Australia - you're standing in it
Fundamentally, we’re in an era of systemic competition. It’s not just the US. It’s everyone who stands to lose from a change in the current system.
The premise of the link above is that we’re being beaten at trade by a competitor that is playing to a different rule book. The article is written by, and for, US commentators but it does address ‘allies and partners’. I’m going to look for any similar articles from non-US sources too.
Despite what people think, I don’t believe that the US wants to go to war. China is essential to the US economy, and more than that, to its culture of convenience. There’s a solid understanding that war with China doesn’t end well. For anyone.
Taiwan is more than ‘Taiwan’ for the US. It is a test of its credibility and its alliance systems. Same as Ukraine. The Pax Americana is built on alliances as much as it is built on military might.
If people are cheering for a shift in the global order in favour of China, or at least against the US, then we need to be clear-eyed that odds are (and history tells us) that this isn’t going to happen peacefully.
etarip wrote:Fundamentally, we’re in an era of systemic competition. It’s not just the US. It’s everyone who stands to lose from a change in the current system.
The premise of the link above is that we’re being beaten at trade by a competitor that is playing to a different rule book. The article is written by, and for, US commentators but it does address ‘allies and partners’. I’m going to look for any similar articles from non-US sources too.
Despite what people think, I don’t believe that the US wants to go to war. China is essential to the US economy, and more than that, to its culture of convenience. There’s a solid understanding that war with China doesn’t end well. For anyone.
Taiwan is more than ‘Taiwan’ for the US. It is a test of its credibility and its alliance systems. Same as Ukraine. The Pax Americana is built on alliances as much as it is built on military might.
If people are cheering for a shift in the global order in favour of China, or at least against the US, then we need to be clear-eyed that odds are (and history tells us) that this isn’t going to happen peacefully.
My last post was pretty rushed.
I don't think the USA wants a war with China, but definitely does not feel comfortable being challenged as the dominant global economic or military power, which is what China is doing. I don't think China will back down in its rise either, as they have a pretty good memory of how they have historically been treated by the west. Hope both powers can accommodate the other in a peaceful negotiated way, as the alternative is too horrifying to contemplate, no winners there.
Personally I am not hoping for new world order, but think some areas may have to be renegotiated as the days of the USA dictating what happens may be over.
Saying that, I probably don't know even the tip of it, and just want to live a peaceful simple life...
Twiggy sure does get around . https://theaimn.com/twiggys-afghan-mineral-coup/
Etarip wrote:
"Taiwan is more than ‘Taiwan’ for the US. It is a test of its credibility and its alliance systems. Same as Ukraine."
What sort of "test" do you envisage?
A Ukraine style test?
Not sure that is working out well for anyone or for US credibility.
Speaking of credibility, who would pay this buffoon for his thoughts ? That’s assuming that they’re his thoughts
I'm sure he was paid for his speech. It makes you wonder about the credibility of the organization running the conference. Why would you pay an incompetent, corrupt, dishonest, self-proclaimed megalomaniacal loser to speak at a conference?
— Richard Wright (@RichardKGrump) February 17, 2023
By the way, Etarip, the brute force economics article is a pretty accurate outline of China's game plan - ironically facilitated for many years by Wall St for short term $$$s and even by the current sniffer in chief and his son probably for similar reasons.
I am not sure rhe US political class which includes top level military (who are by necessity deeply political to reach the top) can be trusted as competent to steer us through dangerous waters ahead.
frog wrote:By the way, Etarip, the brute force economics article is a pretty accurate outline of China's game plan - ironically facilitated for many years by Wall St for short term $$$s and even by the current sniffer in chief and his son probably for similar reasons.
I am not sure rhe US political class which includes top level military (who are by necessity deeply political to reach the top) can be trusted as competent to steer us through dangerous waters ahead.
totally!
many pointing out it is wall st. (and co.) that largely got us into this mess
with corona, there was a moment of forced 'decoupling'... however as soon as there was a sniff of china opening up, it was all back in...
(with major investments from the likes of apple through the whole process)
...and the rhetoric of china china china (good good good) has been the order from the true masters for months now...
these cunts cannot help themselves
and most certainly not the normies ie. us
Nah decoupling will continue with the important stuff like the semiconductors: too much policy is now in place (by Dems continuing Trump's start) to not see that happen. Friendshoring too. The West is beginning to police the theft of IP too.
That Scomo link, I went "omg he will be our Churchill," assuming a 1930s allegory. You will recall Churchill spent much time in the wilderness being a lone voice alerting the danger.
