When I Walk Out The Door For The Last Time

On October 8 I will walk out of the door (for the very last time) of the place I’ve called home for most of my life and nearly all of my married life. I’m trying to prepare myself for that day because it will be extremely hard. But, it’s something I need to do. 

I’d never been one who had been tied to bricks and mortar. My home served a purpose. It gave me shelter and a base from which to lead my life. But over recent years the more intangible things about my home have taken on more significance. It’s something many will not understand so I’ll try to explain.

It will be four years on December 8 this year’s since my husband walked out the front door for the last time. Neither of us had any expectation he would not return. But he didn’t. His time had come just as it will for us all. I’ve learnt to live with it, accepting has been harder.

When a partner is taken so suddenly and when you never had the chance to say goodbye you tend to cling to the things that bring you closer to them. When you’ve never had the chance to prepare yourself for loss (not that knowing makes it any easier) the separation for many of us is just that much harder. You touch the last things they touched; mundane things such as the bannister rail, the door handle. Richard’s reading glasses are still on the kitchen bench where he left them just before he walked out the door. When days are tough just touching the things they touched can make it just that little bit easier. 

These four walls I call home have been the place where memories have been created; wonderful happy memories and devastatingly sad ones. But above all it’s been my sanctuary my security over the last few years. When you’ve lost so much you cling onto that bit of emotional security even if it is just four walls. Your home becomes your last place of refuge. It embraces you and protects you. It hides you from the world when you don’t have the courage to walk out the door. It allows you to remember and to heal in private. 

It’s taken me a long time to make the decision to sell up and move away. But in my heart of hearts I know it’s the right thing to do. That doesn’t make it any easier. Between now and October 8 I will be an emotional wreck. In fact I already am. I accept that. I’m not just leaving a home. I’m leaving everything familiar to me and I’m leaving friends and my wonderful neighbours. I will be starting again. Something I never thought I’d be doing at my age on my own.

Over the past couple of months I’ve completed a make-over of my home. There was the faint hope it would change things. It didn’t. So I leave her filled with light and looking her beautiful best. A fitting tribute to a wonderful life here. 

It’s rather ironic that Richard walked out of this house never to return on an 8th day being a Tuesday. I will also being leaving on an 8th day being a Tuesday. The symbolism hasn’t escaped me. I expect I’ll do just as Richard did. I will sit on the second step from the bottom and put on my shoes. Then, I will walk into the kitchen and rather than put down his glasses as he did, I’ll pick them up. They will be the last item to leave our home. I will open the door and whisper to myself, “Bye I’m off now” just as Richard shouted out to me on that last day. But I will leave knowing I will never come back. 

It was the wonderful and wise Rumi who said, “It’s your road, and yours alone, others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.” I could not walk Richard’s final road with him, only he could do that. Just as no one can walk mine. The difference being, I know I have a Guardian Angel looking after me and guiding me as I walk this next road in my life. That is a comforting thought. 

As the door closes it will be the final separation from we to me. That’s both scary and exciting as Aslan the Cat and I leave to start our next journey together. 

It’s About Rights The Rest Is Merely Emotive Claptrap

The chairman of Rugby Australia, Cameron Clyne in an interview with the Herald after the breakdown of talks between them an Izzy Folau before the Fair Work Commission says corporate sponsors and the state and federal government would have deserted the game if they hadn't sacked Israel Folau. 

He went on to say, “We’d have no sponsors at all because no sponsor has indicated they would be willing to be associated with social media posts of that sort and that includes government, because we've also heard from them," he said.

Questions: 

I wonder how many potential sponsors wouldn’t want to be associated with a sporting code who has climbed to the peaks of self-serving moralist. A code that appears to have caved in to the bullying of sponsors instead of standing up for the rights of an employee.  A code like so many others who has forgiven drug abusers, wife beaters and thugs without the moralising associated with this recent event. 

Who in Govt either state or federal has contacted them & hinted they’d have to sack a person which appears to be what the chairman is suggesting. This is a very serious accusation given religious freedom is a constitutional right. For anyone representing an elected Govt to try and suppress that right is deeply alarming to me. 

Clyne also said, “We would also potentially be in litigation with employees who are gay and who would say we're not providing a work place that is safe or respectful." Rugby Union employees are not employees of Instagram where the post was made and Folau has not directed his post to any individual at RA. Clyne is suggesting any employee who holds or expresses an opinion on social could leave them open to litigation because another employee doesn’t feel safe or respected after reading it. What a load of hogwash. 

