Thank you once again Amy for your scorching insight into the constant failures , both in policy and judgement of this excuse for a “Labor government “ . That sleazy photo of Albanese snuggling up to his hero , Trump , is not only stomach turning . It demonstrates
to the world the vassal status of this grovelling bloke who appears not to realise that Trump will drop him like a hot rock the second he
ceases to be of grovelling use . Has Albanese not noticed the ratings for Trump in America ?? The expression “With friends like these
who needs enemies ?” leaps to mind . He and his government are selling out our nation . Are there not words for that ?
It brings to mind those big anti war rallies we had against Howard when graphic ‘ass-licking’ placards were everywhere in the crowds. Albanese should hang his head in shame. No dignity at all.
Spot on Amy. Just infuriating to witness what is nothing but sycophancy to the power from the outside while clambering for a seat at the table of those they claim to be different from.
Nothing but pinstriped pretenders ponceing around in the shearing shed of yesterday who will never get my vote again.
Greens for me from here in. They are not just about the environment, important as that is.
David Shoebridge is great.. he’s honest, fierce and principled. Check him out at Senate Estimates and in Parliament on You.tube. He has just been elected Leader of the Greens and I think there will be a big shake up. We need to build up a massive Greens membership.
I really hope disillusioned and angry ex-Labor voters like me, give Greens a close look.
Well done Amy. Albo aka Capt Capitulation is a weakling and left is morality and integrity at the ballot box. He is not a leader, just a kowtowing fool who is nothing more than a career politician who has willingly sold us out.
I don’t understand how Albanese, Murray Watt, and all ALP members, particularly those with children and grandchildren can sleep and live with themselves as they continue to approve more fossil fuel extraction projects and stand by while big industry walks away from decarbonisation.
I was initially in the same position until a recent discussion with a well-informed friend, and as a result can see matters a little better.
It seems that Albanese, in particular, is determined for the ALP to be seen as the natural party of government, and to be so for as long as possible. This requires governmental support for certain interests over others, and generally, as Amy suggests to give the appearance of competancy while doing as little as possible so as not to disturb the status-quo.
The favouritism accorded certain interests helps to explain the on-going (and increasing) support for fossil fuel exploration and extraction; the lack of interest in a "gas-tax"; the "Claytons" solution to the gambling problem; the toothles NACC; the "free-pass" given to the Israel Lobby; the thriving Defence export industry - some of the products of which it seems are directly contributing to the genocide in Gaza.
Then there is the almost complete handing-over of Aged Care to the private sector, with Disability Care not far behind. On top of that we now have management by algorithm with no clinical oversight or input - a situation that critics fear may well give rise to aother Robodebt. Equally worrying in this context is that certain critical NDIS data is being shared (without consent) with American and Israeli tech companies - one of which has software that can scrape all your phone's data - without your knowledge or permission.
And what of the ordinary wage-earner? Consider the recent comments (Sept 10) of the SMH economics editor Ross Gittings:
"The rise in prices – the cost of living – is unceasing. So the rise in prices we’ve seen in recent years is merely on the high side of normal. Normally, it’s not the centre of our discontent. Why not? Because our wages also rise unceasingly...
Normally, our wages rise at a rate just a bit higher than needed to cover the rising cost of living. But that’s what’s not normal. Over the past five years or so, wages haven’t grown by enough to cover price rises, let alone leave us with a modest increase in our “real” wage that would deliver a small rise in our standard of living...
My guess is that changes to industrial relations and the wage-bargaining rules in recent decades have left employers able to hold wages down in a way they couldn’t before. Why this doesn’t seem to worry the Labor federal government I’m blowed if I know."
I understand that, as you have outlined, there is quite a broad range of matters impacting some of all of our community where the government is not stepping up as expected and appears to be increasingly aligned with big business, donors and other influential groups. I do what I can on some of these issues. Where I see a difference between those issues and inaction on carbon emissions is how extreme and pervasive the resulting impacts on Australia will be. The level of suffering, death, disintegration of our modern affluent society will be far greater than any other threat we currently face, and will last for a very long time. This is where I am horrified at how politicians are choosing to continue to choose inaction. They might be able to convince themselves that they will never have a family member dependent on the NDIS or services for the unemployed, they might be correct in assuming that they are secure enough to not suffer in the aged care system, they may convince themselves they have nothing to fear from collection of personal data. But there can be no similar certainty of avoiding the impact of climate breakdown for themselves or their descendants.
