Some computer geeks in Brisbane have just launched a new social networking site to rival Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Excellent. Just what we need. More excuses to feel rushed and time-poor while we attempt to juggle our multitude of computer based alliances.
A new Facebook 'friend' appeared on my list the other day and his statement that he was told to join up as it would increase his 'likes' by the bosses at work is a sadly accurate one. Gavin King has joined the Facebook revolution. Does that make him appear more human? To some it will. They will look at his status updates and photos he posts and feel somehow connected to him.
Interacting online is giving us all a false sense of friendships, power and likeability.
In the past week I have 'liked' many pages, I have been outspoken on many more. I change my 'status' daily and I have made several worthwhile connections with total strangers. But what have I actually achieved by doing that? Does the fact that I voted in GetUp's latest cause mean I am revolutionary? Does the fact that I disagreed with someone regarding the future of our moral fortitude in capital letters mean that I am incredibly brave? Because I received 19 'likes' following one statement made via news.com's Facebook page does that mean that I hold the opinion of the majority? No! It means that with my children unwell, one following the other, I have wasted too much time online (she says while pounding away on her laptop writing this missive).
Twitter and I have a sporadic relationship. I check it out once a day and write the occasional 'tweet' for my cyber friends to analyse, laugh about or reject. I am well aware of the fact that almost all statements these days are short-lived. All opinions are now taken with a grain of salt. What worries me are those who are yet to understand the side affects of living a life through the web.
Those who get so angry at a perceived slight or a differing opinion that they begin to write ONLY IN CAPITAL LETTERS. Those who continually go back for more in a vain effort to change the mind of one lone voice whom they have never met, nor are they likely to. Those who remove 'friends' because they've said something controversial and those tho take it all to heart and carry the angst with them everywhere they go.
In a world where we are increasingly exposed to far too much information, it is a difficult task to decide what should be filtered out. Do we really need to know everything? No. How on earth do we expect to have real relationships, real experiences and real opinions if we spend all of our spare time 'trolling' the web in search of bigotry and hate. Everyone has an opinion on everything now (myself included). Where we once said "No idea.", we now launch into a complete dissemination of the subject, complete with quotes and references.
We get caught up in the confusion of the multitude of causes and can state categorically what we believe on issues ranging from same sex marriage and religion through to the London riots and breastfeeding. Seriously? Does a 40 year old man living in Bondi actually care about whether breastfeeding is better than bottle feeding? Can a person who has never been to the UK and has no desire to, really get their head around the cause of the London riots? Probably not.
Thankfully, my children are all well again. My mind is now free to dwell on the simple things, like what's for dinner. I am able to step back from the world's curses and pick and choose those topics which actually interest me rather than believing that because it's online, I have to care.
In reality, we would all be better off if we were passionate about our causes for the right reasons. If we took full ownership of the issue and fought like dogs to get the results we are after. We wouldn't all be jumping on-board with the same issue as we are individuals and our real passions are not the same. The fight would be fairer, the opinions based on righteous energy and the results would be true to life.
So, I am now a member of the Google+ community. I have never actually used my account and I don't even think I have a picture up yet. I will continue to use Twitter as the mood strikes me and will probably keep updating my 'status' on Facebook daily. These social networking sites will not go away nor should they. They are very useful tools if used correctly and can connect you to old friends, family who are far away and people you share an interest with. Our fascination, fast turning into an obsession with it, is another thing entirely.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Census 2011......it's all about religion.
Tuesday night we will all be sitting in our lounge rooms, offices or dining rooms filling in the form that comes every few years and gives the Bureau of Statistics all of the information the Government requires to ensure our facilities and infrastructure match our needs.
In the past few weeks I have received e-mails and messages from various groups asking for different inputs in the 'Religion' question.
One asked me to put 'No Religion' if I do not attend church regularly, even if I was Baptised or Christened, as ticking 'Christian' would be hypocritical otherwise. The fear for this group is that statistics currently inflate the Christian numbers in this country and have led to the implementation of the Chaplaincy program in State Schools and it is seen that this program should be replaced with qualified Councillors instead of having people in those positions with a religious bent.
The next one has asked me repeatedly to make sure I DO tick 'Christian' on the Census as the fear is that Muslims will tick 'Muslim' in their millions and suddenly Mosques will pop up all over the place as a result.
Both interesting theories.....both misguided.
The Government does not build places of worship so the theory that Mosques will be built on every corner is a fallacy and a bigoted one at that. It wouldn't even be an issue if these same people didn't believe that all Muslims are terrorists and beat and rape their wives (I'm not kidding, one used those exact words).
Why encourage hatred of a religion, especially one which is already suffering enough at the hands of a few extreme examples. Christianity is as much responsible for death, murder and mayhem in this world but the IRA, the Norwegian nutcase, burned and shot at abortion clinics, grave side aggressive protesting and European history over the past century appear to be easy swept aside when something 'different' comes along. A fundamentalist is a fundamentalist....whichever religion they lay claim to. An extremist of any type will find a way to excuse their behaviour and religion is the very best of scapegoats. Always has been, always will be.
The simple facts are these. The Census is designed to give the Government as much information about the people who live in this country as possible. This information is useful to the Government and various other organisations to give us a better lifestyle and access to better facilities and programs.
In order to do that effectively there is only one way to fill in your form on Tuesday night. Honestly. If you do not identify with any particular religion.....tick 'No Religion'. If you do, tick whichever one applies. Simple.
