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Talking Politics
- Thread starter Legends of 2017
- Start date
Well if we are sticking to the real world (rather than what I would like to see ideally), I don't think a staged transition is possible really. When things eventually go to *smile*, people will finally realise that the current system doesn't work. I think a return to the gold standard is an inevitability. However, given the abysmal state of people's understanding of money, basic economics and political structures, I think it unlikely that a large scale change to free market capitalism is possible, perhaps only pockets here and there. Given how entrained our thinking is towards the idea of nation states, democracy and collectivism, it would take something monumental to shift the opinion of everyday people.KnightersRevenge said:
Browndog said:
Every time the government falls silent, there will be the stench of cover-up. The Tories under David Cameron learned the hard way, Abbott will follow suit. The more the information is suppressed, the bigger story becomes. Whoever is advising the government ought to rethink the strategy, bad news can be managed provided it is drip fed, covering up a wart doesn't make it go away.
Giardiasis said:
Attention seeker has had his last chance
Amanda Vanstone
As the AFL season comes around we are all reminded of the importance of teamwork. In any team, each member has to be able to do their job well. Those who are multiskilled or excel in their particular speciality are particularly valuable.
Nonetheless, the one infallible rule of a team game is that unless you are a team player you are a burden. You will detract from the team. With that in mind, those Liberals who, in good faith, voted for Cory Bernardi to be No. 1 on the South Australian Senate ticket must be somewhat disappointed.
I don't share many of his views but so what? I believe it is in our interest to promote a society where we all enjoy freedom of expression. That freedom gives each of us the right to express ourselves. Importantly it also allows us to benefit from the rich diversity of views expressed.
The downside of it is we all occasionally have to listen to views with which we might strongly disagree. That in itself is no great hardship for people with a modicum of emotional intelligence. However, it is much less palatable when someone chooses to exercise their right to freedom of expression in a way that deeply offends others using deliberately inflammatory language. It seems then to be more about creating a fight and wanting the inevitable media attention than it does about expressing a view.
Senator Bernardi appears to deliberately choose his language in order to get that attention. While I think it is stupid and juvenile to do so he is entitled to choose that path. He is, of course, preaching only to the converted. He is revving up his supporters. He is not converting anyone.
He is not showing us he has the skills to win people over. In politics the capacity to win people over, to convert people, is vital. Anyone can get in the ring and hurl abuse. Winning votes is another matter altogether. The real problem is not his views. The real problem seems to be that by his own actions, he repeatedly reveals himself to lack the discipline needed to be a team player.
His latest foray into abortion is a case in point. It is well known that Tony Abbott has had to deal with the fact that many Australian women disagree with his views in this area. He has worked to assure us that he has no plans to change the laws. Clearly, significant effort was made during the campaign to show him as being a blokey bloke, but also a guy who has had the benefit of years of living with his wife and daughters. The issue was off the agenda.
Then along comes Cory. Raising abortion in January was destined to get significant publicity. Abbott is big enough and busy enough to bypass it, but that isn't the point. The point is Bernardi showed either a lack of judgment in raising it or, worse, an indifference as to whether it would cause a problem. If you are not sensitive to, or just don't care about, the problems you could cause your leader you clearly don't care enough about the team. With friends like Bernardi who needs enemies?
The other aspect of Bernardi's outburst is how it seems to be so loaded with bile about women who choose to have an abortion. As one indignant letter to the editor rightly pointed out, it takes two to tango. One wonders why Bernardi isn't out advocating the old anti-AIDS line promoting the use of condoms: ''Tell him, if it's not on, it's not on.''
If he was advocating that men and boys take responsibility by never having sex without using a condom people might react in a more positive fashion. Women in particular. Bernardi, as a not bad looking, if obsessively fit, middle-aged man, might be just the sort of person to take the responsible sex message out to young Australian boys. He would be helping to shut the gate rather than complaining about the horse having bolted.
