Nannystate

20th January 2012. I see certain sections of the community are talking up the fact that unit owners will be collectively financially responsible if someone , particularly a child, falls from a unit block. Once again some sections of society abrogating their responsibility for care and using the legal system as a bludgeon for personal gain.

10th January 2012. In 1852 in Australia a group of miners stood up against repressive government regulation at the Eureka Stockade, a defining moment in our history. Now Newspapers report that one of our elected ministers has engaged on behalf of the government a private organization to trawl the internet and record aand report green political activism. Australians spying on Australians who dont agree with current policies .

‘Silent Comment’

6th January 2012. Once again, unimaginative broadcasters around the world insist on inflicting upon us hours of the ridiculous and drawn out US presidential election process – who cares !!

‘If voting changed anything they would make it illegal’

19th December 2011. On a lighter note approaching Xmas. At last an admission from the participants of home renovation, improvement shows that the team of five that completely renovates a house in a weekend actually had behind the scenes, 20 or 30 extra tradesman all unseen on the camera.

‘Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn’t have in your home’

All the best for 2012

11th December 2011. Read and weep for our democracies as we allow our governments to slide into ‘Stasi’ states

The slide into a surveillance state
So who’s buying all the spy gear
The Spy Files

And so one of our citizens sits under arrest for 380 days in a country, supposedly under the rule of law, without trial, for telling the truth ,and our Australian Government does SFA.

1st December 2011. Your smartphone could be watching just about everything you do, security researcher Trevor Eckhart argued in a video posted in the last few weeks. There is a hidden process on many smartphones, called ‘Carrier IQ’ which has the ability to record and transmit keystroke data and web searches to unannounced locations. This process is reportedly on 130 million mobile devices worldwide.

‘The telephone is a good way to talk to people without having to offer them a drink’

14th November 2011. A trip to the local pharmacist to buy toothpaste is sure an education. The concession card brigade, overweight, diabetic and high blood pressure, lined up getting pills by the bucketload to counteract their self inflicted injuries. Compliant doctors and zealous pharmaceutical companies inventing new diseases every day only curable by the magic pill. If only someone would tell these victims their cure lies in their shopping cart.

‘Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died’

4th November 2011. Imagine a nation where the obesity rate is the same as the US in the 1970’s, free or very low healthcare,childcare and education for everyone, a tax system where there is little disparity in income between rich and poor. The preferred method of getting to work is the bicycle. Want people on public transport, give them free internet on the buses Nirvana ? – no – Denmark. If they can do it why cant everyone else.

‘Bicycles have no walls’

28th October 2011. And they wonder why people are camping out in cities across the world.

its a matter of fundamental rights and principles. Its a backlash to the last 10 years of erosion of human rights in the name of the ‘war on terror’.... to the spending of kazillions on arms, while many starve to death or die of treatable disease….. to the corporatisation of sport and its sell out to big gambling, to the perversion and monopolisation of the traditional media….to the politicians with their self serving obscene pensions and benefits, to Big mining, the Big Pharmas, the corporate barons with their tame remuneration companies, arms traders and drug lords. Its a backlash to greed and corruption in all its forms and guises. Its disgust and disillusionment on a massive scale

25th October 2011. We all carry on about politics,economy, ecology but is anyone paying any attention to the elephant at the back of the room , the game changer for all of us. When I was born there were about 1.9 billion on the planet, today there are 7 billion.

‘We all worry about the population explosion, but we don’t worry about it at the right time.’

24th October 2011. Most days I read the ‘teamcymru’ postings on twitter. These postings are links to the latest internet security exploits. Its probably still only the tip of the iceberg but there are about twenty or so a day. Its obvious that we humans can build things more complicated than we can control ( try the banking system), therefore realize, that if you have a reasonably consistent interaction to the net its only a question of time,before you in turn will be targeted. I would suggest you approach all internet activity with great suspicion.

‘The email of the species is more deadly than…..’