This has gone well beyond Folau’s sharing of his religious teaching and his desire to motivate people to repent. Religious freedom is a constitutional right that includes the right to talk about religious teaching. Whilst many don’t share religious beliefs and others think trying to save souls is evil, quaint or just plain ridiculous those with a strong religious conviction take it seriously. Folau is one of those people. He wants to help people. 

However from where l sit there is a bigger issue at play here. Following the RA decision the courts need to answer is this. Does a business have the right to take away someone’s livelihood because they see saving souls as part of their private life mission and they share that mission publicly. Remembering Folau is a professional football player who has been sacked by Rugby Australia for exercising his constitutional rights. And, following that officials from the Rugby League code have stated they would not employee him either. This effectively kills off his football career in this country and potentially any other country. 

The courts decision has ramifications for all of us. If the courts decide in favour of Rugby Australia that effectively means employers have control over how we conduct our private lives and what we say on social media far beyond any direct comment about the company who employs us. That is a significant assault on our rights and not just religious rights. We should all be concerned about that and it is for that reason I’ve been very vocal on social media since Qantas CEO Alan Joyce claimed Folau’s sacking had nothing to do with his company which set off a chain reaction of comments and threats (albeit denied) from companies like ANZ & HCF. When ANZ & HCF then started to pressure  Maria Folau’s employers that really was over stepping the mark for me. For all our sakes and our freedoms I pray the courts make the right decision. Businesses pay us for our expertise and work we do in servicing their customers both internal and external they do NOT own us. 

Divide & Conquer: It’s a whole new level of political evilness

Robert Gottliebsen’s excellent in the Australian today about Bill Shorten’s 10 blows: self-funded retirees to bear the brunt concludes with this statement, “It’s a sad time for the community that the young are pitched against their parents and grandparents in an election.” 

Yes, a sad time, but it’s also immoral. Those who seek to run the country have a responsibility to unite, not to divide. This election more than any I’ve voted in is a real test of our Australian society.  A society based on fairness and a fair go, recognising effort and rewarding it and in striving to stand on our own two feet. That society has been under threat for sometime now but, it takes a new level of evilness to drive the wedge that shatters it. 

My comments may sound dramatic but I believe we have reached that point. I’ve said many times we are at the crossroads and the decision we make next month will be the key to either clawing back our ‘give and receive a fair go’ society or one that’s based on envy and division. 

I hope and pray that people are waking up to Shorten. He is a man driven by blind ambition to be Prime Minister at any cost. But he is a man being used by those with far sinister desires for our future. 

Shorten is banking on the younger generation buying into his culture of envy. 

Those behind his ‘throne’ are banking on him succeeding. If they’ve failed the younger generation will give Labor thumbs-down in May. 

If he has been successful in creating the embryo of that society one based on envy on turning ordinary hard-working people into pariahs, an ageist society he’ll romp in next month but society will be the loser and the Australia we once knew gone forever.  The younger generation who supported him will learn a very bitter lesson that family are not not your enemy but a government that pits them against their family most certainly in the long run are. 

Yes, we are at the crossroads we all better pray we choose the right path.

BUILD A COAL FIRED POWER STATION OR ELSE!!!

I tuned in very briefly to a popular radio station this morning to be confronted by the screams, “FOR GOD’S SAKE BUILD A COAL FIRED POWER STATION OR LOSE THE ELECTION” 

With the greatest respect anyone who thinks just building a coal-fired power station will save the Govt has rocks in their head. This is turning into the rights idealist weapon every bit as flawed as the left with the Greens & their 100% renewables, Independents with the 60% and Labor’s 45% and EV mandate. 

If the reason voters on mass will not vote for the Liberals is because they will not build a coal-fired power station we really are (excuse my language) up shit creek. And, the political intelligence of the community has plummeted. People need to step back from the philosophical battle and think!!! 

Regardless of whether a bunch of lunatic fringe parties take control of the senate the next Prime Minister of this country will be Scott Morrison or Bill Shorten. Having a dummy spit over Morrison not committing the government to building a coal-fired power station will hand the keys to Shorten. That’s the bottom line. Morrison or Shorten. Clive Palmer, Fraser Anning, Pauline Hanson or Cory Bernardi will NOT be Prime Minister. 

