Post-Democratic blues
NEWSFLASH: We were all sick to death of the election 14 days ago.
The week leading up to the election brought the mediocrity of this uninspiring, uninteresting , unsurprising and most importantly - seemingly uneducated political campaign to new highs (higher = more mediocre, but I'm sure I didn't need to explain this.)
Both major parties ran campaigns that were straight out of the 1960's, meaning that they treated the public like we were the passive absorbing audiences of yesteryear.
There was fear based on the unknown, baby kissing, "common man" moments and boring vague promises that in the end, even if they were kept wouldn't fix the decline of our civilisation. Civil rights, economic stability and the environment, while heavily featured will have no positive effects unto them no matter the eventual outcome.
Somebody quipped on twitter, the morning after the election that both parties spent so much time trying to convince us how incompetent the other was that in the end they both won the argument and as such we now have a hung parliament.
It would have been resolved easy enough, the independents who have the balance of power in the house of representatives just had to choose the party whose policies would best benefit their respective electorates.
It could have been over in a day - three days, tops.
10 days later and elected independents are still milking their 15 minutes of infamy.
Making wish-lists and demands stalling for time and making sure their pictures appear in every goddamn paper and website in Australia.
And while making themselves appear to be I'll equipped pecker heads with god complexes (complexies?) they have shown us something about Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard that a lot of us may have thought but honestly never wanted to believe- they are power hungry.
Tony Abbott say on day two that all of the coalitions policies are on the table. Gillard, in a similar fashion has put most of hers up for negotiation too.
During this overdrawn painful campaign both "leaders" defended their polices like they were the only option to move forward, so to speak.
Gillard claimed that her economic plan was the only way to get Australia back in the black in the next three years, Tony Abbott said that only his refugee plan would "turn back the boats" - now, not Abbott and Gillard are willing to alter their policies to please a few backwater and in at least one case semi-dead carcasses.
I said to anyone who would listen during the lead up to the election that there would be no winners, but not for one second did I think either party would sell out their "biggest ideas" and pull a Peter Garrett just for a little power.
And what makes this even more pathetic is that the Greens, for better or worse, hold the balance of power in the senate, meaning that no internet filter will get through, a weak and pointless ETS will not get through and no, the RFID "Australia Card" and WorkChoices will NOT be back.
Derryn Hinch said today in his pre show editorial, and I tend to agree, that one of the "leaders" needs to stop this nonsense and say "You know my policies, I will not bargain with you, and if that means not becoming PM, then so be it".
It is the only way to reclaim what little dignity they had before this farce started.
-db
PS. On a brighter note, Steve Fielding and his cult appear to have lost their seat. The new Senate begins it's term in June, so I plan to spend the next 10 months chuckling heartedly when he speaks up as if anyone in this "god loving" land actually gives a shit about him and his message.
New (old) Hypocrites: The DLP
Now it's time for "Hypocritical Bastards", Australia's new favourite game!
"The DLP came into existance (sic) to defend the Constitutional and democratic rights of all Australians. "
"The DLP unequivocally supports legislation that will preserve and protect marriage as the voluntary union of one man and one woman, to the exclusion of all others, in a commitment for life.
Absolute opposition to legislative or administrative measures that undermine or degrade marriage by conferring on homosexual, lesbian or transsexual pairings any form of legal recognition of their relationships, per se, whether through "civil unions", "relationship registers" or other legal device."
Like the RSPCA's "All Creatures Great and Small (except Pitbulls, German Shepherds, Cane Toads, Kangaroos and anything else we don't particularly like)" slogan, it appears the "Democratic" Labor Party love hypocrisy and lying without giving citizens the credit of hiding their contempt of the thinking man!
You got to love their balls. And make no mistake - there are many old, white balls associated with this party.
-db
Family First Vs Those pesky homosexuals…
It should come as no surprise that the Family First party are the most conservative, bigoted, backwards party in Australia's political system.
