The system is broken. This is a common response in many political discussions across social media. I disagree. I believe we are broken. Not the system.
Over the years we have seen many right-wing parties rise up across the world out of what I would describe as the bottomless pit of apathy and agitation. Analysis of the voter demographic these parties appeal to are largely the low socio-economic working class, welfare recipients or a mix of work and welfare. In addition, this demographic is usually described as having a lower level of education and most likely live in regional and rural areas. Essentially, individuals within these groups have barrier/s of disadvantage.
Marine Le Pen like Pauline Hanson, leads a right-wing Conservative-Nationalist party. Le Pen in France, Hanson in Australia.
Both Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and Le Pen’s Nationalist Front, target high unemployment, low-income areas, where the lower-middle working class are struggling to make ends meet.
Once the voice of the anti-worker and champions of Austerity take hold, it gets harder and harder but much easier for parties such as these to take hold.
Tactical Trump Manoeuvres
As we see with Trump’s tactical objectives in the USA campaign, Trump can easily be completely devoid of any real solutions. Solutions do not matter. The main objective is to bring to the surface the abject feeling of despair and find a target to blame that despair on. The target is always a minority group.
The game play then is to just pop up and say he will fix it. How, is not important. A way out of the feeling of frustration and anger is. This is consistent with the right-wing conservative-nationalists parties making headway through populist politics.
In all cases, Trump, Hanson and Le Pen, the target for blame are Muslims. Other cultures and particular races can be mixed in as well. However, the key objective is that the voter-target demographic are not familiar with these groups. Members of these group are most likely not prevalent in the demographics of the voter-target regions. They are not usually known as close friends, or family members of the voter-target demographic.
They key is to divide us. The key is to make us broken.
The Appeal of One Nation in the Regions.
Taking this into consideration, there should be no surprise that One Nation votes are high in Regional Queensland. Regional Queensland ticks all the boxes for the target voter demographic.There are very few Muslims and these areas do not have a heavy concentration of multiculturalism. This makes these groups easy targets for blame, as members within these groups appear foreign and not familiar.
Unemployment is rising, wages have stagnated, parents worry constantly about their children’s future, water is scarce in some places and if you are sick, you may need to travel more than twelve hours to get treatment and stay thousands of miles away from those who love you and support you. These things take a toll on people. It really is not fair.
The reason these target groups are selected to place blame on; is it is much easier to dehumanise a race, or a particular group if there is no personal connection to that race or group.
It should be no surprise that One Nation has backed off attacking and degrading Aboriginals as ‘the other lot that get everything we don’t’ as was her key mantra her first time in office.
That is because times have changed and there is much more acceptance and a lot of divisiveness from the 80s, 90s and early 2000’s has healed. A lot of lifelong friendships have been made and mixed families are the norm today.
The same applies for Asians as a target. It would be ridiculous to state that we are being swamped by Asians, when it still has not come true 20 years after Hanson campaigned on this the first time.
Consistently, Pauline Hanson, just like Pen and Trump, deflect blame to minority groups.
If anyone tells me that Hanson is not taking aim at a target demographic to exploit their vulnerabilities and anxieties for her own financial and political gain…I call B*llshit!
The System isn’t Broken – It’s Us.
The link between Trump, Le Pen and Hanson, is that people are turning away from the policy makers and turning to the populist makers. Policy is complex. It needs to take into account the interests of multiple stakeholders and other factors. Policy isn’t three word slogans. Seriously, what has Jobson Growth done for you since July 2?
I am not saying by any means that all policy is where it should be. However, a true progressive would never be satisfied with the status quo. Otherwise, they would be a conservative. That is why regardless of past hurdles to achieving marriage equality, even within Labor; the voices who believed in this change, stayed there and advocated that change. They did not quit and join a splinter party or chucked in the towel.
Today, the hateful and divisive plebiscite was voted down and Labor guarantees to legislate for marriage equality within the first 100 days, if when they win office, in 2019 2017.
It is only by strong voices staying there and fighting that fight, that they remained unbroken.
It’s Born in You.
I read two sentences today that really, truly affected me. Deng Adut – NSW Australian of the Year, said:
A person was not an Australian because they were born in Australia but because Australia was born in them.
What a person did for their country was what made it meaningful.
Not only was it one of the most powerful quotes ever in our history, Adut’s words made me reflect on my decision to join a political party. That is, that regardless of whether you agree with my politics or not (Labor), I am engaged at a level as much as I can be. From a very young age, when I saw how my parents struggled under Fraser, and I listened to the contrast of Hawke, politics was born in me. I’ve bled red since.
I have no aspirations to become a politician (I would love to be a researcher for a politician, but that is as far as it would go). However, I get engaged in politics, with like-minded people and we collaborate and share ideas to put forward.