Bernardi had more than one chance at showing the world what a good team player he can be. Malcolm Turnbull gave him a chance. Bernardi couldn't resist a public gibe at his senior South Australian colleague Chris Pyne and refused to apologise. Turnbull, rightly, sacked him. It was no surprise that Bernardi subsequently voted for Abbott over Turnbull. Tony Abbott then restored him as a parliamentary secretary.
It didn't last long. Enormous offence was taken at remarks he made with respect to Islam. He said he was not opposed to Muslims but to the Islamic religion and used terminology to describe a fundamentalist Islamic approach. It was extremely provocative. It upset many people who are moderate Muslims and who have friends in those communities.
I have friends who are practising Christians over a variety of denominations, with a varying degree of commitment. I know of none who, because the Bible cautions against wearing shirts of mixed fibre, worry at all about this admonition. They clearly don't accept an ''eye for an eye'' because they don't condone the death penalty.
If Bernardi wants to take everything in the Bible literally, he will never eat another oyster or lovely blue swimmer crab or scallop. Oh dear.
Abbott warned him. Bernardi ignored it and went way over the top in his remarks on a gay marriage bill. Linking the approval of same-sex relationships with polygamy and bestiality was just too much and Abbott sacked him.
Here's what Abbott said at the time: ''Discipline is critical. Team play is vital. And that's what Cory has had some problems with. And that's why I thought it was very important to act quickly and decisively as I have.''
Abbott went on to say that while the Coalition did not support gay marriage there was no place for remarks that were offensive to people in same-sex relationships.
In the AFL, as in politics, being a team player is vital. Bernardi has had two chances. There won't be another.
Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/comment/attention-seeker-has-had-his-last-chance-20140119-312ih.html#ixzz2qvd0Fe8X
darn Leftie, Amanda Vanstone.
bullus_hit said:
as much as i dislike her, she does occasionally, very occasionally, speak sense when she is not acting like the Liberal party cheersquad.
Brodders17 said:
I don't agree with her politics but she is rarely backward in coming forward. Speaks plainly and is passionate about her home state. Let's see what happens to Cori from here. I would like to see him stay on and let the electorate decide, let's see whether we are right about the the general public's stance on these issues or whether the red necks are still more numerous than is comfortable?
IanG said:
I just read the transcript and all I can say is this guy is a complete amateur. Domestic politics on the international stage is a recipe for disaster, thick head Tony just cannot grasp the concept of being a leader and not a bitter and twisted head kicker.
Memo to Abbott: You are no longer in opposition, start creating instead of dismantling. Try promoting Australia instead of resorting to revisionist smear campaigns.
What a disgraceful man, no wonder Indonesia is in throes of severing ties with Australia, who would want to deal with such an ideological nut case.
I had hope that the party would rein him in and make sure he had good advisors. Surely the party see the damage he is doing to them and the country too. It's a real embarrassment.
Or maybe Malcolm in the Middle is biding his time and subscribing to the "give them enough rope" philosophy.
Or maybe Malcolm in the Middle is biding his time and subscribing to the "give them enough rope" philosophy.
I'm not even mad at Abbot, he's the same disgrace he's always been.
I'm mad at all the Australians that voted for him.
I'm mad at all the Australians that voted for him.
Baloo said:
This is generally the case but on on reflection the choice was pretty simple.
Fast broadband versus inferior broadband
Mining tax versus public sector cuts
Climate change action versus climate change denial
A regional solution to people smuggling versus breast beating & alienating our neighbours
Expert consultation on education versus the pathetic culture wars
Robust environmental protections versus plundering our natural resources
An economic policy which reflects the times versus a fundamentalist approach which ignores circumstances
In his time as prime minister, what has Abbott created? Absolutely nothing by my reckoning, he's systematically dismantled everything and anything which doesn't accord to his ideological bent. Consultation is no longer a priority and it appears he will stop at nothing to return to the Howard years. He talks about surpluses like they are the be all end all, yet concedes we won't see one for up to ten years. He is an embarrassment on the international stage, intent on talking down Australia to further his own ambitions. When he stated to Tony Windsor that he would do anything but sell his own arse for the top job, he meant it. He's a dangerous man and unfortunately he's still got 2 years to divide and damage the country further.