We have known for years that their federal member Senator Steve Fielding is a borderline mentally handicapped idiot, but it appears that a candidate in Queensland has almost become the new village idiot in Family First land. Below is a screencap from her Twitter feed this week:
When being interviewed on ABC 774's John Faine, Wendy defended her comments saying that she is NOT homophobic but does believe they are the scrurge of society and children have no business being around pillow biters and a carpet munchers.
Ok so it wasn't THAT blatant, but she defended her assertion that " Legitimising Gay Marriage is like legalising child abuse".
Her argument is that a child denied a home with one mother and one father is emotion abuse. From her reasoning, I can only assume she thinks the same of widowers, single parents and children living in women shelters. I can also conclude that she would rather a child be in a loveless sham marriage than in a loving homosexual household.
I was a little disappointed in John Faine, who let her speak without too much interjection, but I think it might be like the film Jesus Camp - no commentary was necessary. It was batshit craziness out on display.
So proud that Wendy was of her opinion all traces of it have since been removed from her twitter feed and website.
Luckily I was not the only one listening and outraged by the blatent homophobic, anti-social ramblings. A mother in a lesbian, unfortunately de facto, relationship has launched an anti-discrimination complaint against the senator.
Not that the complaint will mean anything, as Wendy's views are not only common but probably endorsed by the religious group she belongs too. Other tweets by Wendy clearly states where her loyalties are:
Oh yes, it's those scary Atheists and their reasoning powers and their unwillingness to discriminate against a human being because of the sexual preferences!
Not that we should expect any less from a party that disowns their own because they change their mind an same sex unions and adoptions.
I feel the most insulting part of the candidates hateful message was comparing the allowing of adoption by gay parents to that of the stolen generation, where it was a "failed social experiment".
Perhaps we, reasonable, intelligent Australian should start a real social experiment where we take the bigoted, hatefilled people put them on a stage and expose them for the monsters they really are.
We look back on the way that African Americans and our own Aboriginals were treated in and before the sixties with disgust and bewilderment at the small minded white people that believed there was nothing wrong with society.
Hopefully my children will look back at people like Wendy with the same disbelief about how small minded and utterly stupid a person can be.
- db
PS. That being said, Wendy if you are reading this I'd love to interview you, that is if you think your views can withstand by attacked reason and sensibility.
…And it begins
I once had a lovely phone conversation with a head member of the Australian Democrats, the gentleman's name escapes me, but there is one point that we discussed at length that I remember and enjoyed immensly.
We both agreed that the apparent apathy shown (at least publicly) by most Australians is intensly frustrating and the fact that a lot of people don't know exactly who for and how they are going to vote come election day is almost perverse.
Well, I added alot of my own emotions to that - but the sentiment stands.
I could do an overly worded wankfest of a rant about if you intend to vote next month that you need to be making your descision now rather than be swayed by the empty promises and spin doctoring that will be done by both sides in the next month, but I'll keep it short and sweet:
If you intend to vote next month that you need to be making your descision now rather than be swayed by the empty promises and spin doctoring that will be done by both sides in the next month.
Personally, I will not be voting in the House of Representatives as it doesn't matter which party gets control, we are, for lack of a better phrase, fucking fucked either way.
If I do decide to vote at all, and at this stage it seems unlikely as:
a) A forced vote or forced to show up at the polls does not a democracy make
and
b) Did I mention the fucking fucked part?
I will only vote for in the senate, and thats so I can do my part to ensure it's balanced with smaller parties like the Democrats, and so I can do my part to vote Steven Conroy out.
Over the next couple of weeks I'll have more to say about the election. Because I've had a lot to say so far (BTW that's sarcasam, it's been a while since my last post).
Maybe I'll try to point out the differences between the Liberal and Labor party policies.
Like:
- Labor has a Pacific Solution to refugees, while the Liberal party has a Pacific Solution to refugees.
- The Liberals will not recognise the basic human right of homosexuals to be called "married" but the Labor party will not recognise the basic human right of homosexuals to be called "married".