John Howard’s greatest achievement? Anthony Albanese.
It’s obviously paraphrasing Margaret Thatcher, but there’s some truth in it and a delicious accompaniment to your comparison of Albanese to Ed Sheeran.
The Arc of Albo from Joy Division to present day; from the soundtrack of Thatcherism and Activist Albo to the PM who ‘danced’ to Taylor Swift in a corporate box the day before flying to a billionaires birthday party to enjoy Katy Perry.
The ALP is no longer a party of the left. Heck it isn’t even party of the centre. It certainly isn’t the party that produced Whitlam. Yes Whitlam only lasted three years but it created policies that produced fundamental shifts for the good in Australian Politics.
Fantastic analysis Amy! Now let’s do it! Principled progressives need to unite and make a difference- like those supporting acts who left Sheerin to stew.
I’m not the best qualified to answer this. I’m sure there’s wiser and more experienced people out there who could advise. I simply long for a real grassroots movement where people who are experiencing homelessness or rent stress or struggling to get food on the table get together with those working with them or allies and start building strategies to get heard. We have to talk face to face, door to door. Listening deeply. No violence. Gathering community across all the identities we cherish. It’s idealistic but there are already people doing this I think. We just need to connect more and change the narratives.
Eg. Now on the endless saga of inflation and interest rate hikes. Why is no one asking - why should ordinary people always pay the price? Dig down - what exactly is pushing up inflation? Who’s price gouging and benefiting? Making us all pay more for less whether at supermarkets, or insurance or rents?
I like your rant. It makes a lot of sense and I agree with all of it. I am hoping that people get behind David Shoebridge and the Greens to build a movement to challenge the two party false dichotomy.
We are all wide awake now but we need to come together to do something BiG to change the status quo.
No more 94 seats for Labor and Albo! But we have to put our future into safe hands. I believe that is David Shoebridge and the Greens Party.
We don’t have to agree with absolutely every Greens policy to know that they are the only ones calling out the corruption going on, the pork barrelling hypocrisy of both main parties, the revolving door of politicians becoming lobbyists and ending up in plum jobs related to their government inside knowledge and experience.. the folly and the costs of AUKUS, the growing influence/takeover of government and policy making… the US sucking up and their military bases putting Australians at risk.
All this and more David has been screaming from the rooftops about and demanding action.
Apart from David Pocock, Independent, trying to keep the bastards honest.. only David Shoebridge and his Greens Team have been talking about what is actually going on.
Thank you, Amy, for once again clearly articulating the "gutlessness" the Albanese government shows when it comes to pursuing real change and progress on the most important issues Australians are facing.
No wonder voters are looking for alternatives to represent them in the parliament.
The only hope I see for the future so many of us are yearning for is a minority government that will be bound to represent the views of the majority of Australians, not the views of the bully boys of corporate power.
I'm going to be very excited that D Shoebridge is now leading the Greens. Labor will be squirming, and so they should. VERY sorry about Mehreen Faruqi's not-sweet grapes: she would have had Labor dancing jigs. "All we are saying is/ give David a real chance." MSM won't; we can.
Just watch the pile on now the Greens are pushing hard on what used to be Labor positions on social and International issues. I'm sure Shoebridge will get the Jeremy Corbyn treatment from the Zionists.
Thank you once again Amy for your scorching insight into the constant failures , both in policy and judgement of this excuse for a “Labor government “ . That sleazy photo of Albanese snuggling up to his hero , Trump , is not only stomach turning . It demonstrates
to the world the vassal status of this grovelling bloke who appears not to realise that Trump will drop him like a hot rock the second he
ceases to be of grovelling use . Has Albanese not noticed the ratings for Trump in America ?? The expression “With friends like these
who needs enemies ?” leaps to mind . He and his government are selling out our nation . Are there not words for that ?
It brings to mind those big anti war rallies we had against Howard when graphic ‘ass-licking’ placards were everywhere in the crowds. Albanese should hang his head in shame. No dignity at all.
He has assumed the arrogance of someone who believes they are in no danger of losing power ( like Trump ??😆).
This week’s Saturday Paper has an excellent article on him , and the way he works against anyone who dares to disagree with him .