I cannot speak for other parties, but I know in the party I chose to join – Labor, we have policy discussion as a standing agenda item, we have a Regional Conference, where everyday people like you and me, put forward our policy ideas, this then goes onto State Conference and Federal Conference. That is democracy at work. That is grassroots. It is being heard. That is the bottom up approach and I am proud to be a part of it.
The noise in the media about political parties, the personalities within, the factions or divisions, is not what it is about. Politics is about a wider cause. Every party gets there in a different way.
If you are looking to have a voice, make it heard. Don’t just wait for someone to listen. We have free agency in this country. Well, no not all of us. Some of us don’t. If you know people who have trouble speaking up, or minority groups that are not heard, be an ally and ask if you can assist with advocacy. Also, join activist groups. Get involved.
We are broken because we are turning away from the collectivist roots that have bound us and allowed us to achieve progress for many years. We are broken because we are fractioning off. We still have voices, but they are fractured and quiet. Not loud and united.
We see this fractioning so strongly in the USA right now, just within the left itself. Here we have the most dangerous USA Republican Presidential candidate in my lifetime and the only party who can stop this, is the Democrats. We have seen Bernie supporters still dedicated to someone who will not be in power. Who has no possible way to stop Trump. Yet, this loyalty is more important than joining in the SAME party and doing their very best for the cause. Or the third-party voters who are also doing absolutely nothing to stop Trump. Just championing their cause.
Sometimes it is more important to stop someone so destructive, than be a ‘champion for your cause.’ This scenario is no different in Australia today.
A political party cannot effect change, if they are not in power. Evil will not be stamped out, if they are always in power.
The Birth of Liberal and Labor
The Liberal and National Coalition and the Labor Party are the ONLY two parties that can form Government. They were born from two competing view points and still are two competing ideologies. They are not the same. FriendlyJordies will explain why.
The Labor party was born from unionists standing collectively side by side and fighting for their rights. A simple fair days work for a fair days pay. Today, that is not such a radical idea, because this fight – the real bloodshed and jail time of everyday workers, gave us that. The fact that unions are out there every single day fighting for our rights, also gives us that. But the battle is still on.
The Liberal party was born from the idea that non-Labor parties join together to fight against those who fight for the worker and advocate Individualism and the Free Market. As we can see with policy positions such as the ABCC, privatisation of public services, abolishment of penalty rates, reducing or abolishing the minimum wage, punitive job seeker frameworks and other attacks on welfare. That this battle is still on.
It is a simple equation. For the middle and lower working class, work is central to everything we do. It puts food on the table, it buys school uniforms, it pays the rent or the mortgage, it puts petrol in the car, and it gives us choices of leisure to name a few.
For people who are not in receipt of a working wage for whatever reason, it is our responsibility as citizens to make sure that those who are for individualism and austerity, do not have louder voices than the ones who are for unity and solidarity.
Decent wages and fair conditions and a supportive welfare system, do not just come wrapped up in a bow at Christmas. They are fought for. Long and hard by so many today and before us.
Be the Glue that fixes the system
Whatever your political persuasion, I fully encourage you to join a political party. If not Labor (which obviously I’m biased and I’d recommend), choose a major party who can form Government and effect change, which has the same democratic bottom up approach to policy and member’s voice that Labor has.
No, Labor does not have perfect policy in all areas. However, members are given a voice for change on serious platforms. To progress, political parties need the people to be champions of that change. As Obama has said:
Obama does not belong to a third-party or a splinter group.
If you want the system to not be broken, get amongst it and be the glue that fixes the system. Have a louder voice than the voices who are putting forward the policies you don’t like. Be part of the change you want to see.
Don’t just listen to someone who says they are listening but have no real solutions. Be the solution.
Even after knowing a third-party, splinter group will never gain power and can never effect real change and you still decide to align yourself with a splinter group or a third party; fight the bloody enemy for goodness sake. We don’t need a replica of Sanders vs. Clinton in Australia when there are Orcs to slay! Take a leaf out of Albo’s book and “Fight some Tories.”
Unity is Key
Unity is the key. Not splintering off into smaller groups. This is the only thing that can beat the loud voices of Populism, Nationalism, Conservatism and Austerity.
John Howard showed us this when he forced us to use Australian Workplace Agreements and tried to abolish collective agreements. His policies were purposely built to break us.
One voice – your voice to stand alone to negotiate your wage, is pointless, especially when he abolished unfair dismissal laws at the same time. Never. Ever. Forget.
As Albo said tonight on Qanda, The Liberals and the Nationals – always, always try to divide us. It is their key strategy always. Splintering off into smaller groups, or deciding politics isn’t worth it, divides us even further. It is in their interest to make us broken. Hanson and parties like her’s are the bots that feed off the negative emotions that bleed out from all of this.
Hanson may not have been voted in on this platform, but everything her party has backed so far in the Senate, shows what they actually stand for. That is joining with the Liberals to create more and more division and more and more hardship for the worker and those on welfare. Working against the very interests of her voter base.