I will be ticking 'No Religion' tomorrow night. I was not Baptised, nor was I Christened. My parents are not religious and I was raised by Darwinists. While I believe in spirituality there is no option for Agnostic (although I firmly believe there should be) so it would be foolish and a complete lie if I stated otherwise.
I want better facilities. I want this Government to deliver what this community really needs. In the most honest, real way possible. Fill out your form with truth and fact and with a little luck, we'll all get what we need.
In the past few weeks I have received e-mails and messages from various groups asking for different inputs in the 'Religion' question.
One asked me to put 'No Religion' if I do not attend church regularly, even if I was Baptised or Christened, as ticking 'Christian' would be hypocritical otherwise. The fear for this group is that statistics currently inflate the Christian numbers in this country and have led to the implementation of the Chaplaincy program in State Schools and it is seen that this program should be replaced with qualified Councillors instead of having people in those positions with a religious bent.
The next one has asked me repeatedly to make sure I DO tick 'Christian' on the Census as the fear is that Muslims will tick 'Muslim' in their millions and suddenly Mosques will pop up all over the place as a result.
Both interesting theories.....both misguided.
The Government does not build places of worship so the theory that Mosques will be built on every corner is a fallacy and a bigoted one at that. It wouldn't even be an issue if these same people didn't believe that all Muslims are terrorists and beat and rape their wives (I'm not kidding, one used those exact words).
Why encourage hatred of a religion, especially one which is already suffering enough at the hands of a few extreme examples. Christianity is as much responsible for death, murder and mayhem in this world but the IRA, the Norwegian nutcase, burned and shot at abortion clinics, grave side aggressive protesting and European history over the past century appear to be easy swept aside when something 'different' comes along. A fundamentalist is a fundamentalist....whichever religion they lay claim to. An extremist of any type will find a way to excuse their behaviour and religion is the very best of scapegoats. Always has been, always will be.
The simple facts are these. The Census is designed to give the Government as much information about the people who live in this country as possible. This information is useful to the Government and various other organisations to give us a better lifestyle and access to better facilities and programs.
In order to do that effectively there is only one way to fill in your form on Tuesday night. Honestly. If you do not identify with any particular religion.....tick 'No Religion'. If you do, tick whichever one applies. Simple.
I will be ticking 'No Religion' tomorrow night. I was not Baptised, nor was I Christened. My parents are not religious and I was raised by Darwinists. While I believe in spirituality there is no option for Agnostic (although I firmly believe there should be) so it would be foolish and a complete lie if I stated otherwise.
I want better facilities. I want this Government to deliver what this community really needs. In the most honest, real way possible. Fill out your form with truth and fact and with a little luck, we'll all get what we need.
The 5% who force us to look stupid.
Political correctness gone awry. Too many rules, too many regulations, too many signs placed all around us letting us know we are not to be trusted to make choices and decisions on our own. Apparently we are all idiots.
On further examination it appears that we are not actually considered fools at all but every organisation and Government tier has to cover itself for any eventualities lest they be sued for all they have and then some. When did we become a litigating society who blames everyone but themselves when we make an error in judgement? Why are we so keen to take every business, organisation and Government department to court to make them pay for our own stupidity? Oh, the majority wouldn't. But because perhaps 5% of the population is determined to remain faultless instead of accepting responsibility for their own actions we have a situation where the average person is paying for that 5%.
Every sign we see that announces there are rocks over there and rocks might get slippery or one which mentions it might be a good idea to slow down if it's raining is only there because of that 5%.
Every time we pay exorbitant fees for children's sporting and artistic pursuits the bulk of that expense (insurance) is only as high as it is because of that 5%.
While I don't expect things to stay the same price for decades, even over 5 years, it irritates me that people can be so self absorbed that they fail to recognise the cost to the broader community when they make a claim based on petty complaint.
I have no objection to anyone using the insurance and litigation available to them if there was genuine fault in the way an organisation was operating or a negligent act occurred which caused distress, illness or injury. Insurance is vital and an essential safety guard for all who require it. The cost is very high however and does not need to be.
Would you sue the Council if you tripped on the pavement and broke a tooth? Would you sue a children's sporting organisation if your child injured themselves on the field playing sport? Would you sue a business for failing to provide healthy food in the cafe and you became overweight?
When did we stop taking responsibility for our own actions? When did we stop accepting the dangers in living a normal life but going for it anyway?
People are constantly writing articles in Parenting magazines, blogs (even mine) and in other print/online media about the dangers of cotton-wooling our children. There is an accepted renewal in the view that we need to encourage our children to take leaps of faith and trust their own judgement more. Why would they do that though, if we can't? It's not the children who need to remove the cotton wool, it's the adults!
Do something this week that frightens you a little. Not anything stupid or especially dangerous. Just something that you've always had to talk yourself OUT of. If you needed convincing not to do it, maybe you should just go for it. Take a leap of faith and trust your instincts. Life is all about living....maybe it's time to really LIVE IT!!
And while your at it, if you've got kids, unwrap the cotton wool from them too. Give them their dinner tonight on breakable plates, with shiny silver cutlery and a real glass to drink from. Trust that they won't break the lot and if they do, forgive them and try again tomorrow night. They'll soon work it out.
On further examination it appears that we are not actually considered fools at all but every organisation and Government tier has to cover itself for any eventualities lest they be sued for all they have and then some. When did we become a litigating society who blames everyone but themselves when we make an error in judgement? Why are we so keen to take every business, organisation and Government department to court to make them pay for our own stupidity? Oh, the majority wouldn't. But because perhaps 5% of the population is determined to remain faultless instead of accepting responsibility for their own actions we have a situation where the average person is paying for that 5%.
