diesel and coal, despite the economic savings now available via renewable energy and batteries. Australia has spent the last 30 years facilitating the investment and development of LNG. During that same time frame, successive governments subsidised diesel use to the tune of billions every year. Australia is one of the largest exporters of LNG globally, but our transport trucks run on diesel and not on gas. Australia imports oil and diesel. Predominantly right wing federal governments have overseen the energy policies followed in Australia during this period. The trucking industry itself has long been content to stick with what it knows rather than open its eyes to realities like global warming. Surely, it would be smarter to use our own resources rather than run our essential trucking transport infrastructure on imported energy.Continue Reading

flag of australia

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In: economics, featured, Government, history, identity, latest post, media

Dear Australia, I don’t want to be negative but fear you are in the grip of vested interests. A letter to Australia to warn you about stuff. Ever since the days of the squattocracy some hard white men have been having their way with your resources. Never minding about the Indigenous blood they carelessly spilt upon your red earth. These determined settlers disregarded British instruction about allowing Aboriginal people to access their waterways and hunting grounds, preferring to slaughter them expediently instead. The British overlords were piss weak in this regard, it must be said.Continue Reading

woman looking at a receipt and making a surprised face

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In: economics, featured, Government, latest post

America and Australia share similar symptoms in their economies right now with high inflation sticking around. The central banks have been raising interest rates in a traditional monetary policy approach to combatting high inflation. However, it isn’t working that great. Supply side inflation not solved by raising interest rates. Both nations are suffering with housing shortages pushing up rents and this is contributing to the high inflation. Putting up interest rates is not going to help with this; indeed, it is making the situation worse. Making building houses more expensive via higher costs of doing business is not going to increase the supply of housing.Continue Reading

black handled key on key hole

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In: economics, featured, Government, latest post

Australia is in the midst of a severe housing crisis and there are no solutions currently on the table at government level. The rental stocks have fallen to an all time low for residential accommodation. Meanwhile, the nation remains in the grip of a cost of living/high inflationary period. This is what the federal government needs to do about housing.Continue Reading

tail of an airplane

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In: economics, Government, latest post

Globally, we all went through a pandemic, which cost some their lives and most of us economically. Here in Australia we copped a big whack of inflation and a steeply rising cost of living on essentials. You and I paid the price and continue to pay the price. Corporate Australia is screwing us, however, big business in this country didn’t pay the price of the pandemic. If they did they have made sure they have recouped that money and then some. Qantas got a couple of billion dollars from the Australian government and have just declared a $2.6 billion record profit for the year. Are they paying that money back? No way, according to Alan Joyce the departing CEO.Continue Reading

paper map of australia placed on wall Stuart Roberts robust defence of Robodebt

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In: economics, Older Stuff, politics

We are living at a time of rapidly rising costs of living driven by spiking inflation and its consequent interest rate increases. The economy is like a dog chasing its own tail right now. Those many Australians who live on the wrong side of the poverty line are sinking further into dire financial trouble. It is in light of these circumstances that it is important to have an understanding of the Wellbeing Budget. Conservatives have derided the concept as branded by hippy yippy fringe concerns and un-Budget like. The Budget, in their eyes, should be about cold, hard economic facts with no room for sentiment. The woman that the hard right despises most, Jacinta Ardern the NZ prime minister, has had a wellbeing Budget and that is proof of its unsuitability for them. Continue Reading