It's more like Thucydides Trap
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11765787/AFL-star-Nathan-B...
*wince*
And we reckon surfing's dangerous...
Who can forget Buck Shelford
Absolute gold and very interesting considering where it's coming from: the Cato Institute.
Spells out the US's foreign policy perfectly and why as frog said they cannot be trusted.
Australia should be hedging its bets in the currently changing geopolitical power dynamic by decoupling from the US and establishing military neutrality.
Cato Institute wrote:The world is a mess, but Washington is determined to fix it. The secretary of state flies around the globe issuing instructions to friends and foes alike. When foreign officials refuse to listen, Uncle Sam dons his mailed fist.
First come sanctions to back his commands. Washington’s ability and willingness to conduct economic warfare is nonpareil. The U.S. and its allies understandably fret over Chinese economic coercion, such as trade restrictions, bans on tourism, and restrictions of investment. However, the Treasury Department issues new economic sanctions almost daily. Thousands of governments, businesses, officials, and others are presently on its naughty list.
With nary a thought, let alone serious debate, Congress also penalizes other nations—friends as well as foes—that flout its will. Worst is imposing economic sanctions on already impoverished populations in an attempt to oust or influence their governments. Americans pay for such controls, which greatly complicate international investment, trade, and services, but foreign peoples suffer far more.
Sanctions are notable for both their harm and their ineffectiveness, as seen in Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, and North Korea. When the U.S. targets the entire economy, the resulting hardship is widespread and sometimes deadly. American officials know the harm caused to innocents, but simply don’t care. For instance, when confronted with the mass death of Iraqi children from sanctions, Madeleine Albright’s infamous response was: “We think the price is worth it.”
Alas, little practical has been achieved at such high human cost. Although U.S. sanctions ultimately might weaken target regimes, Washington has failed to enforce its will against any of its adversaries. Despite years, even decades, of sanctions, Cuba remains communist and Venezuela remains authoritarian. North Korea has not abandoned its nuclear weapons, Syria has not ousted Bashar al‐Assad, and Iran has not abandoned its nuclear activities. Washington also has tried targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, but they have even less impact on hostile governments.
Sanctions have, however, uniformly intensified antagonism toward America. Targeted states have sought assistance elsewhere, especially turning to Russia and China. Washington’s “hostile policy” has become another justification for North Korea’s nuclear program.
Ongoing sanctions against Afghanistan and Russia are likely to fail in much the same way. A year on and the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan is growing more radical as its people suffer ever more from economic collapse. Moscow is escalating its military campaign against Ukraine. Although the Russian economy will suffer further, especially in high‐tech fields, Moscow will remain able to deploy a substantial military. The regime may end up looking a bit like a large North Korea: poor and isolated, but doubly belligerent.
Washington’s second tool of intervention is military action. Resist America and Washington is ever ready to bomb, invade, and occupy your nation! The cost of this policy is enormous, starting with the Pentagon budget. Last month, the lame duck Congress approved a record $858 billion in “defense” (really offense) outlays. The so‐called global war on terror alone will ultimately cost, including care for wounded and disabled service personnel, about $8 trillion. That accounts for roughly a third of the current publicly held national debt.
Even more tragic are the lives lost and maimed. A conservative estimate of the total dead in America’s wars over the last two decades is about one million. However, by some measures, the number of Iraqis killed in the aftermath of Washington’s invasion alone approaches that number. U.S. deaths, service personnel and contractors, have been in the thousands. Official statistics undercount injuries, which are in the tens of thousands. Better medical care has saved many who would have died in previous contacts, but rampant suicide has increased the death toll, adding more than four times the number of those killed in action, and thousands live with severe injuries and PTSD.
Nor are Americans the only ones to suffer. Allied troops, especially local forces, have suffered tens of thousands of deaths. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have died in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Tens of thousands in Afghanistan. Thousands or tens of thousands – the estimates vary widely – have died in Libya. Large numbers have been injured and millions displaced in these conflicts.
Admittedly, Washington has not directly caused most of the harm, though U.S. airstrikes killed more civilians than successive administrations admitted. Rather, America’s specialty has been to wreck governments and divide countries, inviting and sustaining brutal conflict and mass killing. Washington also has underwritten other combatants, such as Saudi Arabia, which continue to commit murder and mayhem even as prospects for success disappear. None of America’s recent wars have yet delivered the promised peace, stability, prosperity, and democracy.
Washington has perfected drone warfare, too, visiting death upon innocent and guilty alike in faraway lands. Although this practice is more restrained than full‐scale invasions, the very convenience of death by drone makes this tool too easy to use. Although an effective weapon, drones have been used carelessly and promiscuously, with murderous effect. The spectacle of Obama officials sitting in comfort debating who to kill highlighted the corrupting effect of power.
