Send in the tanks: Russia invades Ukraine!

Putin has a Napoleon complex

The Australian economy is about the same size as Russia’s. We were expected to shit ourselves when the CCP engaged in some economic bullying, like wine and lobster
Genuine, hard sanctions on Russia, even at the cost of some discomfort among western democracies, seems appropriate

Did you know that a 2019 survey found that 82% of Crimea’s population supported Crimea’s accession to Russia. And the same survey also found that 58% of Crimean Tatars now supported Crimea’s accession to Russia, as opposed to 39% in 2014.

Does some parts of Scotland still want to become independent? Did Britain leave the European Union?

What percentage of Australian Aborigines now endorse the invasion of a few centuries ago? Are you aware that there’s a move for the Torres Strait Islands to secede?

Is WA still threating? What about Texas?

Are such moves like a pandemic or simply endemic ?

Tom I was enquiring at the “conceptual” level. Let me explain via a definition

“Something is conceptual when it deals primarily with abstract or original thoughts.”

As for this supposed message – perhaps you have a link? Or was that just YOUR attempt to construct a reality?

The CCP applied trade sanctions on Australia, because said things they didn’t like.

That was part of it. The other part was against sanctions we had already made against them. But, ignore the facts you don’t like, again 😉

Meanwhile, looks like the poor old Ukrainians are about to be meat in the sandwhich … again.

lol, a Union is searched ………….. again

BREAKING news yomm

The timing is delicious, especially after what just happened in NSW with their trains, and attempt to blame the Union there.

BTW, will the pm apologise for slurring the Union there with his lies?

I see freedum boys being free again

An interesting article on the current Ukraine crisis

Not to dismiss the monster putin is, but, as always, everything is shades of grey

Using the territory as a western sphere of interest and even military base against Russia is the main game.

It’s best to stick with mainstream parties, including the Australian Democrats

Lots of Coalition supporters have given upon the Coalition so will now vote for a minor party. They are not even trying to get the budget back into surplus. In contrast Howard was running surplus budgets within 12 months of winning govt in 1996.

People who believe in budget deficits have won. Lefties generally win in the long run. All a Conservative can do is try and slow down our decent into the abyss

This is what happens when govt takes over and free enterprise is destroyed

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/millionaires-club-among-federal-government-public-servants-balloons/ar-AAUbI9L?ocid=msedgntp

A millionaires club within the ranks of Federal Government has ballooned with a huge jump in the number of bureaucrats who have become members.

There are now 30 bureaucrats earning over a million dollars.

In the coming election I’ll be “future oriented”. Will want a representative who’s prepared to invest; who understands that high levels of service(s) requires high levels of taxation; who puts Australia first and is not beholden to foreign interests.

Hence my first preference will go to The Greens with my effective vote going to Labor.

Neil – should public servants be there to serve the Minister or the Public?

They should not be on $1M/year of taxpayers money. Plus 15.4% Super.

Kneel you are a Dick! Go to bed!

TB

WE have not run a surplus budget since 2007 racking up megabucks of govt debt. What did we build with that debt??

Howard built more things running surplus budgets than any govt since 2007 running deficits

Any visitor to Russia will learn that Putin is a popular hero because of his attempts to “Make Russia Great Again”. Russians are very proud of their history and dream of days past.

Further, he’s changed the face of corruption across the Nation. Once, corruption could be found from “top to bottom”. It was “endemic”. But no more! Now, it’s concentrated at the very top. A one stop shop as it were.

MN

The Greens are in the business of destroying Australia

Yes i remember Keating. Unemployment at 11% when he became PM. In fact unemployment over 10% for more than 2 years around that time. Home loan interest rates at 18%. Companies going under left right and center.

Keating is just another ALP person who wants to destroy Australia

What is it with Liberal MPs and rape/domestic violence…??
Did you get around to looking up the criminal cases of child abuse among politicians?

I know we’ve discussed that
I was asking reb, because when I previously mentioned that his reply was a laughing emoji x 200
I’m interested to know whether he caught up (like you did)

What a company! Last week it was systemic racism and bullying. This week it is systemic polluting!
After years of “high priority violations” of air pollution regulations at its Fremont, Calif., assembly plant, Tesla has been penalized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The agency fined the electric car company $275,000

Welcome to the policy free zone of the Voices for Party

And freedum boy is busy fighting their corflutes on the beaches, on the landing grounds …..