The Trump experience shows us how powerful and ugly the anti-worker, anti-socialism, anti-environmentalism, anti-woman, racist, homophobic, xenophobic, ableist, nationalist populist can be, when they have a huge following. We don’t need that here.
I believe we are at the cusp of that tipping point in Australia. Right here. Right now. We do have the power to change that. Together. Unbroken. In Unity.
The Red Window 
Trish, I too love to discuss Australian politics, however at this point I am convinced that the LNP governments in Australia both federal and State are privatizing as many of their services as is possible to the global 1% who already own 50%+ of the global economy. The only possible way to bring an end to this practice is to vote for Labor governments. At the Queensland State level and at the federal level the Labor Party has promised NOT to sell public assets, though Anna P Queensland Premier it is rumored is trying to sell Crown land, that is, at the moment, not being used. This would be a break of promise.
The big change could come if Labor is elected at the next election, and can stand up for the Australian people and do what they have promised to do which is to amend the taxation legislation to remove the loop holes used by these foreign corporations to avoid paying a cent in tax. This alone would add tens of billions of dollars to federal govt revenue, and could restore mant services that have been abolished by the servants of the rich, the LNP.
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Posted by townsvilleblog | November 8, 2016, 7:31 amHi Shaun If you are concerned about the land, ring a Labor MP. It has been explained to me that these are unused parcels of land that may have had old buildings on them demolished or similar. They are not fit for purpose on their own. It is notthe same as LNP selling school ovals or prime property. These ones need to be sold because they aren’t really usable for a Govt project. I raised questions too and I’m satisfied. Thanks for reading. I agree with all of your points too.
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Posted by trishcorry | November 8, 2016, 7:35 amReblogged this on Townsville Blog. and commented:
TRISH, YOU HAVE AGAIN SUMMED IT UP BEAUTIFULLY.
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Posted by townsvilleblog | November 8, 2016, 7:32 amThanks Shaun.
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Posted by trishcorry | November 8, 2016, 7:35 amCollectively we are the “Brokens” alright Trish
QandA showed last evening how Alexander Downers daughter,Georgina is out of touch with reality she is with her bumbling display
Paterson also showed his immaturity and Christopher in training attitude
But on the whole Albo and Naomi Klein got their messages out in a concise manner and audience approval
People have to understand and IMO it should be taught in high school>
!-The ALP is the political arm of the Unions
2-The Liberal Party is the political arm of the IPA
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 8, 2016, 7:40 amYep totally agree Biggy. We SHOULD have basic political studies in school. Especially the foundations and ideology. I learnt about our Industrial Relations History in University. I learnt that Australian workers were jailed and beaten and lost their lives in University. That’s wrong. It should have been in highschool. Instead I studied Marx, Stalin, Lenin, Churchill and Mao Tse Tung. All of these were valuable indeed, but our own history is important. I had no idea that was Downers daughter. As Jane Caro Tweeted “The confected outrage by the privileged is rather vulgar.” Spot on.
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Posted by trishcorry | November 8, 2016, 7:48 amAs we already know Trish the inequality begins at school
The Tory takes public money and places it in “Private Schools” and in “Religious Schools”
“Government funding for private schools to outstrip average public schools by 2020”
http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/government-funding-for-private-schools-to-outstrip-average-public-schools-by-2020-20150714-gicdjt.html
But what do these “Private Schools”actually teach that is different to State Schools?
Youngest daughter {Chalkie} has taught in both Private and Public capacities tells me categorically the children in Public schools have a far tighter and regulated curriculum at the professional level
Private schools deviate from the Education preferred model
My numbers 2-3-4 children were all “Private High School educated” and hey I can tell you the taxpayer helped pay for the swimming pool and state of the art Gym and Rec Hall
They are rates subsidized and line up for every grant going putting them ahead of Public Schools with the Grants Commission
There are two worlds-The Tory and The Others
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 8, 2016, 8:38 amExcellent post Trish – agree with your points.
Biggie – the world ain’t binary as much as you would like it to be.
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Posted by diannaart | November 8, 2016, 9:37 amThe world is totally Binary = Us & Them
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 8, 2016, 10:12 amI was once a Lib supporter (followig my parents), then became a swinging voter (liking what Hawke had to say). After being in business for 20 years, going back into the field I loved (health sector) I started at the bottom again of the then privately owned hospital that ran purely for profit. Boy was that an eye opener. Golden handshakes, re-employment of some staff & having to try to negotiate your own agreement etc. I was shocked as I thought that we had always tried to treat our workers decently.
Well, long story short – I became a union delegate because I realized that things had to change. The workers in our workplace seemed beaten because they just accepted that was being dished out to them.
