Can We Do It?

Guest Author Uncategorized

The “honour” of the first Guest Author thread for the year goes to Jaycee, with a modest proposal concerning what to do about what lies ahead for Australia and Australians in 2015. Thank you, Jaycee.

(Image Credit: Wikipedia)

As we venture into this new year, we enter the next phase of the LNP Government’s plan to reverse the social order of our nation. Make no mistake, the intention of right-wing ideology is not to appease, but to conquer and control economic, social and political policy direction of our country by the use of extreme measures that it has been carefully putting in place for the last year. Not for fear of terrorism were such search, monitor and police powers legislated … how many acts of terrorism have we ever suffered in this country to justify such complete control over our actions? And even if there were, would we not rise above such a situation with the stoicism and courage that many nations do when confronted with any such act? Australia is not as puny as a corporation born from one family’s twisted fortune. No, the right-wing has but one great fear: that it will lose control of the mechanisms that gain it both power and profit … after all, it was only for profit that Murdoch moved to put the LNP in power in the first place – that much is obvious.

The first six months of this year will be an “attack period”. Attacks on our social welfare system, attacks on social media criticism, attacks on the environment and political discourse. Perhaps, too, attacks on even our persons. The appointment of Scott Morrison to lead these attacks has been premeditated by warming him up with his unrelenting, cold-hearted cruelty towards asylum seekers. The gross hypocrisy of his claim of being cruel to be kind, by saving thousands from a watery grave, is exposed by the treatment AFTER ARRIVAL of those refugees he claims to have saved from drowning – as if they must now be taught a lesson for NOT drowning! No, the lessons of precise targeting learned from experimenting with asylum seekers, i.e., identifying and denouncing the “economic refugees”, the “no longer in danger” peoples and / or “how far to persecute and prosecute before strategic retreat from absolute cruelty” tactics will stand in good stead the master of the fates of any or all on some sort of welfare. According to the IPA’s philosophy, everybody knows “They’re nearly ALL malingerers of some sort – even those on an old-age pension – who, if they had any gumption at all, would have in their working life put away enough to fund their own retirement, just like Gina or Rupert or Twiggy!” Rest assured, Scotty has plans – oh yes! – he has plans … for us.

Now WE must plan. We, in social media, must work on a foundation platform of how to attack and render harmless the right-wing media which, as sure as sunrise, is going to set the tempo for this second year of the regime’s agenda. Murdoch knows he must either control or destroy the free democracy of social media. Social media is starting to confidently outstrip the MSM both news delivery and in satire of right-wing politicians, the MSM, and the MSM’s reporters and big-shot players. Not only that, but social media can now also lead in attack and parry and defence of ideals that appeal to a vast majority. Murdoch knows this ground: he has traversed it many times. The advantage we hold (at this moment) is the technology of the internet and the capability to use it. The old MSM is hamstrung by an unwieldy “hard-copy” press machine and with it an anachronistic “see, hear, report, edit, print” timetable. Social media has no such delays – it happens, it is visualized or tweeted as it happens – instant news! THIS is our weapon against the Murdoch juggernaut! Murdoch has only ONE power base: his employees, especially his journalists. Murdoch himself has no capacity to report or deliver – he has to rely solely on his employees – take them out of the picture and he is lost. It is the old story of the “for the want of a horse-shoe nail” – it IS that simple.

I believe we have to invent a brand new mechanism of political involvement via social media. We cannot do this alone or in individual blogs: we must try and involve the ALP, who need to build a broad information base and access to a wide readership. It would perhaps be to the party’s advantage to have instant rapport with its support and to reach out to those lurking and seeking persuasion to come over from the dark side! The ALP. already has a presence on Twitter, albeit a sort of loose familiarity – but it does twitter so much better than the LNP. After all, social media communication is more suited to those who sympathise with social equality and those who like to reach out and “touch” each other.

