tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132322232012-01-28T19:18:26.635+11:00Welcome to the site for a new direction in parliamentary government, with all independent representatives being strong friends with their constituents and all strong Members in parliament. Secret ballots in parliament for all debates is all that is required.Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.comBlogger1591100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-25099190276431969462012-01-02T17:01:00.000+11:002012-01-02T17:02:30.543+11:00

The Age’s contribution to ‘political and social renewal’ in its New Year editorial 2/1/12 is both pathetic and hypocritical. Supposedly an independent newspaper it has refused to support any serious reform over many years, despite knowing full well that our democracy is completely stymied by the politics of political parties.Lamenting the absence of ‘commitment and imagination’ from our political

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-83730621704237981552011-12-28T13:50:00.002+11:002011-12-28T13:55:58.005+11:00

Richard Haass has hit the nail on the head, (The Age 28/12). One leader, one regime replaces another, without real solution of the deeper problems of governance. Parties, leaders, factions all pursue power, not democracy – the rule of the people. It was ever thus, the mediaeval, the Machiavellian way, when power came from the muzzle of a gun. Time after time in history the people have been at the

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-76807922309614341672011-07-25T16:21:00.002+10:002011-07-25T16:26:00.789+10:00

Katherine Murphy (the age 25/7/11) compares the recent Question Time in the House of Commons (re Rupert Murdoch) with our usual rowdy effort, and we come off second best. Why? Good question! With 650 members vis-a-vis our 150, it would have to be more disciplined. With 5 year terms to our 3 it is more stable. With an election turnout much lower, as voting is not compulsory, English politics is

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-21705381587188929922011-07-21T13:22:00.000+10:002011-07-21T13:23:49.284+10:00

As the problems of state and the world multiply, the only means of their solution, the capacity of the public to respond constructively through parliamentary representation has crumbled and declined to a sideshow and a joke—it now being suggested that its stupidity could make entertainment in parody as a reality TV program!Long recognised as a democratic failure the allegiance to party politics

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-3659424086107350012011-04-15T12:50:00.003+10:002011-04-30T12:18:31.529+10:00

Pauline, Many admire your personal leadership strength and very real concern for the prosperity of government, which currently has little relationship with the principles of democracy so ably stated by Abraham Lincoln long ago—as government of the people for the people by the people. Democracy has not fulfilled that dream. But it can and it will, when we wake up and identify the cause of the

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-46708465721415465992011-04-07T21:25:00.001+10:002011-04-08T17:48:01.372+10:00

As I was handing out Campaign literature I met a man standing by his Harley Davidson, in all his leathers (!)Suspecting that he was a member of one of the bikie gangs, I asked him. His reply was illuminating. He said: 'Sheep hang in flocks, eagles soar alone.' What a perfect representation of party politics – 'sheep hang in flocks'. No wonder our political system has been corrupted by

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-42930997910695788242011-03-16T14:42:00.002+11:002011-03-16T15:07:41.897+11:00

The truth of Aesop’s fable of the four oxen and the tiger, with their demise following their failure to use a combined strategy against the tiger, is starkly revealed in the failure of democracy to assist the rebels in the Libyan crisis. The democratic countries’ feeble failure to respond to the cries of the rebels for a no-fly-zone means that one more dictator gets off the hook. Democracy thus

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-63406896594232040822011-02-22T17:42:00.000+11:002011-02-22T17:43:18.328+11:00

The Arab world has been set alight by long suffering people held captive in dictator regimes by the ‘peaceful protest’ writings of the elderly American layman, Gene Sharp. Following, in effect, the teaching of Mahatma Ghandi, whose leadership ejected the British from India by peaceful protest following World War II, his suggestions have struck a chord of possible action, which has been

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-83899107893062930472011-02-15T11:00:00.001+11:002011-02-15T11:03:03.610+11:00

Ants do not know of danger, or fear. We humans are blessed (or is it cursed?) with knowledge beyond limit that ants do not have. But knowledge creates responsibility, accenting our duty to others, while failure opens the door to guilt and the fear which raises barriers, leading to dislike, to hatred, to cruelty. We are far from emulating the ants in any of our human, fear-traumatised environments

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-40755527643963055302011-02-08T15:39:00.001+11:002011-02-08T15:42:27.039+11:00

Our fearless leaders have come in for intense analysis. In the pursuit of power there is the suspicion that what they say and aim to do may spring rather from ‘whatever it takes’ than sincere personal conviction. Much is made of a previous statement of opinion or intent, with the idea that trust demands continual adherence to opinions once stated. But this does not leave much room for mature

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-6834791902256345642011-01-26T19:51:00.000+11:002011-01-26T19:53:10.909+11:00

Our flag’s use-by date really stands out.Founded in the nineteenth century, at the height of British Empire arrogance, Australia has long drifted away from all emotional and social, political and legal, ties to the ‘Motherland’ (how quaint is that word!). Certain similarities exist in our parliamentary and legal systems, but who is enthusiastic about their adversarial nature, apart from the

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-17833829392362216832011-01-25T12:21:00.002+11:002011-01-26T19:51:03.735+11:00

The release of another batch of leaked documents reveals the uselessness of the last ten years of negotiations to settle the Palestinian cause. The reasons for the inexorable annihilation of the Palestinian people’s hopes for the minimal justice of a separate state are quite evident, when any such state would have to be under Israeli army control—says Israel. In the face of the unstated Israeli

