I’m Declaring War on the Purveyors of Fake News

I’ve declared war on the purveyors of the Fake News claims. I’m fed up with the endless droning on of Fake News whenever someone doesn’t like what they hear in the news. Just because you don’t agree with what you hear or read doesn’t make it fake for Gods’ sake. 

I’ll give you a good example. A columnist in the Australian newspaper today wrote a piece about a proposal tabled during Tony Abbott’s time as PM. That generated a raft of comments. Most of them mindless drivel. But, I saw red when the Fake News accusations started. It’s old news and the journo making something out of it was stupid but fake, no it wasn’t. I shared my frustration with everything being turned into a conspiracy or plot. 

Back comes this. “All options on the table, reviewed and rejected several years ago. Sounds irrelevant today and PVO making something of it is definitely fake news.” Hello!!!!! She said the options were on the table, reviewed and rejected. How in heavens name can that be a fake!!!! It’s OLD NEWS. It’s NOT Fake News. And PVO making something of it is nothing more than him sharing his opinion. There are no untruths, just old news and opinions. 

Donald Trump has much to answer for in unleashing the Fake News mantra. He did it for a specific reason and that was to discredit anyone who criticises him or who doesn’t support him. It’s worked, with a large proportion of the population both in the US and in my home country Australia blowing the Fake News trumpet. Hence, Trump’s Fake News mantra has been the catalyst for the growth of the Fake News religion and the chanting is growing ever louder. 

The problems with turning something into a cliche (and make no mistake Fake News is now a cliche) is threefold. Genuine Fake News doesn’t get the attention it should. That’s a real issue when politicians are spreading Fake News themselves and the media are collaborating. The public has become so conditioned to everything being labeled fake they’re no longer able to differentiate between fact, fiction and downright lies. This leads to genuine issues being dismissed by the reader as lies; Fake News when it usually isn’t. That, is dangerous. 

Most of our more well known media outlets favours one-side more than the other side. Of the ones most attacked by Fake News disciplines you find factual reporting is high. But as Media Bias/Fake News Fact Checkers Point out, “They often publish factual information that uses loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using an appeal to emotion or stereotypes) either left or right and to varying degrees. Hence do more research and apply personal probability thinking but cut the mindless Fake News chanting. 

A major problem is people don’t think anymore. Based on their preconceived prejudices they just dismiss any news they don’t agree with or that doesn’t fit with their political convictions. It’s mindless stuff. I went through the comments to one column published by one of our premium MSM outlets yesterday. I gave up after counting 125 Fake News claims. There was nothing fake about the report. Every point could be validated. The ones that got the most likes were those pushing the Fake News cliche or the ones telling out right lies. That says it all. 

So yes, I’m declaring war on the purveyors of the Fake News. I might be the only one fighting on my side but at least I’ll feel like I’ve done something. And I’ve attempted to try and focus the discussion back onto fact, fiction and down right lies regardless of who is delivering the message. And, I’m calling out those who just throw out Fake News to stifle debate or who attempt to discredit people they don’t agree with. 

The Political Couch Potato

The following comment was a response to a Grace Collier column in the Australian newspaper. 

“Very tragic for Australia, when we have a person who was not capable of supporting herself and a child, governing the country. We need more capable people in Parliament.” ~ Peter. 

The article highlighted the cost of living, big Government and the inane practice of labelling people; left or right. Ms Collier presented two versions of a welfare pitch by Jacqui Lambie. The exercise was to decide whether the reader favoured the left or the right of politics. 

Most of the comments missed the point of the article. Not uncommon within the Australian readership, at least those who comment. Peter used it to attack Jacqui Lambie and politicians in general. 

His comments were personal and spiteful. People like him are always bleating on about the quality of our elected representatives. I’ll openly admit standards need to improve but people can only vote for those who actually stand for election. And, at least Jacqui Lambie had the guts and the conviction to put her hand up and have a go. Yes, I criticised Jacqui’s behaviour when she first entered politics but she matured, modified her behaviour and she worked hard. Whilst I did not support her policy position that does not detract from the effort she put into the job and I admire her for that. And, I admire her for having the courage to stand up and get herself elected; twice. 