Spot on Amy. Just infuriating to witness what is nothing but sycophancy to the power from the outside while clambering for a seat at the table of those they claim to be different from.
Nothing but pinstriped pretenders ponceing around in the shearing shed of yesterday who will never get my vote again.
Well said 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Hopefully you, me and millions of others have woken up to him. Little weasal.
Agree - but what’s the realistic alternative? Coalition even worse and ON an appalling option.
Greens for me from here in. They are not just about the environment, important as that is.
David Shoebridge is great.. he’s honest, fierce and principled. Check him out at Senate Estimates and in Parliament on You.tube. He has just been elected Leader of the Greens and I think there will be a big shake up. We need to build up a massive Greens membership.
I really hope disillusioned and angry ex-Labor voters like me, give Greens a close look.
Yes agree. Delighted he is the new Greens Leader. Have followed him for ages.
Well done Amy. Albo aka Capt Capitulation is a weakling and left is morality and integrity at the ballot box. He is not a leader, just a kowtowing fool who is nothing more than a career politician who has willingly sold us out.
And who will retire to his coastal home, with a lifetime pension and not a care in the world.
I don’t understand how Albanese, Murray Watt, and all ALP members, particularly those with children and grandchildren can sleep and live with themselves as they continue to approve more fossil fuel extraction projects and stand by while big industry walks away from decarbonisation.
I understand your being puzzled David.
I was initially in the same position until a recent discussion with a well-informed friend, and as a result can see matters a little better.
It seems that Albanese, in particular, is determined for the ALP to be seen as the natural party of government, and to be so for as long as possible. This requires governmental support for certain interests over others, and generally, as Amy suggests to give the appearance of competancy while doing as little as possible so as not to disturb the status-quo.
The favouritism accorded certain interests helps to explain the on-going (and increasing) support for fossil fuel exploration and extraction; the lack of interest in a "gas-tax"; the "Claytons" solution to the gambling problem; the toothles NACC; the "free-pass" given to the Israel Lobby; the thriving Defence export industry - some of the products of which it seems are directly contributing to the genocide in Gaza.
Then there is the almost complete handing-over of Aged Care to the private sector, with Disability Care not far behind. On top of that we now have management by algorithm with no clinical oversight or input - a situation that critics fear may well give rise to aother Robodebt. Equally worrying in this context is that certain critical NDIS data is being shared (without consent) with American and Israeli tech companies - one of which has software that can scrape all your phone's data - without your knowledge or permission.
And what of the ordinary wage-earner? Consider the recent comments (Sept 10) of the SMH economics editor Ross Gittings:
"The rise in prices – the cost of living – is unceasing. So the rise in prices we’ve seen in recent years is merely on the high side of normal. Normally, it’s not the centre of our discontent. Why not? Because our wages also rise unceasingly...
Normally, our wages rise at a rate just a bit higher than needed to cover the rising cost of living. But that’s what’s not normal. Over the past five years or so, wages haven’t grown by enough to cover price rises, let alone leave us with a modest increase in our “real” wage that would deliver a small rise in our standard of living...
My guess is that changes to industrial relations and the wage-bargaining rules in recent decades have left employers able to hold wages down in a way they couldn’t before. Why this doesn’t seem to worry the Labor federal government I’m blowed if I know."
Hi Julian,
I understand that, as you have outlined, there is quite a broad range of matters impacting some of all of our community where the government is not stepping up as expected and appears to be increasingly aligned with big business, donors and other influential groups. I do what I can on some of these issues. Where I see a difference between those issues and inaction on carbon emissions is how extreme and pervasive the resulting impacts on Australia will be. The level of suffering, death, disintegration of our modern affluent society will be far greater than any other threat we currently face, and will last for a very long time. This is where I am horrified at how politicians are choosing to continue to choose inaction. They might be able to convince themselves that they will never have a family member dependent on the NDIS or services for the unemployed, they might be correct in assuming that they are secure enough to not suffer in the aged care system, they may convince themselves they have nothing to fear from collection of personal data. But there can be no similar certainty of avoiding the impact of climate breakdown for themselves or their descendants.
Your point is well made David, thank you.
Locally trained AI models has to be the ultimate empty promise. "Australian-made" with next to no ongoing jobs but all the pollution.
Sounds like total bullshit to me . The contempt in which this Albanese government holds the Australian public is eye watering . From First Peoples
through migrants and their racist attacks on immigration , to every sector of the public they were elected to serve and are ignoring
John Howard’s greatest achievement? Anthony Albanese.