So despite the carnage voters will no doubt deliver in the senate the choice comes down to who controls the lower house. Who do you trust to run the economy? Who do you trust to do the right thing with energy supply, keep our strong border control and look after those in need without bankrupting the country? Who do you trust not tax you out of existence, to bring our debt under control and to take a sensible approach to migration considering all factors; infrastructure, congestion, the economy and skills requirements? 

Who do you trust not to impoverish retirees; your parents and grandparents who have paid their dues? People who have worked hard and contributed to this country (for decades) and many who have fought for this country to enable us to enjoy the life of freedom we do. 

So carry on with the dummy spit all you like and you’ll end up with much worse than just losing your philosophical idealist fight with the left. Because lose you will. If we are to have any chance of a bright future we need to return Scott Morrison to The Lodge. We need to do that with enough of a majority to keep the lunatic fringe from holding him and the country to ransom. AND, we need to do that whether he builds a blasted coal fired power plant not not. Let the industry decide on what to build. Let the government make it easy for industry to do that with good policy (not subsidies) whilst setting and controlling the performance and price. 

Time to stop the dummy spit, the rants and raves and take stock. The reality is....Morrison or Shorten....your choice. 

Clive Palmer: It’s NOT what he says that’s important it’s what he Does & Did that counts.

I was chatting with one of the wiser Twitter peeps this morning about Clive Palmer and his United Australia Party. It followed a few posts I’d made about Palmer’s blatant lying. She commented that she’d noted a number of posts from people stating they will vote for UAP because Palmer is saying the right things. This where democracy and with the greatest respect voter ignorance fails us.

It’s NOT what people say that is important and particularly so when someone is merely repeating back to you what you want to hear. It’s what they do and what they’ve done that really matters. So on that basis I’d did like to pose these questions:

1. Palmer’s Queensland Nickel went to the wall owing 800 workers and numerous suppliers millions of dollars. Palmer owed his workers alone nearly $70million in salary and entitlements. Prior to the collapse Palmer had been siphoning millions to fund his political party Palmer United. Palmer stated it was his money, he could do what he wanted with it.
So the question is: Did Clive Palmer do the right thing in not paying his workers? Yes or no?

2. Tax payers paid out $64million to QNI workers. When Palmer’s been asked if he will reimburse tax payers he has stated it is not his problem he has done nothing wrong. In fact he blames the liquidators.
So the question is: Is Clive Palmer doing the right thing in not reimbursing tax payers? Yes or no?

3. Palmer’s nephew Clive Mensink skipped the country rather than face the liquidators or the court to answer questions over the collapse of QNI. Palmer has repeatedly claimed he has no knowledge of  Mensink’s whereabouts despite visiting him overseas. Palmer also recently announced Mensink would head-up Palmer’s Titantic program and stated he’d ask Mensink to run for his UAP. So in other words he does know where he is and it’s reasonable to think Palmer is paying Mensink to stay away. Multiple arrest warrants have been issued for Mensink.
So the questions are: Why won’t Palmer let Mensink return and face court? Why is Palmer lying about Mensink. Is Palmer doing the right thing? Yes or no?

4. Palmer has recently been embroiled in legal proceedings and legal threats over breaches of copy-write in using well known artists material for political advertising. Palmer has ignored requests to desist despite knowing he has broken copy-write law in stealing people’s property and using that without their permission. Palmer is still running ads.
The question is: Do people of integrity steal people’s property, ignore their requests to stop and continue to use stolen property for self-promotion? Yes or no?

5. Clive Palmer was elected to the lower house by a handful of preference votes in 2013. He didn’t run in 2016. On Palmer’s website he is still presenting himself as a member of parliament despite the fact he clearly isn’t.
The question is: Is blatantly misleading the public the right thing to do? Yes or no?

6. The Australian Electoral Commission allowed Palmer to register his new party in the same name as the previous United Australia Party (UAP) of the 30’s and 40’s. I consider that to be a grave mistake but that’s just a personal opinion. However what Palmer is now doing is claiming previous UAP history as his history and linking this to previous great Australian Prime Minister’s Joseph Lyons, Billy Hughes and Sir Robert Menzies. Family member’s of both Mr Lyons and Mr Menzies have lodged complaints. Palmer continues to ignore them. Palmer has also published a list as long as your arm detailing his parliamentary achievements; it’s fantasy but serves to mislead.
So the question are: Does a man of honour and integrity mislead the public and ignore requests from family to stop doing that? Is stealing past history and misrepresenting your achievements ethical and can you trust a man who does that? Yes or no?

