For anyone taking a step back, the question is: Has Turnbull sold his soul, or only rented it in the hope of buying it back when the right wing of his party don’t have any capital to use in the auction after the next election?
However, for most people, we’re in the real world and there’s a fair bit of cognitive dissonance going on. Yep, it’s really good that Abbott is no longer PM and his pronouncements just make it seem more and more like we must have all been on drugs and there’s no possibility that a man who’d knight Prince Phil, and declare that coal was good for humanity could ever have been our Prime Minister and that it’s good to have someone who actually can actually use three word slogans which have more than one syllable in the words. IN-O-VAY-SHONE! On the other hand, there’s concern that Malcolm Turnbull is still pursuing some of the worst of Abbott’s policies. But on yet the other hand, there’s concern amongst the very strange – those like Eric Abetz who seem to have three hands – that Turnbull has captured the One True Party and will soon be doing the work of the devil unless we can organise a coup after the next election and restore Abbott, the Anointed One. I think I was about to move on to my fourth hand, but then I grew worried that once I had four hands, I’d be like one of those infinite monkeys typing the works of Shakespeare.
Anyway, I happened to notice today that the Coalition are pushing ahead with their legislation to make “lawfare” illegal.
You remember? Lawfare? You know these “vigilantes” taking the law into their own hands by using the courts when we all know that the courts are meant to belong to the rich and powerful and if poor people start to use them to uphold existing laws then there’s obviously something wrong with the law. Better change it. We don’t want these green groups mounting challenges unless they’re directly affected. And they’re not directly affected unless they own shares in the company trying to do whatever it is that makes money.
Because when mining companies make money it helps us all because they have to pay taxes. Not the mining tax, of course, but other ones, like company tax -in the unlikely event that they ever make a profit. The subsidies that we give them barely cover the cost of the money they give us in political donations.
As for the National Farmers’ Federation being concerned about the “lawfare” legislation taking away their rights, well, we love farmers. The National Party used to be called the Country Party, you know, so Country People will always have a say. After all, didn’t Mr Abbott invite the Nats in to make sure that whole gay marriage thing didn’t get up? Mm, probably just as well they changed their name after re-reading that previous sentence…
Anyway, back to Turnbull…
Yep, that’s what the Liberals said. It’s got so bad we’re prepared to take on board someone who used Godwin Grech’s fake emails, because we’re hoping that he didn’t do that because he was too stupid to have them checked out, we’re hoping that he was unethical enough not to care what the truth was.
I guess time will tell.
Meanwhile back in the real world, which the majority of these Tory swine have no comprehension of, my Pharmacist advised me today he would double my supply of Paracetamol Osteo (only available on Perscription) as the Govt will remove the item from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from Jan 1st next. These are much stronger than the over the counter paracetamol and are used extensively by young and old, so now everyone will pay the full price of $15.35 a packet. increase of $9.30. Not a huge amount but as with the increase in scripts it all adds up and sole income pensioners are struggling too much now
Heartless, uncaring, miserable swine, putting it mildly.
Heartless, uncaring, miserable swine, putting it mildly.
Unfortunately the above is our Government and because of the love affair with Turnbull, they may be in for the long term. On the positive side Australians may decide not to be hoodwinked again.
Thanks so much Rossleigh for saying:
“For anyone taking a step back, the question is: Has Turnbull sold his soul, or only rented it in the hope of buying it back when the right wing of his party don’t have any capital to use in the auction after the next election?”
and also for suggesting that
“On the other hand, there’s concern that Malcolm Turnbull is still pursuing some of the worst of Abbott’s policies.”
Now the bottom line is we need to always be wary of perceived ‘snake-oil charmers”, for example Turnbull.
Who the hell knows what the man is up to? To many, including myself he appears to be, well, how shall we say; attempting to charm the snake everywhichway he can. Yes that captures it, if you get my drift; or your own perceived drift
The lesson is, I think, beware of snake-oil charmers; opportunists; soul-sellers, look-alikes, in a political sense particularly.
Well naturally being a fiercely independent type with own views, I do not support everything that hits the road, but one or two of your reflections ring a bell.
My advice pro tem: Hit The Road Jack; with the brakes on; if you get my drift.
Dare I suggest:
Believe it or not; just following a Just So Simple Formula; in purely musical terms; leaving aside All The Rest; one could conceivably; with Lots and Lots and Lots of practice, learn to play like this
So there you go.
Just another perspective. In case it helps. Since as far as I know; and as far as I can glean, Miles and Miles to go before we can all reach such a point of consensus that the ultimate in harmonious accord may be achieved in expressing opinion.
This is why I always encourage the non-linear approach; whenever this may be possible.
Since in no sense can effective communication be properly identified in a space that is conceptually limited to political conceptualization. But in any case in the context of the concerns that you have raised;;; which incidentally touch on broader concerns; we should always be aware of wolves in sheep’s’ clothing; and of the risks of potentially manipulative and/or self-interested agendas.
Cheers
Madeleine Kingston
Ours is not to confuse or mystify. Our lot is simply to clarify.
So what do suggest then? Take the scenic route and examine a whole range of inter-related issues?
MK
And what will the “Labor” party’s response be?
A big shout out: “we agree in principle!”