I wonder if Trump was President of the USA would Putin have invaded Ukraine??

What would we do without PEARLS and IRRATIONS ?

Another Global Times article alleged that sonobuoys can also be used to gather information on the performance capabilities and signatures of surface vessels. Was the Australian aircraft crew doing either of these? If so, the question then becomes who was trying to intimidate the other?

The US produced P8As are armed with torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and other weapons. Reportedly the closest it came to the Chinese warships was 2.4 miles. Did the Chinese commander consider this an ‘unsafe’ distance, harassment or a ‘provocation’, and if so, why?

https://johnmenadue.com/china-australia-laser-incident-fact-and-fiction/

Then again Menadue might be biased (and only publish …).

John Laurence Menadue AO is an Australian businessman and public commentator, and formerly a senior public servant and diplomat. He served as Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet from 1975 to 1976, working under the Whitlam and Fraser governments.

(Indeed; one cannot even begin to comprehend why the ‘peaceful people of Ukraine’ – who may or may not have engaged in an a(nti-)democratic, specifically-anti-(ethno-)Russian coup; who may or may not have continued to disenfranchise some, and, thereby, perhaps most, of their fellow Ukrainian citizens, before/after setting their highly-motivated peacekeepers upon those deemed both Ukrainian and somehow-separate(d) from the Ukrainian people in Ukraine, and now become irrationally separatist; who may or may not have accepted billions upon tens of billions in not-at-all-corrupt moneys to expend on hitherto-(non-lethal?-)peacekeeping activities over the years; before offering themselves up as a very peaceful member and potential staging-ground of NATO’s creeping mission, as recently as mere days ago, right on(to) Russia’s doorstep – might have attracted the Dumas’ obviously unstrategic attentions; and so it goes….)

might have attracted the Dumas’ obviously unstrategic attentions;

might?

Our media really are the shits

So Russia should have accepted hostile missiles on its doorstep, just like USA did with Cuba?

Guess that’s what happens when you elect a comedian.

oops, sorry

Prince Andrews case got dropped as well.

So what??

Yeah right MN.
I think you’ve just owned up to false equivalence
… there’s too many facts in my discussion. How inconvenient

Yes ToM, apparently you see a “false equivalence” based on certain “facts” etc as chosen by you. And you are entitled to that view. We are not talking about TRUTH here are we? At least I make no such (truth) claims.

But perhaps you might entertain the possibility that there are other “facts”. Other “interpretations” and indeed other “equivalences” (at least at the conceptual level) which are somewhat different to the ones you chose?

For example, we might theorise that both the USA (way back when) and Russia (more recently) believed/perceived/felt that their security was threatened by (nuclear) missiles stationed “close at hand”. Fact or not?

Both threatened Nations attempted to “negotiate” in the hope of ending/removing that threat.

In the first instance, the USA was not attacked because the “negotiation” was successful (and for a whole range of reasons not yet discussed) and Russia backed off, after some significant concessions not made public at that time.

In the second instance, the “negotiation” was unsuccessful (actually a realistic negotiation didn’t happen). Fact or not?

See any parallels? Or if you don’t can you see how others might?

USA (way back when) and Russia (more recently) believed/perceived/felt that their security was threatened by (nuclear) missiles stationed “close at hand”.
Do you understand the difference between-
* nuclear weapons actually being pointed at you, and
* the possibility of nuclear weapons being pointed at you, maybe, one day, which is unknow, maybe. But there’s no guarantee. That’s a definite maybe.
Keep looking for ways to excuse a brutal dictatorship

Did NATO lead Ukraine down the metaphorical garden path? (And it was led!) So to what extent was the leadership willing to be led? What promises (actual and implied) were made? How long before they (the promises) surface?

Given Russia will lose financially (because of the sanctions) which nations/companies will likely benefit? Do such companies make financial, political contributions? (Silly question – because in the USA that’s how it works.)

So many questions that might be asked (and should) but won’t be.

Re:

nuclear weapons actually being pointed at you,

Not sure how you determine whether the missiles are actually pointed at you or not. As I understand it, they are pointed and fired towards the sky with final guidance coming after launch.

Accordingly, it’s reasonably safe to assume that the Cuban missiles were/would be guided towards the USA and the NATO missiles will be guided towards either Russia (or China). Or are you suggesting it might be … ? (Suggestions welcome.)