18th October 2011. Having ridden through the beautiful Gloucester / Stroud valley many times enjoying its rural tranquility within 50 k of one of our larger cities it appears that AGL’s vision of the valley is as follows: A minimum 330 gas wells; gas and watering gathering lines, treated water ponds; salt evaporation ponds; water treatment plant; means of disposing of treated water; 15 megawatt power generation facility; connection to the electricity grid; access roads; temporary construction facilities and work camps.

Maybe in 50 years they will be saying ’ I wonder why our grandparents allowed this to happen’

10th October 2011. In these days of resurgent global people power against the morphing of democracy into corporatocracy, I thought it apt to echo the words of Theodore Roosevelt.

“The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power.”

Note: If you agree that there is a need to separate money from politics, the ‘Occupy’ movement will be holding rallies in major Australian capital cities on 15th October

28th september 2011. A lot of hoo haa lately about a case bought under the racial discrimination act in relation to defining racial origins. To my mind people can claim to be from any racial origin they like – it doesnt effect mé. However if as a result of that declaration they receive a benefit that I help pay for, it appears reasonable that they establish some proof of origin if nothing definitive exists. How about DNA and defining some percentage cut off – seems reasonable to me.

‘Laundry is the only thing that should be separated by colour’

14th September 2011. So there seems to be a lot of talk about job mobility in Australia, yet after a hundred plus years of federation we can’t get a federal education system to facilitate interstate movement of families. On the positive side I did notice that it didn’t take long for transmission of road speeding fines between states to be implemented.

“My education was interrupted only by my schooling”

7th September 2011. Anybody, like me – heartily sick of turning on the TV to be confronted with the latest, seemingly daily, political poll. The next election is so far over the horizon – who cares. For that matter who cares anyway. How about the media do what they are least capable of doing – provide good relevant news.

‘If you saw a man drowning – what camera settings would you use”

3rd September 2011. I am echoing the sentiments expressed today in many newspapers in regard to recent court cases where white collar luminaries have been thrashed with a feather by the court system for dudding investors of billions in the last downturn. The same court system that gives ‘hard time’ to many of societies disadvantaged for minor offences. ‘Qu’ils mangent de la brioche’ ( Let them eat cake ) supposedly spoken my Marie Antoinette, but then look what eventually happened to her.

29th August 2011. Nauru , a separate nation island off the coast of Australia was extremely wealthy. It had its own airline, its government drove luxury cars, it had the good life based on ‘endless’ phosphate mining wealth. The phosphate has now been mined to exhaustion, the nation is destitute – sound familiar !

‘We’ll strip-mine the other planets later’

14th August 2011. I don’t really like to harp on one point but the aftermath of the UK riots has evoked much passion and political fumbling. This letter to a newspaper I will quote in entirety.

“5 months for not being involved in the riots but being given a pair of shorts which were stolen in them, and a post in the shadow cabinet and a hundred grand a year for false expenses to the tune of 13k.

Separating a mother from her children for political point scoring, that’s mindless violence.”

“Honest, industrious, peaceful citizens were classed as bloodsuckers, if they asked to be paid a living wage. And they saw that praise was reserved henceforth for those who devised means of getting paid enormously for committing crimes against which no laws had been passed”, Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater – 1965”

7th August 2011. Latest news headlines – monetary systems in chaos, riots in London and around the Middle East, mass demonstrations in many cities including unlikely places such as Tel Aviv – not hard to pin a culprit when in many countries 5% of the population own 80% of the wealth. And of course this 5% have their fingers in the legislative processes to ensure the status quo. Seems to me the untrammelled ability of the few to control the destinies of the many by medals , anthems and pledges is maybe drawing to a close, but its going to be a rough ride to social justice.

‘During times of universal deceit telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act’

15th July 2011. Strange, we complain about kids being inside the house all day getting tenosynovitus ,obesity and worse, from sitting around all day playing with video devices and computers, yet what do we do to encourage them otherwise. We chop down all the climbing trees and replace them with ugly buildings and concrete; we make the play areas so puerile and sanitized, its not a challenge for a two year old; we make the parks so rare its a days drive to get there; we make the roads so dangerous with the great god car its unsafe to ride a bike; we flood the streets with drunks after dark; we allow the fat purveyors to fill their minds and stomachs by allowing inappropriate advertising; we… So ! dont blame the kids !!