En passant. There appears to be little perceivable difference between the major political parties and indeed others who have gained votes. So thank you Jexpat for asking the question. The bottom line is that we appear to be stuck in practice with a One-Party Democracy all across the board, compounded by the mysterious preference which few voters understand. I would suggest we kick the whole lot of them out, but I doubt that the Governor-General of the day would agree.
David said:
“Meanwhile back in the real world, which the majority of these Tory swine have no comprehension of, my Pharmacist advised me today he would double my supply of Paracetamol Osteo (only available on Prescription) as the Govt will remove the item from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from Jan 1st next. These are much stronger than the over the counter paracetamol and are used extensively by young and old, so now everyone will pay the full price of $15.35 a packet. increase of $9.30. Not a huge amount but as with the increase in scripts it all adds up and sole income pensioners are struggling too much now
Heartless, uncaring, miserable swine, putting it mildly.”
I am so sorry to hear of the threat to those reliant on the “miserable swine” to deliver the goods to those marginalized.
I assume you mean to target the miserable politicians of the day whichever party is in power. Perhaps you should write in the first instance to Scott [Miserable] Morrison who has managed to acquire the position of Treasurer, but apparently still covets his recent position of Minister for Social Security, and prior to that Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the latter assumed by Mr. Equally Hopeless The Hon Peter Dutton. And so it goes on.
Not wishing to be seen to be the Hog Among The Veritable Swine, still less the Veritable Hog Among The Swine, I feel obliged to ask a few simple questions then, directed to no-one in particular, and with present company excepted.
In the context of the noble efforts of journalists and/or their hosts at large [some of the latter at the very least seen to be lagging behind in terms of a robust perception of what actual consumers want and/or don’t want. This is such a pity whether or not specific to the political and/or policy context, with these twin creatures most usually enjoying the same grubby soil, at least in the perception of the common or garden voter such as myself.
Some of those around the place run veritable Kindergartens and/or Dictatorships in terms moderation policies, whilst expecting adult participation and/or informed debate. I wish them good luck in their respective goals in meeting 21st Century expectations of the principles of Consumer orientation. This is to the detriment of such publications; to those writers contributing, whether or not with legitimate claim to the title of journalist; and sadly also to the detriment of the readership and/or responders.
I therefore submit that when one is assessing the relative merits of various journalistic platforms and their respective management and policy approaches in the context of readership expectations; there may be considerable room for re-assessment of whether such expectations are in fact being met. I say this kindly, with due regard for variation in readership expectation, as well as the quality of outputs in various platforms, and bearing in mind the references of the author of this article to other platforms. May I suggest that it may not be the Murdoch platform alone that deserve criticism for failing consumer expectation?
Now far be it from me to preach to others about the general and/or specific gaps in service delivery from a consumer perspective; or alternatively gaps in the proper understanding or the general theories of consumer orientation, as espoused by experts in the field; but en passant, may give a little plug to such authors as:
McColl-Kennedy, Janet R. Kiel, Geoffrey C, Lusch, Robert F and Lusch, Virginia, N Marketing Concepts and Strategies Second Edition. Thomas Nelson Australia, South Melbourne, 3205 ISBN 0 17 0083901.1
This text covers markets and marketing practices in Australia and New Zealand; the principles and theories involved in marketing thoroughly explained and reinforced by the extensive use of familiar examples and local advertisements. Thirty-one case studies apparently providing interesting examples of the marketing process.
This is fabulous from my limited perspective as a real-life actual consumer. All I now ask most humbly is for theory to be put into practice. Nothing would please me more. The question is, at the delivery end, is everyone collectively up to it?
Apparently McColl-Kennedy et al in third text ISBN 0-17-0083901-1 published by Thomas Nelson explore such issues as Positioning; Market Research; Marketing Ethics; Relationship Marketing
On the issue of Positioning, what I say, initially other than urge marketeers to my mindful of the sensitivities of their audiences [see for example Graham Hooley and John Saunders Competitive Positioning: The Key to Marketing Success [ISBN 0-13-155599-5]; and related texts such as Schiffman and Kanuk on Consumer Behaviour, Prentice Hall, International Editions ISBN 0-13-08219-X]; since as a single example of a discerning consumer, I believe there may be room for re-visiting of the fundamental principles that in recent times may have become neglected.
After all, if the principles of true engagement have become so blurred and/or neglected or even replaced by policy or political convenience why doesn’t’ everybody just transparently inform consumers forthwith of their redundancy?
Surely every writer in the policy or political space mainstream or otherwise would appreciate the implied ironies.
Sadly, minus Tony Abscess, the “new” Tories under Malcolm Talkbull are just as bad–nothing more than right wing, flat earth, tea party, conservative crones! Sadly, too, the very ineffectual Labor mob are just as bad! Whenever the next Federal election is called I will not know who to vote for–hopefully Nick Xenophon will have “his” party up & running by then. Meanwhile we still have to put up with all the lies, untruths, word spin etc from all of these bloody Federal politicians! However, ALL will be ok, as our “dear friend” Rupert Muckrake has been put in charge of informing us of just how good/bad/ineffective/abnormal are the Labor party (first), & now it seems, his conservative mates also! God help all of us! By the way, another top article from “Rossleigh”!