* There are no nuclear weapons in Ukraine. But Russia invaded
* There were nuclear weapons in Cuba. But USA didn’t invade
Do you notice the difference?

Things are much more complicated than that.

Heads up, yomm doesn’t do ‘shades’ too well 😉

And we see here left types looking for ways to excuse the brutality of Putin.
Just as Tom R denied

You’re welcome to side with

Link?

Just as Tom R denied

Link?

“grey areas”
* Ukraine experienced generations of Russian domination
* Ukraine decided they didn’t want more of it
* Russia invades Ukraine and starts the slaughter
…can you explain what is “grey” about that

(…can you explain what is “grey” about that

Que?)

Read the Michael Dobbs account TB

fer yomm

I’m patient 🙂

Perhaps it might be worth reading (and viewing) for those that are trying to NOT draw a parallel.

Facts … are like fish swimming about in a vast and sometimes inaccessible ocean; and what the historian catches will depend, partly on chance, but mainly on what part of the ocean he chooses to fish in and what tackle he chooses to use – these two factors being, of course, determined by the kind of fish he wants to catch.

By and large, the historian will get the kind of facts he wants.

https://www.historytoday.com/archive/making-history/fishing-facts

Yes Michael Dobbs has written AN account. And that should be taken into account. But it will never be a definitive one.

As implied above, interpretations can’t be about some form of absolute truth. A state of flux is the norm.

So this morning, Morrison is off to what is described on the ABC as an Iranian Catholic Church . No doubt there will be cameras aplenty.

The irony is that the majority of Iranians are Orthodox , in terms of religious belief. Not Catholic.

In the 11th Century (1054) the “Great Schism” happened with the Catholics and the Orthodox going their separate ways.

But Morrison isn’t there for the Orthodox, it’s the Catholic vote he wants (and will probably get.)

So Biden:

asked Congress on Friday to approve $6.4 billion in aid to address the humanitarian and security crisis in Ukraine after Russia invaded the country this week

Politically it’s very risky. Remember the weapons, other treasure etc lost in Afghanistan not so long ago. The cause of much angst. Is a repeat on the radar? But he can’t really sit on his hands – can he?. Not having much luck.

Should talk to Morrison about miracles.

Live on the side of a hill. Just one from the top. Heaviest rain I can remember (locally) and for the longest. Bucketing down!

A few decades ago was camped at Lawn Hill in the Gulf – (320 km North of Mt Isa). Unbelievable 15 inches in 2 hours (Ranger’s Gauge). Driving a Holden Statesman V8 (work supplied). Couldn’t get out for 3 days (all dirt in those days) and Leave was over.

A very quick, long, tiring drive back to Brisbane – (2 100 + km). Soon retired, then bought a Patrol to do the Big Lap.

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/boodjamulla-lawn-hill

And with regard to Ukraine’s President being a “comedian”
He ran a successful television production company.
That’s probably a resume as good as being a career political hack

I don’t really need to look at a photo to get a personality assessment.
I’m married

I’ve just lodged my request to join a group called-
“Vladimir Putin LM leader of the world”
There was a section that asked why I wanted to join. I answered – because I’d like to tell your 17k members that Putin is a fascist dictator who murders his political opponents”
I haven’t heard back from them yet

It will be like Northern Ireland plus Afghanistan x 1000
As it should be

Gates cited Australia’s Covid response as the gold standard to follow.

And Stairman, Redshirt Dan WAS the Gold Standard. If he had done what NSW did, when we didn’t haven’t vaccines to protect, the story would have been different.

At least it mentioned our biggest defense, we are an island

Gold standard Dan
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

The Russian central bank is preventing foreign owners of shares from selling.
That should promote lots of confidence.

“Active and informed citizens”***
***(conditions apply)

Sucked shit clive

Pretty funny coming from the unwaveringly leftist Dreg Jericho.
..
It is reserved for those really stupid ideas leftist mongrels

Yea, lefties that write on economics and backs it all up with … [gasp] facts and charts.

Does this mean you are the opposite of wokens? snorens?

From the linked article: (an aside)

“if Poland just halts truck and rail traffic from Russia to Germany, “as it should,” it would create immediate havoc for Russia’s economy,”

Leaving Belarus and entering Poland has long been an ordeal. Passports are collected (on the bus) and delivered to an Office. Some (long) time later, an Officer (from Belarus) boards the bus and matches passport to person. (No smiling allowed – and that applies whenever meeting officialdom in this neck of the woods).

