Time ... keeps flowing like a river ...

[blamebrampton]

A really really fast river with rapids.

Anyway, a couple of very short political rants today. Christopher Pyne, who is the Gregory Goyle of Australian politics (one of the main sidekicks of Opposition Leader Malcolm 'Draco Malfoy' Turnbull) blathered through a news interview that his party was going to join with independents to vote down the government's carbon trading bill because, in part, he wants to wait for the American model and follow it.

With the greatest respect to American flisters, following American political models is akin to saying 'we would like a complex, expensive and unwieldy system that we can pretend works'. Furthermore, given the fact that the US population is some 15 times the Australian, spread over a mostly similar land area, the American model, whatever it ends up being, will not smoothly translate to this country.

Regarding the US, Investor's Business Daily had a fascinating editorial on why socialised healthcare is akin to instant death, including the immortal line: 'People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless.'

Alas, it has since been amended, though they at least admit to the error. A bit.

In happy news today, another friend is in town and we found her a very lovely skirt for $40, which turned out to be on special and marked down to $12. And Ben and Jerry's is coming to Sydney. Now if only Boots and Dalloyau would appear and Perugina would sell their Nero hot chocolate powder here, I might stay forever.

Back to editing, housecleaning, writing and a wee spot of sleep ...

Comments

Time ... keeps flowing like a river ...

[kareina.livejournal.com]

"A really really fast river with rapids." Indeed, and it is flooding, too. Wasn't it supposed to slow down when I submitted that thesis?

[empress-jae.livejournal.com]

it might just be me, but your link is not going where it's supposed to?

[bryoneybrynn.livejournal.com]

Yikes! That's quite a quote!

Also hi! *waves* I got nothing, just wanted to say hi.

[ladyjaneva.livejournal.com]

I read about the bashing of the english health system by american republicans this morning. Of course many things can be done better in the english system (and we germans have been struggling with ours since it exists), but the viciousness of the bashing astonishes me very much.

What's so bad about a health care system that produces a longer average life span and where everybody actually has an insurance and gets to be treated without piling on debts that you'll never be able to pay off?

Gee, I guess something that everybody! will profit from must be communist... and "evil" to quote Palin.

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

The follow up twattery being that of course Hawkings is rich so he pays for his own care.

I don't think so.

One wonders whether they supposed he was American vbecause of his speech synthesiser.

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

OMG! You compared MT to Draco? *smites you*

I'll never get that idea out of my head now. *cries*

I am resolutely not going to rant here about the ridiculousness and futility of carbon trading as a means to address CO2 levels produced by this (or any) country, or the even great stupidity of then having a bitching match about whose scheme is better. I am equally resolute about not commenting on the white wash that is untested US carbon scrubbing technology or the idea of burying CO2 waste under the Aussie desert.

This is me not ranting or commenting on any of that. You will not hurt your neck watching me up on my soapbox while reading this comment.

*is strong*

And consequently, in the spirit of this comment, I will also not mention healthcare or the idea that a nationalised system somehow equates to the great evils of socialism, with the reds marching in lockstep just a prescription pad behind.

See how good I can be?

[uminohikari.livejournal.com]

US Republicans, as a whole, are idiots. *facepalms*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_aurora_sky_/]

NO NO NO!!! I thought the Australians were supposed to be smarter than us! Granted, I thought 3/4 of the world's industrialized nations were supposed to be smarter than us.

Really though, there's a small, VERY loud, very well-funded by corporate health care group that is a fear mongering, idiotic mob that bases nothing on fact. The sad part is that people who don't know better think they're right simply because they can scream louder.

The idea of health care as a BUSINESS and patients as CUSTOMERS is terrifying and revolting, and yet that's the reality I live in. I HAVE insurance, and I just sent off $100 for my annual girlie exam, and I'm not sure why. Isn't that what my insurance is FOR? I think the very fact that health insurance can deny a patient coverage BECAUSE HE/SHE IS "TOO" SICK is, in and of itself, blatant and obvious PROOF that private health care is broken.

Ok. I'm stopping here before I get to frustrated.

[ant-queen.livejournal.com]

I'm still holding out some hope that the Flying Spaghetti Monster will swoop on Steve Fielding on his way to Senate and smack him around the head with noodley appendages until the stupid git accepts that there is substantial evidence that CO2 emissions contribute significantly to climate change. Argue about how severe and when, sure, but planning to vote against the CPRS because you're not convinced CO2 is driving climate change? *facepalm*

I would also like it if the Greens could see fit to drop the idealism for a moment and realise that it is better to get something in place now, even if it isn't a strong as you'd like it, and then work on increasing it once it's in place.

The libs I expect to be, as ever, wankers and concerned about their pals in big industry. Must not endanger the money.

[shadowclub.livejournal.com]

I've pretty much decided that trying to follow American politics using logic is like trying to chase a dolphin on foot. BUT I don't think there is a perfect system, so we can't win anyway!

♥

[mabonwitch.livejournal.com]

For an amusing spoof on the...recent U.S healthcare debacle, check out www.thedailyshow.com - Monday's (8/10) episode has a great segment on "death panels". It's nuts over here, can't imagine why anyone would want to follow ANY model of ours...