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-18205727678860158182011-01-12T20:53:00.003+11:002011-04-15T12:53:04.744+10:00

As retired. Justice Jebhard, late of the Victorian Country court, said democracy is a moral influence in the community. I believe that is both true and a neglected truth.It applies quite literally in the state, the nation and the world. The only reservation as to its validity is the degree to which democracy practise corresponds to the theory. Thus we have a problem, as the theory of democracy

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-31835753281846693832010-12-31T14:37:00.002+11:002010-12-31T14:40:16.261+11:00

In a crisis of confidence in the American depression the ‘History Matters’ website reminds us that the “Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”, the words of FDR in his First Inaugural Address in the 1932 presidential election. The sun had not failed, the land was still productive but the ‘mechanics’ of the economy had collapsed in a crisis of financial and business confidence. The (

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-88635861918232806492010-12-31T12:19:00.003+11:002010-12-31T12:26:54.705+11:00

Do you understand Christmas and all its significance today for life with an L. It all goes back 2000 years but the message and its meaning are eternal. So here goes ...Christmas has for 2000 years been the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Jewish promised Messiah who was to set them free, but the freedom He offered was spiritual, but they could not believe in Him so they killed Him on a

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-18788983794398043212010-11-19T10:24:00.003+11:002010-11-19T10:28:49.389+11:00

Can there be such a thing? Really?Not if it is a public vote. Because there will inevitably be some Members who will be persuaded by various pressures and political considerations steering their vote away from a pure conscience response. A genuine conscience vote demands the secret ballot in parliament.Think about it. We have a secret (conscience vote) ballot at each election. As a result

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-29871660683950797512010-11-12T14:23:00.003+11:002010-11-12T14:27:34.424+11:00

‘On Wednesday night in Brisbane’, The Age reports today, the Opposition Leader, light-heartedly ‘suggested that if the courts continue to hand down lenient sentences, it would be almost inevitable that Australia would shift to a system of elected judges.’ This populist and irresponsible view was roundly condemned by the Age and its legal sources, of course.But Abbott may have ‘accidentally’

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-26931039208971413712010-11-10T17:34:00.004+11:002010-11-10T19:28:27.420+11:00

So many problems there are that governments (and we) face and so long do they take to decide, and how often the decisions are so unsatisfactory, for the simple reason that the people are far from involved in preliminary discussions.On Monday Age/Voice 8/11, reports 2010 John Barry Memorial Lecture on 11th Nov. 'The role of activism in criminal justice reform' by the Vice Chancellor's Fellow Peter

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-28054908412085754282010-11-03T14:39:00.002+11:002010-11-10T17:19:36.373+11:00

Higher interest rates add to the consumers’ burden.Yes, they will, and may dampen Christmas sales, which is why this comment heads the business Age commentary by Lucy Battersby on the Cup Day interest rate rise. Heavy advertising and consumer/borrower debt, urge the economy to ever higher dependence on credit living, with all its wants. Heavy advertising of things new and expensive drives the

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-31457091316188091602010-11-02T16:04:00.001+11:002010-11-02T16:09:42.981+11:00

Despite all, never despair!Some pertinent remarks in the Age today (2/11/10), point to the basic problem the world faces in the future of governance, at every level, and the world.Above all, the world looks and hopes for peace but, there can be no peace without order and there can be no order anywhere in the world without good government. While we ardently subscribe, in theory, to the principles

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-46613019913349837742010-10-26T12:09:00.001+11:002010-10-26T12:10:30.653+11:00

This Authority overlaps at least four states which is odd from a political point of view. Too many governments are involved while the environmentalists have their oar in too. The farmers are deeply worried. It is said there has been far too much water allocated to irrigation. Particularly excruciating to food growers must be the extensive allocation to cotton farmers on the Darling, with big

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-62126356056827023702010-10-22T14:57:00.004+11:002010-10-23T09:16:25.758+11:00

Here in Australia the parliamentary debate on Afghanistan is very welcome, not least because it opens the door to a future pattern of government openness in matters of 'defence'. The fact that differences of opinion have appeared there is equally welcome for the same reason, for which we have the Independents to thank, especially Rob Oakshott and Tony Windsor. A conscience vote would seem to have

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-67684767038690614372010-10-12T11:40:00.001+11:002010-10-12T11:43:26.856+11:00

Mary Delahunty (Age 12/10/10) asks why the public is so ungenerous that we can’t say thanks to retiring politicians (of either party—as she adds John Howard and Peter Costello to the present retirement of Peter Batchelor and Bob Cameron). In her excellent article she ponders why we are ‘weary’ of the contest, when it is the politicians who do the hard work (trying to please everyone), and so ‘

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-2458164040433810412010-10-06T12:35:00.004+11:002010-10-06T17:03:50.561+11:00

*Jim white, a Telegraph columnist, in his article 'Misery of impending doom strikes early for midlife males'(Age 5/10), with his key phrase ‘what’s-the-point- self absorption’, aptly identifies the vulnerability of the midlife crisis, now coming earlier according to relational analyst ‘Relate’, because of ‘job insecurity, emotional uncertainty and the grim assumption that things aren’t going to

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-17181457850889354962010-09-28T13:17:00.001+10:002010-11-02T16:12:29.754+11:00