The record time for official clearance to depart Belarus (so I’m told) is/was 18 hours. A long time to be sitting on a bus. Known to order the unloading of every port and detailed investigation of each and every item within. Acts of pure bastardry but they want secure borders.

Cheers when clearance finally granted to depart; only to be followed by groans when the bus is stopped a short distance further down the road. This time it’s the Polish border guards who can sometimes prove that bastardry can be replicated. Perhaps why most only go to Russia once. (And there are other reasons as well.)

So “havoc” is (in a sense) the norm.

And yes the article is a good one. Where, when and how will it end?

So woke they can’t even agree.

fyi, I’m in the middle here. It’s good to get views, especially from pullitzer winners. I disagree with his (friedmans) call though, on almost every level.

This isn’t an 18th century war, Putin is NOT a madman, he is rat cunning, and calling him a madman I think plays into his larger game.

And we have been in/at war for the past 20 years, where everything has streamed live (almost). This is nothing ‘new’

The questions were good, but his answers (imo) were clouded by his ‘Putin = Madman’ bias. he needs to think deeper.

I read an article the other day, which to me made more sense. The attack is not about taking over Ukraine. It is about forcing a reaction from NATO, and gauging that it will not come. In the desire to expose NATO as a toothless tiger that Ukraine is better off without.

The NATO cloud has hung over Russia for decades, and he wants it gone, one way or another. This, to me, makes more sense than Putin = madman. He has shown his entire career he is ruthless, but cunningly so.

Putin is a cunning psychopath and meets the definition of a true fascist. He understands only pressure and pain
That’s what the world has to deal with

I do however, think that Putin has over-reached.

Could be, or he could have suspected they would fight hard. Ukraine is not an unkown to him. He just may not care.

Putin is a cunning psychopath and meets the definition of a true fascist. He understands only pressure and pain

Which is why I think he just doesn’t care. He thought he was backed into a corner, and saw perhaps a way out.

But not as simplistic as say Dutton

A potatoe isn’t that simplistic. Speaking of which, I did note friedmen tying it all in with China. He knows his audience (and it wasn’t specifically those of us watching)

Which he invaded countries under Bush, Obama (who practically invited him to do so) and Biden who also gave him a nod and a wink.

There is one glaring omission there. One who congratulated him on how clever he was. And who gave him far more than a nod and a wink

(Wallowing in ignorance? Or just disinterest?

Erm; one is not entirely sure that Quiet(ed) Australians, living their best post-truthiness lives, necessarily would appreciate anything other than a(n in)consistent diet of (un)critical neo(lib)con sentiment(s); perhaps.)

So where does this leave ‘Shock and Awe’ Bush?

In the same camp as howard.

and in that lies his miscalculation.

Well, that is yet to be seen. It depends on Bidens reaction. Let’s hope he isn’t as splats portrays him.

We’ll all be feeling for a long after it “ends”.

Yep, and, if they keep up bombing that nucelar reactor, the Ukraine and Russion population more than others. OK, they both will anyway

Meanwhile, business as usual in #auspol

Tom R re your link.

Would have thought that Shanks’ video would’ve received wide coverage but there appears to be zero. Maybe, it was on some commercial channels but nary a mention on the ABC/SBS.

Suppose it can’t compete with “Divorced at Second Sight” or whatever.

Posing arsehole

the abc is full of them these days. it’s like a wading pool for murdoch wannabees

Speaking of ………….

Seems it’s “photo ops all the way down” these days

This is just embarrassing now

Biden knows what he is doing with Ukraine:

Yes, they all know what they were doing. The only thing saving them atm is putins maniacal ego. He had a legitimate concern.

Some detail not available to most Australians:

Police in Thailand intend to interview four (4) massage staff employees and two (2) hotel workers before releasing the body …

Transcripts to be made available at the State funeral.

Brisbane is on the short-list to host nuclear submarines. If “successful”, the residents will become nuclear targets and that’s supposed to be a (positive) vote changer.

But whether it’s “successful” or not, the pending decision WILL be a talking point which is essentially crucial for a khaki election.

That’s the advantage of incumbency.

Logic?

So the nuclear armed enemy won’t target the nuclear powered submarines (and support infrastructure) but will focus on other craft? Really?

