Weeds or Wildflowers?

We seem to live in a time where there is more depression and anxiety diagnosed than ever before. Despite living in an affluent and peaceful era in our country, discontent amongst the average person is at a record high. I was listening to this song (Thank you The Walking Dead), and it suddenly occurred to me why 'the blood beneath boils with unrest'.

We have lost our way, thinking only of ourselves and our own interest. We may not want to acknowledge it, but there is a subconscious guilt of dismissing concern for the welfare of all. As the lyrics state:

'I've lived enough to know the battle's never through you pass something down, no matter where or how will there be weeds or wildflowers affixed upon your bows'

In our state of affluence, we've been growing weeds. Perhaps we can no longer vote with our own hip pockets interests. Perhaps this time we have to vote for what is the best for the most people, not necessarily for our own personal wealth.

I'm not telling you who to vote for, I'm asking you to look at policies. Don't be distracted by the chatter, the loud circus that enrages or entertains you. Look at Medicare, look at hospital funding, look at services offered and environmental matters. Look at the future of farming and look at our role in the world. Consider the economics by all means, but don't just consider your own tax break. Look at the bigger picture, and ask questions. Alert those around you to matters beyond the sound bytes. Election campaigns are built upon keeping the public distracted and ignorant. We shouldn't fall for the media tricks anymore.

This time, make your vote with certainty. Remember that 'the world can feel the changes of a butterfly's wing'. What will you be leaving as your legacy?

Will there be weeds or wildflowers when you're done?

Linking with #OpenSlather

A message for Cory Bernardi

I saw the news online, and made the mistake of reading the comments. My disillusionment in the intelligence of the Australian public made me resemble this woman.

Here's the thing, and I'll admit I'm not a doctor or psychiatrist, but I'm pretty certain you can't catch gay. It's like being Chinese or French - you can't catch it. Either you are, or you aren't. When the new French kid turns up at your school, and they speak French at home, if they lend you a pencil and you take the pencil, you don't suddenly become French when you touch it.

If you're learning Greek or Mandarin at school, and you role play a shop scene, you don't get confused and think you are actually shopping for fruit in a market in Athens.

I would say pretty much all kids in the Drama group are aware that the scenes they're preparing for the school play don't mean they've somehow changed personalities and are now their character.

Given the budget of the School Chaplaincy program is in the $243+ million ballpark, and Safe Schools is $8 million, I find it weird that it is the Safe Schools program that you're worried about re indoctrination. You also seem to miss the point that if it is indoctrination, it's indoctrination on how not to be a bullying, insensitive dick, not how to be gay.

The angry, crazed comments on Facebook were often misspelled, had poor grammar and at times, showed no presentation of logical argument. These were written by products of the Australian school system. If you have a concern with Education, that should be it. Perhaps looking at additional funding for schools is needed to make sure that if you go to an Australian school, you come out at the end with the ability to spell and to write a coherent argument.

Our schools are gravely underfunded and it is the community at large who suffers as a result. The pittance used to run Safe Schools is not the problem. The lack of funding for teaching, equipment, texts and everything else means our national standard is not where it should be. I hope you are prepared to fight for an improvement on funding education, seeing as you've highlighted a national level of ignorance, that can only be fixed at the school level.

(My favorite comment was that 'no red blooded male would tolerate gays'. I live in Sydney so I found this confusing at first. But lets break it down (and I'll use the comment's terminology, as it's amusing me) - There's about 2 billion red blooded males who tolerate gays on the planet. Then there's 'the gays' themselves, who, while I admit I'm not a doctor, I am pretty sure are red blooded and male, So take out the women, and reassess your figures. What I believe the person meant was that there is a small percent of the global population who have issues with the LGBTQI community, either for religious reasons, homophobia or some other reason, possibly because their school didn't help them understand diversity or lacked a Safe Schools program.)


You are free to disagree with my opinion but as always, I will delete any rude comments aimed at me, Cory Bernardi or the Liberal Party in general. Keep it civil and polite. We are better than that.

The petition by the Greens in Support of Safe Schools is here

Linking with #OpenSlather &#UltimateRabbitHole

Better Jobs

I was waiting for a family member to come out of recovery and up to the ward last night. I listened for over ninety minutes to the chirpy hospital staff discussing & dealing with some serious patient issues. Given they were on the night shift, they seemed overly enthusiastic to my tired ears. I thought about what remarkable people they must be, dealing with such horrible and stressful things, giving up their nights to help strangers (and thus their days too).