There are movements of tectonic proportions slowly maturing in the world today. Are we aware of how the world is changing? We know that China is advancing economically, by sheer hard work, export and financial prosperity. With its very large population labour shortage does not appear to be a problem. Nor is it attractive as a place for refugees to seek asylum with its low wages and unattractive

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-86209928647929883652010-09-28T13:14:00.000+10:002010-09-28T13:15:20.247+10:00

We need a new kind of parliament (based on ballots to decide all debates) which can provide stable government where parliament itself rules, not parties. Parliament itself has the power to make changes in its procedures.Functions of Parliament, House of Representatives, The official statements. J131. Item 11. The development and use of procedures that will enable the House to discharge its

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-90129329762308765822010-09-21T15:13:00.003+10:002010-09-22T21:11:26.895+10:00

.Should a matter of this kind be decided by the people or leaders? The government's proposal to give our politicians a conscience vote indicates its preference towards the people being involved. However, should Opposition refuse to free its members to vote by conscience the motion must fail, being passed only by an insufficient majority, on the ground that a convincing majority is essential in

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-8406278434021317992010-09-15T13:29:00.003+10:002010-09-15T13:31:49.693+10:00

.The curse of ‘democracy’ is the institutionalisation of opposition to government. Partisanship is its lifeblood. In parliament it feeds every antagonism in the community—to no worthwhile purpose despite myths to the contrary. Seesaw government is not good government.While competition is a constant challenge to better performance in sport, and other areas of human effort, it is often disastrously

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-27398144303136985702010-09-10T12:43:00.000+10:002010-09-10T12:44:54.090+10:00

Michelle Grattan (The Age 10/9) writes of a new ‘Tyranny of tiny numbers’ in our new parliament, whereas we have been used to the tyranny of the majority, giving rise to the idea that politics has nothing to do with morality. In fact all tyranny is immoral—taking advantage of others unable to resist, for many reasons, in different areas of life, not only in politics. In fact democracy is a moral

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-10977001046927411552010-09-10T11:36:00.001+10:002010-09-10T11:38:36.989+10:00

In a day of high drama, Julia Gillard was granted the right to form a government—of sorts—with the tenuous promise of the backing of independents—with support more conditional than anyone has ever had in attempting to maintain government before. Rob Oakeshott, the key architect of this traumatic arrangement, described its future operation as ‘ugly but beautiful’. It is a scenario to delight

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-49423990119779110422010-09-07T21:28:00.003+10:002010-09-07T21:40:27.126+10:00

In a day of high drama, Julia Gillard was granted the right to form a government—of sorts—with the tenuous promise of the backing of independents—with support more conditional than anyone has ever had before, in attempting to form and maintain government . Rob Oakeshott, the key architect of this traumatic arrangement, described its future operation as ‘ugly but beautiful’. It is a scenario to

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-79176513850400963062010-09-05T13:42:00.000+10:002010-09-05T13:43:06.521+10:00

.We are coming to the end of a tortuous (or, perhaps tortured) national election process, with two parties struggling for the right to exercise the power of government, which, incidentally, really does belong to the people.The three ‘indies’ and the Greens minor party have made demands which could well be passed without any thing like the genuine majorities that the free voting of a parliamentary

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-66196110253711880872010-08-31T11:20:00.001+10:002010-08-31T11:22:10.366+10:00

In a must–read article, http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/fiddling-while-the-earth-burns-20100826-13u4m.html, Richard Eckersley claims that: ‘Neither politicians nor citizens fully grasp the size of the gulf between political priorities and social realities’, and that: ‘politicians and the electorates they serve must have the courage to enact sweeping policy changes that (will

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-70663875384858959942010-08-25T21:44:00.001+10:002010-08-25T21:46:18.186+10:00

The ABC 24 interview with the three independents this morning underlined the acute dilemma of a form of democracy long past its use-by date. And the extremely fragile nature of negotiations was further heightened by a remark of Tony Windsor that the two leaders must show goodwill or he will support neither, and that of Rob Oakeshott that he had suggested to both leaders that we have consensus

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-85080832028734690662010-08-23T11:47:00.001+10:002010-08-23T11:52:54.992+10:00

.This morning the business community are trying to come to terms with the prolonged government caretaker period caused by the election failure to produce a majority party to form a government. The tenor of thought that business is attempting to gulp down is that we have a great democracy and they just have to be patient until perhaps the middle of next week when all seats have been resolved and a

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-43568100156892975292010-08-17T21:53:00.001+10:002010-08-17T21:54:52.760+10:00

That the election is descending into high farce is not something I am that sorry about.It points up the stupidity of our obsession with party politics and its pathetic squabbles. How can sensible discussion and firm decision occur in this ugly climate of the pursuit of power?We have already noted that a ballot control of parliament would eliminate the parties, their leaders, and these national

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-13313113547622202572010-08-13T17:38:00.001+10:002010-08-13T17:38:55.289+10:00

.Economic growth is favoured by some to enhance material standards of living, but it is said that for the whole world to increase their standards of living to emulate the West would require a couple more planets! It follows that, in future, the desire for improved living standards will be forced to consider social, political and spiritual aspects of life. But under the party system this is hardly

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-67019206433411947252010-08-10T15:37:00.003+10:002010-09-23T11:47:37.061+10:00