So your advice is: Don’t ride on the Manly Ferry, or paddle a board if war breaks out?

And you vote? Lol.

(A wigwam for a goose’s bridle, eh?)

Tom – war (and the pursuit of victory) has any number of dimensions, but none more important than the enemy’s morale.

Hence taking out the opponent’s (metaphorical) lead batter … can be devastating.

Tom, the hard evidence of which you seek doesn’t exist because there’s no precedent. It’s a hypothetical .

And the notion that Australia or any other Nation would acquire nuclear submarines while refusing nuclear weapons in times of conflict is somewhat fanciful. Night invariably follows Day.

But perhaps you might point me to an historical time when a Nation facing calamitous defeat refused to employ the most effective technology (broadly defined) available?

Even though there’s no evidence that long range, more efficient nuclear ones represent a more serious nuclear target

Because, of course, if the ‘low tech’ subs are so shit, of course they’d be as much of a target as the super subs of the sea (?)

But for other tasks, especially for operating against enemy shipping, conventionally powered diesel–electric subs are more cost-effective.

https://sdsc.bellschool.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/8191/submarine-ridiculous

TomR

Re the subs i would like to give my ignorant opinion.

First Rudd/Labor did nothing. Rudd proposed 12 subs but then did nothing. Should we have pink or blue subs. Labor did nothing.

Then the Coalition was elected. I think Abbott wanted the Japanese diesel subs. They were up and running and working.

Then the Coalition got rid of Abbott and replaced him with the French loving Turnbull. Of course we then went with the French

Bottom line is we are in trouble because of lefties like Turnbull and the ALP

Re things nuclear:

Nine countries possess nuclear weapons: the United States, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea

But:

six countries deploy some form of nuclear-powered strategic submarines: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, and India.

Anyone care to make some predictions?

As for nuclear submarines having a home port in Brisbane. Hilarious!

A complete lack of depth and in some many senses.

“Bill Clinton also joined the fight, promising to stop importing underage women from Russia. “

As long as he can keep his Cubans …………………… cigars, obviously

The enema isn’t us, it’s him

So Eachway Albo is going to be like Hawke and Howard’s lovechild!

According to ……….?

lol splats, he ‘borrowed a maxim from John Howard’, as in, said something that howard had alluded to, but never achieved

What are you talking about?? Unemployment went from 8% in 1996 to 4% by 2007 under Howard. And government debt went from 18% of GDP in 1996 to ZERO by 2007

Howard is the only govt since 1972 to reduce unemployment and /or govt debt

“” I just felt a draft “”

Name me one Labor govt that has ever reduced unemployment and/or govt debt??

…your banned
“you’re”

MN

The Coalition tried to do something about the debt and disaster disaster in the May 2014 budget..

In May 2014 Labor blocked any attempt to get the budget back into surplus.

Because of LABOR we have not run a surplus budget since 2008

“future oriented”
Then no doubt you’ll be particularly concerned about-
* The effect of public debt on the policy options for future generations
* The expansion of anti western democracy sentiment and the willingness of authoritarian regimes to go to war

The expansion of anti western democracy sentiment and the willingness of authoritarian regimes to go to war

OR, the expansion of anti Eastern sentiment and the willingness of authoritarian regimes to go to war

My observation is that the people that are supporting Russia are generally-
* Poor spellers
* Low education level
* Conspiracy theorists
* Anti vaxers
* Apologists for a brutal fascist
* Confused
* Intermingled with a few old commies that yearn for the return of the USSR

I’m happy to add to the list, but that’s what my extensive research shows.

Fascism (/ˈfæʃɪzəm/) is a form of far-right, authoritarian ultranationalism characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and the economy that rose to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.
* Therefore Putin is clearly a fascist
* Those that support him are also fascists
* Those that provide cover and rationale for him are fascist sympathisers
* It’s amazing how many anti western democracy types have defaulted to being fascist sympathisers

Neil – you don’t seem to understand. Even though I am coming to the end of my time, I’m still future oriented .

Want to be future oriented?? Then lets be like Howard/Costello and start running surplus budgets again

Re:

Then lets (sic) be like Howard/Costello and start running surplus budgets again

Why? Surely you are aware the metaphorical God of Conservative politics in Australia was (and is) Menzies who knew the way to prosperity was to ‘invest’?