Worst are “signature” killings based on behaviors seen rather than actions observed. An example of the sort of appalling mistakes that inevitably result is the Kabul strike during America’s Afghan exit, which killed an aid worker and several children. Unfortunately, deadly drone attacks animate retaliation from terrorists, including American citizens. To its credit, the Biden administration has tightened rules governing use of drones.
Since the end of the Cold War, the U.S. has been by far the world’s most dangerous nation. Although Russia is now a contender for that title after last year’s invasion of Ukraine, America has attacked more countries, created more chaos, and caused more civilian casualties than has Moscow even now. For China, one would have to go back a half century to the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution to find its government causing comparable human harm, and that was to its own population.
America remains the world’s most powerful nation, with the largest economy, greatest cultural influence, and deadliest military. Yet Washington’s foreign policy has failed badly, and most dramatically when the U.S. has intervened most forcefully, with economic sanctions or military forces. The failure of America’s grandiose attempts at international social engineering were tragically illustrated by the spectacle of people falling off planes leaving Kabul airport.
In broadest terms, the U.S. won the Cold War by constraining Moscow through credible threats rather than offensive action. One major conflict, the Korean War, ended in a rough draw, while preserving South Korea’s independence. With the exception of a couple quick in‐and‐out invasions, such as Grenada and Panama, Washington’s other armed interventions were mostly tragic disasters, particularly Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Even those that resulted in few U.S. casualties, such as America’s Balkan attacks, failed to eliminate ethnic division and deliver liberal democracy. None defended serious, let alone vital, U.S. interests. Economic warfare has turned out no better, with Washington mostly impoverishing local populations while engaging in hypocritical virtue‐signaling.
It is shocking that members of the blob, which former deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes called the foreign policy establishment, have been so consistently incompetent while suffering few professional consequences. This lack of accountability is scandalous. However, Washington elites have never hesitated to callously rationalize sometimes prodigious foreign casualties.
For instance, Albright arrogantly insisted that the U.S. look further into the future than other nations, justifying America’s consistently aggressive and militaristic policies. Her opinion is widely shared in Washington despite being obvious nonsense, given the multiple catastrophes caused by U.S. interventions over the last couple decades. Who other than a revolving door Washington apparatchik would judge America’s efforts to be farsighted and successful?
Nevertheless, as noted earlier, Albright dismissed the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children with the quip: “We think the price is worth it.” No doubt George W. Bush in Iraq, Barack Obama in Afghanistan, and Donald Trump in Yemen thought similarly. Yet imagine how Americans would respond if a foreign official—Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping, for example—made a similar claim. What if the Russian president explained that the civilian toll in the Ukraine conflict was unfortunate, but necessary. After all, his nation exhibited unique foresight and the price of its actions was “worth it.”
It is easy to justify any cost, no matter how high, if someone else is paying. U.S. foreign policy today is not just foolish and counterproductive. It also is deeply immoral. Washington has turned people into a means for Uncle Sam’s ends, leaving them to pay what often has been the ultimate price.
The next administration should relearn such foreign policy virtues as humility, compassion, restraint, empathy, pragmatism, and realism. The world is not a global chess game in which American policymakers are entitled to wreak havoc while sacrificing U.S. military personnel and foreign civilians alike as so many gambit pawns.
The real reason Australia's rental crisis is out of control:
https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/real-reason-a...
Not any positive outcome here ..
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-20/what-would-war-with-china-look-li...
velocityjohnno wrote:The real reason Australia's rental crisis is out of control:
https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/real-reason-a...
God i wish Blowin could post right now this is right up his alley and a lot of what he has been saying for years.
Anywhere here is the article, cause should be read.
"It is hard to go anywhere without hearing about Australia’s rental crisis.
And for good reason, with rents soaring at record double-digit rates across much of Australia on the back of record tight rental vacancies.
Australia’s rental market initially tightened over the pandemic due to a desire for more space, the growing trend to working from home and the need for home offices.
This saw the number of people per dwelling fall sharply, in turn lifting rental demand despite temporarily slow population growth.
More recently, immigration has soared, which has added massively to rental demand and tightened the rental market further.
Shortly after coming to office, the Albanese Government announced a range of measures to accelerate Australia’s immigration intake, including:
• increasing the permanent migrant intake by 35,000 to 195,000
• increasing the duration of post-study work visas for international students by two years in areas of skills shortages
-ADVERTISEMENT-
• allowing international students to work unlimited hours while studying, effectively turning student visas into unrestricted work visas
• allocating $36 million dollars and 500 extra staff to clear visa backlogs, thereby accelerating international arrivals.