- The Labor party may take a socially conservative approach when meddling with our lives while we know the Liberal party will take a socially conservative approach when meddling with our lives
- The Labor party while recognising that Global Warming is real and human influenced will set a carbon trading scheme that ultimatly does nothing for the environment whereas the Liberals who DON'T believe Global Warming is human influenced will set a carbon trading scheme that ultimatly does nothing for the environment.
It's a tough descision - and it's hard to choose, and choose we all must - before the Debate/Masterchef finale and before these idiots talk anymore than they already have.
On a side note, Julia Gillard confirmed she is an Atheist on ABC radio a week or two ago, being an atheist would that mean she would argue the gingers have no soul?
By the way, if you want to get to heaven you have to follow me on Twitter.
I don't make the rules.
- Dane
*of course 5 mins after making my first post in months, the Govt move the debate so it doesn't clash with MasterChef thus ruining my joke. Assholes.
Budget This!
The budget reveal last night was interesting. It was interesting in the way that it was uninteresting. Although claimed to not be about politics, a very good political move was made by not announcing any big spending – it means that Joe Hockey and Tony Abbott could also not announce any big spends at risk of looking “risky”.
Though I find politics interesting, I am by no means an “expert”, but in my opinion, as much as the Rudd government has failed this particular move was good, almost very good. The budget itself is also, pretty good, it’s kind of like a naked photo of Tara Reid, circa 2008; you like it but you are still a little unsettled.
New Super GP Clinics, a simpler tax return process and return to surplus within three years were the major announcements. There were, however, minor announcements left out of the fanfare that I will reveal – not because I like you, but because I like me more.
Budget items not announced last night:
- SPEND: 1.2 million dollars for Godwin Gretch. Starting the demise of Turnbull was relief for Rudd.
- REALLOCATE: 2 Billion dollar “gift” from the makers of Tamiflu, for allowing the swine flu “pandemic” spread tSo be reallocated to “pimping out the Lodge”
- SPEND: $50,000 on a coach to give Wayne Swan a personality.
- CUT: $20,000 to be cut on the “Project Liberal Party Spying” taskforce as since Tony Abbott took over there has been “next to no proposals to counter argue”
- SPEND: $30,000 on replacing Peter Garrett’s computer with a cardboard box. “If we can’t email him he can’t fuck up…”
- SPEND: $18.95 for a devil outfit for Steven Conroy.
No, but seriously the guy is Satan.
- db
-----------------------------------
Hey folks! Follow me on Twitter and win free entertainment*
*Entertainment is subjective and will only be presented in a form of 140 characters or less via Twitter.
What Australia MUST do: Part VI (and a new Aussie Flag!)
This is the last in a six part series on what, I, master of the universe, think Australia must do in order to become a world leader in western civilisation. I feel I have addressed the most pressing issues facing Australia as we find ourselves stranded at crossroads with seemingly no desire to continue. This, of course, is thanks to the lacklustre and almost absent leadership from our 150 representatives in the lower house and the supposed “honourable” 76 senators.
To fully understand why this last entry is essential, let’s recap on what has been suggested so far:
Fix the Media
Australia must implement a “standard of truth” in news reporting. The general population must not accept any news program being used in a commercial sense; real news programs are a service, not a money machine. If a network has the best reporters and the best cameramen, the best anchors etc - the ratings will follow.
Recognize Same Sex Marriages
The idea that Australia is a fair and equal society is a lie. Until Same Sex marriages are recognized under social norms and law, Australia can not claim to be a fair society. The only valid reason to not recognise Gay Marriage is one based on ancient scripture that has been PROVEN false. Any religious excuse denying a person the same rights as another are evil and should be looked upon with scorn. What Would Jesus Do? Jesus would be in favour of same sex marriage.
Demand and Ensure a Separation of Church and State
Australia claims to be a secular society, unbiased towards any one religion. This is false and as we speak the Australian Christian Lobby, the Exclusive Brethren cult and others have worked their way into the halls of parliament. The perfect Government are atheists, the next best are true secularists – the Australian public must demand that the secret and underhanded deals happening between religious lobby groups and our elected officials cease immediately.