Even Bankers know that money sitting in a vault can’t be working. It needs to be ‘out there’. Doing things. Financing development etc. (But not wasting dollars on Arms and the like.)

Neil to ‘look forward’ (intelligently) you first must ‘look back’. Why aren’t you paying due attention to the debts and deficits of Menzies? They were big. Didn’t he lay the foundation for future prosperity? Have you forgotten him? Why? Please explain!

Or is it more complex than that? Lol.

Even for you Tom R, it’s poor taste to draw an analogy between the fascist Putin and domestic politics

“arguments” …of course

and consider what they are doing about these problems.

You mean, like the indue card (which as we all know is not designd to help, it’s designed to perpetuate the demonization

Or trining a police force that continuosly shoots to kill, rather than work with the community.

Walker would beat Robertson until she cried out in pain, kick her in the face, drag her by the hair and bash her

How he didn’t get a call up for the ADF is the real question.

But, his crimes were not on trial here. Of cours, just like rght wing wankers to blame the victim, isn’t it? This was the crimes of a police force, well known for using excessive force. We need to look at what our training is doing, if it’s making the police actual Pigs You have cried a lot when a right wing fuckwit gets kicked in the head for head kicking, be consistent ffs

There are plenty of Argos to demonstrate that Australia is no where near a fascist state.

Well, I’ve shown plenty that show it’s crossing that line, you have … whined

melbourne, whinging one day, whinging the next

All those anti-vaxxers stabbing cops should be shot.

So, WHY did he feel the need to stab? Ask yourself that question.

And WHY does the right wing news need to trawl through the victims past, but not the perpetrators

And yes, you’ve certainly changed your tune. A lot of those anti vaxxers you were defending were the instigators, the cops jut over-reacted, as they always do.

As they had done for years against environmentalists and those rallying against the 1%. But you were happy with police brutality then. The only time you complained was when it was right wing morons getting whacked.

I see morrison is lying again. And getting away with it, again

Morrison sups with Joyce and therefore needs deep pockets as well as a blind eye. Effectively, Barnaby’s driving the climate bus and because Morrison needs his vote(s) to occupy the Lodge that’s not going to change any time soon without an election.

Like many other Nations, ‘democracy’ (as a concept) is under siege. And that applies here in Australia as well.

The impact of the long-term democratic decline has become increasingly global in nature, broad enough to be felt by those living under the cruelest dictatorships, as well as by citizens of long-standing democracies. Nearly 75 percent of the world’s population lived in a country that faced deterioration last year. The ongoing decline has given rise to claims of democracy’s inherent inferiority.

https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2021/democracy-under-siege

In Australia, the designated Leader is not elected by by the Citizens directly. When ensconced, the unelected PM not only dominates the Legislature but also the Executive, whose members serve at the pleasure of this same (effective) dictator.

As for the Judiciary, it too is appointed in a manner similar to that of the Cabinet and without a Bill of Rights, sitting on the Bench takes on a pejorative meaning.

Even worse, there are no proposals to change things. And change we must. We have the technology. All we lack is the will. Political philosopher Baron de Montesquieu would be appalled.

TB – Don’t know whether ‘democracy’ is the best form of government or not. What I do know, is that, when it comes to ‘active and informed citizens’ participating in a democracy, it’s just not happening. Democracy in name but not lived.

Currently, we have a facade. An illusion. A sham.

And those who perhaps know it best (albeit subconsciously in many instances) and therefore refuse to participate, are the young. Youth, who tend to live a life of immediate gratification, laugh at what the ‘oldies’ endure. Mugs, one and all.

Re:

be governed by elected representatives …

But are you? The most powerful decision maker in Australia (at least in terms of formal structures) is the PM and YOU don’t get a direct say in that.

When it comes to whom will be the PM, YOU are on the sidelines. A spectator at best.

the other parties the members can sack their dictator PM when it suits them.

Do try to keep up. The Liberal Party rules have changed.

The prime minister told reporters the party room had resolved overwhelmingly that an elected Liberal party leader who goes to an election and wins will remain prime minister for the full parliamentary term.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/03/liberal-party-morrison-changes-rules-to-require-two-thirds-majority-to-unseat-sitting-pm

One could go on But choose not to because party political nonsense is perhaps best left for elsewhere at another time..

As for:

It is too easy for … the Big Tech robber barons to know all about you in microscopic detail … And it is only going to get worse .