7. Palmer is a voracious litigant. He is currently embroiled in a battle with the WA Labor State Government and his Chinese business partner. Palmer summarily  moved his business operations to New Zealand and then relocated them to Singapore. He did that because he believes that if the WA State Government introduces legislation that favours his Chinese partners but not him he can then sue the Federal Government (that is us the tax payers) for $45billion dollars.
So the question is: Is Palmer using his foray back into government to make it easier to help pass laws to suit his purposes and would a person of integrity go to the lengths he is to protect his self-interest in suing tax payers over a personal business disagreement?  Yes or no?

8. Palmer owes millions to ex-workers, tax payers and suppliers. He refuses to pay the money he owes. Palmer has recently spent millions on new houses, new aircraft and also his ill fated Titantic. He is also spending millions on relaunching his political career.
The question are: Is it fair and reasonable for anyone who owe millions and who refuses to pay to spend millions on themselves and their vanity projects? Does a man of integrity do that? Yes or no?

Clive Palmer has a history of misleading and ripping people off. Ask the people who purchased units at his Coolam Resort what he did to them. Palmer’s radio and TV ads are grossly misleading and in many instances lying.

Yes Clive Palmer does say what many people want to hear but his actions say something very different. Clive Palmer is trying to get back into parliament for Clive Palmer, he doesn’t give a toss about the people who may vote for him. The last time he ran he conned people into nominating for his party and when they didn’t win he wouldn’t reimburse them the money (their money) they’d used to promote his party. Anyone stupid enough to nominate for him this time would be well served speaking to some of his ex candidates.

Let’s not forget it was Palmer’s preferences  that got Sarah Hanson-Young voted in. Think about that for a minute. The coal man giving preferences to a Green senator. In addition his parliamentary attendance record was appalling.

Back to my wise Twitter friend @GailClifford7 who made a very insightful comment today with reference to Palmer’s saturation messaging and advertising. It's something I hadn't considered before. She wrote.

“This bombardment by Palmer is beginning to have sinister overtones. In North Korea, pro Kim propaganda is played constantly on a never ending loop, into homes,  workplaces and public spaces. It’s called brainwashing, but the slavish devotion to the Dear Leader proves it works!” She makes a very good point.

Palmer has very cleverly lifted his tactics from Trump. There is nothing original about Palmer. So to quote one of Mr Trump’s slogans – Clive Palmer is #FAKENEWS.

Palmer will not win the election and it’s doubtful he’d win any seat. However no one thought he’d win in 2013 and he won one Reps seat and three senate seats so never write anything off. Even if he doesn’t win anything his preferences count, and those preferences could change government and marginal seats. As voters we have to do our homework and not just listen to words. Words are cheap and smart self-serving manipulators like Palmer use them effectively. But, wise people judge on actions not on words and hopefully voters will do that come the election and give #FAKENEWS Palmer a very, very wide berth.

Check the website out yourself.

UAP Website

The left are driving us rapidly toward a socialist utopian disaster

This week, Labor’s Richard Marles stated that the collapse of our coal industry would “be wonderful.” An industry that reaps $25billion a year in export dollars. The Greens Adam Bandt tabled a bill that seeks to prohibit the mining & export of thermal coal after 2030. How any elected representatives can be so reckless astounds me.

On Thursday a piece published in the Australian informed us that, “Labor’s 45 percent emissions reduction target would push electricity prices 50 percent higher, cost workers up to $9000 a year in lower wages and wipe $472 billion from the economy over the next decade.” This was according to the first independent modelling of the energy policies of both the government and opposition.

The Coalition’s commitment to meeting a 26-28 percent reduction under the Paris Agreement would also come at a cost, with $70bn in cumulative economic losses by 2030 and a 2 percent hit to real wage growth.”

The Australian headline read , “Carbon cut apocalypse” wording like that is not helpful. It’s just another example of inflammatory words used to stir people up a typical media tactic. The research data comes from a piece by Brian Fisher and is under peer review in the US. If you’re interested to knowing more about Brian Fisher, I have added a link at the bottom. It’s also worth noting that he served as a chief advisor on climate policy under the Hawke, Keating Labor governments and Howard’s LNP government.

