It’s been a long time between drinks – to speak
metaphorically.
On every front the nation we knew is under attack – not from
some foreign invader, but the anti-bodies within that seem to be misreading the
health of the nation and crying wolf.
One of my right leaning friends asked the other day what it
is about our current leader that raises my hackles so – it made me think. There
are a myriad of one off irritants that bite at my ankles. Words have become entities of their own with no
connection to my reality. There is a basic belief in politics that if you say
something often enough it will become true. There is no future vision, no
leadership, no original thought, no learning…need I go on.
I feel like I am in a
Dr Who episode where the human disguised space aliens are gradually eating me
away while trying to tell me it is for my own good.
There is a pervading
atmosphere of toxic negativity bought about by the constant message that the
economy is in trouble, we expect too much, we are under attack from invading Indonesian
boats, that unions are evil – every part of our national fabric is being
unravelled to re-knit the pullover into a good ole 1956 model.
And as a result probity, humanity, ethics and morality- if
they ever existed within the hallowed Capital Hill walls - seem to be leaving the
sinking ship.
Look at the rhetoric:
Stop the boats
The whole catchcry focuses on the fear of being overrun by
people who are ‘illegally’ arriving. Even Operation
Sovereign Borders reeks of invasion. Occasionally there is a hint that this
measure is to save drowning at sea, but essentially it includes no reference to
the fact that desperate people, made more desperate often by our well
intentioned interference in their county’s dilemmas (for right or wrong) need
somewhere to be safe. Clearly the death
of Reza Barati on Manus Island should send a message to the human side of
politicians that something is wrong with the policy – something absolutely
wrong!
Governments don’t
create jobs, business does.
Well, clearly that’s unfounded – who does the business
bidding of government if not those people who are employed in their departments
and who are all too dispensable when things do not go as politicians wish.
We don’t speak on
matters of national security.
Clearly the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
should have headed his own advice before misleading the Australian parliament
and people in regard to the Manus Island tragedy.
And in the meantime Transfield picks up an enhanced contract for work on the island (no tender
required); Craven and Donnelly score the Australian Curriculum Review (no
tender required) and a myriad of other cronies fall in to line to head up
reviews of unions, pink batts, and the next bright retro idea the PM lands on.
Oh- that will be wages, conditions, welfare, health, education……………………. (add
other areas here!)
What is all this for?
Budget surplus – the economic god factor.
And how does that work?
1.
Minister asks department to identify their costs
for the coming 12 months
2.
Department provides costs
3.
Treasury halves the request
4.
Minister gets 2/3 of ½ of the original request
5.
Department allocated funds and expected to do
all work identified in original request
6.
Minister requests 20 more things to be done to fulfil
mad, ad hoc election promises (eg give every engaged couple $250)
7.
Department told to fulfil request ‘within budget’
Last night I watched Q&A. Apart from the ludicrous inference from the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development that young people could successfully negotiate individual working conditions on an equal footing with employers, there was some sunshine.
Clive Palmer’s response to the
question of a young man about what more could governments do to address the
problem of depression and mental ill health:
Paint a positive picture of future.
I hear cardinal Pell is moving to the Vatican to manage the
budget. With his background and proclivity Tony would make a perfect right hand man.
But, no. I recall being told that when Tony wanted to study
for the priesthood he was rejected because the Catholic Church can only cope
with one person at a time who thinks they are infallible.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------No
No Art Work of the week – more importantly a link to
the March in March website.
https://www.facebook.com/MarchinMarchCanberra/photos/gm.225978640919786/611950788874269/?type=1