Every sign we see that announces there are rocks over there and rocks might get slippery or one which mentions it might be a good idea to slow down if it's raining is only there because of that 5%.
Every time we pay exorbitant fees for children's sporting and artistic pursuits the bulk of that expense (insurance) is only as high as it is because of that 5%.
While I don't expect things to stay the same price for decades, even over 5 years, it irritates me that people can be so self absorbed that they fail to recognise the cost to the broader community when they make a claim based on petty complaint.
I have no objection to anyone using the insurance and litigation available to them if there was genuine fault in the way an organisation was operating or a negligent act occurred which caused distress, illness or injury. Insurance is vital and an essential safety guard for all who require it. The cost is very high however and does not need to be.
Would you sue the Council if you tripped on the pavement and broke a tooth? Would you sue a children's sporting organisation if your child injured themselves on the field playing sport? Would you sue a business for failing to provide healthy food in the cafe and you became overweight?
When did we stop taking responsibility for our own actions? When did we stop accepting the dangers in living a normal life but going for it anyway?
People are constantly writing articles in Parenting magazines, blogs (even mine) and in other print/online media about the dangers of cotton-wooling our children. There is an accepted renewal in the view that we need to encourage our children to take leaps of faith and trust their own judgement more. Why would they do that though, if we can't? It's not the children who need to remove the cotton wool, it's the adults!
Do something this week that frightens you a little. Not anything stupid or especially dangerous. Just something that you've always had to talk yourself OUT of. If you needed convincing not to do it, maybe you should just go for it. Take a leap of faith and trust your instincts. Life is all about living....maybe it's time to really LIVE IT!!
And while your at it, if you've got kids, unwrap the cotton wool from them too. Give them their dinner tonight on breakable plates, with shiny silver cutlery and a real glass to drink from. Trust that they won't break the lot and if they do, forgive them and try again tomorrow night. They'll soon work it out.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Polling the neighbourhood...Part 2
During my wanderings I didn't just visit homes I visited businesses too. There are quite a few in the area and aside from the essentials of food and services like Piccone's, the chemist, Coles, the butcher, banks and petrol stations, all businesses are struggling. Even those are not thriving as they should be. Some are very close to closing and a few are already for sale. These are owned by locals and most offer gifts and beauty services which are no longer part of most local family's budgets.
Business out here needs a huge boost.
In the houses almost every person I spoke to owns a small business or is a sub contractor. Almost all are struggling to pay the bills. In this one there are no easy answers.
The majority of businesses in Cairns are struggling. Even those we all thought impervious to a slowing market are closing down. National stores are closing up shop and our unemployment figures are appalling. What it means is that more of us are shopping at local stores and buying local products as we become more aware of our impact on the sustainability of business. That's a good thing. What's not a good thing is that many I spoke to are doing away with things they consider essential. They are downgrading insurance, paying off bills instead of paying for them upfront, changing schools, cancelling health cover and in some cases, firing staff.
The global market is still unstable and locally, we feel the effects more than most. Being a tourism destination, many local jobs are wrapped up in the tourism industry. Where previously hospitality and tourism staff were employing people to mow their lawns, re-build their kitchen, add a room to the house or even clean and iron for them, now they have dropped those services due to unemployment or downgrading of their job. The knock on effect is being felt everywhere as restaurants are frequented less, clothing and electronics are bought for a bargain price online and gifts are less extravagant.
Perhaps we are moving to a more self-sufficient society, forced on us by global economic downturns. Maybe it's simply a stage we are going through and money will flow freely again in a few years. I don't know. What I do know is that whatever happens next, people are in danger of losing their homes and livelihoods if things don't improve quickly and that would have devastating consequences for our region.
The best thing we can do if we live in this area, is shop locally for everything. Buy your food, your newspaper, your Panadol, your birthday presents and your meat from the stores right here in your own neighbourhood. They need your money and you need their products. It's a win, win situation.
Business out here needs a huge boost.
In the houses almost every person I spoke to owns a small business or is a sub contractor. Almost all are struggling to pay the bills. In this one there are no easy answers.
The majority of businesses in Cairns are struggling. Even those we all thought impervious to a slowing market are closing down. National stores are closing up shop and our unemployment figures are appalling. What it means is that more of us are shopping at local stores and buying local products as we become more aware of our impact on the sustainability of business. That's a good thing. What's not a good thing is that many I spoke to are doing away with things they consider essential. They are downgrading insurance, paying off bills instead of paying for them upfront, changing schools, cancelling health cover and in some cases, firing staff.
The global market is still unstable and locally, we feel the effects more than most. Being a tourism destination, many local jobs are wrapped up in the tourism industry. Where previously hospitality and tourism staff were employing people to mow their lawns, re-build their kitchen, add a room to the house or even clean and iron for them, now they have dropped those services due to unemployment or downgrading of their job. The knock on effect is being felt everywhere as restaurants are frequented less, clothing and electronics are bought for a bargain price online and gifts are less extravagant.
Perhaps we are moving to a more self-sufficient society, forced on us by global economic downturns. Maybe it's simply a stage we are going through and money will flow freely again in a few years. I don't know. What I do know is that whatever happens next, people are in danger of losing their homes and livelihoods if things don't improve quickly and that would have devastating consequences for our region.
The best thing we can do if we live in this area, is shop locally for everything. Buy your food, your newspaper, your Panadol, your birthday presents and your meat from the stores right here in your own neighbourhood. They need your money and you need their products. It's a win, win situation.