It’s easy to whip ourselves into a lather of sweat over this stuff but we have to take a sensible approach. Whilst many won’t accept this we are in the middle of the next “global revolution” being energy; “harnessing natural energy sources with efficient usage.” There will be a cost attached to that just as there has been to other revolutions like the industrial and technology revolutions. Those costs come in different ways (sure) but change does cost but, not changing can have a greater long term impact.

Those who rail against this are fond of quoting that our contribution to global CO2 is measly. That’s true. They also are fond of quoting China and India are building new coal fired power plants. Also true but both are only part of the story and selective rebuttal isn’t helpful. The discussion is much bigger than that and it needs to be.

We are also part of a global community and that community including China and India are moving down a path of variable energy sources. Yes, India and China are building coal plants but they are doing much more than just that. Given the global energy shift it’s only natural we shift as well. The challenge is to do that with the least disruption, the best price points and to achieve that in the most efficient manner.

In the foreseeable future, the world must GRADUALLY transform from exploiting the natural reserves such as coal and oil because they will deplete to harnessing natural energy. There is also another compelling reason for doing this. The world is politically, and to a lesser degree economically unstable. We are heavily reliant both on imports of oil and exports of coal. We have little control over the exporters of oil. Likewise we have little control over countries who buy and use our coal and their timeframe for making their own energy changes. The technology that provides alternate energy sources like sun, wind and water requires a lot more development (certainly) but sun, wind and water does not rely on someone to export or import it. It’s doesn’t expose us to the levels of external political or economic instability that coal and oil does.

Back to India and China. BP published their 2019 Energy Outlook. It makes for fascinating reading and highlights the complexity of balancing growth markets with mature markets and shifts within energy consumption demands. They also highlight that differences in the fuel mix across regions, and the extent to which that mix changes over the Outlook, have an important bearing on the energy transition.The two countries accounting for the fastest growth in energy demand India and China both start with coal-intensive fuel mixes. In the energy transition scenario, China’s coal share declines over the Outlook falling from 60% in 2017 to around 35% in 2040 offset by increasing shares and increasing use of renewables and natural gas. BP highlights that in China, the growth of non-fossil fuels (renewables plus nuclear and hydro power) more than matches the entire growth in Chinese energy demand over the Outlook.

India sees a smaller decline in coal dependency as alternate energy sources transition. India’s overall consumption over takes China because of India’s growth.

New technology advances will help maximise the efficiency of energy usage. In such a process, a new ‘revolutionised economic model’ must be explored and implemented. This is both complicated and challenging. It will happen regardless so the choice gets down to this. Do you trust Labor with their historical record of inefficient waste i.e. pink batts, solar panels and even the NBN? Do you trust them given their reckless deep dive over the sustainable energy cliff? Do you trust them with people like Marles and his Green partner Bandt cheering on the death of coal before we have viable and reliable alternatives to both energy and our export market wealth? Can you take the risk?

With the complicated and challenging tasks ahead, I believe the choice is clear. The Liberal National Party have proven their reliability in managing the national economy and their approach to managing our global commitments is sensible and considered. Couple that with the LNP’s strongly held belief in harnessing our energy sources not based on what but on best fit for purpose, reliablity and lowest cost and to me the choice is very clear.

We can’t afford the recklessness of the left driving us rapidly toward a socialist utopian disaster. We can’t afford far-right ideology locking us into a 1970’s backwater. We need the sensible centrist thinking and planning of Scott Morrison and his team. A team that understands the necessary change to deliver a viable future for all of us.

Bio: Brian Bishop 

Imputations Credits & now Medivac: Just HOW gullible does Bill Shorten think we are?

The more you read about the Medivac bill the clearer it becomes just how ridiculous it is. Albanese’s interview with Speers yesterday bordered on surreal. O’Connor and Shorten are just as bad. If none of them think people smugglers aren’t gearing up, they’re naïve. Pointing the finger at Morrison and Dutton and accusing them of stirring smugglers up just proves what a bunch of amateurs Labor are. 

I know this is hypothetical however consider this. If boats come and the numbers are high, we may not be in a position based on those sheer numbers to turn all around. Let’s assume one gets through. One board is an asylum seeker who is deemed critically ill or they fall critically ill after arrival. That person will never approved for uplift to the Australia for treatment. That is what Bill Shorten is saying. 