. In a ballots-in-parliament regime, only independents will be involved in elections— no parties, no leader contest, none of the national elections that we, and the business community, presently endure. They will be scrapped; a thing of the past. Elections will be confined to the local nomination of well-known candidates and the local members will each be ‘directly elected by the people’ (as the

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-49944172892957213592010-08-05T16:46:00.005+10:002010-08-05T17:23:40.890+10:00

Education funding like other policies, is decided at the ethereal level of the Prime Minister and cabinet, rather than by real representation and real standards of justice. The capacity of influential interests to govern swags of votes is very influential as an election looms.Education minister Simon Crean (the Age 5/8), after meeting the chairman of the Bishops Commission for Catholic

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-25713201638685016942010-08-04T18:06:00.001+10:002010-08-04T18:06:36.694+10:00

Ross Gittins (The Age 4/3 – ‘Collapse of Big Australia’) debunks the notion that an increasing population is all good, pointing out that federal government, often influenced by big business etc, favours increasing population, as investment is much safer in an expanding market. But state governments bear the burden of added housing, transport and other infrastructure requirements. This disconnect

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-30812553236275489802010-08-03T20:13:00.000+10:002010-08-03T20:16:58.929+10:00

Whether Moreland Council should or should not have given extremist Muslim group Hizb ut-Tahrir access to the Brunswick town Hall for their ‘rant against democracy is not the most critical point in the Herald Sun’s report today (3/8). We should take note of this group’s adverse opinion of our democracy—that it is: ‘“bankrupt and irrational”, and all indicators are pointing to the decline and

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-71839657865745479972010-08-02T12:53:00.000+10:002010-08-02T12:55:14.912+10:00

The Age today (2nd August)prints three letters highlighting the public despair felt by many at the state of our ‘democracy’ (for which read party politics). The odd thing is that the Age, in highlighting such angst, pretends concern but takes no action to call for real answers to the very real dilemma of our political system’s failure. We can put a man on the moon but cannot resolve the simple

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-71926435727806615292010-07-28T16:10:00.004+10:002010-07-28T16:24:38.949+10:00

1. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, author of ‘Nomad’, was interviewed on ABC TV Lateline last night. She is in constant need of security, due to criticism of attitudes, associated within some Muslins in her book. She spoke of weak attitudes in government circles with regard to Muslim cultural practices, such as ‘honour killing’ and female genital mutilation. 2. Ali reports that it has been said: ‘But we must

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-26134927808754552402010-07-24T16:18:00.000+10:002010-07-24T16:19:41.144+10:00

Tony Abbott, on the run yesterday, rejected Julia Gillard’s policy of having a Citizen Assembly to help clarify the problem of Climate Change. He claimed we already have a citizen’s assembly—parliament. But party politics has amply demonstrated that it cannot be relied on to define the objectives and sieve the arguments, to reach solid conclusions in any satisfactory time frame.In fact, our

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-63912066892524461552010-07-23T20:19:00.001+10:002010-07-23T20:19:58.955+10:00

Many loud voices are demanding instant action on climate change, but neither the Coalition nor Labor under Julia Gillard, are in a hurry. She intends to create a Climate Change Commission to study the science, and randomly select one hundred and fifty citizens in a ‘Citizen Assembly’ to decide on the Commissions findings. More In fact there is a considerable reluctance to face this issue

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-29679141801280485182010-07-23T17:47:00.001+10:002010-07-23T17:48:35.215+10:00

A SENATOR ON LINEA new political party is fielding Senate candidates, operating on line, offering direct contact with voters,and so enabling them to vote on line on matters before parliament -- http://senatoronline.org.au/ 'Senator on Line' is a newly registered, unaligned party, which will field candidates who will take the results of on-line votes and represent these voters in the Senate. A

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-86536733920605178162010-07-23T12:45:00.000+10:002010-07-23T12:46:58.767+10:00

Michelle Grattan (Age 23/7) highlights the endemic problems of rolling issues and leadership together, with Abbott confusing IR direction and Gillard looking shaky on Asylum Seekers. Elections cannot resolve issues, nor can this debate. Our system demands strong leadership, with the power to decide many issues, and we are stuck with that (for the time being, anyway). The debate this Sunday night

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-86096697783784476542010-07-17T06:03:00.000+10:002010-07-17T06:05:08.505+10:00

So, we have a new Prime Minister! May God bless her efforts, on behalf of us all. Tony Abbott marked the event in Parliament, quoting: “A ‘Knock on the Door at Midnight’, saying this should not happen to any Australian Prime Minister”, a remark fraught with all the historical significance of the Holocaust. Was that empathy, or perhaps a judgement? However, the true character of Kevin Rudd is

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-89350494398586465712010-07-16T13:10:00.000+10:002010-07-16T13:11:04.141+10:00

It has been said that hanging concentrates the mind wonderfully.An election also concentrates the mind of the nation—as if there were such a thing!But decisions have to be made, and thanks to (comparative) fairness of the secret ballot we are more able to accept the result, even though uncertainly, and for many in the population, with considerable reluctance That’s not a recipe for a happily

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-83217035587102982912010-07-14T11:59:00.005+10:002010-07-16T20:43:13.734+10:00

A (really) ODD SPOTBjelke-Petersen governed as Premier of a State in which his party received, in one election (1972), only 20% of the votes. In 1984 Bjelke-Petersen was created a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (postnominal "KCMG") for "services to parliamentary democracy".Thanks Peter