To watch what is happening now with this current LNP lot is for me (now retired) a repeat of what happened 20 years ago.but
I have some family members who keep telling me that the system is broken. My answer to that is if you don’t like what is being offered – GET IN AND CHANGE THE SYSTEM.
I get it that the average worker is running scared – who wouldn’t be when they are threatened and bullied into submission by sections of big business and of government. BUT as you say Trish, we need to stand up against those who seek to make the lives of ordinary hard working people to just want to shut down and not care anymore because that is what has been happening since the LNP got back into power again.
I think that a united groundswell of those who feel that their voices are not being heard is what is needed. I wasn’t a Labor member when I became a union delegate, but I was accepted into the ASU and when I went to the district conferences I discovered many more like minded delegates who also weren’t ALP members. It didn’t matter because all we wanted was a fair go for our working staff. We did some great negotiating with our employers and it was because it was that I understood about how businesses need to make a profit to exist – it just wasn’t going to happen at the expense of its workers.
My advice to all is to get involved, don’t be afraid to discuss problems that you see occurring in society and if enough heads get together they can change systems that appear to be broken.
As the saying goes UNITED WE STAND!
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Posted by sandrasearle | November 8, 2016, 10:04 amHear hear Sandra. Great comment. After Howard I don’t understand how any worker can vote for LNP
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Posted by trishcorry | November 8, 2016, 10:08 amSandra
You have fought long and hard for as long as I care to remember
Never surrender, never retreat
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Posted by cornlegend | November 8, 2016, 11:33 amA man died and went to Heaven.
As he stood in front of the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind him.
He asked, “What are all those clocks for?”
St. Peter answered, “Those are Lie-Clocks.
Everyone who has ever been on earth has a Lie-Clock.
Every time you lie, the hands on your clock move.”
“Oh”,said the man. “Whose clock is that?”
“That’s Mother Teresa’s”, replied St. Peter. “The hands have never moved,indicating that she never told a lie.”
“Incredible”, said the man. “And whose clock is that one?”
St. Peter responded, “That’s Julia Gillards clock.
The hands have moved twice, telling us that Julia told only two lies in his entire life.”
“Where’s Malcolm Turnbulls clock?” asked the man.
St. Peter replied, “We’re using it as a ceiling fan.”
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Posted by cornlegend | November 8, 2016, 11:30 amLove it!
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Posted by trishcorry | November 8, 2016, 11:34 am“Poor Old fool,” thought John Singleton as he watched an old man fish in a puddle outside a pub. So he invited the old man inside for a drink.
As they sipped their whiskeys,John thought he’d humor the old man and asked, “So how many have you caught today?”
The old man replied, “You’re the eighth.”
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 8, 2016, 11:49 amBiggy, I have a couple about blokes of our vintage 😀
sexist etc the whole 9 yards
………… but when you’re over 60, who cares ,
People say circumcision does NOT hurt.
I was circumcised when I was born and I couldn’t walk for nearly a year!
When You Are Over 60, who cares !
I was standing at the bar one night minding my own business.
This FAT ugly chick came up behind me, grabbed my behind and said, “You’re kind’a cute. You gotta phone number?”
I said, “Yeah, you gotta pen?”
She said, “Yeah, I got a pen”.
I said, “You better get back in it before the farmer misses you.”?
Cost me 6 stitches…but, when you’re over 60 ……………who cares?
I was talking to a young woman in the bar last night.
She said, “If you lost a few pounds, had a shave and got your hair cut, you’d look all right.”
I said, “If I did that, I’d be talking to your friends over there instead of you.”
Cost me a fat lip, but… When you’re over 60 ……………who cares?
I was telling a woman in the pub about my ability to guess what day a woman was born just by feeling her breasts.
“Really” she said, “Go on then… try.”
After about thirty seconds of fondling she began to lose patience and said, “Come on, what day was I born?”
I said, “Yesterday.”
Cost me a kick in the nuts, but… When you’re over 60 ……………who cares?
I got caught taking a pee in the swimming pool today.
The lifeguard shouted at me so loud, I nearly fell in.
Cost me a bloody nose, but… When you’re over 60……………who cares?
I went to the pub last night and saw a BIG woman dancing on a table. I said, “Good legs.”
The girl giggled and said, “Do you really think so?”
I said, “Definitely! Most tables would have collapsed by now.”
Cost me 6 more stitches, but… When you’re over 60………….who cares?
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Posted by cornlegend | November 8, 2016, 12:15 pmLikeLiked by 3 people
Posted by Bighead1883 | November 8, 2016, 12:40 pmBarnarby Joyce and Peter Dutton happened to run into each other while out on the hustings, promoting themselves for the 2016 election. The local town only had one pub, but Barnie & Pete had a big thirst and sauntered in. There were only 2 barstools left next to a large dog sitting on a stool lapping at a beer from a bowl.
Wanting to appear friendly, Barnie & Peter sat down at the bar, Pete even gave the dog a pat, although for some reason Barnie took the stool furthest away from the canine.