Fix the Health Care system
I claimed I didn’t know if Kevin Rudd’s plan to take over the hospitals was the right thing to do, but clearly something different must be done. A single payer health system is the right way to go, but our standards of care have taken a hit due to doctors preferring to work overseas where they get more money and possibly more status. Australia has the infrastructure in place and must now look towards the UK and Europe to learn how a health system must be run.
Establish and ratify a charter of Rights and Responsibilities
By defining what we expect of every citizen and what we expect to have being citizens, we begin to shape our culture, starting with the children. If these rights and responsibilities were taught to children from a young age it would shape the nations attitudes towards freedom, liberty and what is expected of a human being.
None of what I have suggested will ever be possible, or fully understood, without the implementation of my final suggestion.
What Australia MUST do to advance: Part VI: Become a Republic
As we sit on what I like to think is the cusp of a new age, we need to make a stand. As a collective we must stand up and say “This is us”.
Assimilation, ambiguous social morality landmines, politics and many other issues will become simplified and, please don’t mistake me for a utopian here, harmonious.
I honestly don’t understand the monarchist point of view. The only argument I can fully understand and therefore find legitimate when arguing against becoming a republic is “readiness”. The ideas I proposed and the responsibility of generating a new national identity is not for an immature state. There are many examples of our society not being ready. Racism, Sexism, Alcoholism, Xenophobism and Catholicism are running rampant through our streets. Becoming a republic before these issues are sorted out once and for all could and would be disastrous. Until they are fixed, I agree, becoming a republic wouldn’t be a good idea. I assert, however, that Australia cannot move on and become “all it can be” with out, at the very minimum becoming a republic and fixing or implementing my five other suggestions.
- db
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, so that’s it.
I almost made through six mini essays without a real joke.
And I didn’t really see the opportunity to make one here, except for that Catholicism bit which made me laugh for LITERALLY MINUTES.
Then it dawned on me, what does every new country get? … I know! I’m excited too!
The New Australian Flag.
I have given this a lot of thought. LITERALLY MINUTES.
First and foremost the new flag must be rectangular. I am not a fan of flags shaped like a parallelogram.
The background should be the colour of our rivers.
An arrow should be present on the flag, showing the direction each political party will promise the economy will head under their control. The line should be white, for that is the colour of our politics.
Our indigenous friends should be recognised, by taking the centre of their flag.
Maybe twice, so they don’t bitch as much.
A good old Aussie saying to encapsulate our feelings for the flag!
And maybe a picture of our wildlife doing something funny!
And to top it off, the federation star!
I don’t expect medals, but I will accept them.
-db
Update + Kiddie Fiddler Spotto!
There is only one part remaining in the “Six things Australia MUST do to advance” series, and let me tell you – it has been a HIT! It has launched this site into the stratosphere!
Yeah, but seriously everybody hates it.
But I won’t stop; I’m so close to the end! Don’t you yearn to know what a self indulgent, overconfident douchebag thinks his nation should do? Don’t you?
Anyhow, I promise to return The Opinionation to normal programming afterwards – and there is a lot to cover! Like, What’s the deal with Justin Beiber? Why does the Black Eyed Peas sing “Imma bee imam bee Imma bumble bumble bee”? And how did channel Nine in conjunction with the Herald Sun assassinate Carl Williams? As well as usual topics such as: Obama = Awesome, Rudd = Dudd, Palin = Crazy and Mandy is lazy!
So much to look forward to!
In the mean time, I’m finishing up the final part of the popular “Six things…” series, and you can help the Pope!
Below is our Holy Father and some of his clergy, can you help him by spotting the Kiddie Fiddler?
Find the Creep, Save the Creed!
Until next time!
- db
What Australia MUST do : Part V
What Australia MUST do to advance: Part V
Part I: Here // Part II: Here // Part III: Here// Part IV: Here
Part five of my “Six things Australia MUST do in order to Advance” is something that I not only have mentioned on this blog, but also my first foray into blogging on my old blogger account.