Polling the Neighbourhood, Part 1.
Back to the languishing blog. Apologies to all who expected this post weeks ago, unfortunately technology was working against me. This post is huge as there was quite a bit that people had to say about the area so I am putting it into two parts. This is part one.
During the time since my last post I have taken the opportunity to speak to people in and around my neighbourhood, asking them their thoughts on the goings on out here in the Bentley Park, Edmonton area.
The overwhelming response was essentially "What goings on?" as it appears that most residents are of the belief that not much of anything is happening right now with the Sugarworld development the only obvious exception.
The GP Super Clinic is still a sea of grass, the Town Centre sign is back up but most residents are aware that it will be years before work begins on that particular site. The leisure centre is seen as a project that has permanently been 'mothballed' and the end of Logomier Road is still a dirt track.
Residents were unaware that the Leisure Centre received a reprieve from the State Government and will be one of only two cyclone shelters built in the region. They did not know that the consultation process regarding the outdoor sports fields on the site is being undertaken shortly and several were completely unaware that a facility for sport was being considered at all.
Guess it just goes to show that informing the public is a difficult process and more needs to be done to ensure residents know what is happening in the own backyard. It's actually not that hard but it does take some effort. Rob Pyne and Curtis Pitt appear to be doing the best job of informing the residents of what is happening in their community as almost all I spoke to knew what stage the Mt Sheridan Plaza development was at thanks to Rob Pyne's efforts and they were all aware that Curtis is lobbying for Wright's Creek Bridge to be allocated funding for an overhaul. Those two things mean nothing to most of Cairns but in the specific areas they affect, they are extremely important.
Those two examples take a great deal of time and effort to engage in the community and it works.
As for the GP Super Clinic, I recently ran into Jim Turnour who was the force behind the deal and he was very disappointed that work has not yet commenced on site. That being the case I assumed it meant that work should have started so I contacted Warren Entsch to ask him what was happening with it. The reply was swift, which was good, the answer insufficient, not so good. He stated that the GP clinics were not coalition policy, therefore he was not actively seeking answers on the topic. The directive was to suggest I ask Jan McLucas which I will do immediately and let you all know the response.
In my humble opinion, those elected to represent us, from all tiers of Government, should work together in our best interests, regardless of party policy. Surely they were elected to represent us all, not just those who voted for them. I was disappointed in the response but can't honestly say whether I am any happier with the fact that the Government officers in Canberra have apparently forgotten a prior commitment to our region. The worst part is that when the answers are finally given, the reasoning will be logical and sensible. The problem is that those reasons are not available to the general public and are only accessible after several people are asked.
What is wrong with giving updates to the community on projects slatted for development in our region? Accessible via cyberspace and newsprint. Especially when projects begin to fall behind time frames initially given.
Every resident is excited about the future opening of Sugarworld Slides. Families with children of all ages are thrilled as they watch the dirt tracks being etched into the mountain, knowing that the new slides will follow those paths. The work is progressing beautifully and I am positive that the numbers attending during the Christmas school holidays will prove the wait a necessary and ultimately useful one. Many have questioned whether a yearly pass will become available and that is certainly something that the Lessor should take into consideration as a possibility.
The lack of facilities for teens is also a common thread in the area, as is the increase in break ins and unruly behaviour late at night. These things are more than likely connected. The Leisure Centre will provide some relief but there has been no mention of entry fees to the facility and if it isn't free or a minimal cost (i.e. $3) there will be no benefit at all. Skate and bmx facilities are high on the list of 'wants' and neither will form part of the leisure centre as it currently stands. Perhaps they should? Is there any reason not to include a skate bowl in the grounds? Or a few dirt humps? Or both!
The area around my home is filled with children of all ages. This area is one of the only ones left in Cairns with affordable housing and is the ideal starting point for any young family, many of whom choose to stay while their children attend local schools. You simply cannot have an abundance of children around and not create an environment that encourages healthy activity and past-times.
The glut of social housing in the back of Edmonton has led to similar problems that occurred in the area I was raised, Manoora. This was due in part to the low incomes of residents but was also due to the lack of FREE things to do. Most of those entering social housing outside of unit developments have more than one child. These children get bored. All children get bored. Manoora got smart and built several key spaces for engagement with children and families and the results speak for themselves.
The fact that in the space of two suburbs there are three State Schools, one of which has over 1500 students, and one Catholic School which is the largest in the area and holds over 650 children, should indicate the huge amount of children living here. The added fact that a brand new, much larger Catholic School will be built in the area by 2014 and another State school is being considered is further proof that these children are crying out for facilities relevant to them.
You can't build a suburban area which encourages families without also building infrastructure that supports those families. That message needs to be heard by Council, State and Federal Governments as the situation will not improve unless something is done soon.
During the time since my last post I have taken the opportunity to speak to people in and around my neighbourhood, asking them their thoughts on the goings on out here in the Bentley Park, Edmonton area.
The overwhelming response was essentially "What goings on?" as it appears that most residents are of the belief that not much of anything is happening right now with the Sugarworld development the only obvious exception.
The GP Super Clinic is still a sea of grass, the Town Centre sign is back up but most residents are aware that it will be years before work begins on that particular site. The leisure centre is seen as a project that has permanently been 'mothballed' and the end of Logomier Road is still a dirt track.
Residents were unaware that the Leisure Centre received a reprieve from the State Government and will be one of only two cyclone shelters built in the region. They did not know that the consultation process regarding the outdoor sports fields on the site is being undertaken shortly and several were completely unaware that a facility for sport was being considered at all.
