Hi Everyone
So, I know it's been a while - damn life getting in the way of things eh.
I was compelled to write this blog today which has turned out to be more like war and peace. I have decided to split it into two parts for the sake of my readers and I do hope you take the time to read them, maybe do it in shifts or something.... let's begin shall we?
As Dave Hughes would say 'Im ANGRY!'.
Those of you who know me well, know I cant go a single day without at least reading the headlines on a newspaper (even the advertiser will do if ABSOLUTELY necessary) - if I cant get to a newspaper you will see me looking up the headlines via the news channel on planet 3 (my phone) if the phone fails, well its fairly safe to say im going to be breaking out in a cold sweat sometime soon. Im a bit of a political junkie at times (is that the understatement of the century?) I'm not into footy or cricket, politics is my sport - but the truth is I don't feel I have ever been particularly good at articulating myself as well as other more astute watchers of the world. I think my style is very much get angry, rant and then wait for the fall out, I've never been good at coming to logical conclusions - I guess one thing is clear though, you can't deny that I am passionate. ;)
I don't have a university degree, I've never studied politics, I'm not a member of a political party (despite the best attempts of many people I know), I have no concept of grammar and I couldn't write an essay to save my life, but that doesn't mean I don't have an opinion about what's going on in our country at the moment. I read what I can, talk to people, watch the news and current affair programs (on the ABC and SBS), hell at least once a week I'm up watching question time (mainly because I can't sleep, but that's another point entirely). It wasn't always this way I have to admit, there was once a time when the bulk of my political education was from my Dad and his angry rants around the dinner table, but that all changed the day Karen (aka. Little Wing) recruited me to the union all those years ago. (Yes, that's right mum, you can blame Karen for creating this monster :P). Anyway, Im not here to write about my political awakening, Im here to talk about some of the shit that is REALLY pissing me off at the moment....
It's John Howard's Australia and I don't like it.
Surprise, Surprise you say. Yes, well not entirely original I know but hey, as I said, it's been a while.
I arrived at work this morning and started to make my way through the papers and in amongst all the usual political propaganda and advertising rubbish I see an article that almost made me regurgitate my muesli.
PM had 'no say' in new national censor
Long story short, everyone's favourite hypocrite Phillip Ruddock has appointed one of little Johnnie's mates, Donald McDonald, as the national censor (you can read more about what that role entails here). The states have accused Mr Ruddock of 'playing favourites' and creating 'jobs for the boys'….
'Mr Ruddock refused to identify candidates for the position but in a letter to state attorneys-general he said: "The selection committee made a recommendation to me for the director of the classification board. However, having considered the recommendation, I believe that Mr Donald McDonald, AC, would be a better candidate." (source: the age)
What is the point of having a selection committee if the decision is going to be overturned anyway? Since when did one person have the ability to overturn the decision of a group of people? I thought we were living in a democracy.
What is also interesting is that Mr Ruddock sought approval from Cabinet before announcing the decision - was this because he knew there would be outrage over the appointment and wanted to ensure he had the backing of 'the boys' before he went any further? Of course little Johnnie denies having anything to do with the process and very admirably excused himself from the cabinet room when discussions were being held, but we all know what's really going on here. In these times of 'terrorism' we must ensure someone is keeping a lid on all those randy left wingers and stop them from spewing out the sort of stuff that will cause people to think for themselves and question authority. What better way to ensure John Howard's vision for Australia is maintained than by stacking the boards with like-minded mates?
I took a moment to check out Mr. McDonald's credentials this morning and it seems the former head of the ABC is also a well-known member of the Liberal party, a close personal friend of John Howard and a known conservative and political elitist - I wonder if my blog and those of my contemporaries would meet the classification standards under Mr McDonald? According to Ruddock, his appointment to the board would ensure the board remained 'representative of the Australian community'. A statement I find very hard to swallow as it comes from the man who wears an amnesty pin yet did nothing about the ongoing abuse and torture of one his country's citizens in Guantanamo Bay.
I then continued to read and came across this article:
Rapper Snoop Dogg is barred from Australia after failing 'character test'
According to Immigration minister Kevin Andrews (Mr 'I can't hack the IR portfolio') Snoop Dogg just isn't the sort the sort of bloke we want in this country. WHAT THE FUCK!! According to the papers, Snoop has failed a so-called 'character test' because he is known to frequent gangs, has drugs and weapons convictions and is just an all round bad dude.
Are they serious? The only thing offensive about Snoop Dogg as far as I'm concerned is his music and while I am living in a free country I have a choice as to whether or not I listen to it (for the record: I don't). Do they honestly think the guy is going to come over here and 'bust a cap' in someone's ass, cause some kind of 'free-love fracas' or sell cocaine to school children? How is it that our government can rationalise banning someone like Snoop from coming into our country, but open the doors (and practically shut down our major capital cities) to known supporters of torture and war-mongers like Donald Rumsfeldand Dick Cheney?
Am I right in feeling somewhat confused by this decision? I mean, I know the guy has been in trouble in the past – just type his name into Wiki and you will find he has anything but a perfect record, but that is beside the point. Im not advocating the things that Snoop has been arrested for (mainly being in possession of weapons and drugs) but lets be realistic here. It's not like the man lied to the country about weapons of mass destruction and perpetrated crimes against humanity by locking a person up in an illegal prison in Cuba without trial for 5 years now is it?
If you ask me, there are far worse people we could be letting into the country – or even having dealings with on an ongoing basis – Dick Cheney and the current US President are two who spring to mind. The next time Cheney or one of his war mongering henchmen comes to Australia I'm thinking I might make an application to the Immigration Department to have his access denied based on the fact that he's 'not really the sort of bloke we want in our country'. Not that it will get anywhere I imagine, I'll probably get locked up for sedition......
Who's with me?
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