Australian Federal Election
-
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="579149" data-time="1463057640"><p>
"Leadership, Accountability, Environment, Same Sex Marriage, Refugee Status"<br><br>
Those are the most important things for you when voting? More important than the economy, taxes, infrastructure, education, super,etc etc? How can you not vote for the Greens?</p></blockquote>Firstly: did I say "most important" relating to those points? Nope. They're the ones I talked about with her, that I'd put as points in the email with detail I haven't shared here. Because fluffybunnys are fluffybunnys.<br><br>
In addition, that email said none of them were doing themselves any favors with the current brand of political attack dog bullshit that results in incremental (if any) change. There was a more general discussion about neither side earning their money in the eyes of the electorate etc.<br><br><br>
Secondly: who the fuck DO you actually support, Rancid? Because all you seem to do is bitch like a bitchy old bitch about everything. <br><br>
Your stance on "leftards" and the ABC points toward ownership of a blow-up Tony Abbott doll, but you're such a contrary bastard I can never be sure.<br><br>
Mostly you say what you see as wrong - like your post above - and that drowns out any suggestion you've got to put things right. Or maybe I just filter you out subconsciously because I expect the same old thing. Whatever.<br><br><br>
As to your list of reasons - which is way too fucking long to expect anything meaningful from this lot, BTW:<br><br>
Tax, economy, super etc - neither side makes a difference to me. Swings and roundabouts for anything finance. If you want to get ahead financially, don't sit around waiting for a government because, as Baron has pointed out, they're not going to do any of it efficiently anyway.<br><br>
Education - my kids are in the Catholic system which I consider mitigation enough. The ALP are talking the talk, while the Libs seem to want to cut funding. Can I believe either of them? Doesn't matter because I'm putting my own money in and university is a runaway freight train in a neoliberal environment.<br><br>
Infrastructure - NSW is doing me alright by me at the moment. The Federal governments lately have been so busy sabotaging each other and themselves that I'll be waiting a while before that happens to any meaningful degree.<br><br><br>
Different perspectives, really. Scrabble around for details on policies to froth over if that's your thing. Fill your boots. That is just point scoring between the majors. Fact is, the budget is a limited supply, someone is going to get screwed.<br><br>
I'm a white guy in a nuclear family earning above the average salary in a mortgage below the average Sydney mortgage. No investments, no negative gearing. The system doesn't really change that much for me.<br><br>
But I'm not a selfish, elitist fluffybunny. The whole point of our tax system is to give people a fair go, and make sure the basic safety nets are in place. I'm not against that. <br><br><br>
Less fucking bludgers would be nice, and I'd support any policy on that. But they have votes too, so it's about as likely that politicians would legislate against bludgers as it is politicians agreeing on a pay cut for themselves.<br><br>
If they start going back to Leadership and Accountability as philosophical points, they could rediscover some nobility in politics. Actually think about the nation first instead of their party.<br><br>
Looking at Question Time the way it has now, we're a fucking long way off that. -
I apologize. It was late, I was very tired, and that post screamed hippy.
-
<p>And from my summary I can see why you'd think that :)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As usual, all these things are tied together in the election.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Decline in coal is bad for the economy in terms of jobs and growth, but the opportunities in renewable energy could help mitigate that or even provide a boost.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not that we'll do it through manufacturing, but R&D and licensing out new technologies (<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/australian-gel-based-battery-technology-attracts-major-uk-finance-73407'>http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/australian-gel-based-battery-technology-attracts-major-uk-finance-73407</a>) could be a real money maker. </p> -
AFP raids at night all caught on camera, makes for good TV doesn't it [emoji3]<br><br>
So the "story" goes, Fairfax print story about costs, technologies, etc etc related to the NBN. An attempt to embarrass Turnbull to show blowouts and poor decisions when he was Communications Minister. NBN CEO reads article and sends message to staff saying that information was confidential and the release of it could be illegal. He refers the matter to Aust. Federal Police. AFP brief Minister for Justice and shortly after the Shadow Minister (as per caretaker conventions) about an operation to conduct raids on certain properties. <br><br>
Those properties involve the Melbourne office of Senator Stephen Conroy, former Minister for Communications and the house of a staffer for current shadow Minister for Communications Jason Clare. <br><br>
What a laugh. <br><br><br>
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk -
Stephan Conroy makes my skin crawl. What a repulsive human being.
