It turns out that these ‘truisms’ of the market aren’t actually true at all. Thirty years ago, in the face of a serious economic challenge from Japan and Europe, the United States embraced a form of free-market capitalism that was less regulated, less equal, and more prone to booms and busts. Bolstering that embrace was a set of useful myths…
Category: comments about current affairs
comments about current affairs, matters of public interest, posts
The next referendum by Sara Stanley
Amongst a deal of general misguided commentary Fraser Anning, the new senator representing the Katter Party, suggested we have a referendum on the intake of migrants. I notice the far right of politics is increasingly calling for referenda these days. I suggest the general population would prefer the next referendum to be on the pay, perks and superannuation of politicians. As…
comments about current affairs, matters of public interest, posts
How Capitalist Utopia Became Everyone Else’s Dystopia – by Umair Haque – Published by Medium 30 July 2018
Take a good, hard look at the chart. I don’t usually write essays about charts— but this one’s different. It’s American collapse in four lines. It says that American elites mismanaged their economy so badly, so fatally, so totally, the rich world hasn’t seen the like since Weimar Germany. They created a capitalist utopia — but the problem is that that’s everyone…
comments about current affairs, matters of public interest, posts
Attacking Women by Sara Stanley
We lose track of the massive amount of money being spent on defending Australia. Along with our prided ally, the USA, we have poured Australian lives and dollars into extensive fighting, killing and bombing the homes of people who previously would not have even know Australia existed. We have created many homeless people who we now fear might come to…
animal welfare, comments about current affairs, matters of public interest, posts
Would you go vegan to save the planet? – ABC SCIENCE – 9 JUNE 2018 By Environment Reporter Nick Kilvert
Researchers say it might be our best option. Even the most efficient livestock is more costly than cropping, researchers say. (Getty Images: Wayne Hutchinson) Would you give up animal products to save the planet? No more meat, dairy, leather, cheese? To a lot of people, that idea sounds like the end of the world — bacon is, after all, objectively…
comments about current affairs, matters of public interest, posts
Barak Obama re Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)
Barack Obama There are few issues more important to the security of the United States than the potential spread of nuclear weapons, or the potential for even more destructive war in the Middle East. That’s why the United States negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in the first place. The reality is clear. The JCPOA is working –…
comments about current affairs, matters of public interest, posts
Sara Stanley comments on CEOs pledge to reinvest any tax cuts
I was horrified to read the leading article in the AFR of 22 March 2018 ‘CEOs pledge to reinvest any tax cuts’. It goes on to report that the Business Council of Australia leadership plus ten chief executive officers of large companies sent a letter to all senators saying greater investment meant higher wages. They wrote ‘We believe that a…
comments about current affairs, matters of public interest, posts
Dutton and the White Australia Policy
In 1973 the Whitlam Government passed laws to ensure that race would be totally disregarded as a component for immigration to Australia. Thus it could be argued that the Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, is in contravention of that legislation. A few days ago, Mr Dutton said white South African farmers ‘deserve special attention’ and ‘need help from a…
comments about current affairs, matters of public interest, posts
What chance does peace have? Why does Australia want to become a major manufacturer and exporter of weapons?
The resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 4 December 2017 re The Arms Trade Treaty includes the following: … that disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………The total value of the global arms market is estimated to be around $60 billion a year, with about $8 billion…