These reforms pushed temporary visa arrivals to record levels in the latter part of 2022, driven by international students seeking work and permanent residency.
This week, it was revealed that a record 360,000 visa applications were lodged overseas by students last year, with the Federal Government also processing a record number of applications since the middle of 2022.
Australia’s rental shortage will be further inflamed by the Chinese Government’s directive that it will no longer recognise foreign academic degrees and diplomas if the study was conducted online.
This decision is expected to see 40,000 to 50,000 Chinese students land in Australia over the next few months, equating to roughly one-third of available rentals in both Sydney and Melbourne.
The upshot is that Australia’s immigration intake will be the largest on record in 2023 by a very wide margin, which will turn the rental crisis into a catastrophe.
Where are the hundreds of thousands of new migrants arriving supposed to live when there is already a dire shortage of homes for the existing population? On the streets?
A ‘Big Australia’ means a permanent rental shortage
The Federal Government dramatically lifted Australia’s immigration intake in the early 2000s.
Australia’s net overseas migration jumped from an average of 90,500 between 1991 and 2004 to an average of 219,000 between 2005 and 2019 – representing an annual average increase in immigration of 140 per cent.
Australia’s turbocharged immigration is also the primary driver of Australia’s chronic shortage of social housing.
According to the UNSW City Futures Research Centre, Australia’s social housing stock grew by only 9 per cent in the 14 years to 2020 against extreme immigration-driven population growth of 25 per cent.
The fact remains that so long as the Federal Government runs a ‘Big Australia’ immigration policy, the nation will forever suffer from housing (rental) shortages.
The Intergenerational Report projected that Australia’s population will grow by 13.1 million people (50 per cent) in only 40 years on the back of net overseas migration of 235,000 a year.
That population increase is the equivalent of adding a combined Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Australia’s current population in only 40 years.
The entire housing (rental) crisis is self-inflicted by extreme levels of immigration. Yet moderating immigration back to long-run historical levels of around 100,000 people a year is never even considered.
Instead, governments continue to spruik increasing supply, such as the Albanese Government’s Housing Future Fund (HFF), which aims to build an additional 30,000 social homes over its first five years.
That’s 30,000 new homes against a projected immigration increase of 1,175,000 people over the same five-year period.
In other words, the HFF is a drop in the bucket of what is needed and will inevitably result in a worsening social housing shortage.
Ultimately, high population growth (immigration) is a direct policy choice, and one that most Australians do not support.
If policy makers genuinely want to fix Australia’s housing crisis, they must start by moderating population growth so that demand better matches supply.
More Coverage
Crackdown on ‘unfair’ rental practice
‘Hell’: Picture sums up sad Australian crisis
Otherwise, Australia’s rental crisis will become a permanent feature of Australia."
"• increasing the permanent migrant intake by 35,000 to 195,000
• increasing the duration of post-study work visas for international students by two years in areas of skills shortages
• allowing international students to work unlimited hours while studying, effectively turning student visas into unrestricted work visas
• allocating $36 million dollars and 500 extra staff to clear visa backlogs, thereby accelerating international arrivals."
soooo...
195 000 permanent migrants...
+ literally 100s of thousands of students with no work restrictions... ongoing...
could literally equate to 400 - 500 thousand migrants, every year, over the coming years... ongoing...
especially once word gets out a student can earn super good coin for the measely (bogus) investment in a TAFE or english course... as was already the case, and widely practiced...
good one labor, solving the housing crisis, looking after the little guy, addressing the cost of living crisis, (and albo's negative geared properties)
just as promised...
to quote guysniley... from a while back of course... "lazy economics"
to the absolute extreme
Good on Albo's government for allocating extra resources to clear backlogs of visas application.
flollo wrote:Good on Albo's government for allocating extra resources to clear backlogs of visas application.
How great is Albo! I mean stand him alongside GrubHoward, OnionAbbott, and "I AM the Gubbment" Morrison he just shines like a star!! Just a down to earth say it how it is all round nice guy.
I am positively surprised by Albo. To be honest, I don't really follow politics or daily news so I'm not up to date. And I'm not on Twitter. But I am noticing how Albo is a lot calmer and not hysterical like his predecessors. It's good.
And on this migration thing, no point in having visa applicants waiting on an outcome for many months, years...They need ongoing support and timely resolution, positive or negative.