‘Childhood is that wonderful time of life when all you need to do to lose weight is take a bath.’

11th July 2011. For those of us that only have time to read local news, I have included a link below to the 50 pages of open letters in the UK Guardian newspaper associated with the current UK media scandal and the ethical and political implications of media influence. Also pertinent to this country where one media organization controls 70% of the media.

Guardian Letters

‘If you want democracy – when was the last time you think you had it’

3rd July 2011. Being a motorcyclist was recently looking at German Schubert Motorbike Helmets. These excellent helmets, European, and US approved are unobtainable in Australia because they have yet to receive ‘Australian Design Approval’. How big is the army of public servants in Australia approving items already approved by competent authorities, and more to the point how much does this ‘approval’ add to the cost of the item.

‘You never see a motorbike parked outside a psychiatrist’s office’

29th June 2011. I suppose while we are rabbiting on about smoking, alchohol and gambling. Does anybody else really believe that this stupid signing in at clubs, whilst adding thousands and thousands of booklets and stubs to landfill, actually achieves any purpose. Or is just another Government Department justifying its existence. If Alcohol Licensing really wanted to justify their existence how about they take a walk down any main street at 3 am.

‘Reality is a crutch for people who can’t handle drugs’

26th June 2011. Cant quite see why people are getting themselves in a lather about the national broadband network. Would seem to be the catalyst for a paradigm shift in the way we do things. Just think all those offices in all those cities can only do one thing – exchange information. With decent broadband speeds we can all do that from our lounge room. Seems like it would fix our transport problems for a start.

‘The journey of a thousand sites begins with a single click’

22nd June 2011. This site ‘nannystate’ has been operating for about 10 years. Recently the tobacco and alcohol industry started a lobby site www.nannastate.com.au to lobby against amongst other things impending legislation on cigarette packaging, proposed amendment to trading hours etc. To save you wasting time reading my blog if you were after ‘nannastate’ and have had finger problems, I would just like you to know that on balance because of the addictive nature of the products, I hold the tobacco, gambling and alcohol industries in some contempt.

‘Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town’

20th June 2011. News that, already, European Industrial Companies are sitting on about 10 Billion Euros of carbon credits, and that some major Australian Companies are making a nice little earner by doubling their purchase price of credits when onselling, is a salutory reminder to us all that the credits you give away to day to your solar installer could be worth double tomorrow and that the whole scheme is highly rortable.

‘There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew’

17th June 2011. It seems the good old ( stay in bed or you might get hurt ) occupational health and safety imbroglio has spawned a thriving industry of private contractors who obviously at great expense with vehicles, flashing lights, hundreds of road cones, slow down signs and other paraphernalia, demand that you start slowing on the highway about a kilometer before a lazy road verge lawnmower machine that is going about its work. In prior years, one sign something like ‘caution road works in progress’ was the norm and to the reasonable person appeared quite satisfactory.

’ The only thing that saves us from bureaucracy is its inefficiency’

31st May 2011. As usual more heat than light in our global warming debate, if thats what you call a group of parliamentarians screaming at each other across a room. Seems fairly simple – for 100 years we have been using the atmosphere as an air sewer – it has to stop for the good of the planet and therefore the good of us. It can only stop through individual, corporate and government effort. So lets all stop squabbling and get to it.

‘Think Globally – Act locally’

10th May 2011. Had a call from a friend in a bit of financial strife. Of course the first thing people do when money is short is resort to credit cards. At 20 – 25% interest (compounded) its the kiss of death to someone in this position. The banks who will write off billions to failed ventures at the big end of town will undoubtedly hound my friend to bankruptcy or worse.

‘We can loan you enough money to get out of debt’

7th May 2011. So Tom Tom, the GPS manufacturer was caught out in the Netherlands giving police and other authorities traffic routing , frequency and speed information to be used for various purposes including the positioning of speed cameras. This company has been caught out now doing the same thing in Australia. The remedy needs no further explanation !