It’s obviously paraphrasing Margaret Thatcher, but there’s some truth in it and a delicious accompaniment to your comparison of Albanese to Ed Sheeran.
The Arc of Albo from Joy Division to present day; from the soundtrack of Thatcherism and Activist Albo to the PM who ‘danced’ to Taylor Swift in a corporate box the day before flying to a billionaires birthday party to enjoy Katy Perry.
That's actually one of the conclusions I come to in Where it all went wrong: the case against John Howard x
The ALP is no longer a party of the left. Heck it isn’t even party of the centre. It certainly isn’t the party that produced Whitlam. Yes Whitlam only lasted three years but it created policies that produced fundamental shifts for the good in Australian Politics.
As usual you point out the absolute truth Amy and it’s no wonder twats are listening to Pauline !
Fantastic analysis Amy! Now let’s do it! Principled progressives need to unite and make a difference- like those supporting acts who left Sheerin to stew.
Agreed.. what do we do about it?
I’m not the best qualified to answer this. I’m sure there’s wiser and more experienced people out there who could advise. I simply long for a real grassroots movement where people who are experiencing homelessness or rent stress or struggling to get food on the table get together with those working with them or allies and start building strategies to get heard. We have to talk face to face, door to door. Listening deeply. No violence. Gathering community across all the identities we cherish. It’s idealistic but there are already people doing this I think. We just need to connect more and change the narratives.
Eg. Now on the endless saga of inflation and interest rate hikes. Why is no one asking - why should ordinary people always pay the price? Dig down - what exactly is pushing up inflation? Who’s price gouging and benefiting? Making us all pay more for less whether at supermarkets, or insurance or rents?
Apologies for the rant.
I like your rant. It makes a lot of sense and I agree with all of it. I am hoping that people get behind David Shoebridge and the Greens to build a movement to challenge the two party false dichotomy.
We are all wide awake now but we need to come together to do something BiG to change the status quo.
No more 94 seats for Labor and Albo! But we have to put our future into safe hands. I believe that is David Shoebridge and the Greens Party.
We don’t have to agree with absolutely every Greens policy to know that they are the only ones calling out the corruption going on, the pork barrelling hypocrisy of both main parties, the revolving door of politicians becoming lobbyists and ending up in plum jobs related to their government inside knowledge and experience.. the folly and the costs of AUKUS, the growing influence/takeover of government and policy making… the US sucking up and their military bases putting Australians at risk.
All this and more David has been screaming from the rooftops about and demanding action.
Apart from David Pocock, Independent, trying to keep the bastards honest.. only David Shoebridge and his Greens Team have been talking about what is actually going on.
Thank you, Amy, for once again clearly articulating the "gutlessness" the Albanese government shows when it comes to pursuing real change and progress on the most important issues Australians are facing.
No wonder voters are looking for alternatives to represent them in the parliament.
The only hope I see for the future so many of us are yearning for is a minority government that will be bound to represent the views of the majority of Australians, not the views of the bully boys of corporate power.
I'm going to be very excited that D Shoebridge is now leading the Greens. Labor will be squirming, and so they should. VERY sorry about Mehreen Faruqi's not-sweet grapes: she would have had Labor dancing jigs. "All we are saying is/ give David a real chance." MSM won't; we can.
Just watch the pile on now the Greens are pushing hard on what used to be Labor positions on social and International issues. I'm sure Shoebridge will get the Jeremy Corbyn treatment from the Zionists.
oh alaneseeeee the chameleon in the emperors new clothes.......again....a comfortable high fence he sittin on
thankyou amy always saying it as it should be
What Rot
There once was a party
That used to ask what
What is fair
What right
What is decent
What is equality
What is opportunity
What is justice
What s compassion
What is truth
What is reconciliation
Now that What is gone
Replaced by rot
What can’t be done
What can’t be spent
What can’t be afforded
What can’t be built
What can’t be shared
What can’t be challenged
What can’t be defeated
What can’t be condemned
What must be obeyed
What must be sold
What must be given up
What must not be said
What must be detained
What must be locked up
What words must mean
What words don’t matter
WHAT ROT!
Well said Amy, thank you.
Thank you Amy. You nailed it in your description of our current government. A truer word was never spoken.