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-86455262813320297352010-07-12T16:02:00.005+10:002012-01-28T12:44:16.285+11:00

..Having established in Part I that a ballot provision for all decisions debated in parliament would make all members genuine independents, it remains for us to think of the impact on the executive. Clearly, all ministers forming the executive will be under the authority of parliament, emphasised by censure motions if not already obvious. Each minister, having been established or confirmed in

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-67569402605608517692010-06-28T15:14:00.001+10:002010-06-28T15:16:23.264+10:00

Another Change of Government! Julia Gillard has replaced Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister, in an upset typical of party politics—good for one and public pain for the other. Now—let’s compare parliament when the ballot will rule all decisions. Firstly, questions of loyalty, which triggered the current upset, will never occur as all power will belong to the ballot of all the parliament’s members, with

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-25420447251955633012010-06-25T17:12:00.004+10:002010-07-12T16:54:07.351+10:00

Frequently asked questions - from Secret Ballot Website FAQ Q. We won't know how they vote, will we?A. Yes, no doubt you wouldn't know which way your MP voted. But under the present system it isn't worth knowing anyway. Arguing with a party MP about the the merits or otherwise of a measure is a pointless exercise. The backbencher has no influence on policy.Q. You refer to ex-party MPs but I don't

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-15575200778076385412010-06-05T13:59:00.003+10:002010-06-05T14:25:42.349+10:00

I chanced to hear Professor Carson on ABC interview on Friday morning. I was very glad she is doing what she is, to foster community access to government. I have been long time interested in people access to government. It seems to be an active subject but substantial, effective change seems a long way off. At 87, will I see it?We have a problem with two sides. People generally entertain no hope

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-31682585539302990562010-05-27T14:57:00.001+10:002010-05-27T14:57:41.193+10:00

This is sad, not because he is leaving the party, but because it is revealed that, although a life member, he has been troubled for years about the party’s direction on various issues. What angst is caused by party loyalty to men of sincere character!In leaving, he has fulfilled the words of Shakespeare from ‘Hamlet’: This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-9710730647629774762010-05-26T12:21:00.002+10:002010-05-26T12:33:04.155+10:00

A funny thing happened on the way to democracy. We, in the South Seas, ran with the baton, but after 1900 we dropped it, when party politics loomed its head in 1911, with the formation of the Labor party, to combat the dominance of business and squatter interests. As Ross Gittins observes (AGE comment 26/5), Australia and New Zealand have been serious innovators—Australia with the 1856

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-1292841373664504402010-05-23T18:31:00.001+10:002010-05-23T18:32:48.922+10:00

They don't want the tax of course but, the miners are against the super tax on ‘pre-tax (net) profits’ I believe. These might come first (as a virtual cost) with income tax on the balance. First or last the money outcome remains the same. E.g 1000 less 40% = 600 less 30%= 420. Again 1000 less 30%= 700 less 40% = 420 – the same. Super tax on ‘pre-tax profits’ coming early on, suggests a cash flow

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-1461536240617374602010-05-18T16:14:00.002+10:002010-05-18T16:30:09.809+10:00

Tension mounts in many lands as political systems fail to bring order, with oppression and protests, guns and bombs, cruelty and terror, crime and murder. Is it at all likely that real political solutions will mature in Iraq and Afghanistan? Currently reported troubles in Thailand and South Africa and the failure to resolve the Israel/Palestinian crisis are other prominent cases of political

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-60006510893048101672010-05-14T13:50:00.003+10:002010-05-14T16:43:22.381+10:00

As the elections inexorably approach, we can see all the warts of the party system, even more clearly. On the 730 report, Kerry O'Brien gets aggressive and rude to the PM. Then Rudd's ‘warm’ response becomes a big talking point, judged by some to mean he is out of control! But Leunig’s cartoon is a jeering response. Do we want our politicians, elected by the people, to just be doormats for any

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-56728268332623077392010-05-10T12:24:00.000+10:002010-05-10T12:25:28.654+10:00

FriendsToday we have bad news on the share market front. Two adverse situationscould be working together here to create chaos. In Greece, thegovernment and people have fallen down on the job. And despite the largeEuro loan on offer, Greek government deficits are set to worsen, whilethere are wild public protests against government attempts to bringorder and chaos. The public is not ready and

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-90471624096028884882010-05-04T17:19:00.000+10:002010-05-04T17:20:07.563+10:00

The critical reception of the government’s response to the Henry tax review highlights once more the inherent popular dissatisfaction with, and distrust of, government by rival political management teams—left and right, see-saw government.Especially in an election year the rivalry between our major political parties produces unhelpful public and business angst, not entirely free of

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-65965775523725827052010-04-28T14:23:00.003+10:002010-04-28T14:31:01.448+10:00

Last night on ABC1 Emma Alberici interviewed a Muslim woman clad in aburka, only gradually allowing her eyes to be seen. Her primary reasonfor wearing the burka was that as a child, and in her teens, she wassexually harassed. Her husband said that it was her choice.France proposes a new law banning the face covering burka as intimidatory to others. Perhaps theyalso need a law to ban sexual

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-91825786598509094802010-04-28T14:20:00.001+10:002010-04-28T14:22:20.134+10:00

