All I can say is - "Thank goodness for Google reader, quality newsfeeds and personal blogs" - because parts of the Australian mainstream media have definately lost the plot.
I have been regularly reading "The Australian" on a daily basis - almost since it was first published. Sometimes not very frequently and sometimes it has been difficult to get copies - but for more than 30 years it has been my newspaper of choice.
Even in the latter half of the first decade of the 21st Century when many commentators have criticised Rupert's baby as *the Fox News* of the Australian media - I still remained loyal.
Even as Janet Albrechtsen continued with her personal poison - attacking anything and everything vaguely normal and promoting the most god-awful right wing rubbish - just because it aligns with her seriously warped sense of the world - I still remained loyal and pretended that she was just an abberation.
Even as the right wing and ratbag commentariat, the religious nutters and the seriously dumb and just plain silly used and abused their pages of editorial space to attack anything and everything intellectual or science based - I assumed it was just a phase that would pass - like a teenager growing up.
Even as Chris Mitchell took the paper downmarket and tried to use it as a vehicle to play his personal political games with important issues like *climate change* - I still scanned the stories - with the hope that there were a few gems of quality hidden away - somewhere.
But I have to confess that they have won - after 30+ years I am beaten.
Today I decided that it is all too hard - the collection of *Bumpf and BS* that is packaged as our national newspaper is now of such a standard and quality that I am no longer interested in reading it.
I am particularly distressed to observe the way it attacks our government - apparently just because they are of the *red* persuasion as opposed to Rupert's version of the right colour - which is obviously *blue* or more likely *black*.
"The Australian" no longer represents the nation - it should rename itself. My suggestion is "Rupert's Rightwing Ratbag Rag".
Friday, November 6, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Rory Wins - but there will be consequences
I suspect that Steve Keen's error is one of timing and that eventually he will be proven right - house prices could well fall by 40%.
It's just a question of when. And it's also a question of how high they will go in the meantime. Because, the bigger the rise - the harder the fall.
But seriously, why isn't anyone concerned by any of this? Do we really believe that perpetually increasing house prices are a good thing? And if we do (as seems likely) then is anyone thinking about the consequences?
Because there are always unintended consequences - it's really about who they impact and how hard.
Clearly perpetually increasing house prices don't help those who already own houses - because they need to live somewhwere. A high selling price just translates to a higher buying price for the next one. Where is the benefit in that?
But they do impact new entrants to the market - who tend to be the young and/or migrants - who often can't afford the price. Or if they do then their financial situation becomes so stretched that they end up living in poverty for decades - just to get into a house! Where is the benefit in that?
Actually I think I know why this is happening.
This country has a long and chequered history of speculative property development and house building. Just check the list of billionaires, millionaires and other rich people in your community. Odds are that a good percentage of them (probably more than 50%) will be builders and/or developers. Few of them are smart - but they got there by making stuff for $100 and selling it on to you for $200. Just add zero's to get to a different scale.
Now this form of industry and commerce is really the only thing that has been a consistent wealth generator across the nation over the past hundred years. The alternatives are not so good or not so easy to get into.
* The Agriculture and Grazing industries have become too capital intensive.
* Manufacturing has died an un-natural death.
* Mining is owned and run by and for the multi-nationals.
* Technology was killed by the dot com crash.
* Financial services died as a result of the global financial crisis.
* Everything else is hard work and/or low paid.
So the last great money making frontier is *housing* and by the way, house prices are about the only thing still going up - because we as a nation have a serious bias toward this form of investment - and that has produced a lot of "vested interests" all keen to advise you or help you or fund you to get in on the act.
Never mind that it is not very productive to have all your capital sitting in bricks and mortar - or that your job in the other industries is probably precarious - lets put all of our eggs in this one basket - and hope for the best.
Because when it does turn *pear shaped* then "the government" will bail us out - isn't that what they always do?
It's just a question of when. And it's also a question of how high they will go in the meantime. Because, the bigger the rise - the harder the fall.
But seriously, why isn't anyone concerned by any of this? Do we really believe that perpetually increasing house prices are a good thing? And if we do (as seems likely) then is anyone thinking about the consequences?
Because there are always unintended consequences - it's really about who they impact and how hard.
Clearly perpetually increasing house prices don't help those who already own houses - because they need to live somewhwere. A high selling price just translates to a higher buying price for the next one. Where is the benefit in that?
But they do impact new entrants to the market - who tend to be the young and/or migrants - who often can't afford the price. Or if they do then their financial situation becomes so stretched that they end up living in poverty for decades - just to get into a house! Where is the benefit in that?
Actually I think I know why this is happening.
This country has a long and chequered history of speculative property development and house building. Just check the list of billionaires, millionaires and other rich people in your community. Odds are that a good percentage of them (probably more than 50%) will be builders and/or developers. Few of them are smart - but they got there by making stuff for $100 and selling it on to you for $200. Just add zero's to get to a different scale.
Now this form of industry and commerce is really the only thing that has been a consistent wealth generator across the nation over the past hundred years. The alternatives are not so good or not so easy to get into.