Sure, maybe Albo and co are too lenient in the student visa segment to keep the education lobby happy. But overall, a lot of people want to come here (and quite a few leave) and there needs to be a robust system to deal with all the applications. And at the end of the day, people here want to solve global challenges. And you need global talent to solve global challenges. I learned that lesson well while working for a global US organisation.
Australia has become like a big swimming pool, …every year the politicians chuck another few hundred thousand into the housing pool and watch to see who sinks and to see who swims.
Fark this guy has balls! Pissing off every one with power in Australia. This vid truly sickening....
https://m.
gsco wrote:Absolute gold and very interesting considering where it's coming from: the Cato Institute.
Spells out the US's foreign policy perfectly and why as frog said they cannot be trusted.
Australia should be hedging its bets in the currently changing geopolitical power dynamic by decoupling from the US and establishing military neutrality.
Cato Institute wrote:The world is a mess, but Washington is determined to fix it. The secretary of state flies around the globe issuing instructions to friends and foes alike. When foreign officials refuse to listen, Uncle Sam dons his mailed fist.
First come sanctions to back his commands. Washington’s ability and willingness to conduct economic warfare is nonpareil. The U.S. and its allies understandably fret over Chinese economic coercion, such as trade restrictions, bans on tourism, and restrictions of investment. However, the Treasury Department issues new economic sanctions almost daily. Thousands of governments, businesses, officials, and others are presently on its naughty list.
With nary a thought, let alone serious debate, Congress also penalizes other nations—friends as well as foes—that flout its will. Worst is imposing economic sanctions on already impoverished populations in an attempt to oust or influence their governments. Americans pay for such controls, which greatly complicate international investment, trade, and services, but foreign peoples suffer far more.
Sanctions are notable for both their harm and their ineffectiveness, as seen in Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, and North Korea. When the U.S. targets the entire economy, the resulting hardship is widespread and sometimes deadly. American officials know the harm caused to innocents, but simply don’t care.
…
Interesting article gsco.
Could have been written any time over the last 50 years, just change a few country names, some dollar figures etc.
Actually, it was written many times over the last 50 years. Their policy and stance hasn’t changed. Once they got away with overthrowing the democratically elected government of Allende and installing a mass murdeing puppet of Pinochet then all bets were off. They could get away with anything. And they did.
Glad you’ve caught up.
And Cato was Inspector Clouseau’s sidekick.
andy-mac wrote:Fark this guy has balls! Pissing off every one with power in Australia. This vid truly sickening....
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_NCPkoUekHQ
That was sickening alright I’d be interested to read etarip thoughts on this .
Just watched it. That kind of self-aggrandizing ‘warstory’ shit makes my blood boil. Complete lack of empathy for the people of Afghanistan. It’s complete bullshit that those podcasts are done as a ‘public service’ to veterans. It normalizes deviant behaviour. That ScoJo comes across as a complete flog.
As far as the investigations are concerned, I’m at a loss as to why the Brereton Report was handled the way it was. There’s a whole story in that but it’s been missed by most commentators.
Normally, in the military, if you’re undertaking an inquiry / fact find investigation into an incident and you identify that it is likely that an offence (civil or military) has been committed you are supposed to cease that part of the investigation and call in the military or civilian police (as appropriate).
Most of the ‘evidence’ in the Brereton enquiry was obtained under compellence. (Which means interviewees HAVE to answer questions, under threat of military prosecution if they’re still in the military). Which means it’s not actually admissible as ‘evidence’ for prosecution.
I just don’t understand why Brereton didn’t hand what evidence he had to the AFP as soon as a likely incident of war crimes was identified.
Instead the AFP had to start again. 5 years of investigations… for naught. Clearly there’s no access to witnesses in Afghanistan anymore, a lot time has passed, memories have faded etc etc. I also understand that the Roberts-Smith / Fairfax defamation case has further undermined legal cases against a number of potential suspects as all the evidence is now in the public domain.
So, yeah…
etarip wrote:Just watched it. That kind of self-aggrandizing ‘warstory’ shit makes my blood boil. Complete lack of empathy for the people of Afghanistan. It’s complete bullshit that those podcasts are done as a ‘public service’ to veterans. It normalizes deviant behaviour. That ScoJo comes across as a complete flog.
As far as the investigations are concerned, I’m at a loss as to why the Brereton Report was handled the way it was. There’s a whole story in that but it’s been missed by most commentators.
Normally, in the military, if you’re undertaking an inquiry / fact find investigation into an incident and you identify that it is likely that an offence (civil or military) has been committed you are supposed to cease that part of the investigation and call in the military or civilian police (as appropriate).