After being served a couple of pots, Barnie and Pete, noticed some of the locals walking past and lifting the dog’s tail and peering at its bum. This went on till Barnie and Pete were on their second round, finally, Pete stopped one of the locals and asked why he lifted the dog’s tail, the man replied, “I was told there’s dog with two arseholes sitting in this pub.”
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Posted by diannaart | November 8, 2016, 1:57 pmGood one
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Posted by trishcorry | November 8, 2016, 2:10 pmEssential Report
Nov 8, 2016
Do you think the Federal Liberal/National Government is too tough or too soft on asylum seekers or is it taking the right approach?
Too tough 23%
Too soft 24%
Taking the
right approach 37%
Don’t know 15%
Nov 8, 2016
Q. The Federal Government has proposed introducing legislation to ban asylum seekers who arrive by boat from ever being allowed into Australia. This legislation would apply to any adult who had arrived by boat since July 2013, and would exclude them from ever being granted a visa (including tourist or spousal visas). Do you approve or disapprove of this legislation?
Total approve 56%
Total disapprove 29%
Not sure 15%
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Posted by cornlegend | November 8, 2016, 5:28 pmI do not believe those stats for the second question. It does not make sense following the first question.
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Posted by trishcorry | November 8, 2016, 5:29 pmDoes seem somewhat stitched up,but in early 2014 there was polling that said 60% of those polled thought we weren`t harsh enough on AS,so the second figure may be indesputable
A poll question question that will never be asked
How much does Australia`s involvement in the bombing of Iraq and Syria add to the refugee crisis
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 8, 2016, 5:50 pmProbably a lot. However, some people don’t get it at all. I’ve had a poll done and those questions are asked in succession. Just from a stats point of view, the correlation between the two still doesn’t make sense. Then, neither does Turnbull being preferred PM still!
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Posted by trishcorry | November 8, 2016, 5:53 pmTrish,
I have had this discussion elsewhere before.
The facts are, the reputable polling agencies in Australia have a pretty good strike rate
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Posted by cornlegend | November 8, 2016, 7:11 pmYes, I agree. But I am still confused about the mathematics correlating the two questions.
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Posted by trishcorry | November 8, 2016, 7:44 pmIf Iraq/Syria bombing was linked to every mention of refugees, would we see different stats? I think it is a very worthy question Biggie, which is probably why it does not happen.
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Posted by diannaart | November 8, 2016, 6:06 pmI’m not sure Dianna. I my experience discussing this with people, they just don’t see the link. I’ve had people come back at me with this weird analogy of “if you had a handful of smarties and one was poisoned, would you eat the smarties” That is just low based thinking. I am hoping this is the tipping point of the turn-a-round, not more people joining the lock them up side. The media do have a lot to answer for. They sicken me.
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Posted by trishcorry | November 8, 2016, 6:26 pmI understand your experience, although I hadn’t heard the Smarties analogy before.
The common refrain is the Man Monis/Lindt Cafe murder reference – even though he arrived by plane and not boat – is lost on those trying to paint everyone from the ME with the same brush. I usually reply with asking them do they prefer Australian born nutters like Martin Bryant or Julian Knight, if so why?
Nonetheless the reason for refugees needs to be linked with the arrival of refugees. The MSM need to be brought to account, just the same as politicians for locking away innocent people indefinitely.
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Posted by diannaart | November 8, 2016, 6:46 pmMSM will never ask any question linking Australia`s illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003 by the Howard government and the illegal bombing of Syria-
Neither is/was or will be sanctioned by the UN
Syria is a sovereign nation and has told NATO countries lead by the US/UK/Turkey and renegade Israel to not supply ISIS {al Qaeda}
There is no civil war in Syria,it an invasion by vested interests just like Libya and Iraq was/is {no WMD`s} {No children overboard}
Here`s the filthy Iraq/Libyan truth from Wikileaks/Manning https://youtu.be/8RfKA68d3kE?t=6
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 8, 2016, 6:55 pmI think I might spend the arvo buildig a bomb shelter.
A friend, into politics just phoned from Alaska and said all the News orgs have Trump in front in counting
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Posted by cornlegend | November 9, 2016, 11:34 amYou can watch it live on ABC News 24 Anthony Green is doing the polls live.
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Posted by trishcorry | November 9, 2016, 11:35 amCurrent is Dem 182 Rep 120
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Posted by trishcorry | November 9, 2016, 11:36 amLast I heard was Florida being held by Trump – although too early to tell…
I have not been a Hillary fan, BUT now the election is actually running, my gut wants Hillary to win resoundingly.
Trump is just too dangerous.
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Posted by diannaart | November 9, 2016, 11:40 amGreen said Hilary was ahead by 2 points in Florida but very early in the count.