Guess it just goes to show that informing the public is a difficult process and more needs to be done to ensure residents know what is happening in the own backyard. It's actually not that hard but it does take some effort. Rob Pyne and Curtis Pitt appear to be doing the best job of informing the residents of what is happening in their community as almost all I spoke to knew what stage the Mt Sheridan Plaza development was at thanks to Rob Pyne's efforts and they were all aware that Curtis is lobbying for Wright's Creek Bridge to be allocated funding for an overhaul. Those two things mean nothing to most of Cairns but in the specific areas they affect, they are extremely important.
Those two examples take a great deal of time and effort to engage in the community and it works.
As for the GP Super Clinic, I recently ran into Jim Turnour who was the force behind the deal and he was very disappointed that work has not yet commenced on site. That being the case I assumed it meant that work should have started so I contacted Warren Entsch to ask him what was happening with it. The reply was swift, which was good, the answer insufficient, not so good. He stated that the GP clinics were not coalition policy, therefore he was not actively seeking answers on the topic. The directive was to suggest I ask Jan McLucas which I will do immediately and let you all know the response.
In my humble opinion, those elected to represent us, from all tiers of Government, should work together in our best interests, regardless of party policy. Surely they were elected to represent us all, not just those who voted for them. I was disappointed in the response but can't honestly say whether I am any happier with the fact that the Government officers in Canberra have apparently forgotten a prior commitment to our region. The worst part is that when the answers are finally given, the reasoning will be logical and sensible. The problem is that those reasons are not available to the general public and are only accessible after several people are asked.
What is wrong with giving updates to the community on projects slatted for development in our region? Accessible via cyberspace and newsprint. Especially when projects begin to fall behind time frames initially given.
Every resident is excited about the future opening of Sugarworld Slides. Families with children of all ages are thrilled as they watch the dirt tracks being etched into the mountain, knowing that the new slides will follow those paths. The work is progressing beautifully and I am positive that the numbers attending during the Christmas school holidays will prove the wait a necessary and ultimately useful one. Many have questioned whether a yearly pass will become available and that is certainly something that the Lessor should take into consideration as a possibility.
The lack of facilities for teens is also a common thread in the area, as is the increase in break ins and unruly behaviour late at night. These things are more than likely connected. The Leisure Centre will provide some relief but there has been no mention of entry fees to the facility and if it isn't free or a minimal cost (i.e. $3) there will be no benefit at all. Skate and bmx facilities are high on the list of 'wants' and neither will form part of the leisure centre as it currently stands. Perhaps they should? Is there any reason not to include a skate bowl in the grounds? Or a few dirt humps? Or both!
The area around my home is filled with children of all ages. This area is one of the only ones left in Cairns with affordable housing and is the ideal starting point for any young family, many of whom choose to stay while their children attend local schools. You simply cannot have an abundance of children around and not create an environment that encourages healthy activity and past-times.
The glut of social housing in the back of Edmonton has led to similar problems that occurred in the area I was raised, Manoora. This was due in part to the low incomes of residents but was also due to the lack of FREE things to do. Most of those entering social housing outside of unit developments have more than one child. These children get bored. All children get bored. Manoora got smart and built several key spaces for engagement with children and families and the results speak for themselves.
The fact that in the space of two suburbs there are three State Schools, one of which has over 1500 students, and one Catholic School which is the largest in the area and holds over 650 children, should indicate the huge amount of children living here. The added fact that a brand new, much larger Catholic School will be built in the area by 2014 and another State school is being considered is further proof that these children are crying out for facilities relevant to them.
You can't build a suburban area which encourages families without also building infrastructure that supports those families. That message needs to be heard by Council, State and Federal Governments as the situation will not improve unless something is done soon.
Friday, July 22, 2011
A Change is Good for the Political Climate.
Last night I was flicking through the channels and came across Malcolm Turnbull giving an address to a crowd of mostly Liberals on the subject of climate change. His ability to speak to his audience and hold their attention was apparent, even with the distance of television. He spoke clearly, eloquently and with passion, all things which the current political field sadly lack.
The entire talk was centred around one thing, science. His belief that this debate should be centred on the policy's presented by each party rather than the science behind climate change was a very interesting argument from a member of the Liberal Party. Not because all members of the party are non-believers, I am sure there are many who are not, but because he has now opened up the Coalition to scrutiny by the nation on it's Direct Action policy. This is a policy that has been referred to in the past but has never really been pulled apart and studied, until now.
In the past week several news sources have looked into it further and all came up wanting. The problem is that those who delved inside were all fringe media and the mass population will have missed the bulk of those reports. Malcolm's statement that we should leave the science up to the scientists (I know, how completely outrageous) and come to the realisation as a nation that we need action on this issue was so rational and sane that you could be forgiven for thinking he was not a politician at all. One person on his Facebook page put it perfectly today; It's a sad day when it takes a representative of the denier's party to make more sense on climate change and action than the party actually doing something.
The problem I have is that the above comment should not be as truthful as it is. For two reasons. Firstly, the Labor Party have been doing an appalling job of selling the tax they have designed with the help of the minor party's and secondly, because it should be BOTH major party's who are 'actually going something'. This particular issue should not be a divisive one. It should offer the best opportunity for the Opposition to be part of the process that came up with this Bill. The entire country should have it's representatives working togerher to ensure the policy that came out at the end was as fair and reasoned as possible. I think that we actually got that but still wish it had been achieved with all party's having the best interests of our nation in mind.