Most of the ‘evidence’ in the Brereton enquiry was obtained under compellence. (Which means interviewees HAVE to answer questions, under threat of military prosecution if they’re still in the military). Which means it’s not actually admissible as ‘evidence’ for prosecution.
I just don’t understand why Brereton didn’t hand what evidence he had to the AFP as soon as a likely incident of war crimes was identified.
Instead the AFP had to start again. 5 years of investigations… for naught. Clearly there’s no access to witnesses in Afghanistan anymore, a lot time has passed, memories have faded etc etc. I also understand that the Roberts-Smith / Fairfax defamation case has further undermined legal cases against a number of potential suspects as all the evidence is now in the public domain.
So, yeah…
Makes me sick in the stomach and angry as fuck. If I had served I would be even angrier having this shit being associated with the Australian military. Seems like a few fuckwits being protected by the powers that be.
@etarip interesting points re investigation having to start from scratch with AFP. Do you think this is deliberate obfuscation or just inefficient protocols being followed.
Meanwhile scojo is out in the community, the bloke is seriously mentally imbalanced.
IMHO, nothing will happen to him. Distasteful as it is, I doubt there is enough there to pursue any action.
So he’ll keep being a self-promoting pest.
Dark humour has its place in stressful situations. But it should stay there, in that context, between the people in that situation together. Not become an ego trip and draw card for weirdos
IMHO, nothing will happen to him. Distasteful as it is, I doubt there is enough there to pursue any action.
So he’ll keep being a self-promoting pest.
Dark humour has its place in stressful situations. But it should stay there, in that context, between the people in that situation together. Not become an ego trip and draw card for weirdos
@andy-mac
“interesting points re investigation having to start from scratch with AFP. Do you think this is deliberate obfuscation or just inefficient protocols being followed”
I honestly don’t know. If I had to pick one reason I’d say “ego”. The investigator went full CSI Afghanistan instead of just saying “yes, there is clear evidence of war crimes. We have passed details to the AFP”
batfink wrote:Interesting article gsco.
Could have been written any time over the last 50 years, just change a few country names, some dollar figures etc.
Actually, it was written many times over the last 50 years. Their policy and stance hasn’t changed. Once they got away with overthrowing the democratically elected government of Allende and installing a mass murdeing puppet of Pinochet then all bets were off. They could get away with anything. And they did.
Glad you’ve caught up.
And Cato was Inspector Clouseau’s sidekick.
Like I've said before. Terrorism isn't all about suicide bombers and flying planes into buildings.
https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2023/02/aussie-wanker-push-inflation-cy...
Explains the current state of Australia's economy.
He actually uses the Rum Corps terminology at the end - well done! Been going on about that parallel for a couple of years now. Monopolies that manipulate supply and mark up for thirsty demand is aka 'The Australia Tax' and it's existed here since the 1790s.
I do like 'wanker-push' inflation, that one's a new one.
velocityjohnno wrote:https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2023/02/aussie-wanker-push-inflation-cy...
Explains the current state of Australia's economy.
He actually uses the Rum Corps terminology at the end - well done! Been going on about that parallel for a couple of years now. Monopolies that manipulate supply and mark up for thirsty demand is aka 'The Australia Tax' and it's existed here since the 1790s.
I do like 'wanker-push' inflation, that one's a new one.
Wow, VJ you will turn into a new Blowin. This article tackles some issues but it is written in such hostile language that it's unreadable. Putting all temporary visas into one bucket and forming hardcore opinions without going into more details is unprofessional, to say the least. Cheap populism is what it is. The fact is, Australia is one of the hardest (if not the hardest) countries in the world to emigrate into.
I guess I'll get banned then.
I was more concerned with the Rum Corps part of the article, where prices are pushed artificially high for those living here, no matter how they get here. I've reflected that the joke may actually be on those who come, as they are suddenly in this very high cost environment, too.
You also didn't preface the article with 'the most exalted website Macrobusiness' or some such compliment so that's another black mark against you.
Ah.
Flollo's comment has got me thinking: if Australia is one of the hardest places in the world to get in to, how come we have one of the highest levels of population growth - for developed countries? It ain't local births > deaths.
"This article tackles some issues but it is written in such hostile language that it's unreadable"
Considering that it's written with empathy for the average working person, I'd say it's got a right to be hostile.
I mean, "this toxic situation is pure economic gaslighting: a Fake Left government in bed with Fake Right business given zero accountability by a real estate-addicted media, and a central bank too scared to say anything" sums it up pretty well.
