Blog Gone Fishin'

Bishop on Drugs.

Bronwyn Bishop chairwomen of The Federal Parliamentary Committee on Family and Human Services has let the cat out of the bag on future drug policy. The Tough on Drugs theme will move to new heights of madness if The Liberal Party is returned. They wish to redirect the entire drug strategy away from harm minimisation to harm prevention, as does the failed American model, for purely dogmatic reasons.

"The inquiry into the impact of illicit drug use on families" suggests the abandonment of needle exchange programs. As Dr Alex Wodak, director of St Vincent's Hospital's Alcohol and Drug Service in Sydney, so rightly says the report's contents were "frightening". He said the report's advocacy for drugs to be considered a moral issue ignored evidence from the US. About one person in 100,000 contracted HIV in Australia each year, compared to almost 15 in the United States, where a zero tolerance stance meant needle exchange programs could not receive federal funding. Let's not forget, also, the other STD'S that needle exchange has helped protect the population from.

It also recommends that the Federal Government establish adoption as the "default" care option for children aged up to five where child protection orders involve illicit drug use by parents. Any illicit drug use by parents would trigger the new Centrelink income management provisions under which payments to parents can be withheld and only spent on food and essentials.

The report blames "drug industry elites", who it said had hindered the zero-tolerance approach advocated by the Federal Government. These "elites" advocated treatment approaches that aimed to reduce harm, "but do not have the aim of enabling users to become drug-free". They are, of course, the people who work in the field, day after day, that Bronny and co Know far better than.

Coupled with that, the committee has proposed a new wave of television advertising that is even more graphic than the current campaigns.It wants words like "harm" to be replaced by "damage", "destruction" and "danger". Yeh, let's give another grant to advertising executives and media companies for more pointless propaganda at the publics expense.

Tony Trimingham's son died 10 years ago from a heroin overdose. He the CEO of the Family Drug Support organisation and is appalled. "I could have actually cried this morning when I read the recommendations and some of the report," he said. So also, might the rest of us, if these morons ever get to implement any more of their, head in the sand, nonsense.


Picture by Tim Sanders.

Mainstream Akubra Man.

Commander in chief Howard triumphantly touched down in Hermannsberg, conveniently close to Alice Springs airport , to make it "very clear" to the community that the Government had a simple aim.

"And that is whilst respecting the special place of indigenous people in the history and the life of this country, their future can only be as part of the mainstream of the Australian community," he said.

"Unless they can get a share of the bounty of this great and prosperous country, their future will be bleak." In other words, if you want some of the funds we have been making from ripping up the ground, our ancestors stole from, you better drop your old ways and do what we say.

He then goes on to spell things out more clearly. "I want to assure you that we haven't come here to take anybody's land or to push anybody around." Directly translated from the Howardish ... "I have come to take your land and push you around".

Adele Horin, from "The Sydney Morning Herald", is about the only journalist to put one aspect of the Howard governments intervention in the N.T. under the spotlight. The end of the CDEP scheme. She identifies in this article how aboriginal employment has been cut by 8000 to fit in with generalised control freakery. As she points out, "It will turn many workers into unemployment statistics, rob communities of vital services, create havoc and potentially deal the death blow to 50 Aboriginal organisations". All aboriginals, regardless of perceived good/bad behaviour, are to have half their payments held, in Howards' new paternalistic world. Adele Horin continues...

"the real reason for the abolition of the scheme is that it is the only way the Government can get control of the money paid to such workers. Ironically, it must convert workers to welfare recipients and replace their wage with an unemployment benefit before it can legally quarantine their money to ensure it is spent on children not alcohol.

Regardless of whether the programs are effective, or the workers are model parents, the Government is moving against them. Will this sledgehammer approach deliver children better lives? We can hope. If it doesn't, the losses will be incalculable".


It is worth popping over to mattjjin-nehen to read a bit about this and the real squanderers of money claimed to be spent for indigenous needs. Also some very ugly propaganda that the government is pedaling in the top end.

Photo by Wayne Taylor.

UPDATE: See this Crikey report for advanced cruelty.

Were On the Road to Nowhere.

Click on the piccie for a larger view.

Naturally, when Gummo Trotsky at L.P. called for an "Apec Dress Up Challenge", the resident artist swung into action. It might not be real oz gear but they are talking heads.

We were thrilled today to find that violent protesters are to blame for the disruption that has not yet happened at the conference that is, so far, yet to happen. Good to get in early in the blame game, I guess.

Family Snapshots.

John Howard is often referred to as a clever politician. People go further and call him "tricky". Given this report, "devious" comes to mind.





Some interesting links on Exclusive Brethren and fundys below...
peebs
unBelief
EB

Wink, wink and say no more.

Postscript: Mud will stick. After all the discussion, about this storm in a teacup, organised by Poison Dewarf, the real details came through. Trouble is, the media cycle relys on the next 'big thing'. Which means that there is never a chance to catch up with the truth of the matter. Funny, that!