The media has been partly to blame for the attacks on the tax package. There can be no denying that the myopic scope of the News Ltd press has been firmly targeting the Government, in particular Gillard, ever since the minority Government was formed. Crikey did a fabulous piece this week on the difference in the reporting of the GST before it came in and the previous few weeks since the Carbon Tax was released. Some of the headlines were incredible. (see:http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/07/21/taking-up-the-whittaker-challenge-examining-the-daily-teles-gst-coverage/ for the full story)
Since the News Of The World hacking scandal became worldwide news and people started to notice that here in this country we have no competition to the Murdock run press the scrutiny of the headlines and the stories has never been greater. There has been a big change in reporting over the past few days and I know that many other's are noticing it too. Each of Abbott's gaffes has made front page, each of his idiotic rants has been played out in full across all media and Gillard has continued on in her tour of the nation with very little fanfare all of a sudden.
It's been an interesting week in politics to say the very least. Abbott will have to formulate some sort of sane argument against the tax that does not contradict the Coalitions own policy. He'll have to start having continuity in his speeches and that could prove the most difficult thing of all. This week may just be the turning point in this whole political landscape we currently have.
Or maybe not. While the comment on Malcolm's Facebook page I quoted above was very well put and worthy of repeating, most of the comments are extremely vitriolic. The hate on that page directed at Mr Turnbull is frightening in it's acidity and completely unnecessary. I was hopeful that the speech last night would centre debate and get it back where it should be. As an argument for the Carbon Tax, or for Direct Action. Instead what it appears to have done is started a hate campaign against a Liberal member of Parliament, by the Liberal Party members.
Here are just a few of the more interesting comments (please note there is some bad language used in the following quotes, and I don't mean grammatically);
'If Malcolm Turnbull had a brain that the local residents could understand he would take notice of the Australian scientists who know his man made global warming CO2 tax is a scam based on the lefts botched science to fund their pet projects, Mouthing off about the Great Barrier reef and tugging at his green forelock will not change the climate in this winter of his discontent. Malcolm backed the wrong horse for a easy ride, but his fine cotton got caught at the turn as the natural weather cycle returned to spoil his party.'
'You're a bit of a f-ck wit malcolm, you are losing so much credibility, Mount a challenge then F-ck off into obscurity when you don't get the numbers. No other opposition leader has been in such a strong position i.e Tony Abbott and the more you do to keep this kiddies Government in Power the more you are just as useless as Gillard and her mob. Investment Wa-nker.'
'Turnbull you have a chip on your shoulder, remove it. You and Kevin Rudd would make good mates. Could both cry over a few beers. Abbott and Gillard are fools, but you bring down your whole party, this makes you a fool too.'
'Perhaps Turnbull should start supporting his party instead of trying to lift the polling numbers of the labor/green/indie failing experiment we have in office at present.'
'Malcolm has already been Leader once, and couldnt do the job, got ousted and the Liberal Party undxer Tony Abbott grew and grew, and only for the Independents & Greens, would have won, and would have been in government. Under Turnbull that wouldnt have happened. Turnbull is self centred, and arrogant, and whats more he should be supportive of his leader, not stabbing him in the back.'
Interesting isn't it? I was astounded as I had watched the full speech and he never once stated anything other than Liberal Party Policy. Something tells me that Abbott is a lot more powerful than most people would like to admit.
While Howard was very good at creating a fear campaign on divisive issues it appears that the student has begun to outshine the master. Fear is an all encompassing thing and turning the tide would be difficult enough with an effective political leader but with the messy situation we currently have, it will be almost impossible.
The entire talk was centred around one thing, science. His belief that this debate should be centred on the policy's presented by each party rather than the science behind climate change was a very interesting argument from a member of the Liberal Party. Not because all members of the party are non-believers, I am sure there are many who are not, but because he has now opened up the Coalition to scrutiny by the nation on it's Direct Action policy. This is a policy that has been referred to in the past but has never really been pulled apart and studied, until now.
In the past week several news sources have looked into it further and all came up wanting. The problem is that those who delved inside were all fringe media and the mass population will have missed the bulk of those reports. Malcolm's statement that we should leave the science up to the scientists (I know, how completely outrageous) and come to the realisation as a nation that we need action on this issue was so rational and sane that you could be forgiven for thinking he was not a politician at all. One person on his Facebook page put it perfectly today; It's a sad day when it takes a representative of the denier's party to make more sense on climate change and action than the party actually doing something.
The problem I have is that the above comment should not be as truthful as it is. For two reasons. Firstly, the Labor Party have been doing an appalling job of selling the tax they have designed with the help of the minor party's and secondly, because it should be BOTH major party's who are 'actually going something'. This particular issue should not be a divisive one. It should offer the best opportunity for the Opposition to be part of the process that came up with this Bill. The entire country should have it's representatives working togerher to ensure the policy that came out at the end was as fair and reasoned as possible. I think that we actually got that but still wish it had been achieved with all party's having the best interests of our nation in mind.
The media has been partly to blame for the attacks on the tax package. There can be no denying that the myopic scope of the News Ltd press has been firmly targeting the Government, in particular Gillard, ever since the minority Government was formed. Crikey did a fabulous piece this week on the difference in the reporting of the GST before it came in and the previous few weeks since the Carbon Tax was released. Some of the headlines were incredible. (see:http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/07/21/taking-up-the-whittaker-challenge-examining-the-daily-teles-gst-coverage/ for the full story)
Since the News Of The World hacking scandal became worldwide news and people started to notice that here in this country we have no competition to the Murdock run press the scrutiny of the headlines and the stories has never been greater. There has been a big change in reporting over the past few days and I know that many other's are noticing it too. Each of Abbott's gaffes has made front page, each of his idiotic rants has been played out in full across all media and Gillard has continued on in her tour of the nation with very little fanfare all of a sudden.