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Posted by trishcorry | November 9, 2016, 11:44 amIf I heard correctly – on ABC radio. 92% Of Florida count is in with Trump ahead by about 1/2 a percentage point.
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Posted by diannaart | November 9, 2016, 11:54 amToo bloody depressing for me to watch ,
I’ve got digging to do 😀
How deep a bomb shelter for a nuke ?
both worry me warfare wise
I do want Clinton to win though
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Posted by cornlegend | November 9, 2016, 12:32 pmHere’s something to take your mind off Trump.
Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, and Tony Abbott were set to face a firing squad in a small Central Queensland town {Vlad Laws got em}. Kevin Rudd was the first one placed against the wall and just before the order was given he yelled out, “Cyclone”
The firing squad fell into a panic and Kev jumped over the wall and escaped in the confusion.
Julia Gillard was the second one placed against the wall. The squad was reassembled and Julia Gillard pondered what she had just witnessed. Again before the order was given Julia yelled out, “Flood waters!”
Again the squad fell apart and Julia slipped over the wall.
The last person, Tony Abbott, was placed against the wall. He was thinking, “I see the pattern here, just scream out something about a disaster and hop over the wall.” He confidently refused the blindfold,fiddled with his surf club cap and thought of past media successes as the firing squad was reassembled.
As the rifles were raised in his direction he grinned from ear to ear and yelled,
“Fire!”
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Posted by cornlegend | November 9, 2016, 12:37 pmLikeLike
Posted by Bighead1883 | November 9, 2016, 12:44 pmI’ll stop after this one,, promise… but Trish, did you ever go to Charm School?
Two well dressed ladies happened to start up a conversation during an
endless wait in Brisbane Airport Terminal.
The first lady was an arrogant Victorian married to a Liberal politician
The second was a well-mannered Labor voting woman from Rockhampton , Queensland.
After a little while the Victorian woman started by saying, “When my first child was born,
my husband built a beautiful mansion for me.”
The lady from Rockhampton commented, “Well, isn’t that precious?”
The first woman continued, “When my second child was born, my husband bought me a beautiful
gold Mercedes-Benz.”
Again, the lady from Rockhampton commented, “Well, isn’t that precious?”
The first woman went on, …………
“Then, when my third child was born, my husband bought me this exquisite diamond
bracelet.”
Yet again, the Rockhampton lady commented, “Well, isn’t that precious?”
The first woman then asked , “What did your husband buy for you when you had your first
child?”
My husband sent me to charm school,” declared the Rockhampton lady.
“Charm school?” the first woman cried, “Oh, my Lord! What could they teach you??”
The Rockhampton lady responded, “Well as an example… …
Instead of saying, “Who gives a fuck?”, I learned to say, “Well, isn’t that precious?”
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Posted by cornlegend | November 9, 2016, 12:53 pmTension like this gets me into the garden with my handy saw and long handle pruning shears…. one lemon tree is now half a lemon tree.
The ivy is looking nervous… and it should be, its not windy and I still have some roundup left over.
I have always believed the world is a better place for me NOT owning a chainsaw…
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Posted by diannaart | November 9, 2016, 1:00 pmbloody hell, I wouldn’t want to be on the end of the Roundup either 😀
I’m doing instant learn meditation,,,,,ooom
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Posted by cornlegend | November 9, 2016, 1:12 pmWhat does Trumps hair and a thong have in common? They both barely cover the arsehole.
……..
Donald Trump is visiting an elementary school one day.
In one of the classes, they’re in the middle of a discussion about words and their meanings.
The teacher asks Trump if he’d like to lead the discussion of the word “tragedy.”
He agrees to do so and asks the class for an example of a tragedy.
One little boy stands up and says, “If my best friend who lives on a farm, is playing in the field and a runaway tractor comes along and runs him over and kills him, that would be a tragedy.”
“No,” says Trump, “That would be an accident.”
Next a little girl raises her hand and says, “If a school bus carrying forty children went off a cliff, killing everyone inside, that would be a tragedy.”
“No, I’m afraid not,” says Trump. “That’s what we would call a great loss.”
The room goes silent for a while as no other children volunteer.
Trump looks around the room and says a little testily, “Isn’t there anyone here who can give me an example of a tragedy?”
At last, a little boy at the back of the class raises his hand and says, “If a private jet carrying you, Mr Trump, was struck by a missile and blown to smithereens, that would be a tragedy.”
“Fantastic!” shouts Mr Trump, “That’s exactly right. And can you tell me why that would be a tragedy?”
“Well,” says the boy, “Because it sure as hell wouldn’t be a great loss and it probably wouldn’t be an accident either.”
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Posted by diannaart | November 9, 2016, 1:11 pmfeel better now ?
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Posted by cornlegend | November 9, 2016, 1:13 pmYes. Have been searching Ebay and found a couple of pairs of riggers gloves – in my size!
