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 Topics - Social/Political
  Beat-ups and panic grips Oz agencies as APEC approaches posted by yarra, 2007-07-10 00:36:40
The local conservative voice, the Bulletin magazine, has a cover beat-up that is worthy of the best and worst of Cheney’s lies and misrepresentations regarding Saddam and Al-Qaeda. Our outstanding security agencies have determined – all by themselves – that approximately (note the figures) “..22 to 25 .. [suspects] have evil intentions," brilliant! That figure is sure to instil confidence in the hearts of all grannies and Alzheimer's victims. Imagine, in a population of 21 million our skilled security buffoons have found 22-25 possibles – any statistician could tell you that is a definite under estimation in a population the size of Australia’s. I have personally heard numerous people in bars stating out loud that if Howard walked into the bar they would personally strangle him with their bare hands, such is the hatred felt by average Aussies for this racist, lying, war criminal. (full story)
social/political / national
 Mad dogs and Neocons posted by nano, 2007-07-09 12:36:01
What degree or level of madness must be reached before various regulatory forces act in the public interest? Mad dogs and neo-cons share similar levels of dissociation and the propensity to indiscriminately harm those around them. The euphemism bandied around by neocons for creating holocausts and humanitarian disasters is ‘regime change.’ In a recent interview, John Bolton referred to this term as a ‘solution’ to the Iranian dilemma; Bolton and his fellow neocons have no concept whatsoever of international relations, sovereignty and diplomacy. Bolton subscribes to simplistic and rustic, Wyatt Earp type ‘solutions’ – just blow them away! This comic book approach to reality perfectly demonstrates the criminally irresponsible actions of American neocons, unfortunately this approach doesn’t quite ‘cut it’ in the real world, AS IRAQ CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES – to even the dimmest mind! (full story)
social/political / international
 Talking Walls posted by peptide, 2007-07-07 13:50:49
The mainstream press is full of stories but for ONE BIG exception; a FAILURE the proportions of which promise to sear the pages of history. The criminal intervention and the subsequent holocaust and humanitarian disaster that is Western Interventionist Iraq! The media is at pains to avoid this story for obvious reasons -- it participated in the original ruse and deception upon which a full-scale military invasion was launched. The list of war criminals must therefore include the name of Rupert Murdoch as he clearly carries equal responsibility with Bush, Cheney, Blair, Howard and the conservative forces that support them. Arrests for war crimes must extend to Murdoch and other complicit media moguls/organisations – Murdoch is damned by his own words, delivered in numerous speeches and addresses to his fellow criminal conservatives. (full story)
social/political / international
Day Dreamer: of Butterflies and Men posted by Kwang zi, 2007-07-06 18:10:10
It is known and supported by the historical record that the masses will tolerate almost anything from their rulers providing their (adjustable) comfort levels or pain thresholds are not suddenly exceeded. Failure to address this vital fact will always result in a failed mass movement or failed social ‘management’ strategies. Recent history has noted neo-conservative strategies formulated around the above axiom. To effect social change the masses require a stimuli/event to exceed the boundary of their comfort zone. Destroying the American democracy and implementing totalitarian policies was child’s play post 9/11, anthrax attacks and the amplification of tiny criminal groups to the status of international (terrorist) threat! (full story)
social/political / international
Oz government Not schizophrenic over Iraq oil statements posted by barra, 2007-07-05 14:39:33
As the aging carrier USS K(Sh)itty Hawk made its way into Sydney Harbour, Oz defence minister Brendan 'studs' Nelson announced on national radio that oil was a major factor in Australia's (criminal) involvement in Iraq. Howard hoped this apparent rogue statement from one of his loyal minister’s would create political hysteria and grab headlines internationally and he was right! Setting the agenda and stealing the debate are well known tactics of Howard. Few possess the highly refined skills required to manipulate the local and international media to the extent that Howard does. (full story and 1 comments)
social/political / national
A Matter of Justice or the Failure of Nations posted by nano, 2007-07-02 11:44:41
Press secretary for the Bush Whitehouse, Tony Snow, stated that Bush “has the ability to exercise his ‘own authority’ ..,” [my emphasis]. The comment was made in reference to a dispute in Congress and to presidential discretionary powers; however, what everybody is at pains to avoid is the nature of this “authority” in the US political system. Yes, the authority that is invested in the president is invested by the people through the democratic process; a president then becomes the representative voice of the people; and all things being equal – which they clearly are not – democracy continues in a healthy State! And therein lies the tale; the sickest democracy in the world today is the American ‘democracy.’ (full story and 1 comments)
