How good is the USA.

Did you know:

Pregnancy is more than 30 times more dangerous than abortion. One study estimates that a nationwide ban would lead to a 21% rise in pregnancy-related deaths. Some of the women who will die from abortion bans are pregnant right now. Their deaths will come not from back-alley procedures but from a silent denial of care: interventions delayed, desires disregarded.

They will die of infections, of preëclampsia, of haemorrhage, as they are forced to submit their bodies to pregnancies that they never wanted to carry, and it will not be hard for the anti-abortion movement to accept these deaths as a tragic, even noble, consequence of womanhood itself.

Jia Tolentino (The New Yorker)

Perhaps if we left the decision to those personally affected? And not put it in the hands of those who claim to know better.

After all, abortions/terminations weren’t compulsory.

“our future”

Re:

… no comparison between life in a western democracy and either UK or USA.

So says ToM who once ate a dim-sim at a Chinese take-away.

Nor would I want my chosen home be overrun by the cultures and politics of any of them …

WE got our language, legal system and government from England. Most our our sports came from England/Britain.

WE got our Senate from the USA. Most of our TV and movies come from the US

WE are already overrun. What is unique about Australia?

IF women are raped, then surely they must wear the blame? And the consequences.

If so. it seems there’s common ground between some branches of Islam and Christianity.

The left priorities –
* Discussion about a Supreme Court decision in a foreign country about abortion – DIAL IT UP TO EXTREME!
* Discussion about the decision of a brutal dictatorship to invade a neighbour, targetting schools, hospitals and shopping centres and slaughtering thousands- dial it down to **the sound of crickets**

Don’t want to rain on the tea-party but there’s other views re Ukraine.

And he sees parallels with Cuba. But what would a Conservative Professor know?

Everyone knows Hollie Hughes don’t they? Here’s her latest wisdom (sic). (Might be seen in the context of reb’s post @ 4.22)

“One of the issues … [is] we’ve got an education system that’s basically run by Marxists. When kids are at school and they’re being taught all this absolute left-wing rubbish, that’s where they’re leaving school and that’s where they’re landing …

Another import from the USA. Suspect that the vast majority of Australians have little or no knowledge of Critical Race Theory.

Political issues do not translate easily, if at all, across national boundaries. But it does show that they are bereft of ideas.

Dear oh Dear. Guess they didn’t do the Munroe Doctrine at Disney.

Re the statement – “Russia didn’t bother with diplomacy” suggests the historical memory and insights of a goldfish – as though these developments (terrible as they are) are of recent origins.

There’s MN, again talking about a war that didn’t happen, 60 years ago, to justify a war, that is happening today
Still, it’s probably understandable, they don’t teach ethics and logic in the APS Grade 5 development course
There’s only so much that can be compressed into the 3 days

ToM – the war that didn’t happen decades ago was because one (probably both) side decided discretion was the best course of action. Remember the missiles were withdrawn. They didn’t remain on America’s doorstep. Both sides compromised.

It took 25 years before the ‘truth’ emerged about the real deal.

In a separate deal, which remained secret for more than twenty-five years, the United States also agreed to remove its nuclear missiles from Turkey.

If you’d been following the links provided, you would know that. And you would also know that diplomats around the world warned that Russia had drawn a ‘red line’ re NATO expansion (after they disbanded the Warsaw Pact as an act of good faith). And surprise, surprise – Russia meant it.

As for ethics and its many aspects ranging from deontological to teleological through existential (multi-dimensional) … the differences between ‘intent’ and ‘outcomes’; distinguishing good/bad from right/wrong; you don’t do that in the Public Service just as they don’t do it in QANTAS.

But if YOU want some links re ethical perspectives, I’d be happy to oblige.

Not trying to “justify” BUT “understand” and draw some parallels as well as expose some hypocrisy – of which there’s much. We don’t talk about US war crimes in Iraq these days do we. No – just look over there!

TB – Yes most of time the title of Professor comes (and goes) with the position. Andrew Leigh, for example, was a Professor when he was working at the ANU but he didn’t carry that title (Professor) when he left,

AS for the Professor cited. Here’s his CV

John Joseph Mearsheimer is an American political scientist and international relations scholar, who belongs to the realist school of thought. He is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago. He has been described as the most influential realist of his generation. Also regarded as a Conservative.

ToM – I have absolutely no control over how you ‘construct reality’. No control over the ‘meanings’ you give to facts. No control over the ‘weight’ you give to ‘evidence’ or even what you regard as ‘evidence’.