THIS IS WHAT FREEDOM OF SPEECH MEANS TO THEM. (Extract from email)Pictures from London -- this is beyond scary...Pictures of Muslims marching through the STREETS OF LONDON during their recent 'Religion of Peace Demonstration.'Makes you wonder doesn't it...can you imagine having a Christian demonstration against Islam in downtown Baghdad ! These were the placards:‘

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-50546793735538235942010-04-16T13:19:00.001+10:002010-04-16T13:21:02.456+10:00

‘Getup’ describes Australia’s suspension of processing of the boat people as a return to the ‘Howard years’ with refugees’ frustration and rejection, (www.getup.org.au/).But many here resent the problem. And the exclusion of the public from active participation in politics means that party governments live in fear of the public reaction at the next election. Moral leadership in government is thus

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-36900007312832600462010-04-05T14:41:00.000+10:002010-04-05T14:42:33.349+10:00

The Age today (5/4) editorialises pathetically: ‘In our democracy, majority doesn’t always rule’, drawing attention to the fact that votes cast for parties in ‘safe’ and ‘marginal’ seats can so vary the result that often the party achieving the less overall votes gains the greater number of seats, while the role of ‘opposition’ falls to the major winner of actual votes. Is there really no way

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-2763285749746015582010-04-03T14:21:00.003+11:002010-04-05T12:27:40.633+10:00

Following the American War of Independence, President Washington sent John Adams (who followed Washington’s presidentcy) as America’s first Ambassador to the English throne—a conciliatory gesture after a bitter war. As he was retiring from the audience with King George III, the King commented: ‘I pray Mr Adams that the United States will not suffer from the want of a monarchy.’ This is a knotty

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-45332261025076766572010-03-27T16:53:00.000+11:002010-03-27T16:54:06.080+11:00

Friends,Seeing government, here and around the world, is in such a horrendous state, I think we should examine some of the current options to improve it. The US state of Arizona, apparently has a constitutional provision that, after the government has passed a law, there is a period in which the population can object by petition. If the required number of signatures is reached, the matter must be

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-58689936202343778282010-03-26T16:22:00.001+11:002010-03-27T16:59:24.700+11:00

The reports of this visit indicate that President Obama is not inclined to give Israel just what it happens to want. Good for him! This is plainly upsetting to Israel, and some of its friends in the West. Israel has become accustomed to getting whatever it wants. At particular issue at the moment is the area of East Jerusalem which Palestine sees as essential for its eventual capital. Israel sees

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-62623393876521133322010-03-24T13:14:00.002+11:002010-03-24T13:18:52.072+11:00

Friends,The state of the world and the incompetence of the present standard of democracy—based on competition and conflict—here and worldwide sadden me. With politicians doing to each other ‘whatever it takes’ to gain or retain power, ethics, morality go out the window. And the last resort is guns and bombs. Leaders in conflict achieve far less than a cooperative team in our parliament would be

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-42696838040042017662010-03-19T12:34:00.001+11:002010-03-19T12:40:01.770+11:00

There are two fallacies in the above heading (The Age 18/3).Firstly, Israel’s hard-nosed insistence that it was chosen by God to possess all of Palestine has never changed in sixty years. What has changed is that the Obama administration is putting a new pressure on them to agree to a two state solution, and Secondly, ’Demands’ suggests that the US will be able to insist on a satisfactory

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-67062947483100996382010-03-19T12:33:00.000+11:002010-03-19T12:34:28.454+11:00

‘Power but no passion’ Shaun Carney writes (The Age 17/3), about our fearless leader, Kevin Rudd. But power and passion are the hallmarks of those in history responsible for the most mess—and carnage—Napoleon, Hitler etc. Lesser people have to pick up the pieces and start again.Tony Abbott, criticised on all sides over his ‘paid-parental-leave’ extravagance, insists that ‘the government’ is the

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-80955939076500850282010-03-19T12:31:00.001+11:002010-03-19T12:32:57.392+11:00

With the government proposing random search for knives etc, the opposition cries foul, for stealing its policy. How ridiculous, and childish! Moreover, it makes plain that the parties‘competition for political success and power takes preference over the serious need for good governance. Will the politicians ever pull together, short of the country being invaded? We live in a world with a

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-68400885850690541942010-03-19T12:30:00.000+11:002010-03-19T12:31:02.253+11:00

TaxationIn an intriguing article, Chris Middendorp (The Age 22/2/10) claims that taxation is a privilege of membership in our society, because of all the services undertaken by government to enhance our quality of life. Despite the elaborate efforts of many to reduce their tax bill, what he says is quite true. The problem of course, boils down to this - what does the government do with the

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-61205707756207679312010-03-19T12:25:00.000+11:002010-03-19T12:26:01.648+11:00

Our future problems – population etc.Kerry O’Brien quite reasonably tackled Kevin Rudd on the 7.30 Report tonight over the government’s acceptance of a high level of population in coming years. There are many concerns over water sufficiency, land use and food, urban planning, schools, hospitals, and transport infrastructure, not to mention green house gases, and pressures on social cohesion, all

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-51329204299014094542010-02-20T14:05:00.002+11:002010-02-20T14:08:02.639+11:00

Saturday 20/2/10 Friends The media today are having a ball with the shambles in our democracy. The prospect of a real democracy reminds me of the challenge that Hercules (Heracles) faced in cleaning out thirty years of dung in the Augean stables, in one day. Strange as it may seem, the mess in our democracy can also all be swept away in one day - were we to eliminate the present system of open