Let’s consider this. We have two people one who has been on Nauru for sometime & one potential new arrival. Both with serious illnesses. They would move one to Australia for treatment. One they would not. That’s admitting one of two things. Treatment on Nauru and Manus is available at the level required or Labor are prepared to let one die. The second would never happen. Bill Shorten actually thinks people smuggling barons are not smart enough to figure that out. 

Given the money at stake for smuggler barons they’d be prepared to test it and our Intelligence operatives know that. Barons have lost a lot of money since the Coalition Government came to power. That has forced barons to turn to the drug trade. The drug trade is substantially more costly and more risky. If there is the slightest glimmer, the lucrative people smuggling operation is a go barons will jump. There are any number of poor fisherman prepared to risk as well. If Shorten thinks they won’t, he is extremely gullible. 

This debacle is the same scenario as franking credits. The haves and have nots with two levels of Govt pensioners. If you are receiving the Government pension before March 28, 2018 you keep the credit if you went onto the pension after March 29 you will lose it. 

This is so typical of Labor. They come up with these hairbrained policies. Then they’re confronted with oops moments so rather than dumping the policy they try and amend them and look what we are left with. A mess of monumental proportions. Labor sold the electorate ‘pups’ with both Medivac and Imputations Tax. If the electorate is gullible enough to buy this rubbish, then they deserve each other. However, the rest of with brains don’t deserve the shambles that will follow.

Medivac: Where Was The Duty of Care To Us?

Those who bellow we owe a duty of care to asylum seekers need to consider that no fair-minded person denies that. I certainly don’t. However, those like Kerryn Phelps completely ignore the duty of care to us. Our Intelligence and Security groups are tasked with and experts in meeting their obligations of a duty of care to all Australians. Their decisions are made balancing medical, risk & opportunity. It can’t be that one of those takes priority over another. 

Politicians swayed by emotive arguments will always put emotion first. In this case medical overrides both risk and opportunity.  This is dangerous when those same politicians are not across the risks associated with weakening our laws. We saw that yesterday with the rushed passing of the Medivac bill. Today we learn about the weaknesses in that very bill which may expose us to exploitation and even worse. 

Asylum seekers are experts on how to play the system to get around our immigration laws. They are well briefed by activist and activist lawyers. Whilst I can forgive Kerryn Phelps her naivety I find it hard to forgive Labor. I feel in their case the game of politics and the game of winning at all costs has overtaken basic commonsense. They sacrificed responsibility to beat the Government. Well Labor are not basking in that historic win today because I sense the realisation of what they’ve done has dawned on them. As they say, ‘Act in haste, repetent ar leasure.’ Labor should be harshly punished for what they did yesterday they betrayed our nation and us. 

We are almost at the starting gate, it’s time to unite

For the last few years Aussie conservatives & Liberals have been hurling verbal rocks at each other. It has been fun at times and at other times it’s been downright nasty. Trust me, I’ve been on the receiving end of the nasty stuff because I refused to join the anti-camps. Worse it’s been destructive, and we have seen that in poll numbers and the corresponding drop off in support. 

I’ve stuck with the Liberal Party through thick & thin. At times that’s been through gritted teeth. However, I did this because come the election it’s was always going to be a choice between a Liberal National Party  with problems (yes) but one that has been delivering on the things that matter. Or a socialist, Marxist group of Labor, Greens, recalcrint Independents banked rolled by Unions and foreign funded GetUp. A group who will wreck the country again and impact on the life and welfare of anyone who dares to stand on their own feet. 

‪To those who think the Liberals need to be taught a lesson by blowing them up in the misguided belief a reformed Conservative party will rise from the ashes I say, please rethink. I understand your anger but now is not the time for moralising. Whilst you might get satisfaction from wrecking I can assure you thousands will not be thanking you for ruining the country and stuffing it up for the rest of us. Act in haste and everyone that isn’t a socialist or a Marxist will repent in leasure. I’m of the belief rightly or wrongly that no true-blue conservative or Liberal would lower themselves to vote for wrecking the country. ‬‬‬

‪What I am saying is, the time has come for us to pull together. Voting for Independents (a misnomer) or break-away parties just means putting Shorten into The Lodge. We have to get behind Scott Morrison and do everything we can to help get him and his party over the line and to keep Shorten and Labor out. ‬‬‬

‪Time to put our differences behind us and recognise that we don’t agree with everything Morrison and the LNP are doing but if we agree with more of their policies than Shorten and his gang of thieves, the decision is an easy one. And please, give Morrison and the Liberals a chance by voting for them in both houses. This practice of voting for micros and Independents in the senate causes many of the frustrations we suffer today. Repeating the same mistakes will not make it any better. In fact it will make it worse. ‬‬‬

‪Let’s unite behind one cause and that is keeping Bill Shorten and Labor out. To do that successfully without risk there’s only one decision to be made vote for your local Liberal or National Candudate and return Scott Morrison and the LNP to Government. 

