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Tag: Australian politics

Word power: “the new shape of Australian politics”

On this blog, a Word power post is always an attempt to draw your attention to an essay, article, report, poem or book that is particularly worth reading.

This post’s title is in fact the subtitle of the current Quarterly Essay; Minority Report, by George Megalogenis.

If I could “prescribe” just one “essential” piece for every intelligent Australian voter to read before our next Federal election….

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Word power: tax (cartoonist’s, economist’s & songster’s perspectives)

 

Australians’ 2022 views on taxation – and on taxation “reform” – are “informed” by a confusing array of truths, lies, twaddle, insight, credulity, chicanery, chutzpah, self-interested opportunism (sometimes naked, sometimes disguised) , rank hypocrisy, timidity, virtue-signalling, obfuscation, indifference, compassion, cruelty, ignorance, knowledge, and honest uncertainty.

The featured image is (Jon) Kudlelka’s cartoon for the 08 October 2022 edition of The Saturday Paper

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Word power: politically “astute”, utterly irresponsible, lethal…

 

 

In this writer’s view, such a headline fairly describes how Australian governments, plural, have now “dropped the ball” on COVID-19.

Don’t take my word for it, but please do pay attention to the words and views of actual experts on epidemic management:

The number of deaths from COVID in Australia in the first nine months of 2022 is more than ten times the annual national road toll of just over 1,000 – but we are not rushing to remove seat belts or drink-driving laws so people can have more freedom…

While it was hoped hybrid immunity from vaccines and prior infection would reduce subsequent infections, this has not been the reality. Reinfection is becoming more common….

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Word power: not-blind Fred on ‘22 election

 

It is worth remembering that these are the observations of a former senior Federal Government Minister, also – in Opposition – a Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, and that he departed Parliament at a time of his own choosing, as one of its more widely-respected members.

A government that must deal with sensible independent centrists is better than a government that must rely on the support of the most eccentric ends of its party spectrum.

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Word Power: pertinent/impertinent observations on ‘22 Election

This is #1 in a temporary series of not many episodes!

Utterly underwhelming as Australian vote-seekers’ performances have been, a few observers of “Scomo”, “Albo”, “Clive” et al – and of us, their target – have delivered choice, pithy observations…

We have inertia because we have arrived at the era of personal greed and the major parties feel obliged to pander to that greed.

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The “aw shucks, us too” taxation policy now adopted by the ALP strains beyond breaking point any reasonable definition of “alternative government”…or “Opposition”…or “Labor”…or “progressive”. Alas, many fewer words than those in this verbose header are more than enough to say everything that needs to be said about it…

…as Jon Kudelka has demonstrated in today’s edition of The Saturday Paper:

 

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Word power: “the Billy Joel of Australian politics”

 

Did I stumble upon his/their avatar in a Tibetan Plateau marketplace?

Peter Lewis’s essay is an amusing and perceptive look at “Scotty”and Billy, as fellow “masters of pastiche”.

Morrison doesn’t even pretend to try to build his own coherent body of work. It’s not that he can’t come up with a tune. Far from it, there is a ditty for every occasion. It’s just that it’s not leading us anywhere.

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Word power: Peter Martin on “normal” Australian incomes v “top end of town”

Are many Australians woefully ignorant of what income levels currently sit within reasonable definitions of “normal” and “top end?”

Are the leaders of both of our major political parties deliberately furthering our ignorance?

According to Peter Martin’s solidly evidence-based article, the answer to both questions is a resounding “yes”.

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Word power: hey, big (Oz Fed Govt) spender!

This post alerts you to two provocative essays about Australian governments’ approach to “public spending”.

One looks at general home truths, facts, fictions and illusions, with particular reference to our “post-pandemic” economic & social well-being.

The other addresses Australia’s response to “the threat from China”.

According to Richard Dennis, we Australians are reluctant to look into the simple truth hidden in plain sight:

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