We have to build “chat tag-teams” to develop and push important topics along the conversation threads: to keep certain important policies in the public eye and discussion – not faking it, but delivering real issues to the front and centre of discussion AND having them discussed – not letting important news or policy be blown about by idle chatter then getting lost in the hubbub of gossip or advertising. We need “tag-teams” to liaise between the Party and the boards, to attack individual MSM journalists who propagandise for the LNP/ IPA/Murdoshians. We are beyond the point of beginning, but rather are seeking to complete the construction of a new generation of political discourse with social media at the centre.

This year will be an attack year for the LNP. They will have to cull Labor’s social policies and put in place their market-based options. It will be a slash and burn year for them. Murdoch will have his creatures going flat-out in support – his corporate future depends upon control of the media. They will probably use the Abbott / Morrison duo in a “good cop / bad cop” set-up. However they do it, they have to have their policy in place by the end of the year so as to butter the voters up for the next election. They have a plan, a strategy. We too must plan a counterattack and defence: it must be loud, wide-ranging and relentless. We must be able to melt back into the shadows and be ready to emerge with as much concentrated opinion as we can muster in as short a time as possible if we are to win this battle and we must be able to take it , via twitter, directly to the Floor of The House. Instant outrage! For it is a battle of ideology: to lose is to see a century’s worth of social infrastructure and a lifetime’s achievement of environmental restructuring wasted and destroyed. And for whom? For these people know no life save the barbaric solution of rapine and looting what is not and has never been theirs to loot!

Can we do it??? . . . “Yes we can!”

(Image Credit: Allposters)

560 thoughts on “Can We Do It?”

  4. BK

    The firies are much more important, I silently thank you each day for your links, and loudly say you are a champion for all your efforts in helping in these horrible times.

  5. BK,

    Some of us will rally round.

    Maybe even moi, though I wouldn’t count on it.

    I shall think of you (in my half-awake dreams) busy flipping the eggs and bacon.

    Take care.

    * * * * * * * *

    Okay, early bird Pubsters, you have your orders!

    See youse at the ready termorrah!

  6. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/07/firefighting-has-hardly-changed-in-a-century-but-bushfires-certainly-have

    http://www.newrepublic.com/article/120695/study-anti-vaccination-supporters-practice-neoliberal-mothering

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/06/queensland-election-all-about-the-environment-bikies-and-privatisation

    http://www.politicalowl.com/home/2015/01/07/the-summer-bummer-headline-sums-up-day-one-of-queensland-election-campaign/

    http://thenewdaily.com.au/life/2015/01/07/kevin-rudd-puts-home-sale/

    http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/climate-change/emissions-for-power-sector-jump-as-carbon-tax-ends-20150107-12jmb4.html

  7. Apparently my Mum was had some role with the P&C when I was a little one there some quarter of a century ago. There was an outbreak of something nasty and vaccine preventable, and so any unvaccinated kids were excluded. One of the parents complained, and Mum pretty quickly put him in his place, something along the lines of “you can do whatever you want when it comes to your own kid, but you will not be endangering my children (it’s worth noting that my brother wasn’t yet two years old, and hadn’t been fully vaccinated).
    That reminds me, my son is due his needles soon. Must book that.

  8. AJ,

    Could you please ask your mum what disease it was?

    I suspect whooping cough, but I’m more than happy to be corrected – and to be told what the particular nasty it was.

  9. Meanwhile over in Syria/Iraq biffo I reckon the Russkiys have gone on the offensive. Way bad news for ISIS. During the Westerner kidnapathon of the Lebanon Civil War only one Russian was kidnapped. Why ? The Russians responded by kidnapping the patriarch of the group involved and dumped the body on a rubbish heap . The poor bugger being castrated and his genitals stuffed in his mouth.

    Isis top police official found beheaded, left with cigarette in mouth and ‘this is evil’ message written on corpse

    Reports from rebel mouthpiece the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the body was found with a message written on it saying “this is evil, you Sheikh,” and with a cigarette in the severed head’s mouth.