-
This is gold:<br><br>
“You grow the economy by making sure that when people are sick they can get to a doctor without having to pay a big co-payment fee upfront,†Shorten said. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="582173" data-time="1464060821">
<div>
<p>This is gold:<br><br>
“You grow the economy by making sure that when people are sick they can get to a doctor without having to pay a big co-payment fee upfront,†Shorten said.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>That could have been worded better... I'd have said productivity and therefore economic growth would be higher if people can afford to go to the doctor as often as required, rather than ending up in hospital because they can't afford to go to the doctor. Also, since prevention is normally cheaper than cure, it also means lower taxes or lower tax increases to fund the health care of an aging population..</p> -
<p>Well put Godder, it is well known in Health (where I work) that money spent on prevention and by managing chronic illnesses better is far more cost effective and it allows the hospital system to focus on those who are really ill. However, walk into any emergency room of most any hospital in the country and you will find people there who would be better off at a Doctor's office.</p>
-
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Godder" data-cid="582260" data-time="1464089472"><p>
That could have been worded better... I'd have said productivity and therefore economic growth would be higher if people can afford to go to the doctor as often as required, rather than ending up in hospital because they can't afford to go to the doctor. Also, since prevention is normally cheaper than cure, it also means lower taxes or lower tax increases to fund the health care of an aging population..</p></blockquote>
<br>
That's nice, but wasn't what Shorten said. He was combining his usual bs about "growing the economy" with an attack on the Coalition's attempt to introduce a copayment. That "big co-payment was $7 btw. I used to pay $25 when I lived in socialist paradise Norway. It's about the same in all of model Scandinavia as well. -
<p>And why a stupid amount like $7? Make it an even $10 and they don't have to worry about small change if paying by cash.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Or just get it back at tax time.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="580832" data-time="1463692448">
<div>
<p>Stephan Conroy makes my skin crawl. What a repulsive human being.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Yeah. He's no Dutton, though...</p> -
<p>People are stupid. They continually refer to the "free Medicare" as if no one actually funds the fucking thing.</p>
-
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="582406" data-time="1464140696"><p>
And why a stupid amount like $7? Make it an even $10 and they don't have to worry about small change if paying by cash.<br><br>
Or just get it back at tax time.<br><br><br><br>
Yeah. He's no Dutton, though...</p></blockquote>
<br>
No, Dutton is actually competent. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="582493" data-time="1464148836">
<div>
<p>No, Dutton is actually competent.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>At anything in particular?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I mean, he looks and sounds a dull twat of a man, but serving in the drugs squad probably makes you a humourless fluffybunny. Particularly in QLD where you're probably on the take, anyway ;)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And, TBF, the media probably cuts out anything good he says or does.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>They certainly didn't miss him on the "water lapping at your door" comment - that was straight up his work.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Oh and the old "illiterate refugees will take Australian jobs" line. That was a fucking pearler, completely ignoring the fact that the literacy of people seeking refugee status isn't that relevant. Or the fact that <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/may/18/fact-check-was-peter-dutton-right-about-illiterate-refugees-taking-jobs'>his own department disagreed with him</a>. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bddk47SCUAA7l8x.jpg" alt="Bddk47SCUAA7l8x.jpg"></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>In a similar vein, he denied the spying on Greens Senator Hanson-Young when she was visiting Nauru, <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/immigration-department-confirms-sarah-hansonyoung-was-spied-on-20150609-ghk0kr.html'>which again the Department contradicted.</a> He referred to her as an "embarrassment to this country". Uh... yeah...</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Probably can lay a bit of the blame on Abbott and ScoMo for the refugee thing of course - a lot of the asylum seeker / people smuggler rhetoric was in place long before he mumbled his way into the Immigration portfolio. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Still, he wasn't much chop as a Health Minister, according to a poll of Doctors who voted him the <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jan/12/peter-dutton-ranked-as-worst-health-minister-in-35-years-in-poll-of-doctors'>"worst health minister in living memory"</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Abstained from KRudd's apology to the Stolen Generation, which in a lot of ways is probably his most unworthy act, even over and above his gaffes and incompetence.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I thought his accidental text to that journo, referring to her as a "mad fucking witch" was funny though - we've all been there! And he stopped that anti-abortion whacko from entering the country.</p> -
It can't be easy being immigration minister when you have a huge number of dickheads loudly advocating a return to mass people smuggling. <br><br>
I think he's doing a good job and his comments about that insane Greenie slag were right on the money.<br><br>
I agree that his "take errr jeerbs" line was bullshit". <br><br><br>
You want embarrassing, google Conroy and milk. -
<p>I can't really judge whether he's doing a good job, because it sits outside my day-to-day experience. I assume you're closer to the facts, or work in the Department.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Still, gotta love the Schutzstaffel uniforms for Border Force - that's a bit of a winner if you want to look scary and important. Particularly if you want them to march around Melbourne, questioning people like its the Third Reich. Shame that got cancelled, really. Fucking leftard hippy protesters. How dare they defend our right to not be harassed on the street by authorities with no actual reason!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I mean, shit... if Dutton was "doing a good job" then surely the people who are in the country are already here legally? After all, Abbott had successfully "stopped the boats" for nearly two years by that point.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I don't think anyone is advocating people smuggling as a rule. That's your conservative approach to it. I want faster, better processing of refugees in a way that ensures we're meeting our obligations as an international signatory.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As you pointed out earlier though: budget/economics is a big issue. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>So why the hell are we processing people offshore for nearly twice what it costs onshore? Surely a bit of onshore processing would result in some more jobs for Aussies too, while we're at it?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'll bet Cambodia is loving that $50M we tossed them for 5 refugees though. Fucking LOVING that. Corruption was never so easy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>#jobsandgrowth</p> -
<p>Why did you write: "stopped the boats"?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Have they been secretly coming in but the guys in their SS (very classy btw) have hidden it from us?</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>"So why the hell are we processing people offshore for nearly twice what it costs onshore? Surely a bit of onshore processing would result in some more jobs for Aussies too, while we're at it?"</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Probably because it acts as a very effective deterrent. I'd rather the cost of that than sending the navy out every day to pick up a new boat or dead bodies.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>I want faster, better processing of refugees in a way that ensures we're meeting our obligations as an international signatory.</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Feel free to offer some suggestions. Do you place refugees selected from UN camps and undocumented arrivals who paid criminals in the same boat (no pun intended)?</p> -
<p>I didn't say Dutton was a saint and it was you who, for some reason, compared Conroy to Dutton.</p>