So far I have mentioned media standards, health care standards, promoting equality through the legalisation of same sex marriage and setting a standard for an unbiased secular government.
These issues are important, but it is hard to define what we expect without an all encompassing document to clearly define who and what we are as a nation.
I am often critical of the blasé, laissez-faire attitude of the general Australian public when it comes to defining who we are.
“Fair go”, “She’ll be right”, “No worries” are all catch cries of our supposed culture but really don’t amount to anything, especially when she is and will not be right, we don’t practice “fair go” and there are plenty of worries to be had.
For all its faults that were painfully exposed from 2000 – 2008, the United States is a beacon of Western civilisation and at its core is the most beautiful thing we have created. Again, it has been perverted, spat on and twisted into something unrecognisable from its original state but the core values and goals of the United States is something to behold and replicate.
If the entire imaginary world of economics were to fail tomorrow, if a complete meltdown of industry, information and money happened, the USA has something to fall back on. They have the core values and “rules” on which the country was first built. The values of freedom, liberty and responsibilities is (mostly) agreed upon and taught to the children from a young age. The constitution and bill of rights is a launching point for a free and prosperous society.
I didn’t even know Australia HAD a constitution and what it contained until after I graduated from High School and researched it on my own accord.
Just recently the Prime Minister ruled out introducing a Bill of Rights or a Human Rights charter. Why? Well… because. Apparently we don’t need one, even though John Howard and, supposedly, Kevin Rudd support a Bill of Rights to be drawn up for Iraq. Maybe we need to be invaded on false pretences to be given a legally binding charter of rights given to every Australian citizen.
It’s not like we have had any threats to what we, as a nation, believe to be our rights. It’s not like the Government have planned on filtering and censoring the internet based on the recommendations of a arbitrary and outdated “independent” board. It’s not like there has been a clusterfuck of legal questions surrounding the supposed influx of refugees and it’s not like freedom of religion and speech is not protected under law!
Oh hang on, that’s right! We aren’t guaranteed freedom of speech, the right to protest, the right to choose our own religion, the Government IS introducing a mandatory filter and the IS a lot of legal questions surrounding refugees and their rights…
As of this moment, the rights, like freedom of expression, are implied rights. Not bound by law, and can be taken away at anytime. After September 11th, George W Bush introduced the Patriot act, allowing the authorities to bypass due process if one is suspected of being a threat to national security. In Australia, we also had our own version, allowing police to hold one indefinitely without charge, to search premises without a warrant and to keep a list of suspect internet activity, with the forced co-operation of your ISP.
After knife attacks “spiked” early this year, Victorian police set up blitzes where they would randomly search anyone they wished at certain train stations, without just cause.
Just like the USA, if we had a bill of rights or a charter of some sort, these types of laws and violations would be a contradiction of what has been set out to be our rights and the laws would be quashed, and Police action reprimanded.
It is imperative for this nation to define what who we are through legally binding and celebrated document. A list of rights afforded to every citizen, and the responsibilities put onto every citizen. It is imperative that it is taught to our children to help, along with parental input, shape their morality, so when they hear about a woman being stoned to death for having the audacity to show her face in public, they instinctively know how wrong that is without second thought.
What Australia MUST do to advance: Part V: Establish a Bill of Rights
-db
What Australia MUST do: Part IV
What Australia MUST do to advance: Part IV
Part I: Here // Part II: Here // Part III: Here
My forth item in the list of six “Things Australia MUST do in order to advance” is an issue that while is very popular right now, is not exactly what is being talked about. I will also use the real life story of my fiancée, not as an emotional (read: weak) argument, but as a real world example of how things aren’t working. Unlike the rest of this series, I don’t actually really have a concrete solution. I have always been a strong believer in the old adage: if you don’t have any better ideas, then shutthefuckup. However, with this issue, I simply must speak up without a well thought out answer to the problem.