I finally left and walked to my car, just as a shift change was going on in one of the other buildings. A number of young people in hospital attire were making their way to their cars. Young people who had chosen this life of service to others.

That's when it hit me how truly awful our Treasurer's comments were, that people should get a better job if they wanted to buy a house. It's not only impractical, it's insulting.

It concerns me that the person with the fiscal plan for our nation is thinking we should call a stock broker or merchant banker if we're hit by a truck. Is that the plan? If everyone gets better paying jobs, then who's left to do the essential services? What kind of alarming economic policy is that?

However, maybe he means to increase the wages for all the teachers, police, nurses, paramedics, firefighters and other essential services that we as a nation need daily. I don't mean by the miniscule 5% that they have to fight tooth and nail to get every few years. I mean jack their income right up, well into six figures so that they don't need to quit and become barristers.

Who would pay for this, you ask? Well, I guess all those industries that rake in huge profits and in topsy-turvy land somehow managed to be tax exempt. Of course, that's just my uninformed guess, I'm sure the Treasurer had something in mind when he came out with that line about getting a better job if you wanted to buy a house.

So Mr Hockey, what is the plan?

Linking up #OpenSlather

Please note, as always, you don't have to agree with me, but you do have to play nice. I will delete any comments that are rude or disrespectful to me, other commenters, the Liberal Party or Mr Hockey.

Conversation with Promises

There is an old Hebrew proverb “Promise little and do much” (Are there any new Hebrew proverbs? Or any new proverbs at all? I digress...).

We promise many things to many people, and then one way or another, we break them. Think New Year Resolutions. We promise ourselves a new and better lifestyle, and then we chuck in the idea by February, for the most part.

Or take the promises of the Liberal Party's Real Solutions. It was pledged prior to the election "No cuts to Education, no cuts to Health, no changes to pensions, no changes to GST, no cuts to ABC or SBS under any Govt I lead" Signed Tony Abbott. Eight months after the election, it appeared as if they had no intention of ever fulfilling those promises, given the proposed Budget. Which has hilarious irony, as I think there was also a promise to stop the lies...

However, a promise is just words unless it is fulfilled. Just words. Words to deceive, words to commit, words to bring comfort, words to break a person.

Think long and hard before you give a promise, because it's a judge on your character as to whether you uphold it, whether your actions are bound by the promises you give.

One the other hand, we need to look for the promise in situations and more importantly, in people. They may not be there yet, but if there is even the tiniest glimmer of potential, we need to help dig it out. Especially if it is in ourselves.

If we can work at digging through the mud and the dust and bring out the good, we will make the world a better place - I promise you that.

Linking up with Always Josefa for Conversations with Promises and WithSomeGrace for FYBF

Removed from reality?

I am looking for work. At the start of this year, I signed up to Seek.com to be emailed relevant jobs. Seven months in, I have applied for three. One was overseas but I figured as it was all internet based, I could maybe talk them into letting me work from here. I receive a seek email about twice a week. There has been 2 jobs that would suit me.

I am not on the dole, thankfully. I am not 'bludging'. I am genuinely trying to find work. I am not even looking at the income as a deciding factor. In fact, I am looking at jobs that are a fifth of what I used to earn.

If I have only found three jobs to apply for in seven months, how is ANYONE meant to find 40 jobs to apply for that isn't wasting time for all those involved, from job seeker to recruiter or employer?

I understand that there is a perception of people rorting the system, and there are always a few bad apples in every bunch (of anything), but should extra pressure be put on those that are trying to find work and start over?

If I were a recruiter, or a CEO of a corporation that has regular staff turn over, I'd be voicing disapproval very loudly, as you will pay heavily for these 'initiatives' and your voice will carry more weight than those actually expected to find legitimate work for their future.

This budget policy seems so removed from the reality of looking for work. I would love to see Senator Abetz trial the system for 8 months first to see how it works. First he needs to live on ZERO income for six months (good luck with that!), and then apply for 40 jobs a month while working for free to receive any welfare benefit. Then let's hear if this policy is the way to go. No need to limit it to Senator Abetz, the man with the plan, Mr Hockey could join in too.

Who's up for the challenge?

As always, you don't need to agree with me, but I will delete offensive comments aimed at me, other commenters or members of the Liberal Party.