The Higher Plane

Says Simon Bowes from the British Airports Authority, operators of Heathrow, that the protest is "naïve" and further...

"If you look on, at what they're talking about this week, it's a version of sustainable living which involves no one going on holiday, veganism (phonetic), compost toilets and the end of capitalism, and I just don't see that that's a vote winner over in the UK, or in the rest of the world."

This bloke is the complete diplomat. The sought you need if you want to ark up WW3. It gets better. The powers that be most stupid are planning to invoke terrorism laws to quell this domestic protest. Yep, their idea is to deem it a terrorist activity. There are lots of interesting links/ pictures to this story, so I have no plan to give any more details.

Just saying, though, that what is happening there is likely to happen here. People have real concerns about climate change and aeroplanes are big polluters. They quite reasonably believe that world leaders are dragging their feet and want to let them know, predominantly, in a peaceful manner. When they are seen as terrorists for exercising their democratic rights it becomes clear who the legislation was really really drafted for. Not Bin Laden and co but to control the population.

"before the cock crows you will deny me three times"

How wimpy,sooky and spooky is this?

Peter Costello is likely to deny 3 times on his Leo-style, 50th birthday, that he ever had the ticker to take on his boss.
See hear for appropriate biblical references.

Shanghireing for Baghdad.

While Workchoices is proving a large pebble in the liberal party jackboot, locally, a little reported international story has taken my interest. It is to do with the movement of workers to places of acute shortage to fill employee needs. In this case a contractor with a need to build a very important structure. A new U.S. Embassy in downtown Baghdad. First Kuwaiti have been accused of fulfilling their needs in the modern day equivalent of shanghaiing. Go to You Tube to see the testimony of Rory Mayberry to a US Congress Committee on July 26th of this year. A couple of reports here. The first The Manilla Times and a more recent, official Filipino response.

The Dog is Wearing a Bra.

That youtube debate by American Presidential hopefuls was a cracker wasn't it? New media has reached new levels of excitement thanks to the input of traditionally conservative forces. There was one predictable party pooper though.

The brilliant cartoon comes from Mr Fish here.

Ps Spanish Pierre your email ain't working for returns.

Haneef Up the Flagpole.

Howard and co have satisfactorily tested the fear factor and law and order. The little noticed, recent Morgan poll will give them hope. It showed clearly that the spook factor is still alive, well and working. Grabbing on to the right sought of issue, at the right time, might still work to get them over the line.

Important for their chances is a compliant press. This appears to have faded, a little, presently, under the force of facts and a history catch-up. Media tarts like to be on the side that wins and know manipulation , at the correct moment, can swing an election. Editorials will be cheering on the little dictator when the time is right, with the bound and gagged Aunty flailing in all directions.... forced to present Ruppy's lead line, while Fairfax does what's best for the shareholders and prepared for the carving.

APEC is Howard country. Australia on the world stage with visiting indignitaries like his great mate, shrub. All happening in Sydney. Guaranteed a large local protest community with the added advantage of an overseas contingent. We are are looking at serious huffing and puffing opportunities.

A major crisis in the wake of this meeting, with helicopters whirling, huge numbers in jail and Labor supporting a strong stand against 'good for nothing' radicals, troublemakers and extremists. Plus a peppering of a possible Al-Queda plot against Sydney , just uncovered... no chance for investigations into why the police acted so pre-emptively to clear the streets. Yep, terrorism laws might easily provide the type of cover that Howard needs to pull in that crucial strong leader vote.

He has the perfect stage for a quick, dumbed down, election.




Update.... the follow up to the Morgan poll and Haneef pick up, via a most reputable oz journo, who has inside knowledge on everything Howard loving.
Here....

Employment Opportunities for Medical Practitioners.

Australia is an advanced liberal democracy and is currently in need of highly trained professionals to help maintain worlds best practice standards of health care and ancillary support. Do you fit the criteria for a well paid position with more than satisfactory salary and bonuses?

If you have no exposure to SIM card lending, of any kind, to relatives or others, you may be considered acceptable.

Come in Spinner.

Dr Nelson, oil and other stuff.

If you were a medical practitioner and read your stars a week and half ago, it might have said "your career choice will be open to world wide speculation". The hippocratic oath might look more like the hypocritical oath..
..but we all love doctor jokes. The cartoon came from here.
More about Brendan and I Blame the Jesuits.

Fish and...

...chips.
ps..click on the above piccie, if you can't read the blurb. It is well worth it.

Widow Given Shit Deal !

The 'little paper' lives up to it's reputation, by publishing this report on page 11 , June 28th, 07 .

By way of a 'not really' apology.... it is all in the 3rd person. Considering that the paper had run reports of a surburban lawyers' death on, the front page, with suggestions of underworld connections.

You will need to click on the 'cut out' to make it readable.

The Australian Press Council, yesterday, made a ruling against, "The Paper of the Year 2005-6."