    .
    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-top-police-official-found-beheaded-left-with-cigarette-in-mouth-and-this-is-evil-message-written-on-corpse-9960825.html?printService=print

  11. According to the article, this is the second time that the Rudds’ house has been on the market after failing to sell last year, and the asking price has gone down from $1.25 million to $1.19 million.

  12. The Rudd house has been on the market for at least a couple of months, it was featured on Fairfax’s ‘Domain’ last November. No-one seems interested in snapping it up. Maybe he should drop the price. Again.

  15. UPDATE.
    There will be a Dawn Patrol tomorrow as more helpers have been secured for tomorrow’s cooking. I’ll have to find another way now to infiltrate Abbott’s bubble.

  16. BK,

    Thank goodness.

    I can skive off to bed now without getting a guilty conscience round about 6:00am tomorrow Melbourne time.

  18. Fiona,
    I think it was measles. She told me that story a couple of years ago now, so I can’t be 100% sure.
    If I’m correct, my brother would have been old enough to be vaccinated against whooping cough, but may have been too young for measles.

  21. Good morning Dawn Patrollers from a quite wet Adelaide Hills. The fire is now classed as “contained”.

    Stand by for plenty of “Death Culting” from you know who. I don’t understand religious extremists. If a religion is worth killing for I wish these bastards would start with themselves.
    http://www.smh.com.au/world/gunmen-attack-french-satirical-magazine-charlie-hebdo-at-paris-office-at-least-12-dead-20150107-12js9t.html
    Will this attack provide a platform for more Abbott vs Mesma grandstanding?
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/paris-terrorist-attack-embassy-working-to-confirm-safety-of-australians-20150107-12jsk9.html
    We are all Charlie Hebdo and this is an attack on our rights.
    https://theconversation.com/we-are-all-charlie-hebdo-and-this-is-an-attack-on-our-rights-35978
    And how long before Labor gets blamed for this?
    http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/monis-threats-reported-to-afp-same-year-he-dropped-off-terror-watch-list-20150107-12jhro.html
    As investment advisers this government makes Alan Bond look good. Remember the stink from Hockey and others over the ANU’s decision to quit certain energy stocks?
    http://theaimn.com/investment-advisers-liberals-make-alan-bond-look-good/
    Why Abbott’s overseas trip was a PR failure.
    http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2015/01/07/abbott-prefer-iraq-south-australia/
    More honesty and less Murdoch please!
    https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/i-have-a-dream-honesty-in-australian-media,7238
    How the public service hiring freeze has backfired on the government. Third rate cost accounting mentality always f**ks up!
    http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/public-service-hiring-freeze-delivers-100-million-cash-bonanza-to-private-recruiters-20150107-12irwb.html
    Only a mug punter would bet on carbon capture over renewables.
    https://theconversation.com/only-a-mug-punter-would-bet-on-carbon-storage-over-renewables-35920
    A message to Abbott on social media monitoring.
    http://theaimn.com/tony-abbotts-media-monitoring-message/