Linking up with Things I Know, because I know these changes will lead to less jobs being advertised and more jobs being given only by word of mouth, to avoid the inundation of irrelevant applications.

A time for change

As I preface all my political posts, you are welcome to disagree with me, but I will delete any abusive comments aimed at me, other commenters or the members of the Liberal Party as individuals.

As someone who grew up in the hangover of the cold war, where Communism was feared as evil and the dictatorships around the world were far from benign, I acknowledge I have a somewhat knee-jerk reaction when someone wants to control the media and stop the people of a nation accessing the news in any form other than party press releases.

That said, while we may be divided on our opinions on refugees, gay marriage, education, medicare and other political issues, I can not fathom there is anyone, Liberal or Labor, that approves of silencing the media unless they only promote positive party propaganda.

We are proud to be a democracy, we have joined forces to defend that right in other countries around the globe. A democracy, in order to work, requires informed voters. The media needs to tell both sides of the argument, so the voter can weigh up where they stand on the issue. The people of Australia need to be very alarmed if this right to the freedom of speech is being taken away from them, in the dubious form of 'funding cuts'. Even that act of censorship is covert and doused in propaganda.

Look throughout history, whenever people come to power and take control of the media, it is usually because they are doing the wrong thing. If they truly believe they are acting in the best interests of the people, they can take some criticism and let the benefits of the policy speak in their defence. If you need to control the media, there is usually something that needs to be hidden. That is what the Australian public needs to be most concerned with. If it needs to be kept secret, it is probably not in our best interests.

Liberal MP Mr Craig Laundy said it best "as a proud Liberal, they (the ABC voicing their opinions) ABSOLUTELY have the right to do so without fear or favour. The best part of 'freedom of the press' is that you get a HUGE variety of views - just as you get in society." He goes on to say, that if you don't like what the ABC are saying, seek out the other opinion, the other side of the argument. Change the channel. Even Voltaire, who distrusted democracy because it gave power to the 'idiocy of the masses', staunchly defended free speech.

This quote, and those opinions voiced by Mr Turnbull, defending editorial independence, give me hope that not all is rotten in the governing party. However, if the Prime Minister intends to take away the access to independent media from the Australian public, then everybody, no matter who you vote for, needs to unite in action and take a stand.

I am not advocating to throw out the Liberal party, nor even demand another election, but Mr Abbott needs to be told that the people, whom he represents, finds his behaviour unacceptable and he should step aside. Tony Abbott is a representative of the Australian people. It seems to me that through either arrogance or denial, he has forgotten his actions are accountable to us. We deserve the right to be informed, honestly, of what those actions are. We need to demand the right to access independent news.

I would also like to remind Mr Abbott that the ABC is not just a news station. They provide locally produced entertainment, children's television and film. He is punishing not just the journalists, but the Australian Film and Television industry. Isn't this something he should be promoting? It appears to me this threatened action is a personal vendetta, rather than a just and considered funding issue. Politics is no place for those that can't keep their personal feelings and beliefs in check.

Laundy and Turnbull clearly do not agree with what the ABC was reporting, but they do agree on the journalistic independence. This is the stance of a true politician. Let's get a real politician running our country. It's time for a change.

What to do?

Get out in force at rallys. Make your opinion noticed. Sydney March in March is on the 16th at 1pm.
https://www.facebook.com/events/267057476785262/

Get Up have a petition and are fund raising to take on this battle. https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/media/save-the-abc--2/protect-our-abc--2

Spread the word and start the conversation. Think of the implications of this move. Is unbiased information, or uncontrolled media really something we're prepared to lose?

Please add other suggestions in the comments below.

No matter what your political leanings, it is time to take a stand. As Moore states in V for Vendetta "People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people". We are at a fork in the road. Which path are you prepared to take? Let your voice, and the voice of others, be heard.

Linking up with this old post with The Lounge for the prompt of television, after tech issues made my best intentions go awry. Sorry that the plan of action is out of date.

Laundy quote from the Sydney Morning Herald article: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbull-defends-abc-after-tony-abbotts-attack-20140129-31n5z.html#ixzz2rwPCbMlG

The Audacity of Government

I try not to be political on the blog, but from time to time I can no longer bite my tongue and stand by incredulously. I will preface this by saying that while you don't have to agree with me, I will delete abusive comments (aimed at myself, other commenters or the Liberal Party). I will also state that the figures are averages, on the low end of the scale, but it is the low end of the childcare and political wages - thus the PM figure is conservative by a long shot. I am also limiting the post to the three incidents this week.

