Comments for The Stump

Comment on Grief in New York and Afghanistan, in Boston and Iraq by SteveJohnsonTII

SteveJohnsonTII — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 04:10:55 +0000

The much simpler explanation is the ‘it could have been me’ effect. I don’t value a US life more than an Iraqi one, but the Boston Marathon, or the World Trade Centre, is somewhere I could easily have been. In fact I know people who were directly impacted by both attacks.

The ‘it could have been me’ effect is what makes it compelling news for us all.

Comment on Speech to CEO Tasmania, 27 March by mikehilliard

mikehilliard — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 02:14:59 +0000

Interesting speech Bernard and for those of us (that’s me) who are economic illiterates relatively easy to understand. I tend to agree with Hamis though, your conclusion doesn’t seem to equate to the rest of your speech. Are you suggesting the Coalition will maintain the carbon pricing scheme & other tax policies introduced by Labor? Would their excuse be that the budget left to them by Labor was in such bad shape that they can’t live up to all of their core election promises? If so it will be the biggest con job on the Australian public ever.

Comment on Speech to CEO Tasmania, 27 March by Hamis Hill

Hamis Hill — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 01:29:36 +0000

Overseas investors, alarmed at the treat to their property by the MSM drive to throw out a competent government, may be mollified to read your balanced view of politics.
But your conclusion of no change to the economy with a change of government?
The more astute of those “interested” overseas observers will interpret your concluding paragraph as an attempt not to be completely ostracised by your Press Gallery colleagues for so clearly, in the rest of your speech, contradicting their irresponsible campaign to change a neconomicallygovernment for an economic farce of an opposition.
Turn Back the GFC? an impossibility in the inevitable Abbott recession as argued in allthe other paragraphs of your speech except the last.
Too little, too late to avoid the catastrophe, considering that your colleagues are not for turning from their headlong rush towards the edge of the economic cliff?
A tragedy in the making.

Comment on Speech to CEO Tasmania, 27 March by Achmed

Achmed — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:59:29 +0000

Very enjoyable read. Thanks.
Having read the Liberal manifesto “Real Solutions for all Australian” I am left wondering.
In the manifesto the Liberals state they will repeal the CT and MRRT legislation – but continue to fund the tax cuts and pay for Direct Action. There is even mention of “modest” tax cuts. Having removed the “income” I question where the money will come from in the Budget.

They state there will be tax cuts for businesses – yet again I wonder where the money to fund the cuts will come from in the Budget. The statement that the Liberals will cut business tax is in contradiction to the proposed 2% business tax increase to fund Parental leave.

Comment on Speech to CEO Tasmania, 27 March by Charles Kerr

Charles Kerr — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:10:33 +0000

Good stuff. Whatever their rhetoric, I hope some senior pollies pay attention.

Comment on After Julia Gillard- thoughts on International Women’s Day by fredex

fredex — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:09:28 +0000

If the opinion polls are anywhere near the ballpark, by next International Women’s Day Australia will no longer have a female Prime Minister.
It’s past time to start thinking about feminism under her possible replacement – a COALition led by a sexist and misogynist Tony Abbot.
The COALition in its last term of government, with said Abbott as a senior minister, took steps to “discipline” women (single mothers, asylum seekers, women living under the Howard era intervention and others) supposedly for their own welfare.
In reality they deliberately shoved those on the margins further towards the brink.
When many women outside the supposed “mainstream” look at Tony Abbott they see every man who has ever undermined them through acts of micro (or marco) aggression of racism and socio-economic privilege.

And of course what comes next may well be even worse.

Yesterday in the apology for forced adoptions ceremony we saw on offer the 3 choices that are available for the future.
We saw PM Julia Gillard eloquently deliver a speech that was empathatic and understanding of the tribulations of those to whom it was directed and within that speech she paid tribute to the work of Greens Senator Rachel Siewert who was a prime mover in the whole process that led to the ceremony.
Then we saw the current COALition leader Tony Abbott deliver a speech that has been described, by those who are routinely his apologists, as ‘insensitive’.
His insensitivity could have been avoided if he had availed himself of the opportunity provided by the organisers of the event to familiarise himself with their briefing notes that outlined the issues, concepts and language that was appropriate, and not appropriate, to the day.

The people in Australia, women in particular have more than a choice between Julia Gillard and ……
The alternative must be foremost in their minds.
We must not allow ourselves to ignore the alternative to Gillard just because she does not live up to up expectations and needs.

To repeat:
“And of course what comes next may well be even worse.”
Is there any doubt?

Comment on After Julia Gillard- thoughts on International Women’s Day by shepherdmarilyn

shepherdmarilyn — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 06:37:53 +0000

Bravo, Gillard has taken feminism back to the 1970′s paternalism by listening to the whining of dinosaurs like Anne Summers.

Comment on Open letter to Anti-Fluoridians by Woody

Woody — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 03:34:51 +0000

Ann Bressington, the chain smoking anti drug campaigner. Only taken seriously by Leon(Cash for comment)Byner who was caught out trying to flog water filters off the back of Bressington’s fluoride scare mongering.

Comment on Open letter to Anti-Fluoridians by Holden Back

Holden Back — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 06:01:03 +0000

Did First Dog help you with the ‘huge manatee’: it’s very good.

I hope you also have a deep green agenda which Sophie Mirabella regularly accused the Victorian Labor party of having – although that does sound hard to read if you print it in black.

Comment on Open letter to Anti-Fluoridians by Jimmy

Jimmy — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:07:15 +0000

Bernard my town had it’s water fluridated only a couple a years ago and a couple of the local councilors whipped up quite a frenzy with these very same conspiracy theories.

Suffice to say in the years since our water was “contaminated” no ill effects have been reported and I really doubt if those who “took to the streets” even remember why they were protesting.

The only negative is that the councilors responsible are still there.