So you don’t like what you label as ‘simplistic’ views. The irony abounds.

ToM I know getting out of your comfort zone can be trying. But you should make the effort. Letting the scales fall from your eyes can be liberating.

Here’s another link (that you can also NOT read.) So here’s a selective summary (of necessity.)

… in much of the rest of the world, the moral fervor evident in the Western response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine has been noticeably absent. Instead, countries like India, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey and Indonesia have remained largely non-committal …

Even Saudi Arabia, which has long had close military ties with the United States, has spurned Washington’s request to pump more oil to ease price increases following the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia …

South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa, while not supporting Russia’s invasion, has opined that Washington’s dogged pursuit of NATO expansion contributed to revving up a crisis with Russia in Europe that eventually boiled over into war. … India, for its part, continues to value its economic ties with Russia,

Note well – Washington’s dogged pursuit of NATO expansion contributed to revving up a crisis with Russia … Yes, I know he’s from SA so what would he know.

Finally:

particularly dramatic example was Imran Khan, until recently Pakistan’s prime minister, who bristled at the EU for demanding that Pakistan vote for the U.N. General Assembly resolution castigating Russia. “Are we your slaves that we would do anything you say?” Khan asked …

Won’t go on. Just read an article that might broaden your mind. It’s NOT the TRUTH – because when it comes to these matters, the concept of ‘truth’ is laughable. It just doesn’t apply. But it’s a point of view that has credibility

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/05/25/ukraine-sidelines-regional-not-global-conflict-00034793

Some countries have experienced a history of rule acquired by force, junta, civil war. Government without reference to those governed.
Government that is imposed in them, and little history of representative democracy.
Countries that have this history and experience appear more likely to be sympathetic to Russia.
That’s a more naunced view of the reasons for Russian alignment.
Defaulting to something along the lines of- “Asia thinks…” is simplistic

What’s the bet he gets away with this too?

If only we were all insightful enough to come up with stuff like – “Asia thinks… ”
Who knew that the 48 countries in Asia had a common position on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine!

Where ‘To’ = ‘And’ 😉

Cheers splats. I wondered if it was just ramblings on an image. There are a lot of them going around, from all sides

And as a RWNJ you still haven’t grasped the importance of CLIMATE CONTROL

Fine. But if you believe that coal is destroying the planet you should tell the truth.

CO2 is destroying the planet but we will have to pay higher costs for electricity because renewables are more expensive than coal generated electricity

When you look at an image of Putin as a child, you see a sullen friendless boy. Probably a misfit.
That’s the kind that becomes a brutal fascist.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRenrGW2F2vBfA0sJzAgQlpSgNr2lPLDFqJ5A&usqp=CAU

Regarding abortion i do remember reading that women socialists/leftists in the early 1900’s were dead against abortion. Their reasoning was that men would just use abortion as a means of birth control. It would just mean sex without any responsibility.

Well 100 years later the same people are now arguing for abortion as a right

Albo stopped in Ukraine and showed support. Good on him
No civilised country stands with Russia

Albo stopped in Ukraine and showed support. Good on him
No civilised country stands with Russia

I agree.

I think about this quote “If that trend continues”

Of course, this also may/will come to pass, we just went through the opposite first. First floods, then drought

TomR

Govts took notice of what Flannery said. That is why they built desalination plants instead of dams.

They were going to build the Welcome Reef dam on the Shoalhaven River just south of Sydney. But they said it would never fill. So Bob Carr turned the land set aside for the dam into a National Park and built a desal plant instead

Heavens! Has Qantas slipped from being the 4th best airline in the world?

A bit more ‘mens’ too actually

It never ceases to amaze me that there are so many fuckwits that are willing to actively undermine Australia’s most well known international company, one that employs tens of thousands of people here. The only company that allows Australia to maintain an aircraft industry.
Genuine fuckwits

so many fuckwits that are willing to actively undermine Australia’s most well known international company

Probably the same fuckwits who had a go at Australia’s previous most well known international company, James Hardie, who … knowingly killed thousands of Australians, and left the country with a massive clean up bill

Or was it AMP, who …. knowingly stole money from people saving for their retirement, and left the country with a massive financial hole.