It's been an interesting week in politics to say the very least. Abbott will have to formulate some sort of sane argument against the tax that does not contradict the Coalitions own policy. He'll have to start having continuity in his speeches and that could prove the most difficult thing of all. This week may just be the turning point in this whole political landscape we currently have.
Or maybe not. While the comment on Malcolm's Facebook page I quoted above was very well put and worthy of repeating, most of the comments are extremely vitriolic. The hate on that page directed at Mr Turnbull is frightening in it's acidity and completely unnecessary. I was hopeful that the speech last night would centre debate and get it back where it should be. As an argument for the Carbon Tax, or for Direct Action. Instead what it appears to have done is started a hate campaign against a Liberal member of Parliament, by the Liberal Party members.
Here are just a few of the more interesting comments (please note there is some bad language used in the following quotes, and I don't mean grammatically);
'If Malcolm Turnbull had a brain that the local residents could understand he would take notice of the Australian scientists who know his man made global warming CO2 tax is a scam based on the lefts botched science to fund their pet projects, Mouthing off about the Great Barrier reef and tugging at his green forelock will not change the climate in this winter of his discontent. Malcolm backed the wrong horse for a easy ride, but his fine cotton got caught at the turn as the natural weather cycle returned to spoil his party.'
'You're a bit of a f-ck wit malcolm, you are losing so much credibility, Mount a challenge then F-ck off into obscurity when you don't get the numbers. No other opposition leader has been in such a strong position i.e Tony Abbott and the more you do to keep this kiddies Government in Power the more you are just as useless as Gillard and her mob. Investment Wa-nker.'
'Turnbull you have a chip on your shoulder, remove it. You and Kevin Rudd would make good mates. Could both cry over a few beers. Abbott and Gillard are fools, but you bring down your whole party, this makes you a fool too.'
'Perhaps Turnbull should start supporting his party instead of trying to lift the polling numbers of the labor/green/indie failing experiment we have in office at present.'
'Malcolm has already been Leader once, and couldnt do the job, got ousted and the Liberal Party undxer Tony Abbott grew and grew, and only for the Independents & Greens, would have won, and would have been in government. Under Turnbull that wouldnt have happened. Turnbull is self centred, and arrogant, and whats more he should be supportive of his leader, not stabbing him in the back.'
Interesting isn't it? I was astounded as I had watched the full speech and he never once stated anything other than Liberal Party Policy. Something tells me that Abbott is a lot more powerful than most people would like to admit.
While Howard was very good at creating a fear campaign on divisive issues it appears that the student has begun to outshine the master. Fear is an all encompassing thing and turning the tide would be difficult enough with an effective political leader but with the messy situation we currently have, it will be almost impossible.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
A Government that represents us all.......It's complicated.
Politics is a subject that can be divisive, argumentative, enraging and disillusioned. It can also be enlightening, powerful, exciting and inclusive. I guess it depends on who is doing the talking, whether either side is listening and what the end result is.
Having grown up in a politically minded household, I was taught from a very young age to read, converse and study all things political. This helped to broaden my mind and allowed me to contribute to society by placing a well informed and reasoned vote into the ballot box at each and every election.
I have worked in retail Management in the past and quite a few of my staff were juniors. Some became eligible to vote while working for me. The different methods they had for choosing who to place their trust in for their future were interesting and occasionally truly terrifying. I had one staff member who voted for Pauline Hanson because she 'liked her smile in the photo'. I had one who voted for Charlie Rappolt because 'his surname was cool'. Another voted for Mark Latham because 'He looks like he'd punch out anyone who tried to mess with Australia'.....and the list goes on.
All votes they placed in the Ballot Box were valid and each counted toward the end results. They had no interest in politics and resented the waste of time spent on a Saturday every few years voting.
As time goes by I am noticing more and more young people are politically aware and become active in their community by choice. Usually it is born out of a desire to change the world, whichever side of the political spectrum they find themselves on. Frequently I find myself having complex conversations with strangers at functions, dinner parties and in unusual places where politics have never been before.
Yesterday I had a half hour conversation with someone in the Newsagent which started over the decision to move printing of The Cairns Post to Townsville on Saturdays. We were having a frank dissemination of the pro's and cons of the move (more cons than pros as it was deemed ugly, magazine like, took too long to get there resulting in many phone calls from disgruntled residents waiting at 10 am for their paper delivery....and the list goes on.) but it soon became a Climate Change, unemployment, future of the region conversation.
Where residents were once happy to place their heads in the sand and throw a vote away, they now want their vote to count. If you speak to every person from the region and ask them what they would like changed you will get a varied response. Some want the Precinct mothballed, some want it started today. Some want Climate Change recognised as a myth, others want it dealt with but not with a tax and then there are those who think the Government hasn't gone far enough. On every subject that is out there in the public domain, the 50/50 opinion is prevalent.
If an election was held today (Federally) the Coalition would win. After a small period of time people would begin to realise that Abbott and his party members don't represent them either. The Greens don't. The ALP certainly doesn't and the Independents are now seen as the most fickle of the lot.
It's complicated.
Right now, our Federal Parliament is also complicated. We have a minority Government in coalition with the Greens and a few Independents. When the election first occurred I stated that the result was exactly indicative of public opinion. As far as I'm concerned, it still is. While many complain about Gillard and her ties to the Green Party, not many are stating that Abbott is a viable alternative.