social/political / international
 The K.I.S.S. Principle posted by Kismo, 2007-06-30 15:25:38
For those not familiar with the acronym ‘KISS’, it expands to, “Keep It Simple Stupid”! The KISS (K) principle was/is the most invaluable teaching/training aid in the IT industry, especially in the early days when people actually feared the ‘complexity’ of computers. Anyone who is confronted by an overwhelming amount of ‘information’ tends to lose themselves in a sea of confusion. Fortunately, a very bright and creative mind developed the ‘K’ principle for dealing with these situations. (full story)
social/political / international
 Cults of Unreason and the End of Species posted by dreamboat, 2007-06-29 12:44:23
People today seem perplexed as civilisation as we know it plummets into the abyss. Yet, in the broad sense, the future is entirely predictable. The much lauded system of economic rationalism has resulted in huge disparities in wealth comparable to ancient societies; the wealth of Pharaoh-God-Kings of the past was staggering and in stark contrast to the wealth of their subjects. The peoples’ living standards were maintained at ‘adequate‘ levels to ensure a fit work/slave force for their rulers – remind you of anything, are you able to draw any comparisons today? In fact ancient Egypt (utilising modern poverty statistics) would have fared better in the social sense than most of today’s societies. So much for economic rationalism and laissez-faire capitalism! The inequity of today’s economic reality is far from mysterious; however, one mystery remains, the masses of today tolerate far greater inequities than the masses of yesterday. (full story)
social/political / international
Stealing the Debate and Setting the Agenda posted by nano, 2007-06-27 19:15:59
In Oz politics, stealing the agenda and debate is worth a ton of policies. The local media has trained itself to follow -- with scant regard for actual value -- the most controversial (sensational) political stunts. For the politician who is able to feed the media shark with the tastiest dish, the national political consciousness becomes theirs to exploit to full advantage. (full story)
social/political / national
 The Empire of Clowns ... posted by Arthur Silber via reed, 2007-06-26 12:03:54
At this moment in the monstrously bloody course of American Empire, I suppose I might take the sardonically grateful point of view. At least we now have some direct experience of how easy it was for nauseatingly corrupt Roman leaders to impose their will upon the ignorant hordes, and literally to get away with murder. Hell, who needed to "get away" with murder? Bloody, painful, lingering, ungraspably sadistic murder was one of the major entertainments. (full story)
social/political / international
  And the Band Played On .. posted by peptide, 2007-06-22 14:46:51
The title refers to the band on the ‘Titanic’ playing while the ship sank beneath the icy waters. Metaphor or allegory for the assault on free speech and democracy, judge for yourself but don’t forget to remain passive, servile and fearful in the face of all assaults on hard won freedoms and civil liberties – liberties your fathers died in wars to protect! (full story and 4 comments)
social/political / editorial
 The Cynical politics of John Howard posted by major mitchell, 2007-06-20 22:31:15
This week witnessed John Howard’s cynical politics plumb new depths.
It is no secret that the larger percentage of income responsible for the economic boom Australia is experiencing issues from the resource/mining sector; and it is also no secret that the greatest impediment to open slather corporate exploitation of the land are the rights exercised by indigenous communities over their land. (full story)
social/political / national
 Political Genius: credit where it’s due posted by finch, 2007-06-19 20:36:59
Few even know her name but she was responsible for the Roman Empire enduring for another fifteen hundred years as a theological empire. Most people and historical texts mistakenly refer to the Roman Emperor Constantine as the person who transformed the militaristic Roman Empire into the Holy Roman Empire, however, he was only a manipulated mommy’s boy. (full story)
social/political / international
US stocks tumble, global inflation fears grow posted by ABConline via rialator, 2007-06-07 10:25:47
United States stocks have taken a tumble overnight as Treasury yields surged above 5 per cent, reinforcing fears that global inflation will force borrowing costs to rise. (full story)
social/political / international
Foreign debt - Australia's black hole posted by flake gordon, 2007-06-06 12:39:44
An economic fact that everyone understands is crushing debt, personal or national. Think twice before you swallow the double talk and gobbly-gook of the conservative Howard government. Good management means high production, minimal debt, and low personal tax rates. Compare economic facts with the nonsense that issues from the mouth of the Federal Treasurer. (full story)
social/political / national
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