* The Agriculture and Grazing industries have become too capital intensive.
* Manufacturing has died an un-natural death.
* Mining is owned and run by and for the multi-nationals.
* Technology was killed by the dot com crash.
* Financial services died as a result of the global financial crisis.
* Everything else is hard work and/or low paid.
So the last great money making frontier is *housing* and by the way, house prices are about the only thing still going up - because we as a nation have a serious bias toward this form of investment - and that has produced a lot of "vested interests" all keen to advise you or help you or fund you to get in on the act.
Never mind that it is not very productive to have all your capital sitting in bricks and mortar - or that your job in the other industries is probably precarious - lets put all of our eggs in this one basket - and hope for the best.
Because when it does turn *pear shaped* then "the government" will bail us out - isn't that what they always do?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Does anyone believe this crap?
I know that it's all a bit sad but I somehow picked up "The Advertiser" today and read the main page - which has a story about how the place is about to become the *Saudi* of the south and be the energy centre of the world - and other blah blah blah.
And on page 2 there is apparently further evidence from Jason Kuchel - the CEO of the SA Chamber of Mines and Energy - who is a "firm believer the mining boom will deliver significant jobs".
I wonder if anyone who has a fancy title in SA actually reads facts and understands evidence?
Just asking because according to Ian Harper there are not many jobs in mining. And according to the SA Centre for Economic Studies, there are few jobs in SA resulting from the *mining boom*.
Even Mike Rann has got the message and has recently stopped spruiking the *mining boom* - because he knows that he is on thin ice.
For goodness sake people - you can start by telling the truth. You might like to waffle and tell porkies and deceive people but as John Quiggin and Daniel Davies say - "Good ideas do not need lots of lies told about them in order to gain public acceptance".
And on page 2 there is apparently further evidence from Jason Kuchel - the CEO of the SA Chamber of Mines and Energy - who is a "firm believer the mining boom will deliver significant jobs".
I wonder if anyone who has a fancy title in SA actually reads facts and understands evidence?
Just asking because according to Ian Harper there are not many jobs in mining. And according to the SA Centre for Economic Studies, there are few jobs in SA resulting from the *mining boom*.
Even Mike Rann has got the message and has recently stopped spruiking the *mining boom* - because he knows that he is on thin ice.
For goodness sake people - you can start by telling the truth. You might like to waffle and tell porkies and deceive people but as John Quiggin and Daniel Davies say - "Good ideas do not need lots of lies told about them in order to gain public acceptance".
Surely they are joking?
The Australian Industry Group - the lobby group that is funded by big business - has just released its National CEO Survey.
And apparently:
More than a quarter of companies surveyed have been severely affected by the economic downturn.
Large companies were hardest hit with 37.3% being very affected by the downturn. The impact has been most severe in the construction and manufacturing sectors.
All as would be expected - when times are tough.
But the really scary thing is that old furphy *skills shortages* is being bandied about again.
Apparently the survey has uncovered that there will be shortages of - labourers and process workers, engineers, managers, apprentices and trainees. Plus apparently there are skill shortages in literacy, numeracy and information technology.
And according to the report, amongst companies in the survey, the average decline in employment expected in 2009/10 is 3.8%.
This is a polite way of saying that these CEO's will sack somewhere around 200,000 people (my estimate) over the course of the next year.
Did I mention that these same CEO's will cut back expenditure on training - on average companies anticipate a 4.1% reduction in training expenditure in 2009/10.
Forgive me for asking but if they are sacking people and cutting back on training - how do they expect to deal with the *skills shortages* that they think will apparently cause chaos?
Let me guess.
It's the prerogative of these CEO's to hire and fire at will - without any regard to the national interest.
But it's the job of government to ensure that there is sufficient *fodder* for these companies when they want to start hiring again. And if there isn't a massive pool of skilled workers ready and able then they will be insisting on an expansion of the 457 Visa scam - sorry scheme.
It's all so predictable - Surely they are joking?
And apparently:
More than a quarter of companies surveyed have been severely affected by the economic downturn.
Large companies were hardest hit with 37.3% being very affected by the downturn. The impact has been most severe in the construction and manufacturing sectors.
All as would be expected - when times are tough.
But the really scary thing is that old furphy *skills shortages* is being bandied about again.
Apparently the survey has uncovered that there will be shortages of - labourers and process workers, engineers, managers, apprentices and trainees. Plus apparently there are skill shortages in literacy, numeracy and information technology.
And according to the report, amongst companies in the survey, the average decline in employment expected in 2009/10 is 3.8%.
This is a polite way of saying that these CEO's will sack somewhere around 200,000 people (my estimate) over the course of the next year.
Did I mention that these same CEO's will cut back expenditure on training - on average companies anticipate a 4.1% reduction in training expenditure in 2009/10.
Forgive me for asking but if they are sacking people and cutting back on training - how do they expect to deal with the *skills shortages* that they think will apparently cause chaos?
