Month: June 2024

gray concrete towers under white clouds and blue sky during daytime

Peter Dutton & The Going Nuclear Debate

by Clio

23 June 2024 6 mths

Australia is moving toward a renewable energy future – it is happening and is underway. Yes, there are challenges ahead in this major transformation, which has been inspired by the world’s need to respond to global warming. No serious energy expert or scientist has suggested […]

Culture Fresh Politics

Prince Regent presenting political ministers

by Clio

20 November 2024 2 weeks

The History Of Tax Dodgers

The French Revolution was one of the bloodiest chapters in human history. The device of Dr Guillotine took so many heads that bigger baskets had to be made to gather up those dismembered and rolling free during the frenzy of executions. Did you know that […]

Fresh

red and white airplane behind a black hatchback

by Clio

10 November 2024 4 weeks

Qantas Upgrade Palm Greasing Of Politicians

The recent political kerfuffle over politicians getting free upgrades on Qantas flights misses the point somewhat, I think. It is the corrupt and odious practices of Qantas management which should be called out rather than merely berating the politicians, in my view. Qantas upgrade palm greasing of politicians. Alan Joyce was one of, if not, the most ruthless CEOs in Australian corporate history. This chief executive of our defacto national carrier for more than a decade, instigated repeated purges of the Qantas workforce. These were undertaken whilst simultaneously currying favour with the political movers and shakers by making them and their families feel special in the air and within the infamous Qantas Chairman’s lounge. Old fashioned graft and palm greasing really.

Fresh Politics

by Clio

7 November 2024 4 weeks

Dressing Slaves For Work

was listening to an interesting presentation on Plantation Goods – these were the products made for the enslaved workers in the south. These included the textiles woven for the clothes worn by the cotton pickers, the tools used by the agricultural and mine workers, and the shoes and hats required by these enslaved folk. Much of this stuff was made by businesses in the north of America, thus linking the slave economy with the greater United States. The author of this book, Seth Rockman, recounts some fascinating and unexpected historical information he found detailed in letters between the merchants and slave holdings involved.

Book Review Culture Economics Fresh

Episode 12: The Politics of Grievance - Robert Sudha Hamilton's Podcast

America is the great democratic experiment. Although, this is getting on for some 250 years now. This nation is in the grip of the politics of grievance. Partisan politics in America is more about hating the other side than particularly loving the side you are voting for. Americans have been encouraged to focus their attention upon their grievances via decades of negative campaigning and attack ads. Demonizing ‘the other’ is the favoured political pastime in the 21C. Identity politics and social values are the main game these days. Economic issues are now seen through this ideological filter.Murdoch, Fox & Stirring Grievance In AmericaRupert Murdoch and his Fox News are merchants of toxic polarization. This network is spewing out lies and fake news 24/7. Every presentation is top heavy in anti-woke content and a right wing bias. Regular viewers are sucked into a spin cycle of libertarian anti-government GOP grievance stoking. Old white men upset at their changing worlds, where heaven forbid minorities are now getting a say. OMG the sky is going to fall in. In this partisan realm complaints about there being too many coloured faces on TV and LGBTQIA folk making too much noise are legion. Uppity women talking about sexual harassment and such like make their viewer’s blood boil – which is the whole idea for Fox. Getting their audience riled up keeps eyeballs on them and advertising rates going up for their revenue.Popularizing Poisonous Issues For Political GainThe politics of grievance is all about popularizing these causes for the benefit of candidates and the party. The party promoting these grievances doesn’t need positive policies. They just bang on about how the other side is to blame for the problem.

Midas Word Follow

SpeakTruth

Midas Word @midasword ·

23 Nov

As much as we like to focus on how wonderfully advanced we are by sending rockets to the moon etc. The truth is many of us remain violently rooted in the simian behaviour of our ancestors at times during our lives.

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Midas Word @midasword ·

20 Nov

The history of tax dodgers points to a disease of decay at the heart of our corporations and the way they do business.

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Midas Word @midasword ·

14 Nov

Being Stoic: What is it? Death appears on the horizon and no longer seems so far away. The Stoics of the ancient world were very concerned about how one died.

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Midas Word @midasword ·

12 Nov

Donald Trump as demagogue, and there were plenty of these in the ancient world revving up the demos for their own benefit. Trump has become the presumed champion of the white working class American.