If Abbott does indeed win the next election and a double dissolution comes about as the Senate will remain fairly Green, the vote will no doubt head back to where it is now.
Lets say that the last election had resulted in a minority Government with Abbott leading the lot. Do you imagine that he would be a better negotiator than Gillard? Do you think that the country would have passed a single bill? He has admitted that he will force a vote if the Coalition win and they are blocked from removing the Carbon Tax. On other issues he has also stated that he would not budge from his current stance. He has a sitting member in Malcolm Turnbull who is refusing to answer questions on his personal opinion of the Carbon Bill and I am sure there are others who also know that the Abbott plan for our climate is unworkable. Scientists and economists agree. According to him, that makes them idiots and speaks to the standard of our scientists and economists. Apparently, he can't be wrong....ever.
I can't pretend not to be bias in this issue. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to be witness to the Carbon Tax implementation and wish it had been done sooner. I also refuse to lay any claim on Julia Gillard's doorstep for this bill. If she had won the election with a clear majority, this bill would not exist. It's only with forced collaboration that it came about.
Australia wanted a collaborative Government. They wanted each party to have a say in our future. They wanted the vote to exactly indicate what is happening in society. Equally conservative and liberal, a bit green and a bit independent. That's how the public voted and that's what they got. The next election is a little way off but you can already feel the electioneering beginning and I can guarantee you this, whatever the outcome of the next election, it won't be what the people actually want. They already have that, it's just that they hadn't realised what it would mean. It's complicated.
Having grown up in a politically minded household, I was taught from a very young age to read, converse and study all things political. This helped to broaden my mind and allowed me to contribute to society by placing a well informed and reasoned vote into the ballot box at each and every election.
I have worked in retail Management in the past and quite a few of my staff were juniors. Some became eligible to vote while working for me. The different methods they had for choosing who to place their trust in for their future were interesting and occasionally truly terrifying. I had one staff member who voted for Pauline Hanson because she 'liked her smile in the photo'. I had one who voted for Charlie Rappolt because 'his surname was cool'. Another voted for Mark Latham because 'He looks like he'd punch out anyone who tried to mess with Australia'.....and the list goes on.
All votes they placed in the Ballot Box were valid and each counted toward the end results. They had no interest in politics and resented the waste of time spent on a Saturday every few years voting.
As time goes by I am noticing more and more young people are politically aware and become active in their community by choice. Usually it is born out of a desire to change the world, whichever side of the political spectrum they find themselves on. Frequently I find myself having complex conversations with strangers at functions, dinner parties and in unusual places where politics have never been before.
Yesterday I had a half hour conversation with someone in the Newsagent which started over the decision to move printing of The Cairns Post to Townsville on Saturdays. We were having a frank dissemination of the pro's and cons of the move (more cons than pros as it was deemed ugly, magazine like, took too long to get there resulting in many phone calls from disgruntled residents waiting at 10 am for their paper delivery....and the list goes on.) but it soon became a Climate Change, unemployment, future of the region conversation.
Where residents were once happy to place their heads in the sand and throw a vote away, they now want their vote to count. If you speak to every person from the region and ask them what they would like changed you will get a varied response. Some want the Precinct mothballed, some want it started today. Some want Climate Change recognised as a myth, others want it dealt with but not with a tax and then there are those who think the Government hasn't gone far enough. On every subject that is out there in the public domain, the 50/50 opinion is prevalent.
If an election was held today (Federally) the Coalition would win. After a small period of time people would begin to realise that Abbott and his party members don't represent them either. The Greens don't. The ALP certainly doesn't and the Independents are now seen as the most fickle of the lot.
It's complicated.
Right now, our Federal Parliament is also complicated. We have a minority Government in coalition with the Greens and a few Independents. When the election first occurred I stated that the result was exactly indicative of public opinion. As far as I'm concerned, it still is. While many complain about Gillard and her ties to the Green Party, not many are stating that Abbott is a viable alternative.
If Abbott does indeed win the next election and a double dissolution comes about as the Senate will remain fairly Green, the vote will no doubt head back to where it is now.
Lets say that the last election had resulted in a minority Government with Abbott leading the lot. Do you imagine that he would be a better negotiator than Gillard? Do you think that the country would have passed a single bill? He has admitted that he will force a vote if the Coalition win and they are blocked from removing the Carbon Tax. On other issues he has also stated that he would not budge from his current stance. He has a sitting member in Malcolm Turnbull who is refusing to answer questions on his personal opinion of the Carbon Bill and I am sure there are others who also know that the Abbott plan for our climate is unworkable. Scientists and economists agree. According to him, that makes them idiots and speaks to the standard of our scientists and economists. Apparently, he can't be wrong....ever.
I can't pretend not to be bias in this issue. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to be witness to the Carbon Tax implementation and wish it had been done sooner. I also refuse to lay any claim on Julia Gillard's doorstep for this bill. If she had won the election with a clear majority, this bill would not exist. It's only with forced collaboration that it came about.
Australia wanted a collaborative Government. They wanted each party to have a say in our future. They wanted the vote to exactly indicate what is happening in society. Equally conservative and liberal, a bit green and a bit independent. That's how the public voted and that's what they got. The next election is a little way off but you can already feel the electioneering beginning and I can guarantee you this, whatever the outcome of the next election, it won't be what the people actually want. They already have that, it's just that they hadn't realised what it would mean. It's complicated.
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