  22. Section 2 . . .

    Here’s an interesting proposal on how to increase GST receipts in a way that is not regressive.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/put-the-gst-on-private-health-insurance-and-private-schools-not-fresh-food-20150107-12jje4.html
    Another example of the outsourcing mentality of this mob we are saddled with.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/outsourcing-approvals-would-put-patients-at-risk-advocates-say-20150107-12jjze.html
    Elizabeth Farrelly examines the forthcoming visit by the idiot US anti-vaxxer. My view is that the media are complicit in memes such as this being able to rise and be sustained. Proper, factual and science-based journalism would not give them any oxygen. Giving these people airtime is not being “balanced”. Rather it is being ignorant, lazy and weak.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/free-speech-opens-the-door-to-extremists-20150107-12jcrj.html
    Now Suncorp comes under the gaze of ASIC over shady financial “advice”.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/suncorp-firm-under-asic-scrutiny-over-deficiencies-in-insurance-advice-20150107-12jdzq.html
    The industry can’t afford any more scandals.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/financial-services-industry-cant-afford-any-more-scandals-20150107-12jm90.html
    Lawyers and telcos are unimpressed with the ill-defined date retention requirements.
    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/07/data-retention-lawyers-and-telcos-take-aim-at-ill-defined-legislation
    Toxic Tony is set for a low key contribution to the Queensland election campaign. Who would have thought?
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-set-for-lowkey-role-in-queensland-election-campaign-20150106-12isvt.html
    Words fail me.
    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/07/philippines-pope-francis
    Slater & Gordon are caught up in a scandal with links to the notorious Henry Kaye.
    http://www.theage.com.au/national/investigations/slater-and-gordon-rattled-by-henry-kaye-link-20150107-12ior8.html
    Don’t kick sand in the faces of GPs! Waiting rooms will become political billboards.
    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jan/07/doctors-to-demonstrate-in-protest-at-plan-b-proposed-medicare-changes
    David Pope transports us to the Canberra of 50 years into the future.
    http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/david-pope-20141123-1t3j0.html
    And a few cartoons from The Age.
    http://theage.com.au/victoria/the-age-cartoons-january-8-2015-20150107-12jpm2.html
    John Spooner with the Vatican and climate change.
    http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/spooner-gallery-20090716-dmsv.html

  26. Only attacks by alleged Muslims make the media, national or international.

    Yesterday there was a bombing at the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) building in Colorado Springs, USA. The US media didn’t say a word, neither did ours. Why? Because it was done by a white American, or more than one, not by someone claiming to be a Muslim.

    No-one was killed, but that was not the obvious intention. The homemade bomb was placed beside a container of petrol, which did not explode.

    Locals heard the noise, but did not know what had happened because no media reported it. Only people who were hanging out on Twitter knew.
    http://www.newsweek.com/naacp-chapter-bombing-colorado-springs-deliberate-says-fbi-297399

  27. The Canberra Times gets The Brussels Sprout exactly right:

    At the same time, another change was made that may affect patients far more deeply. Mr Dutton, with considerable disingenuity, said he would address the “troublesome issue of ‘six-minute medicine’ … by encouraging doctors to spend more time with patients”. In practice, the government is more than halving the rebate for GP visits that take between six and 10 minutes; a change that will take place this month. This will have one of three effects: GPs will spend longer with patients than they need to, and hence charge more; they will make patients pay about $20 extra for these short consultations; or, if GPs previously bulk-billed such visits, they will stop doing so. Mr Dutton said the change would ensure that “appropriate, comprehensive care is better rewarded over patient throughput”. It is difficult to regard his words as anything other than cant.

    http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/ct-editorial/cowardly-decision-to-reduce-bulkbilling-should-have-gone-to-parliament-20150107-12j9r8.html

  30. It may be morally relativistic, in fact it is, but when you consider that French planes are bombing Muslim fundamentalists in Iraq and Syria, and are likely killing a dozen or so people at a time on some occasions, you can hardly blame the victims (or targets, of you want a more neutral word) from dishing up some of the same meal to the French on French soil.

    If some of us want to profit from all the hoo-ha of “going to war”, to beat the drum and to bask in the reflected glory of our brave troops doing their bit, and to speak with trembling lips about the profound responsibilities that have fallen on the government’s shoulders as they take the most serious step any government can take etc., then we shouldn’t get all outraged when the war comes home to us in the most awful manner.

    Sure the shootings in Paris may be an attack on our way of life, and may be too much of a savage retribution for poking a bit of fun at another man’s God (or not… it depends on your point of view, and your God), but so are the bombings of villages and the equally mass killings of women and children on occasion in the Middle East an attack on their way of life.