Then we have the Peter’s of the world. Those who never get their backsides off the couch, preferring instead to sit on the sidelines criticising politicians, in this case Jacqui. When you challenge the Peter's to put their money where their mouth is and have a go themselves the response is typical; I’m too honest, it’s impossible for me to win a seat.  I say BS to that. I can't vouch for the honest bit but it's BS to say you can't win when people like Jacqui have.

While Jacqui's first foray into Parliament was on the coattails of Clive Palmer (the less said about that the better) she achieved success in her own right securing a six year term in 2016. Something neither Mr Palmer nor the rest of the original Palmer MP's managed to do. So, if someone like Jacqui can get herself elected so can the Peter’s and the rest of his ilk. But they won’t even try. Why, because they are gutless cowards they’d never expose themselves to critical assessment.

We should criticise policy and poor performance however we should never criticise someone for having a go. And, we should never attempt to belittle someone based on their personal circumstances.

Australia Day - If It’s War They Want, It’s War They’ll Get

William Tecumseh Sherman said, “War is the remedy that our enemies have chosen, and I say let us give them all they want.”

Recently elected Northcote MP Lidia Thorpe is the first Aboriginal woman elected to Victoria’s parliament. She wants our Australian flag lowered to half-mast on Australia Day in recognition of the suffering of her people. Greens Leader Richard Di Natale who yesterday was advocating for a change of date from January 26th, supports Ms Thorpe. He stated, “She is one of the people we have listened to along with so many other Aboriginal people.” But I note Mr Di Natale only ever listens to those Aboriginal people who share his divisive opinions. 

Lidia Thorpe states (in so many words) we must atone for the suffering endured; 200 plus years ago. If her people suffered then it’s fair to say so did our people.  I use the term ‘our people’ because Ms Thorpe does not consider herself one of us Australians. 

When I say our people I’m talking about our forefathers, the convicts who were dragged onto boats and transported to a penal colony halfway around the world. Many of our people were shackled in chains, many others died during the journey. Our forefathers were ripped away from their families often for committing the most minor of crimes. Why is their suffering never mentioned or recognised? People like Ms Thorpe conveniently forget our forefathers weren’t given a choice. Likewise, the troops who accompanied them weren’t given one either. Should we be demanding atonement for their suffering? Perhaps we should also be demanding atonement for.our suffering on behalf of our forefathers. It only seems fair does it not? 

If we cave in and change the date or fly the flags at half mast it will fix nothing. In reality it wouldn’t matter what day we held Australia Day on people like Lidia Thorpe would still have an issue. Why? Because they will forever be victims and it doesn’t matter what we do, it won’t fix the problem. 

Ms Thorpe states flying the flags at half mast will be the start of the process of healing.  I say garbage. We have thrown billions of dollars at this community it hasn’t healed them and neither did saying sorry. Granting them native title over half the country hasn’t healed them nor has allowing them to slaughter animals like Turtles and Dugongs and carve them up while they are still alive. So I figure changing Australia Day to another date is not going do the trick either. The demands for things to start the healing process remind me of a sushi train, they just keep adding the dishes. There is nothing we can do to cure victimhood. Victims have to cure themselves and they clearly don’t want to. 

Australia Day is about recognising the sacrifices of so many over the past 200 plus years. And to recognise and celebrate what makes this country great. In 1935, January 26 was named Australia Day although the tradition of celebrating January 26 started well before then. Historical records of celebrations on 26 January date back to 1808. This date is now part of the rich heritage of our country. The bonus of a public holiday came much later. 

So if we are to recognise the suffering of our Aboriginal Australians let’s expand it and include all of those who have suffered for this country starting way back with our First Fleeter’s. Let’s forget the BS about flying flags at half-mast and instead give thanks for what those who suffered have given for us. Let’s celebrate their lives and stop apologising for them. 

If people like Richard Di Natale want to divide the country siding with one side against the rest of us to me that’s a declaration of war over our heritage. To quote Mr Sherman if, “War is the remedy that our enemies have chosen, and I say let us give them all they want.”

Bring it on…