Yea, let’s support Australia’s most well known international company, when, and only when, they themselves don’t act like Fuckwits @trade;

Really? There’s a parallel between Qantas and James Hardie ?
You’ll have to explain what exactly that is, otherwise you’ll be avl bullshiter and a fuckwit
TB , gormless

Hilarious!
James Hardie is “unscrupulous” and that’s the best you can come up with!
What a dill

Yep, James Hardie fled the country because it was being prosecuted and sued for knowingly killing people via it’s business processes
Meanwhile, Qantas provides tens of thousands of jobs, is probably Australia’s largest employer of technical skills , is Australia’s only actual aircraft and aviation industry company
I don’t suppose you notice the difference because you’re a complete fuckwit

You’re a fuckwit.
You whinge about the automotive industry, but you’re lobbying to put the airline industry of business.

then you deserve the sort of treatment hockey handed out to Holden

What? Hockey wanted to know what Holdens plans were. Fair enough because Holden was promised govt funding until 2020.

And why did Ford announce they were leaving when Gillard was PM?

If you want an Australian aviation technical capacity, aircraft engine overhaul skills and avionic installation and repair capacity .. THEN DON’T OUTSOURCE IT!!!

Something something ‘Fuckwits don’t like facts’

They closed Avalon and hired less qualified people from Falstaff to replace them.

Sad state of affairs when Sky speaks “the truth”

Watch, weep but understand.

But it’s not for the superficial who can’t appreciate ‘generalizations’ or ‘conceptual arguments’ and the like. Might be ‘useful’ to read the comments before watching what is a rather extensive piece.

Yeah, we need to understand Russian politicians

This one is better

Sad state of affairs when Sky speaks “the truth”

Your link does not work but what is wrong with SKY?

You come from the side of politics that misleads and deceive people. At least Sky has Conroy, Richardson etc from the ALP to give a different view. Do you ever see Bolt, Jones, Murray etc on the taxpayer funded ABC?

Amazing that ToM could watch a 57 minute video, find a quote, and write a post all in the space of 12 minutes.

That is a weirdly arrogant comment, even from you MN. Have I ever even suggested that I’d take notice of something you’ve posted, just because you post it?
If you think I’m spending an hour watching some video simply because you chose to out it here, you’re misjudging my interest.
Please provide one of your simplistic summaries and I’ll read that

That’s a rupert clause in a rupert contract, knot my abc.

Not sure what your point is. My point is that 30% of Aussies vote Conservative. Do you see anybody like Bolt, Jones or Murray on the ABC?

And MN is raving on about SKY speaking the truth. If i want the truth i would go to SKY and not the ABC

How simple do you want its FFS?
Have you spent an hour watching that video? Because MN said you must?

Is Dutton claiming any ‘expenses’ from the public purse ? (Travel, accommodation, meals etc.) Will there be any receipt of ‘gifts’, ‘upgrades’, ‘fees earnt’, etc?

If so, will he provide a Report to Parliament? Will any journalist ask?

While it was predictable and predicted , it’s nevertheless encouraging to see Cameron Leckie (Australian Army for 24 years) tell a few ‘truths’ (- three delusions) about historical developments in Ukraine.

He speaks about the self-inflicted demise of the West as a major power bloc.

… first delusion was that Ukraine could be bought into the Western sphere of influence without a violent reaction from Russia. … Western leaders still describe Russia’s actions in Ukraine as ‘unprovoked.’ … (attempt to) absolve Western leaders of their responsibility for current events and mislead the ill-informed. blockquote>

Then there’s this:

the second delusion is that Ukraine can win the war against Russia. … These fanciful prognostications are based on hope rather a coldly analytical evaluation of events on the ground and the capabilities of the opposing sides. … Ukraine suffering up to 1000 casualties per day and its military infrastructure having been progressively and methodically destroyed, the pre-conditions do not exist for Ukraine to launch a counter-offensive.

The third delusion is that sanctions are working:

the sanctions storm has been weathered with the Ruble being the best performing current this year, inflation falling, profits from energy exports surging and President Putin having near record popularity … how desperate if not farcical Western attempts at sanctioning Russia have become.

… sanctions can best be described as an own goal. … despite the prospect of another military debacle in Ukraine, … non-Western countries are unimpressed. …

More here. https://johnmenadue.com/cameron-leckie-ukraine-the-demise-of-the-west/

Tb

Typical. Your hero, The PM owns 4 investment properties worth $5M. Conflict of interest?

And you say nothing. Actually you divert the topic.

I might go and smoke a cigar and think about your comments. Actually i do not smoke. I will go and have a cup of coffee and think about your stupid comments.

No wonder you worship Albanese. 4 investment properties worth $5M. Where can i get some of that?