In late 2003 my fiancée tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee. She went to the doctor who confirmed the tear and a dislocation of her knee, which corrected itself.
She was referred to a, purposely unnamed, hospital to get arthroscopic surgery, a procedure that is relatively routine which could involve treatment of the injury, or at the very least give the doctors a real look at the damage done. She was told to rest the knee, and await instructions from the hospital for consultation and surgery times.
We met mid 2004, and from the beginning her issue with her knee was clear. Any running or heave walking would usually cause her knee to “pop out” of place, causing her to tumble to the ground, it would fix itself and she would be sore for a day or so. This happened at least once a fortnight; sometimes it happened when just walking normally.
At least once a month her mother would call the hospital to see what the holdup was, and each time was told that they’d get back to her.
It wasn’t until around 2007 that we found out that a family friend was in a position it see the waiting list, and could actually advise us on the status – she called with bad news – she wasn’t on the list. It appears that the GP never forwarded on his referral. The most confusing thing was, not the incompetence if the original GP, but the fact that we were mislead by the hospital for at least three years. The reason they’d “get back to us” was because they couldn’t find her on the list.
The best thing to do would be to start again. We went to a new GP, got a referral and few weeks following, and we got an appointment. It was for December 2008. Seeing as we had about ten months notice at the time, we were very much on time for the appointment.
We spoke to a doctor who sent us to get an MRI. We would then have to come back in a couple of week for the result.
When we returned, now early 2009, the doctor was dismayed at what he had found, not only were all her ligaments now almost dust, it appears that by going on for so long without treatment, she had worn her menisci down a considerable amount. The menisci are the little cushions that prevent the femur and tibia bones from rubbing together. The doctor concluded that she needed surgery as soon as possible and confirmed that I was wrong in saying that she “whines too much”, because this injury would make it painful to move.
We returned home and few days later got a letter saying that we were officially on the list and a date will be sent to us as soon as it comes available.
By August 2009, we got another letter, asking if my fiancée still required the surgery. We said yes.
In January 2010, we got two letters from the hospital. One letter asked if she still needed surgery, and the other was a request to get another referral and MRI as it has been so long since the consultation.
That’s right, because it has taken THEM so long, we must do it all over again to prove that her ACL and meniscus haven’t GROWN back.
We had said that at this moment she couldn’t have the surgery as we are now expecting our first child. Their response? Take her OFF the waiting list entirely.
Once she has recovered from childbirth, she would have to get another referral, another MRI and join the bottom of the list again.
She has been waiting for medical assistance that has been required since before I met her.
Since the injury, we met, we dated, we moved out together by renting a house, we got engaged, we bought a house and we are now happily pregnant.
The initial injury happened in 2003. It has been six years and she still hasn’t received the treatment she needs.
Even if one discounts the initial GP screw-up and counts it from the second time she stated the process. She has officially been on the waiting list for a knee reconstruction for 14 months.
As the injury isn’t life threatening and she can have a (relatively) normal life her surgery is “elective” and she is classed as a Category 2: for painful conditions. The maximum wait expected under the health department’s target is 90 days.
My fiancée has currently waited a full 365 days longer than the expected wait time. 2,100 days if one was to count time from the first doctors visit in 2003.
I really wish our story was unique, but it’s not – in some cases it’s even a mild story of how our health system is failing us.
And we do have American readers on this site, please let me assure you that it has nothing to do with a single payer system. In my opinion it has to do with priorities and the lack of forward thing by every state government for the last 20 years.
The big election item at the moment appears to be the health system. Our federal candidates have debated, fought and poked fun at each other over their health care plans. Tony Abbott in one corner has criticized the Government’s plan to effectively take over all hospitals and health services in every state, while KRudd has mocked Abbott for not have a health plan at all.
To be honest I don’t know if giving the health system to the federal Government is a good idea or not, one thing is for sure the way it is just does not work.
As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, I don’t have a solution for this one, but one thing is clear – it must not be left off the list.
What Australia MUST do to advance: Part IV: Fix the Broken Health System
- db