See adjudication 1361 and you would have to say that self regulation of the media is not working.

Howard's National Emergency.

John Howard's National Emergency call , on the plight of aboriginal communities is most concerning. I involved myself in a little bit of discussion at Anonymous Lefty and later at Lavatus Prodeo on the subject. Personally, I have little doubt that our PM has shamelessly run, with a report commissioned by the Northern Territory Government, for a purely political purpose.
I do not believe his motives are pure, but more about latching onto a motherhood issue, to wedge Labor , as we move closer to an election. Who would not be appalled by paedophile activity in any community, regardless of race, colour or religion? Howard has had well over ten years to improve the situation for indigenous people. He has systematically destroyed whatever leadership mechanisms they had, and actually withdrawn funds for basic services and infrastructure, over that time.
It is a big ask to believe that he has finally seen the error of his ways, as even now, he merely talks of symptoms, that need to be eradicated rather than the basic causes of problems. He found his ammunition and has declared another war.... now that a war on drugs , war on terrorism, war on asylum seekers lack quite the emotional bite.

As I responded to a Megami' request, in my comments, at L.P. “Can someone please elaborate on the Army claim in this?” Megami, when you declare Teh “National Emergency”, you need soldiers. Hell, you just “need them”. This is the new “War on Black Paedophile Rings”. Navy would be involved but some uncertainty as to the depth of Todd River. Brough, busy checking. Howard has his target audience in mind and knows how to bullshit them.
Other comments I made at L.P......
I am quite concerned about intentions. Given that the plans seem to have the potential to make the situation worse for all, NT, aboriginals. All families are to be treated, the same, whether they are involved in what is considered 'bad behaviour' or not. There are no rewards, but punishment in the form of suspended welfare payments and various other increased living expenses. No funding for improved education or health. Just the threat of medical examinations for all youngsters regardless of their parents wishes.
To top it off, they lose control over who may enter their lands. Can you imagine how pastoralists and miners would like their rights of control prohibited? The intention I believe is less about allowing “transparency” but more about providing a good excuse to open up areas for tourism and mining development for white carpetbaggers.

UPDATE Mutitjulu community leaders: please listen to us
I just caught up with this plea from Mutitjulu leaders Dorothea and Bob Randall , that Crikey published. This is the first community to be seized under Howard's National Emergency, probably, because it is closest to suitable accommodation for politicians, embedded journalists and bureacrats, before the army sets up 'on site', digs.

libs lurch further to the right

Liberal preselection, for the blue ribbon federal Sydney seat of Mitchell, has been completed , with the election of Alex Hawke. He is a 30 year old, Anglican with strong Hillsong affiliations, defeating David Elliot, a hotels industry lobbyist , securing 81 of 107 votes.

“This process of labelling people just because they’re Christian and because they’re socially conservative as extreme is something that I regard as unfair and particularly nasty,” he said in response to earlier comments made by Anthony Albanese, who branded him as an "extremist".

Hawke is a former staffer for the most prominent Christian right-wing NSW Liberal MP, David Clarke, and has previously worked for federal right-wingers Ross Cameron and Helen Coonan. They had worked together to build a conservative religious network within the party and end the small 'l', long held control.

In his maiden speech in 2003, his mentor, Clarke, promised to “uphold and advocate the conservative, mainstream and Christian-based truths and values that I believe our nation is based upon … with missionary zeal”. As Chloe Hooper, in a 2005 issue of Monthly, wrote and then continued... "this has included hot-housing young religious conservatives. The NSW Young Liberals were long considered the jewel in the moderate Liberal crown but, as one young New South Welshman tells me, Clarke “kind of got people together to take over”. With Clarke’s support, recruiting from organisations such as the secretive catholic Opus Dei movement, the NSW Young Liberals now have the largest membership base of all the states."

Mr Brogden, former leader of the NSW liberal leader, claimed his downfall was partly related to the behind the scenes work of conservative forces, particularly Hawke. He was regarded as too socially liberal, on issues such as republicanism, abortion, heroin injecting rooms and homosexuality.

Hawkes' precocious rise to power may well consign the Liberal Party to many years in the wilderness or, Australia, permanently, to the style of the religous right , that the libs are becoming infamous for. A sought of merger between church and state that will gladden the hearts of George Pell, et al.

Intelligent Design Proof 11

Just in case there is still a little smear of doubt , amongst the few sinners left, put this on your toast and eat it. Chuck Missler is very convincing on the subject. Hit peanut butter and praise the lord.

Intelligent Design Proof.

Today we present conclusive proof of intelligent design at EAT AT JOES.

With the help of a clever little Kiwi evangelist , now residing stateside, the aim is to stick it to atheists and agnostics who need to allow themselves the opportunity of catching up with a few of the facts about their creation. The lesson requires following this prompt to the utube link and then accepting the simple and obvious logic of the preachers doin' the teachin'. Praise the Lord.