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-26467594710113248162010-02-17T15:22:00.001+11:002010-02-17T15:24:05.863+11:00

Friends,In a constructive comment on the party political scene, in this election year, Tim Colebatch (Age 16/2) has upstaged all the political commentators with his insightful comment headed: 'The Climate of division hurts us all. The cockfight mentality of Australian politics fails to deliver when hard decisions with long term effects need to be taken.' Absolutely. Leaders with power and

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-13409900040436730012010-01-19T17:32:00.000+11:002010-01-19T17:33:54.264+11:00

Do we courageously accept, or supinely avoid, the serious challenge of our time?Our parliamentary democracy is among the best in the world, but it is badly flawed, like them all, with the inevitable corruption of institutionalised power, beyond the ability of the people to keep in check. While there are many who care, there are very few who take action - for fear of change. Why do we, the people,

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-62882018533479895072010-01-08T18:54:00.000+11:002010-01-08T18:55:39.644+11:00

The Melbourne Age, 8/1, is adamant that “Military ‘shock and awe’ won’t overcome terrorism”, which clearly requires a ‘smarter approach’. The US response to terrorism in the eight years since 9/11 has proved singularly ineffective, with its destruction and carnage in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now the exposure of Al Qaida involvement in Yemen and the growing political ambiguity in Pakistan would

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-34796960842772786172010-01-08T18:47:00.000+11:002010-01-08T18:48:38.188+11:00

God in Control ! ?Friends,I sometimes hear, from time, God is in control and I wonder how, exactly.. What about Hitler? Was he under God’s control? And what about Stalin – and Pol Pot. Eventually they were brought to book, but were not noticeably hindered in their murderous sprees. And in our society, do sense and a cooperative spirit prevail; in our homes, on our streets, in our public

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-64200150218684709022010-01-08T18:42:00.000+11:002010-01-08T18:43:03.739+11:00

{My friend Charles Mollison, of the Foundation for National Revival has a somewhat different take on how to get rid of party politics. His proposal reduces electorates to five thousand with representatives all meeting in local regional assemblies. Reading between his lines, they would become the obvious choice of the people in local meetings, not personally seek office. They would obviously

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-88844549195377058772009-12-16T17:37:00.001+11:002009-12-16T17:40:28.920+11:00

This subject must never be off the agenda, because party politics is a corruption of democracy and creates more problems than it can ever solve. Democracy, as it stands, endangers the world and all its countries with its corruption and injustice, leading inevitably to the wars which constantly afflict the world.Party politics is about power and dominance - ‘whatever it takes’ - but democracy is

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-58646940592751869422009-12-16T17:32:00.002+11:002009-12-16T17:37:23.000+11:00

The cosseted big-four banks rarely have a bad year – while farmers have suffered many drought years!The Reserve Bank (RBA) is steadily setting new rates, for fear of inflation as increases in demand outstrip economic capacity, bringing pain to business, farmers and householders on mortgages. The Western world has demonstrated its preference for consumption rather than savings which accentuates

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-31893804871532852422009-12-03T16:58:00.004+11:002009-12-03T17:17:27.132+11:00

The Age (3rd Dec.) quotes Family first Senator, Steve Fielding, speaking in the Senate yesterday. He brilliantly summarised our country’s (and the world’s) problem, saying “The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is very difficult … because it polarises people”! Can we name an issue that does not? The comment of Tony Abbott (The Age 2nd Dec. p 4), on his succession to the role of leader of the

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-92011567968984386122009-11-18T20:07:00.000+11:002009-11-18T20:08:49.745+11:00

A hospital visit to a neighbour proved interesting. When we got to the ward we found and an empty bed. Enquiring of the nursing staff where the patient might be we were informed that disclosure of the patient’s whereabouts was forbidden by the privacy laws. What could we do? We were lucky. Down the corridor we examined the trinkets for sale and taking advantage of another browser we voiced our

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-10239509710120434262009-11-18T17:06:00.002+11:002009-11-18T17:17:14.250+11:00

Someone has pressed the button again. Fair enough, it had to come. But are we simply seeing a rerun of the blame game and empty clichés? The monarchy is favoured by conservative interests and the ‘It ain't broke’ syndrome, while the republican advocates merely insist that we must have a popular election model and that a president’s powers could be well codified to protect our parliamentary system

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-58783502396938460102009-11-05T17:49:00.003+11:002009-11-05T18:04:32.660+11:00

Any fond hopes, we might have had, that Barack Obama’s America could set to rights the ‘peace process’ in Palestine, have been swiftly dashed today by Jason Katsoukis’ Analysis. (The Age 5/10, p11).Katsoukis comments that ‘Netanyahu is emerging as the region’s most skilled political player’, ‘outfoxing Obama on settlements (they will not cease), and forcing ‘the US to adopt his own approach of

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-25479470250726719402009-11-03T20:06:00.000+11:002009-11-03T20:07:32.026+11:00

'United we stand, divided we fall'*. The government is now tied in knotsover its endeavour to treat the Sri Lanka asylum seekers withcompassion. It will probably have to revise its stance, to the delightof its critics. Clearly, our adversarial system of government is stupid. The ballot solves elections with a minimum of fuss. Applied inparliament, the ballot would repeat that success with all

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-19422363907903929732009-10-22T16:37:00.001+11:002009-10-22T16:40:26.183+11:00