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Posted by diannaart | November 9, 2016, 1:16 pmDonald Trump supporters have been filmed heckling a foreign journalist after seemingly failing to understand that New Zealand is a country and not a broadcast network.
http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/whats-zealand-trump-supporter-asks-new-zealand-journalist/ar-AAk4eTR?li=AAgfYrC&ocid=mailsignout&fullscreen=true#image=1
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Posted by cornlegend | November 9, 2016, 1:18 pmOmg I’m terrified he is a modern day Hitler. He is crazy
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Posted by trishcorry | November 9, 2016, 1:21 pm43.5 million votes for Trump, 41.3 million for Clinton 3.p.m. Au time
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Posted by cornlegend | November 9, 2016, 2:27 pmI`ve found a massive rock shelter,very secluded and only one way in
Packing supplies in readiness because the unthinkable may happen
President Drumph & with both Houses Republican and a Republican Judiciary
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 9, 2016, 2:36 pmEvery went to shit at 9/11 and the pendulum still hasn’t swing back. Obama was the exception…
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Posted by diannaart | November 9, 2016, 2:40 pmThis has to be a nightmare and I’ll wake up soon
Tourism to the Trump Tower Wall should boost the economy.
How’s Dutton gonna handle the Latino’s in boats?
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Posted by cornlegend | November 9, 2016, 2:49 pmJust saw a tweet where Wisconsin has been won by Trump and that gives him 250
Unsure of the truth but the world has gone mad
Time to clean this up I believe
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 9, 2016, 3:02 pmI’m just devastated I am disgusted appalled frightened scared out of my goddam wits. People are going to die.
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Posted by trishcorry | November 9, 2016, 3:04 pmSomething is very wrong
Look at all world governments
Are they really the ones that the people voted in?
I`m not sure if every single electoral system is completely rigged
If it not the case and these things are real then the greater majority of humankind is an moronic imbecile
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 9, 2016, 3:24 pmInTheTrough @Biggy1883 1m1 minute ago Chicago, IL
Wall Erectors flocking to the US to stake their share of the Mexican Apartheid Wall
Pegging Rush begins Wednesday 8am sharp
#ElectionNight
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 9, 2016, 3:18 pmNow Trump has 259 according to Green-11 to go FFS
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 9, 2016, 3:25 pmHe will get it. The left is fractured and naive. They did have Bush Senior. Nothing surprises me.
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Posted by trishcorry | November 9, 2016, 3:27 pmAppears so Trish
And it`s begun,Cory Bernardi has priapus
Greg Jericho Retweeted
Simon Rowntree @SRowntreeNews 5h5 hours ago Manhattan, NY
I am at a Trump rally in Manhattan, and thousands are chanting “We hate Muslims, we hate blacks, we want our great country back”. Disgusting
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 9, 2016, 3:31 pmLikeLike
Posted by Bighead1883 | November 9, 2016, 3:34 pmPauline Hanson to Donald Trump: ‘Mr President my door will always be open’
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Posted by cornlegend | November 9, 2016, 4:27 pmOne Nation is cracking the champers at the Trump win in front of Parliament House
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 9, 2016, 4:29 pmHanson continues to spread nausea.
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Posted by diannaart | November 9, 2016, 5:17 pmIdiocracy has it correct
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 9, 2016, 4:51 pmVicious backlash to Obama.
Very glad to be here in Australia and not female, block or Latino in USA.
We enter an era where anything goes – opinion Trumps facts.
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Posted by diannaart | November 9, 2016, 5:15 pmMy Job now is no more The boss has slam’d the door;
What shall I do? Seem’s like my end is near,
My guts feel awful queer-
Where do we go from here?
-This is up to you.
No, I’ve not lost a leg,
-Why must I starve and beg?
What Shall I Do? Where can the answer lurk?
Why am I out of work, Gazing on all this murk?
This is up to you.
I can not stand alone,
Masters have laid me prone;
What Shall I Do?
Why can’t we hand in hand,
Reclaim our right to stand,
Unhorse the sleek brigand?
This is up to you.
I.W.W. 1921
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Posted by cornlegend | November 9, 2016, 10:32 pmJoe Hill
Workers of the world, awaken!
Break your chains, demand your rights.
All the wealth you make is taken
By exploiting parasites.
Shall you kneel in deep submission
From your cradles to your graves?
Is the height of your ambition
To be good and willing slaves?
Chorus
Arise, ye prisoners of starvation!
Fight for your own emancipation;
Arise, ye slaves of every nation.
In One Union grand.
Our little ones for bread are crying,
And millions are from hunger dying;
The end the means is justifying,
‘Tis the final stand.
If the workers take a notion,
They can stop all speeding trains;
Every ship upon the ocean
They can tie with mighty chains
Every wheel in the creation,
Every mine and every mill,
Fleets and armies of the nation,
Will at their command stand still.