    You can’t have a war and only expect the other side to suffer casualties. You can’t get all outraged on moral grounds when they fight back, in urban streets, against civilians going about their business, just as “our” side has done to them in their own countries.

    Get angry. Get scared. Get horrified, but if anyone wants to start drawing moral lines in the sand they need to accept the fact that war – a real war – incurs casualties and death for everyone, good guys and bad guys.

    The phoney pomposity of our media, the “war” footing they put our nation on when it sold newspapers, the posturing of our politicians when we sent almost invulnerable fighter jets to wreak havoc and death from 30,000 feet on “Them” is at last put into perspective: all this chest beating and vicarious thrill seeking has consequences. War is not a one-way street.

    There is either moral relativism, or there are no morals in killing people. Take your pick. Thumping the tub about the glory of it all, using it as a lever to improve poll numbers can result in blowback of the most terrible kind. Every war is the same, has been the same and will always be the same. It’s not Reality TV. It’s not Hollywood. It’s not the Daily Telegraph. It’s real, and it will probably get realer if we continue to consider ourselves as the morallly advantaged guardians of civilization.

    What a 100 million dollar aircraft can do with a half-million dollar munition, a group of fanatics with Kalashnikovs and a stolen car can do back to us, on our own turf. Ironically a gun nut in America will condemn Paris as the act of terrorists, but defend exactly the same crime if it is perpetrated by a crazy “exercising his constitutional rights” in a cinema, or a school. Freedom has all kinds of unintended consequences.

    Until our governments accept that and level with their citizens, attacks like Paris will continue to occur. We can’t continue to kill Muslims in the Middle East without considering the ramifications and the morals of doing that, all of them, everywhere.

    I’m not defending the attacks in Paris. I’m just pointing out that our side in this business can hardly demand immunity from the consequences of our, and our governments’ actions. If we have an enemy in Islam – and I’m not saying we do, or that we need to – we need to understand their point of view, before we use them as mere political fodder, a sandwich filling in a local game of point-counterpoint. Getting angry isn’t enough. We have to starting thinking, hard and honestly, well away from our ivory towers.

  32. BB

    It does get to me when Toxic boasts how many bombs we have dropped, then screams blue murder when ‘they’ attack a supposed ally. I like you clear line of thought, but I guess those that have a say wouldn’t.

  36. Killing people who make fun of your religion isn’t exactly an eye-for-an-eye response to bombings.

    And it won’t stop the mockers.

  40. They know who they are

    Paris police, while waging a massive manhunt, named the suspects as Said Kouachi, 34, and Cherif Kouachi, 32, both French nationals, and Hamyd Mourad, 18, whose nationality wasn’t immediately clear. There were no confirmed arrests.

    The brothers were born in Paris of Algerian descent, police said at a news conference. Cherif, police said, was sentenced to three years in prison on terrorism charges in May 2008. Both brothers returned from Syria this summer.

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/01/07/france-charlie-hebdo-satirical-publisher/21377861/

  42. Well that was a brief visit.

  47. Abbott used his presser at his visit to SA to ramp up fear and loathing and rave on about expecting more terrorism. What a loathsome, self-serving disgusting worm. I can’t even refer to him as a human being. The journos asking the questions are no better. This was supposed to be about support for fire victims and fire fighters, not terrorism.

  49. I’m not Charlie. No way.

    I’d never heard of Charlie Hedbo. Now I have I can say this – if you are deliberately provocative with the aim of attracting attention, if you deliberately cause offence not just to Muslims but to many who have other religious beliefs, then you have to deal with the consequences of your actions. There is satire and then there is being plain offensive. There’s a difference.

    Sorry if that goes against the mainstream feelings, but i’m not joining in the ‘We area all Charlie’ rubbish.

    I’m all for tolerance and living peacefully, I’m all for freedom if expression, but I do not think provocation and offensive behaviour is part of that.

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