“United we stand, divided we fall” it’s a cliche yes, but it’s true. Whilst it’s over played we are supposed to be a broadchurch & therefore should be mature enough to embrace & inculcate those varying views into broadbased policy which appeals to the wider community. 

The Paradox of Our Age: 24 Years On....

I was reminded of this, this morning following an interesting but disturbing debate about drugs. In particular, the debate that is taking place about drug testing. Which is doing nothing but creating false hope that people who take drugs will be safe? They won’t be. The argument that young people will experiment anyway so let’s make it easier for them to pop illegal drugs is absurd. We do that because it’s easier than actually trying attempt to fix the problem. The debate reminded me of our declining standards and the impact that is having on people and our society in general.

It was therefore a timely reminder when The Paradox of Our Age that popped up in my Facebook memories today. Dr. Bob Moorehead wrote this piece, and included it in his Words Aptly Spoken, a1995 collection of prayers, homilies, and monologues used in his sermons and radio broadcasts. On reading it again it struck me that nothing of note has changed for the better in those 24 years. Many would claim with some justification it’s got worse. As a result, our stockroom that was becoming bare in 1995 is now empty. 

The Paradox of Our Age: 

We have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways but narrower viewpoints; we spend more but have less; we buy more but enjoy it less; we have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, yet less time; we have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge but less judgement; more experts, yet more problems; we have more gadgets but less satisfaction; more medicine, yet less wellness; we take more vitamins but see fewer results. We drink too much; smoke too much; spend too recklessly; laugh too little; drive too fast; get too angry quickly; stay up too late; get up too tired; read too seldom; watch TV too much and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values; we fly in faster planes to arrive there quicker, to do less and return sooner; we sign more contracts only to realize fewer profits; we talk too much; love too seldom and lie too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've done larger things, but not better things; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice; we write more, but learn less; plan more, but accomplish less; we make faster planes, but longer lines; we learned to rush, but not to wait; we have more weapons, but less peace; higher incomes, but lower morals; more parties, but less fun; more food, but less appeasement; more acquaintances, but fewer friends; more effort, but less success. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; drive smaller cars that have bigger problems; build larger factories that produce less. We've become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, but short character; steep in profits, but shallow relationships. These are times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure and less fun; higher postage, but slower mail; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more divorces; these are times of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, cartridge living, thow-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies and pills that do everything from cheer, to prevent, quiet or kill. It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stock room. Indeed, these are the times!

We Need To Pick Our Champions Wisely....

I will make one last comment about Fraser Anning. He stood with a neo-Nazi Blair Cottrell who has stated he controls women by using violence and terror. He is a man who believes Hitler is a hero and Hitler’s picture should be hung in all schools. This a man who says children should be issued with Mein Kampf. And he is a man who hates Jews. Cottrell is a convicted criminal with a string of race baiting charges as long as your arm. This is the man Fraser Anning stood with. 

Any politician who is a representative of this country who stands with people like that (regardless of the cause) deserves to be treated as the odious, moral vacuum he is. And I’m appalled and saddened by the number of people cheering on Anning and the likes of Cottrell. I would never have thought I would see the day when neo-Nazis were lauded as heroes in my country. 

I understand only too well the concern people have over the violence they see being carried out by a group of around 200 out of control Sudanese youths in Victoria. I share the concern over the lack of action by the police and the Victorian Government. I even have sympathy for those voicing their concern over immigration and what we are witnessing now. But we need to pick our champions with care and not sacrifice our moral compass in turning people like Anning and Cottrell into hero’s because they voice what many think. 

We become who we associate with; we think, talk and act like the people we surround ourselves with. Perhaps, that helps explain the ever increasing abuse we see on social media platforms. Should something that has such a profound effect on us be treated in such a cavalier manner? This is even more of an issue these days with social media where associating with the wrong people or saying the wrong thing can have dire consequences. Even kill careers and reputations.