Which reinforces my statement that this is a populist article. The author is catering to specific demographics and is already set in his views. Then he puts a few shallow things together to form an article. It's not an analytical piece that drills down into the details and shares findings. The author's phrase of 'flow of warm bodies' is obvious evidence of that. Cheap, entertaining language (for some people) that is on par with burleigh's stuff in that other thread. We got a name for these 'warm bodies', humans or people is perfectly adequate.
velocityjohnno wrote:Ah.
Flollo's comment has got me thinking: if Australia is one of the hardest places in the world to get in to, how come we have one of the highest levels of population growth - for developed countries? It ain't local births > deaths.
Hardest doesn't mean impossible. There are many reasons but essentially, we have a good reputation and people want to live here. + We are a developed, multicultural country in Asia where most of the human population lives. Anyway, I asked chatGTP about the reasons for moving to Australia, we can start there:
There are many reasons why people want to move to Australia. Here are a few:
Quality of life: Australia consistently ranks highly in global rankings of quality of life, with high levels of safety, health care, education, and social services. The country is also known for its clean and beautiful environment.
Job opportunities: Australia has a strong and diverse economy, with many opportunities in industries such as mining, agriculture, tourism, and education. The country also has a relatively low unemployment rate.
Education: Australia is home to several highly ranked universities and has a reputation for providing a high-quality education.
Multiculturalism: Australia is a diverse and multicultural country that welcomes people from all backgrounds. This makes it a popular destination for people looking to experience different cultures.
Climate: Australia has a warm and sunny climate in many parts of the country, which is a big draw for people from colder or more temperate climates.
Adventure and outdoor activities: Australia is known for its beautiful beaches, stunning natural landscapes, and wide range of outdoor activities such as hiking, surfing, and scuba diving. This makes it an attractive destination for adventure seekers.
Overall, people are attracted to Australia for its high standard of living, diverse opportunities, welcoming culture, and beautiful environment.
Populism is not necessarily a bad thing, it's just framing the interests of the people against the elites.
Yeah it's a polemic but it's expressing a defensible view.
And I suspect the term 'warm bodies' is taking the piss out of big business and the whole mass immigration thing.
They don't care who comes in, as long as they can exploit them, keep wages and prop up so many other things.
This one's for Andy M
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-23/uni-students-lining-up-for-free-f...
Check the article: an actual student protest outside the RBA on 'economic' grounds. This one isn't one of the identity protests, this one is a geniune economic one. Never thought I'd see it. We've talked here before on the theme of being divided so much that no one protests the economic situation, well, here's change. I've also seen articles that foreign students are also having enormous difficulty finding accommodation too, so it's not just the local kids. What a shitstorm.
Blown away. This is the line for free food at UNSW — students and those on low incomes struggling with basics pic.twitter.com/sz3MSp93bV
— David Taylor (@DaveTaylorNews) February 22, 2023
velocityjohnno wrote:https://twitter.com/DaveTaylorNews/status/1628229747133276160
There’s an easy fix for this one. Uni ran, not for profit canteens with cooked meals and an allowance on student cards that they can use to eat there. They can even means test it if they want and those with maximum allowance would basically eat for free. It doesn’t fix all the life’s issues but it fixes the basics. We are a rich country that can easily afford this system. There are way poorer countries than us with this system in place.
We’ve got no hope if this is a year 7 question and they’re debating it on the radio show. It should be year 4/5 max and no debate required.
https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/politics/nsw-state-election-yea...
Agree on the canteens. There were comments that those waiting had really nice clothes, handbags, phones...
Anyway, here's the 8th Grade leaving test from Kansas in 1895:
https://newrepublic.com/article/79470/1895-8th-grade-final-exam-i-couldn...
We're getting smarter as time goes on, right?
velocityjohnno wrote:This one's for Andy M
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-23/uni-students-lining-up-for-free-f...
Check the article: an actual student protest outside the RBA on 'economic' grounds. This one isn't one of the identity protests, this one is a geniune economic one. Never thought I'd see it. We've talked here before on the theme of being divided so much that no one protests the economic situation, well, here's change. I've also seen articles that foreign students are also having enormous difficulty finding accommodation too, so it's not just the local kids. What a shitstorm.
Interesting VJ, despite the fact that the proverbial Titanic's been listing further and further for decades now, people, especially the young, have been infatuated with post-materialism.
Now, finally, the penny seems to have dropped that anyone earning less than the median income and a very large chunk of people earning more than that are facing serious material issues.
Of course, being a student in Sydney would be a long, long way below the poverty line if you were out on your own.
