If natural born leaders are also natural born liars, can we really hold it against them when they do what comes naturally? This is the dilemma I faced under communism and later at the Bear Pit Politicians Lie, They Admit -- For a Host of Reasons
Eye on Politics & Law Lords: Federalism/Feudalism: I stayed alive just so I could see this Moment
John Howard has turned out to be as much a centralist as Gough Whitlam, according to Kenneth Wiltshire
DURING the life of the Howard governments, one of the most remarkable transformations in the history of Australian politics has occurred. The Liberal Party, once the champion of states’ rights, has become centralist.
This cannot be explained simply because all of the state and territory governments are controlled by Labor. The prime minister has, for some time, been describing states as ‘service deliverers’ with little role to play in national policy making. The conditional funds which come from Canberra, about half of all federal transfers to the states, have had more and more conditions attached to them, in a manner that almost makes the Whitlam government pale by comparison
• Unveiling the unknown: A shift in the centre of gravity [Democratization is a process, not an event. Sadly many political apparatchicks are clones of the tropical Dutchman, Joh, who had no idea about the separation of powers. This post from Iraqi blogger Ali makes the process the big game in his country Dangerous games ; Democratic Audit of Australia: ANU Freedom of information law in need of overhaul (PDF version) Australia has an economy in crisis and a government in denial. After growing without interruption for 14 years, the economy is running into growth limits All smiles, but there's plenty of work to be done ]
• · Has suicide become the pop culture flavor of the month? Recent weeks produced an odd flurry of news stories suggesting that the notion of taking your own life suddenly seems courageous, respectable, even chic The ‘suicide solution' suddenly seems trendy ; The veteran 2UE radio broadcaster John Laws and his 2GB rival Ray Hadley face being charged with contempt of the Independent Commission Against Corruption following on-air tirades yesterday about witnesses in the Orange Grove inquiry. Laws, quoting a report in the Herald, said that while Ms Beamer replied to questions 30 times with "I don't recall", she was "100 per cent sure her decision to close down Orange Grove was based on merit. Can I see a pig fly by the window there? ; Australians love a political true believer - as long as he's among us, not above us: Just days before celebrating a decade in power, Bob Carr's NSW Labor Government remains in the political doldrums, trailing badly in the polls True Blue Reshuffle fails to boost Carr ; Google on Political Suicide
• · · What it means for the actual victims of an advocate's negligence in court proceedings doesn't bear thinking about, which is precisely the approach of the High Court majority. High Majority ruling gives the minnows little chance ; Finally, you'll be elected to Parliament, win government and be able to fix all of the things you used to whinge about. You'll have made it. And you'll be surrounded by bloody lazy whingers telling you what you should do. Be What you Want to be Power Whinger! Chris Holley gives a rundown on skilling up in whingeing
• · · · Christopher Dickey: An Arabian Spring: Can People Power Prevail? ;
• · · · · Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone is considering a seasonal workers visa for foreign workers to pick Australian fruit Is it time to import fruit pickers? ; Australian governments engaged in a major reform program in the 1990s, culminating in the formation of the National Electricity Market (NEM) which commenced operation on 13 December 1998. Today, the NEM supplies electricity to 7.7 million Australian customers Energy futures for New South Wales
• · · · · · The powerful rumours that so often sweep through Adelaide can be devastating Power & pedophilia ; The Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Wendy Abraham, announced that one of its chief political advisers, Randall Ashbourne, will be charged with abusing his public office Government Adviser Charged