Qantas are excelling at what they do best, abusing workers

Exclusive: Worker raises concerns about chronic staff shortage, poor pay and unmanageable workload as domestic travel soars

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jul/11/qantas-baggage-handler-says-theres-not-enough-of-us-there-to-get-to-all-the-bags?CMP=share_btn_tw

While the media do their best to apply the lipstick

lol yomm, yea, why don’t these serfs just get born to a millionaire ffs!

If the pay is so lousy, what’s the problem with getting another job?
Here’s the reason
* Qantas employees get hooked on the travel benefits
* Travel benefits means lots of them get on an aeroplane several times a year, rather than camping or driving
* While the airfares are cheap, the ground content (accommodation, restaurants etc) is expensive
* Lots of people with extended families overseas seek employment with Qantas because of the travel benefits
* Because of this lifestyle people that work for Qantas need a higher income than people doing similar work outside the airline industry
* There should be no demand for Qantas to pay higher wages because of these lifestyle choices

Looks like the disease is spreading.

So the NSW government cited national security to keep Barilaro documents secret? Really?

In NSW that means such documents remain secret for 30 years. In QLD (under proposed reforms) they would be available at the end of the month. Hilarious!

Possibly a security risk ToM impregnated in the corks. You never know.

Then there’s all these computers assembled in mainland China.

Must be terrible to live in such fear. Chinese, Russians anyone who looks a little different.

Sometimes called “racism”. Lol.

You’ll have to explain how the CCP is a “race”

Ask Shanghai Sam.

Or morrison, you know, of ‘Chinese Virus’ fame.

Very rarely did they get down to minor details like CCP or anything, except when calling Labor Commies.

shamed the political establishment into dealing with the issue.

Labor had banned Huawei years ago, and got called racist by the libs for their troubles. Just as they got called racist when they tried to protect jobs from abbotts China ‘free’ trade deal

China are just doing what every other country in the world is doing, fighting for dominance. They are just doing it better. Perhaps now with the grifters out of the way, we can start playing the game properly again. Penny Wong is already off to a flying start, as has Mark Dreyfus. Time will tell how well they have done

You obviously did not open the links (again), Kneel, because it actually IS the topic YOU brought up.

You posted a link of two Coalition guys smoking a cigar saying they were the biggest leaners of all.

PM Albanese owns 4 investment properties worth $5M. If a Coalition PM owned $5M of investment properties you would go ballistic and say i was a conflict on interest.

Tb

I did read the second link. What was i supposed to see?

Re:

… health minister has rejected a recommendation by the acting chief health officer …

Nothing wrong with that. Indeed, the rejecting of a particular recommendation on a particular issue should not be regarded as unusual.

In the ‘democracy’ we have, it’s Ministers (and Ministers alone) who must bear responsibility for decisions made. No Minister should be able to hide behind experts.

By all means, clever Ministers will listen to advice from many quarters but it’s the Minister who must ultimately wear the consequences.

Failure to be accountable (accept responsibility) makes our (so called) representative democracy even more of a farce.

Yeah, the CCP is so benevolent. They have territorial disputes with only 16 countries
No problem, just do as they demand!

Hilarious!
There are so many left/anti western democracy types that want to push USA out of participation in international relations. They excuse or contextualise the expansionist and autocratic regimes of Putin and the CCP
Do they prefer a world where spheres of influence are carved up by Putin and the CCP?

“ Have you read Silent Invasion? Probably not, it was written by”
Let me guess, you’ve gulped this down because a for profit uni-prof bleats. He/you want to play market with the education system, and are then totally surprised when thePanda gets some leverage or benefit from it. (Or most likely, the sovereign risk the teabags always overlook with wilful blindness.)`

Re:

decision to end pandemic leave payments and free rapid antigen tests for pensioners was one “inherited”

Indeed it was! So? That shouldn’t limit an incoming government with its own ‘fiat’ currency

Why not a bit of retrospectivity? All those “job keeper” payments that went straight to the (financial) bottom line. Why not less spending on US weapons? Where is the result of this quiet diplomacy re Assnage?

And surprise, surprise – Albo doesn’t want Chinese (read bad) military bases in his Pacific backyard while he endorses US (read good) armaments on Russia’s doorstop. Sam old. Same old.

The hypocrisy is breathtaking.

Did you know

Australia is yet to conduct a US-style FONOP to challenge Chinese claimed territory and features in the South China Sea, but military observers believe the tempo of ADF activity in the region is high.

So the tempo of ADF activity in the region is high … And for what purpose? Raising the diplomatic heat? Doing what the US commands that we do?