I take great issue at someone on six figures telling someone on basically a little more than the minimum wage that it is wrong to take a pay rise. Child care workers have a tough job - they have to engage the whole day. They can't play around on the internet, take long lunches or duck out for an appointment. For this hard work, and the welfare of a large percentage of this nation's children, they get in the lowly ball park of $31,000. Our Prime Minster has insulted them in general, their skills and their importance by implying that it is wrong that they should get a pay rise.

There was also the highly insulting comment that the downfall of Holden was due to the workers wanting higher than minimum wage. Again, someone on six figures telling low income workers they are demanding too much.

We are obviously in dire financial straits, if these low income workers getting a tiny $3 an hour extra is draining the business coffers. So I have a solution, which should work for everyone.

If all the politicians did the right thing by the country and went back to minimum wage, then that extra $140k not paid per pollie would boost the surplus. If it is acceptable for childcare workers and car manufacturing factory floor workers not to want a better standard of living, then politicians must surely find it acceptable to live by the same standard. I would hold you in the highest respect, Mr Abbott, if you choose to lead by example.

There are, of course, other ways that really should be considered as mandatory, to free up some over-spending and boost the Govt funds. If every time a politician attended a sporting event, either as spectator or participant, they paid their own way, that would cut back on substantial Govt spending. (I include in this also, weddings and other non essential political travel, but that sounds like I'm having a dig.)

Political pensions too, should drop to the average pensioner rate. As this is deemed acceptable for the average tax payer, it should be acceptable for all.

These simple cuts, are as you say, in order to 'do the right thing by your Country' so I look forward to seeing them implemented quickly. I'll even let you take them as your own ideas - I need no credit. Once these are in place, I estimate you'll have easily $140 million* at your disposal, which will easily cover the miniscule $3-$6 an hour increase for underpaid childcare workers.

I loved Fahrenheit 451, and especially the line "If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none." So I applaud that you are using his novel as part of your political operations. However, even I have to draw the line at the criticism that it is unfair for the ABC to give the news online for free at the tax payers expense. I need to point out that it is the tax payers that are choosing to read the news for free. I am unsure that any spin doctor can really sell this idea. Though as it was pointed out to me, if we keep cutting the education funding, we really will be that stupid, so you have maybe just tried it on a little too soon to get away with it.

People of Australia, I ask you to give voice to these insulting inequalities. There comes a time where we need to demand our leaders change their ways. If the media is being asked not to report something, it is rarely in the interest of the majority of the people.

For the record, I am not a child care worker. I am not in the car industry. Nor am I employed in the media. I am Joe Citizen, wondering why nothing is being done about a growing inequality and a very alarming loss of information available to Joe Public. It brings to mind ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’. I am asking you, dear reader, where are the good men? Are you one of them?


*It's actually probably a lot more, I've been very conservative in my maths, to be fair.

Stumped!

I try not to be too political, but this one has got me stumped. I drove past the fire station the other day and saw a poster that read:

 

I was confused, as I'd not heard anything about this. I hit google, and there are some articles from when it started back in March and nothing more except a few tweets.

We don't have the funding for Firemen/stations, so they are just randomly shut for a day. Leichhardt was shut on both Friday and Tuesday of this week past. I am wondering how the government knows what days there will be no emergencies? Which are the Inner West fire free days?

I suspect there is a reason why the US shut down is not making HUGE news here. We've already started it. Quietly.

I ask, where is the information on this plan? More importantly, where is the outrage? When the teachers, police, nurses and firemen went on strike last year, was this one of the issues they were protesting over? The list of reasons was long, yet the only thing the media promoted was the inconvenience to parents with the teachers being on strike.

I, for one, need to question that we have decided that public safety isn't one of our top priorities? Perhaps our politicians could make less public appearances (at sporting events and community events - and weddings) and that funding could go to infrastructure that is needed by the people of this city.

It is FIRE & RESCUE, it is EMERGENCY services. These words seem to me, to imply it is a very important yet unpredictable event that requires the service to respond quickly.

Perhaps it is time for the voting public to take an interest in the allocation of government funding. Most of all, let's not sit in judgement of the mess the USA Congress is causing, as evidently, we are fast falling into the same boat.

Were you aware of these rolling closures? Are you horrified? Or am I blowing it out of proportion?

Linking up With Some Grace for FYBF.