Decisions, decisions, representing both the problem and the opportunity of mankind, are the unavoidable precursors to effective action, in both personal and communal life, to produce the results desired and guard against the troubles to be avoided. That’s politics in all its dimensions, from the curse of bad decisions to the euphoria of sweet success. But, do the sufferings and the rewards

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-76702848051429566942009-10-12T19:39:00.001+11:002009-10-12T19:39:36.013+11:00

A VIP at the Symposium (self-defined 'Very Irish Person'), complained volubly about 'Compulsory Voting'. 1. Barry Jones explained that it is not compulsory voting, only compulsory attendance at the polling booth, (with your use of the secret vote or not being up to you). The aim is to make parliament, as much as possible, truly representative of the whole secretly-voting population. But does

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-67108170728783625282009-10-08T20:25:00.000+11:002009-10-08T20:26:29.054+11:00

As I ‘look’ around the world, I see nothing but trouble, and the more trouble I see the more I think to myself: ‘Wouldn’t it be good if only we had democracy – instead of power politics from shire councils up. At every level, from local to global, policies and decisions are determined in the adversarial context created by the virtually unhindered acquisition of political power and consequent

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-45980839576364702342009-09-17T20:04:00.001+10:002009-09-17T20:04:46.398+10:00

This Age heading (16/9) implies that both are agreed on a desired outcome. That could be true were it a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians they were seeking together. However, the ‘impasse’ referred to, concerns the basic stumbling block in the long-running attempts at peace negotiations between Israel and the leaders of the Palestinians, whose aspiration for a national identity

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-62624349992821104582009-08-31T14:25:00.000+10:002009-08-31T14:26:42.521+10:00

The Age today (27/8) published an article: 'Truthis the way to peace' by Jonathan Freedland from the English 'Guardian',in which he writes: 'Peace may have stayed out of reach because for toolong we refused to confront the true causes of this war', which are morethan a century old, even then ignoring such reasons for hatred as thefavoured son dispute between Ishmael and Isaac the favoured son

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-2117790212302219102009-08-31T14:22:00.000+10:002009-08-31T14:23:48.510+10:00

Football Martin Flanagan (The Age 31/8) gives a history of the fluctuating fortunes of Melbourne’s various football teams over the last seventy five years. In all sports there are winners and losers. The question: ‘Which team will be premiers?’ occupies many minds over the football season, not least those of the players themselves, and not forgetting those who tip the weekly.However, in

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-6564974999140867102009-08-13T15:51:00.000+10:002009-08-13T15:53:20.482+10:00

'With governments like this in charge'. So runs the heading over the Age letter of 7/8 by John Gemmell,as he fumes about government approaches to political campaign funding, stumbling water policy, public fear mongering, secrecy, and dismissal of expert opinion. (continue at http://secretballot.blogspot.com/)Indeed, as we see the fruitless confrontation in Canberra over climate change, with

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-22622166366286778052009-08-08T15:15:00.003+10:002009-08-08T15:30:32.463+10:00

Human Beings are indeed created equal Vincent Zankin (The Age 7/8), but in another sense, are made equal, before the law, by the law of the land.Thus the refusal of terrorism suspect Nayef El Sayed to stand before the magistrate, in court, constitutes a punishable charge of contempt of court - a breach of the rule of law. Australian law prevails throughout this land with no ifs or buts.

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-19596338216843551692009-08-06T12:21:00.003+10:002009-08-06T13:57:59.792+10:00

There are two kinds of people in this world - the strong and the weak. Democracy, the brainchild of the Athenians, was conceived as a way for the latter to keep the former in order.How is it working out? It’s not.Our media is full of the struggles of minorities for justice, or even a real hearing. This is the constant story, throughout the whole spectrum of society, both national and

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-17082305568955202262009-08-05T17:57:00.000+10:002009-08-05T19:38:48.412+10:00

Dr. Lindy Edwards writes (The Age 3/ 8) ‘Ethical behaviour, it seems, is a core input for thriving economies.' In other words, community ethics must replace greed and self-interest as the foundation for economic efficiency and progress. This is not exactly surprising. The need for right living or, in other words, the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would that they should do unto you),

Basil Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07991219222348737138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13232223.post-26815341665506428422009-07-11T16:33:00.000+10:002009-07-11T16:34:39.312+10:00

.There are many at present striving to have a Federal ‘bill of rights’ giving our courts a power of review of parliamentary decisions. This view is driven by a limited concept of democracy, seeking an alternative answer in legal provisions to control parliament, overlooking the real cause of the problem, the corruption of party politics, which messes up parliament as a clean-cut decision-making

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In an excellent article, Professor Carmen Lawrence (self-confessed unbeliever), writes (The Age July 2), ‘I listened with alarm as MPs lined up to claim Christian identity while seeking to justify George Bush in the attack on Iraq.’ I share her concern. We may think that a Christian MP could guarantee honesty, Jim Wallace, CEO of the Australian Christian Lobby, has testified that a Christian MP

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The government’s defence White Paper has advocated rearmament, of the navy - doubling of our submarines from eight to twelve, more and bigger warships with missile capacity; and our air force with more powerful planes. Previously we reequipped our army with the latest battle tanks, ‘to deal with terror’! Will this ‘waving of the fist’ make us safer in today’s realities? Surely an aggressive

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