I objected to an accusation made on Twitter yesterday that the Liberal Party was a party of neo-Nazi foot soldiers because Scott Morrison hadn’t come out and condemned what happened in St Kilda. That led to me being branded a neo-Nazi & a white supremacist. Despite the fact that I frequency criticise and condemn both Fraser Anning and Blair Cottrell. In Cottrell’s case I’ve been doing it for years.  I was branded a neo-Nazi because I defended the party I support. I think most people I associate with on social media know I’m neither of those things. But it sheeted home how easily our image and our reputation can be trashed. 

Desperation creates unhealthy ‘bed-fellows’. In the absence of credible people (of substance) speaking up and conveying people’s fears I can see why some side with lowlifes such as Cottrell, Erikson and Anning. But those people will not help drive the change. They will not get Government or other leaders to listen. They will simply generate more division, more anger, more hatred and fear and embolden more like them. 

A wise man once said if you would not  invite someone into your home then don’t invite them into your life. Don’t associate with them and don’t promote them least you be judged one of them. That’s wise advice and something I’ve tried to live by. 

We need credible champions who are worthy of our support. People who represent our values. People that will be listened to and who have influence to help generate firstly the discussion and secondly the change people seek. We need those champions if ever we are going to recreate the culture that the majority of people desperately desire. A culture built on shared values, and mutual respect, where people feel safe. 

We need to choose our champions wisely because those champions represent us. 

The New Year Will Change Our Nation:

Barnaby Joyce posted this on his Facebook page yesterday. It deserves to be read. Now, it’s fair to say Barnaby has his detractors; I’ve been one of them. But if you subscribe to Liberal and Nationals values and/or embrace conservative philosophies then you need to think about this before taking a chance and flirting with either Labor, micro parties or independents. There is only one way of guaranteeing we won’t go down the path of destruction and that’s giving Scott Morrison and the LNP a chance come the election. Whilst the LNP have their internal battles, which is frustrating, they are delivering positive results (not that anyone from the opposition side will acknowledge that fact). Let’s not forget that. 

This is what Barnaby wrote: 

The New Year is going to change our nation. This may be a trite, repetitious warning, but this time it is going to happen. We have ­arrived at the space where indoctrination has beaten logic.

We want an economy that has no baseload power but does have cheap power.

We export uranium but ­refuse to use it.

We make little to nothing, but close down export markets such as the live sheep trade.

We have a lower standard of education than Singapore but believe Asian markets will want the services of Sydney.

The Greens want to jail people who export thermal coal.

It won’t work, guys. You are going to get smashed.

Poll after poll predicts we will vote in a Greens-Labor-independent government that is promising payments from an economy they are closing down, so the only other place to get money for their promises is your savings. If you want their nirvana then find yourself an excellent accountant. You will need one.

If you believe Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are congested — well, suck it up, because more people from God knows what country are on their way. They will come because they want to and under the circumstances they choose.

Don’t dare say the words “son” or “daughter” — they are now to be neuter people.

The right of the objecting individual will reign supreme over the complacent, polite broader body.

The Greens-Labor-independent alliance has its philosophical totem which it enforces by guilt to place more caveats over your assets and more impositions over your income streams.

You have already fallen for it.

You stood by and let farmers be dispossessed of their vegetation rights because of global warming.

You must buy power only from the prescribed source because of global warming.

You will buy cars of their prescription because of global warming.

You will not eat meat because of global warming.

You fell for it, sucker! Just keep handing over your sovereignty.

I know, you don’t want to be involved, because it is kind of awkward and impolite. That is not a problem for the far Left, which is running to the election and not having to fire a shot before they take you to the new world of the Teachers Federation and the Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union.

As noted in my book Weatherboard and Iron, this may be a bitter dirge but it is one that is going to be sung to you in six months.

The Labor Party will play the quiet game. It is too cunning to be led to a hostile battlefield when it can shoot us in a clear field from its own forest.

I live in a rented house but you don’t. No brother, you are going to pay because when they get their money out of your house by taking away your buyers because of the loss of negative gearing, it will be your problem and nobody else’s.

And remember, they don’t believe it is morally right that you have that wealth.

This election is not about Malcolm or Morrison or Mother Teresa leading the government.

It’s whether you will have a left-wing socialist government or a conservative government — a government which believes that if you work hard and earn money, it should be protected. Or a government that thinks your money should pay for its promises for its mates’ utopia.