Let me guess.
It's the prerogative of these CEO's to hire and fire at will - without any regard to the national interest.
But it's the job of government to ensure that there is sufficient *fodder* for these companies when they want to start hiring again. And if there isn't a massive pool of skilled workers ready and able then they will be insisting on an expansion of the 457 Visa scam - sorry scheme.
It's all so predictable - Surely they are joking?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Nick and Tim are real Australians
Nick Xenophon and Tim Costello have the right stuff.
Both have demonstrated enormous commitment, quality, credibility and competence - I salute you both.
The sooner we can get Australian States weaned off the disaster that is pokies - the better.
And the sooner we can get the State Premiers and their Treasurers to *recognise* and *deal with* the damage that these things cause the better.
Of course they won't do it without some pushing and prompting and cajoling - because it wasn't only Gordon Gecko who thought that "Greed is Good".
Both have demonstrated enormous commitment, quality, credibility and competence - I salute you both.
The sooner we can get Australian States weaned off the disaster that is pokies - the better.
And the sooner we can get the State Premiers and their Treasurers to *recognise* and *deal with* the damage that these things cause the better.
Of course they won't do it without some pushing and prompting and cajoling - because it wasn't only Gordon Gecko who thought that "Greed is Good".
Ian Harper is particularly erudite
Just spent the last 30 minutes listening to Ian Harper's talk about the economic history of Australia - here.
This is a *must listen* story for anyone who is even remotely interested in what has driven the Australian economy in the past and what will likely drive it in the future.
For the first time in a long time - we have someone with credibility who is prepared and able to tell the truth about where the jobs are and where they will come from - tomorrow and beyond.
He gets it - absolutely. A pity most politicians don't.
Now lets see if we can get the press to report it and talk about it - I wish.
This is a *must listen* story for anyone who is even remotely interested in what has driven the Australian economy in the past and what will likely drive it in the future.
For the first time in a long time - we have someone with credibility who is prepared and able to tell the truth about where the jobs are and where they will come from - tomorrow and beyond.
He gets it - absolutely. A pity most politicians don't.
Now lets see if we can get the press to report it and talk about it - I wish.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Pokies and other revenue scams
We know that something is up when "The Australian" writes an impressive story about *pokie dependency* as it did today.
A big story showing how the states are addicted to gambling revenue and will not let it go – despite the damage that it causes.
And as usual my home state – South Australia leads the pack with the highest percentage of gambling taxation revenue - 13.2%.
It’s a sad story down there in the city of churches. I suspect that they need to find a leader who is actually interested in looking after the people who live there instead of one who is only interested in looking after themselves and their mates.
Now I have limited experience with the place having lived there for part of my life – mostly the early years – until I escaped to the real world.
But I also have some recent experience. I am in the process of building my boat and have found a nice little place in rural South Australia where I can construct it. The people and the town are pleasant enough but the real surprise is that because it is so small and remote the State Government does not seem to interfere too much. Probably doesn’t even know it is there ;-)
As an example, in the regional city of Adelaide, the drivers are extremely fearful of *red light* and *speed* cameras which are everywhere – and which like pokies are there to raise revenue for the state.
But here in this little rural town they are no-where and the attitude of the drivers is completely different – and obviously better.
I would love to have the time and resources to do a proper survey and analysis of driver attitude and their relationship to road accidents – because I am fairly sure that the creation of a fearful environment on the road has a direct relationship to road accidents.
But we will never know because the state runs regular campaigns to create fear while milking motorists – and has been doing that for over 30 years – and justifies it on the basis of attending to *road safety*.
Like being serious about dealing with pokies in South Australia – this is just another myth.
A big story showing how the states are addicted to gambling revenue and will not let it go – despite the damage that it causes.
And as usual my home state – South Australia leads the pack with the highest percentage of gambling taxation revenue - 13.2%.
It’s a sad story down there in the city of churches. I suspect that they need to find a leader who is actually interested in looking after the people who live there instead of one who is only interested in looking after themselves and their mates.
Now I have limited experience with the place having lived there for part of my life – mostly the early years – until I escaped to the real world.
But I also have some recent experience. I am in the process of building my boat and have found a nice little place in rural South Australia where I can construct it. The people and the town are pleasant enough but the real surprise is that because it is so small and remote the State Government does not seem to interfere too much. Probably doesn’t even know it is there ;-)
As an example, in the regional city of Adelaide, the drivers are extremely fearful of *red light* and *speed* cameras which are everywhere – and which like pokies are there to raise revenue for the state.
But here in this little rural town they are no-where and the attitude of the drivers is completely different – and obviously better.
I would love to have the time and resources to do a proper survey and analysis of driver attitude and their relationship to road accidents – because I am fairly sure that the creation of a fearful environment on the road has a direct relationship to road accidents.
But we will never know because the state runs regular campaigns to create fear while milking motorists – and has been doing that for over 30 years – and justifies it on the basis of attending to *road safety*.
Like being serious about dealing with pokies in South Australia – this is just another myth.
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