6th May 2011. The Queensland State government is floating an idea to have all conversations in Taxi’s recorded. I find it hard to contemplate that some dill would even suggest such an idea that strikes to the essence of an individuals privacy.

‘You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, it does not exist.’

24th April 2010. Stradbroke Island has two main communities joined by 20km of road, half of which is limited to 70Km/Hr, and no built up area on the road .Whilst spending some time here recently over Easter we have been breathalized 5 times in three days. Road fatalities on this island over past years you could count on the fingers of one finger. In the same vein, air traffic in Sydney was thrown into chaos for two days recently with 30 or so flights cancelled because a dozen or so people went through a security check that became briefly inoperative. Such thoughtless total overreaction by the guardians of our safety and morals is inexcusable in the grand scheme of a society that has so many more pressing higher priority problems that require their attention.

‘The more laws – the more offenders – the more laws’

14th April 2011. People tend to think of our society as consisting of a vast “majority” along with a few “minorities”. The truth is that each and every one of us belong to a minority in many sectors of our lives. It may be our religion or our opinion about climate change. Our politics, where we holiday or even where we live. When sacrificing the rights of minorities is regarded as the price we just have to pay for our “freedom”, we no longer have any “freedom”. Freedom is the right to choose to be a minority in some area and not being forced to agree with some “accepted” view. When minorities lose their rights, eventually the country becomes ungovernable as EVERYONE eventually becomes upset with authority. First the bikie minority, then those selfish people who use their aircon units when they get too hot, then those who don’t agree with wars, then finally anyone at all who doesn’t agree with the current government (who are the ones deciding what the “majority” view is). Oppression of minorities eventually becomes oppression of everyone. About time to repeal those most oppressive laws which deny individual civil liberties.

‘The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority’

6th April 2011. Whilst many nations around the world are ridding themselves of the yoke of nepotistic and costly regimes , our fawning press and TV do their utmost to perpetrate this Royal claptrap originating in the Northern Hemisphere. Me a royalist … No – got it in one.

‘A throne is only a bench covered with velvet. – Napoleon Bonaparte’

14th March 2011. The Japanese tsunami is a salutory reminder that despite years of bluster from various governments Australia does not have a national disaster warning system. Off the top of my head in a couple of minutes, how about strategically placed sirens that can be selectively actuated to prompt the population to listen to nominated radio/TV/Internet. I guess however that a couple of minutes is precious time to a bureaucrat running to his next coffee break.

’ Bureaucracy is the art of making the possible impossible’

4th March 2011. A picture in my local paper. The councils mail lady dressed in a plastic sheet, rubber gloves and mask opening council mail looking for white powder. Another Occupational Health and Safety nonsense spurred on by the hysteria generated by Johnnys war.

‘knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security’

6th February 2010. Whilst trying to avoid comment on other Nations issues, we have enough of our own to keep mé going, I Think a recent expose in the International Herald Tribune newspaper that Carnival Cruises , a company with an $11.3 billion profit pays US , State and Foreign taxes of 1.1% tax, and that Boeing pays 4.5%, Yahoo 7%, and several energy companies less than 2% and so on. This ability of US corporations to avoid corporate tax would seem to make any free Trade agreements with the US a nonsense.

‘The United States has a system of taxation by confession.’

28th January 2010. The NSW state elections are on the 26th March. If you believe in the old two party paradigm you have the choice of total incompetence on one side and no policies on the other. A salutory reminder that there are other options, greens independents etc. Multi party governments work quite successfully in other parts of the globe. For instance Swedens multi party government has given rise to the most social and economic success story in Europe.

‘Politicians are the same all over – they promise to build a bridge where there is no river’

8th January 2011. A couple of recent articles has reinforced the fact that the stock market is simply a device for transferring money to the minority ‘in the know’ from the majority ‘out of the know’. This is particularly reinforced by directors trading stocks in the blackout period and the rapid introduction of massive computing power by trading houses to beat the average punter. Easy solution – dont play their game !