Can only agree. So how can we use ‘technology’ against this trend? It is possible.

Perhaps the starting point is to have the will?

I sent the President of Russia some feedback!
I wonder whether I’ll get a reply
http://en.kremlin.ru/contacts

TB

I read you link. What is your point?? What is the sickening thing the USA is doing according to you??

MN

You did not reply to my destruction of your statement.

How the hell did Menzies/Coalition take govt debt from something like. i do not know, but from 90% of GDP just after WW2 to ZERO by 1972 while running deficit budgets????

PS you will notice i put 4 question marks. I know you do not like that

MN

I have seen that crap a hundred times before.

How the hell did Menzies/Coalition take govt debt from 90% of GDP to ZERO by 1972 while running deficit budgets?????????????????????????????

PS lots of question marks

That’s among the most stupid things I’ve seen. NATO decided not to provide ancient aircraft to Ukraine, but it’s “sickening ” that China is advised not to support Russia.
F**KING STUPID

China will refrain from supporting Russia because of Australia’s threats of retaliation.

(How embarrassing.)

It’s breathtakingly stupid to try to excuse the invasion of Ukraine with a “look over there”

Yes, which is why the usa is being breathtakingly stupid (DOH)

And does anyone think the CCP should be just given the green light to supply the fascist Putin?

Wait, they are doing what? Have you evidence of this? A Linque perhaps?

don’t criticise China out loud

What are we criticizing them for today though?

Your first reaction is to side with an anti western democracy dictatorship.

Actually, my first reaction was to point out that, with the world teetering the edge of a nuclear war, ‘merica goes and throws gasoline on the fire.

Your next stupid anti western democracy position is “look over there”

I think you will find it as “look over here” 😉

reckon you could get yourself a job at the ‘fixated perps unit’ yomm 🙂

ToM – China doesn’t have to be advised as to Australia’s position on ANYTHING. As always, it’s the same as the USA’s. Australia doesn’t have an independent ‘foreign policy’. Deputy Sheriff and all that.

So Payne’s comments were for domestic consumption. For the naive. And presumably for YOU.

Shakes head.

“look over here*
You’d have us remain silent on the invasion by fascist dictatorship because we have an imperfect record.
Look up “false equivalence”

Just try to outline the rationale for NOT advising the CCP about the likely consequences of them supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

MN

I noticed you did not reply to my questions. You made the statement doing the rounds on left wing blogs that Menzies ran deficit budgets so deficit budget are OK. Here is my question again

“””” How the hell did Menzies/Coalition take govt debt from 90% of GDP to ZERO by 1972 while running deficit budgets????????????????????????????? “””

I wonder whether the fascist sympathisers here would have given Putin the green light to bomb Paris a few years ago, after they elected a neo Nazi mayor

I wonder whether the fascist sympathisers here

That would be you, wouldn’t it?
“(Ow, it hurts! Look, I’m bleeding.)”

So, laying out all the facts is ‘being an apologist’?

You like your history well filtered I guess?

and WTF is he on? … I need to avoid it …

I was actually hoping he could score me some. I need some alt-reality I reckon

(psst, I think he’s implying MN is ABBA (from the old days))

Call the heads up

I wasn’t a ‘heads up’, it was an allegation, unfounded.

If you don’t like facts yomm, keep reading yor murdoch rags

Outlining the likely repercussions of the CCP supporting a fascist invasion of Ukraine is “sickening”

It is when it is all made up.

“If you continue to masturbate in public yomm, there will be repercussions for you!”

(I cannot confirm if the above example is made up or not)

You have to wonder at why someone who complains about the toxic nature of politics, would us such a toxic time to jump back into the ring.

Beginning to see why she wasn’t liked very much.

Still, no one can support any of the allegations against ….the dead woman

Our media is a cesspool

Good for TB and Tom R for unequivocally condemning Putin’s invasion of Ukraine …………. again .. 😦

🙂

Psst .. nato was a hairy chested chatclub filled with cornflower blue ties and corporate fluffers. A corporate fluffer is important ‘if’ you’re trying to become most important yankeeland lapdog or deputy sheriff. Investigators will later tell us that a kooyong valve was left open, which drained the chatclub of courage for years and years. Then theRealdeal showed up. Found in the rubble, an unread copy of `knot won inch closer` was discovered.`