But yes we are a ‘sovereign’ nation … who doesn’t trust China. Nevertheless we sell them everything they want (and prepared to sell even more).

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-14/possible-miscalculation-australian-military-in-south-china-sea/101236626

MN I can see that you struggle to express a coherent set of points about most issues, and tend to lapse into babble like-
* According to John Menadue…
* Asia thinks…
* Remember the Cuban missile crisis of 1962…
But simply because you can’t express a logical opinion doesn’t mean I’m going to watch every video you post

I have some emotional baggage I need their help with.

lol reb

Does this mean that you have just recently unloaded some toilet paper while you were in Perth?

On the west-coast, they retain 15% of their gas, and own their own power grid (and all the grids bits and pieces.)

Too bad LABOR wants to destroy the gas industry.

And on the East Coast we are paying more and having reliability issues because of renewables. The grids ‘Bits and pieces” need more maintenance because renewables and coal do not go together. Plus Dan Andrews chased out Hazlewood. Labor made it clear they want coal fired power stations gone.

bozo the nil 😦

That’s not subsidised …

Solar is subsidised.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/energy-rebate-boost-for-solar-upgrades-announced-nsw-premier-dominic-perrottet/38b777ca-5443-4830-8d4c-a0c5947e835b

Free solar systems and appliance upgrades are on offer for eligible houses across New South Wales under a new $128 million government initiative.
The Energy Bill Buster program will be handed down in Treasurer Matt Kean’s upcoming state budget.
Households receiving energy rebates will be able to put their hands up for either a free solar system, or energy-saving upgrades to home appliances.

In contrast coal fired power stations do not get a single cent in govt subsidies

What a disgraceful decision
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Ukraine this month, promising an extra A$100 million in military aid and pledging to help the country for “as long as it takes”.
So when a humanitarian visa program allowing Ukrainians to live and work in Australia was announced to end on July 14, it caught many by surprise.

“Unions have slammed Qantas…”
**YAWN **
They always do.

As for other news:

… when asked what most threatens Ukraine’s security, 97% understandably identified the Russian invasion as the paramount menace, but not far behind was corruption amongst Ukraine’s high officials and the wealthy (85%).

Clearly they share our values. (Or maybe not.)

ToM – do you have a link(s) – or is this all your own work?

Sources are important as every student (even beginning ones) knows.

Did you know:

The referendum was held on 16 March despite the opposition from the Ukrainian government, with 97% of voters choosing to leave Ukraine and join Russia, according to Crimean government results.

See the problem with unreferenced citations?

Speaking of Joyce:

School holidays and the Easter holidays have been absolutely ruined by the decision of Qantas to illegally sack 2000 workers,” he said.

“The man who made that decision has just been awarded a bonus by Alan Joyce of $1.1 million worth of shares.”

https://www.9news.com.au/national/qantas-union-blasts-boss-bonuses-travel-news/c9f76a73-e4ff-43ac-9ab4-22b271f1ddf8

Aren’t ‘facts’ wonderful.

Surely this isn’t a surprise. “Morrison encouraged the congregation to put their faith in God rather than the government.”

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/don-t-trust-in-governments-the-un-scott-morrison-delivers-pentecostal-church-sermon-20220718-p5b2i2.html

Further: “All of this anxiousness, all of this anxiety … all of this feeling about the bills that are pouring in, all of this feeling about the anxiety, and then the oil of God, the ointment of God, comes on this situation and releases you, if you will have it, and receive His gift,” he said

Perhaps he should rely on his Lord to pay his pension? And given this is a “democracy”, perhaps we should let the Citizens decide?

The Pope isn’t a Catholic!

But he does shit in the woods, right?

This is the fiend who devised robodebt, and pushing asylum seekers back out to sea.
He certainly came on their situations.

TomR

Robodebt started in 2011 when Shorten/ALP computerised data matching between the ATO and Centrelink.

What the Coalition did in 2016 was introduce a new computer method to determine income called income averaging. It was a disaster and was illegal for some reason

And Labor and YOU locked up 50,000 asylum seekers from 2007-2013

The legal system provides avenues of appeal.
That’s how it works

What the Coalition did in 2016 was introduce a new computer method to determine income called income averaging. It was a disaster and was illegal for some reason

What i would like to know is how on earth did the Public Service allow the government of the day to bring in something that was against the law?

Income averaging was a computer system to determine income and was the next step in Labors Robodebt Scheme. Not only was it a bad method which caused lots of problems and pain for lots of people. It was also against the law.

If the govt of the day brings in a policy that is against the law, who is to blame?