I do think the horse has bolted and from a legislative point of view the most we can expect is gentle tinkering around the margins while business as usual (fossil fuel exploitation, mass immigration, housing as an investment and an asset class) continues unabated.
As for "you've got our wealth and we're going to take it back", unfortunately I think he's kidding himself.
Politics in Australia needs the biggest shakeup it's ever seen for things to change.
On with the kleptocracy.
Can’t remember where the last posts were regarding Friendly Jordies so I’ll mention it here. Finally watched “Bruz” even though I’ve watched many post Bruz clips? and enjoy them very much.
It’s been censored in a couple of bits since Bruz’s defamation case but it’s no less effective, and wow, Bruz seems pretty dodgy. Hilarious, the last scenes exposing the filming location. For anyone that hasn’t seen it and might want to
seeds wrote:Can’t remember where the last posts were regarding Friendly Jordies so I’ll mention it here. Finally watched “Bruz” even though I’ve watched many post Bruz clips? and enjoy them very much.
It’s been censored in a couple of bits since Bruz’s defamation case but it’s no less effective, and wow, Bruz seems pretty dodgy. Hilarious, the last scenes exposing the filming location. For anyone that hasn’t seen it and might want to
https://youtu.be/ihoirTYqf2c
Classic ey. If ya haven't already watched Scovid and Fatty McFuckhead they are worth a viewing also.
Brutal take downs.....
https://m.
&t=1227shttps://m.
andy-mac wrote:Mmmmmm
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/24/an-economic-fairytale-a...
There's some simple graphs that seem to debunk the Australia Institute's war on company profits. I think the institute is losing credibility by continuing to wage its war on company profits and the RBA.
First, inflation is still going up-up-up while corporate profits are going down-down-down:
Second, and what do you know, corporate profits started going down-down-down when the RBA started increasing the cash rate:
Finally, and surprise surprise, what hasn't changed yet upon increasing the cash rate is consumer spending, which is tracking the 2022 inflation episode very closely:
So what can sensibly be argued here is interest rate increases are having strong impact on company profits, but they are yet to put much of a dent in consumer spending, which is a major driver of inflation, and hence is a major reason why the RBA has been and is still increasing interest rates...
People just need to reduce spending and accepting such high prices. We - every one of us individually - are in fact the main driver now of the ongoing inflation event since we just refuse to reduce our spending.
gsco wrote:andy-mac wrote:Mmmmmm
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/24/an-economic-fairytale-a...There's some simple graphs that seem to debunk the Australia Institute's war on company profits. I think the institute is losing credibility by continuing to wage its war on company profits and the RBA.
First, inflation is still going up-up-up while corporate profits are going down-down-down:
Second, and what do you know, corporate profits started going down-down-down when the RBA started increasing the cash rate:
Finally, and surprise surprise, what hasn't changed yet upon increasing the cash rate is consumer spending, which is tracking the 2022 inflation episode very closely:
So what can sensibly be argued here is interest rate increases are having strong impact on company profits, but they are yet to put much of a dent in consumer spending, which is a major driver of inflation, and hence is a major reason why the RBA has been and is still increasing interest rates...
People just need to reduce spending and accepting such high prices. We - every one of us individually - are in fact the main driver now of the ongoing inflation event since we just refuse to reduce our spending.
This may be the case, and I am fortunate that my family is in a position where I can handle the price increases etc.
However, I am seeing the direct effect this is having on some families that cannot reduce their spending as they are already at the limit with rent, mortgage, power and food bills etc. It is going to be devastating for some households when they are forced to sell their house at a loss and still be in debt, or for family's that have lived in an area their whole live forced to move due to rent rises. Problem for businesses also, Sunny Coast is having major issues I am told finding staff in hospitality sector, what they pay cannot support people to live in the area.
Temporary hike in tax GST on non essential items to deter spending? Could raise revenue also???
I don't know solution, but interesting times.
Yeah I’m fucked by interest rates and cost of living pressures, not my virtually non-existent discretionary spending. We’ve tightened the belt now even on things I’d previously considered non-negotiable (e.g shitty supermarket bread instead of quality fresh bread).
Not much I can do about ‘not accepting’ the price of basic living costs - we already only run one car and aren’t currently able to avoid/reduce bills via rooftop solar which I see as most folks only way of dealing with cost of living pressures.
Fuck, I’m even selling bits of my record collection to get by. And I’m in the 84th percentile for earnings with a fairly modest mortgage.
Something’s got to give. Even if corporate profits have taken a dip they’re still completely absurd.
The "I can't believe it's not politics" thread.