Join the union, fellow workers,
Men and women, side by side;
We will crush the greedy shirkers
Like a sweeping, surging tide;
For united we are standing,
But divided we will fall;
Let this be our understanding-
“All for one and one for all.”
Workers of the world, awaken!
Rise in all your splendid might;
Take the wealth that you are making,
It belongs to you by right.
No one will for bread be crying,
We’ll have freedom, love and health.
When the grand red flag is flying
on the Workers’ Commonwealth.
-*-*-*-*–*-*-*-*–*-*-*-*–*-*-*-*–*-*-*-*-
A shorter workday for all employed workers would put thousands of unemployed to work. If everybody worked there would be no poverty.
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Posted by cornlegend | November 9, 2016, 10:43 pmMichael Moore, the man who got this election right
The media got it wrong. The public pollsters got it wrong, so did the private ones. The Democratic Party got wrong. The Republican Party was wrong too. Five living presidents got it wrong. The betting markets got it wrong. The markets got it wrong. By many accounts even President-elect Donald Trump got it wrong.
One man got it spectacularly right, predicting not only that Clinton would lose, but where she would lose, among which voters she would lose, and why: the left wing documentary maker Michael Moore.
http://michaelmoore.com/trumpwillwin/
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Posted by cornlegend | November 10, 2016, 10:02 amI read that this morning its an interesting read
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Posted by trishcorry | November 10, 2016, 10:55 amLikeLike
Posted by Bighead1883 | November 10, 2016, 1:16 pmNow I’m taking a bold step and re-joining the Labor Party.
I have had my battles with them and don’t mind bagging them but in the cold hard light of day I don’t see any option but to join and fight for change from within.
Let me make it clear though I don’t support all Labor policies.
I will continue to say what I think, but after careful consideration my goal is to see the end of this nasty repressive morally corrupt LNP Murdoch-Abbott-Turnbull government as soon as is possible.
I’m never voting for an Independent because unless there is a hung Parliament their efforts are futile.
I believe Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott showed what Independents can do, but the chances of seeing that again are extremely limited or having a truly Independent highly unlikely as Cathy McGowan has shown in just being a pale version of Liberal philosophy
Then the Greens been around since 1992 and the best they can do after 24 years is flit around the 8%to10% so there seems little chance in my lifetime at least of ever being in a position to ever make it a 3 tiered contest.
After the failed efforts of an alliance in Tasmania and a not too glorious effort in the hung Parliament of Gillard it then comes back to a choice of 2
Labor needs some work to get it back to the strong party with decent social policy and a basis of protection for working class,the disadvantaged and the needy
The lights haven’t totally dimmed on Labor.
They had The Apology,the Age Pension increases,the NBN,the NDIS,Gonski,the BER,even the Home Insulation Programme,Schoolkids bonus, increases in childcare funding,the first ever PPL scheme,so the heart is still there, though the heart rate might seem weak.
I feel,for me it’s worth joining and seeing if we can just increase the heart rate and the pulse a bit.
I don’t see any point in ranting from the sidelines if I’m not prepared to try in my own small way to effect change.
I want the LNP GONE.
Labor appears realistically the only chance for that to happen and the rebuilding and fortification needs to begin now
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Posted by John Maycock | November 10, 2016, 10:14 pmHi John. Thank you for your comment. You are the ray of hope in such dark times. Thank you. If you need any help joining or finding a branch, please let me know. Please know there are many like you who do not agree with all Labor policies and fight from within the party for change and in QLD this conference, the Left made some great headway. Thank you again.
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Posted by trishcorry | November 10, 2016, 10:20 pmHello John,I see you ventured from IA and what a excellent choice
I can tell you as an ALP member and very long time supporter and unionist I don`t support all things Labor does
I also don`t supports all things unions do especially Herr Diktator Joe De Bruyn`s SDA and Paul Howes when he was corporate boss of bosses of the AWU
I haven`t seen an article from you for a while on IA,you wield a pretty mean keyboard
I made this meme prior the 2013 election so as those one or two issue Labor doubters could grasp what`s real quickly
Welcome back comrade
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 10, 2016, 10:34 pmI think you may have a case of mistaken identity as I very rarely leave a comment on any of the many sites I read.
Too often my views are seized upon by the inevitable band of contrarians who frequent most sites and unless my views conform I usually end up the butt of abuse.
I sir am a reader not a writer,a lover not a fighter. I just found this authors work to make a powerful statement to which I found a great deal of agreement and to date the commenters seems diverse and free to express individual thought
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Posted by John Maycock | November 11, 2016, 12:23 amYou`re not this John Maycock then ?
If not forgive my mistake
JOHN MAYCOCK, 60, of Brisbane gained a Bachelor of Social Science as a mature aged student, graduating in 2010.
https://independentaustralia.net/profile-on/john-maycock,399
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Posted by Bighead1883 | November 11, 2016, 5:48 am