Editorial - Election Issues. Howard has invited the US to our elections. He tries to make every issue, such as the FTA agreement, a test of our commitment to the US alliance. Latham has invited the terrorists to our election by declaring he will withdraw the troops by Christmas.
How to make the Most of Your Vote. Not compulsory voting, a compulsory roll call, you can mark the ballot paper anyway you like. Write 'none of the above' on it if you feel that way But you are urged to support independents to show your dissatisfaction with the major parties.
Tweedledum and Tweedledee - an analysis of the major parties, which should convince you to vote independent. Howard is more of the same, not the stuff of heroic legend. Latham has little in common with the New Class apparatichiks, ideologues and careerists who comprise his party. His greatest threat will come if terrorists capture Australian hostages and threaten to execute them unless troops are withdrawn immdiately. Would Latham leave them to be executed for the sake of a few weeks?
The Democrats in Decline. Now a joke, rather than a party who once held thebalance of power in the Senate and modified legislation, usually for the better.. But the Greens loom as having the balance of power - now that is scary.
The Greens - A Dead Loss for Conservation. A long time conservation campaigner exposes the hypocrisy of the Greens, whose priorities are obvious, conservation is not one of them. They hardly ever attend Senate business on the environment, instead concentraing on trendy Left issues.
Graeme Campbell - standing again as an Independent for Kalgoorlie on the slogan "Nobody's Man but Yours". Platform of improved regional services, but also citizen initiated referenda, end to multiculturalism and reduced immigration. One novel item, judges to order compulsory education for prisoners who have slipped through the education net.
Tony Windsor - an interview with the member for New England, who may hold the ba;ance of power in the next Parliament. He has been in this position before, in the NSW Parliament.
Spotlight on the Hill. Foxhunter casts a cynical light on on the workings of of Canberra's Hill.
Flagging Enthusiasm . The PM's decision to tie school funding to an obligation to fly the national flag brought the predictable negative response from the politically correct media. Our National Correspondent runs through some of the articles and suggests they are out of touch with an increasing trend to fly the flag and wear it. With our diverse migration program there is an especial need to to use the flag to identify with Australia, Even at Parliament House the Eureka flag was substituted for a display.
University Places, Overseas Students and Migration Paths. Correspondence with Ministers and Shadow Ministers. The ALP discriminates against Australian students by not allowing then to be fee-paying, while overseas students can do so. The Coalition is introducing fee-paying for locals. In the meantime, overseas students, almost all from Asia, receive a free ride into Australia for completing their degree here, so that they are now 50% of skilled immigration.
Australians for Honest Politics.The Australian Electoral Commission has responded to our requests as to who were the secret backers of this shadowy organization behind Tony Abbott. They have refused to investigate. Once again one of the bastions of our democracy is seen to be grossly incompetent or subconsciously biassed.
The Beginning of the End of American Hegemony?. John Meade takes a serious look at the global dominance of the USA from a historical and an Australian perspective. He sees reasons why the USA cannot sustain their current position and then asks "Whither Australia?
Are Civilizations Clocks Running Backwards? John O'Connor reviews his brief moment of existence and and is concerns for the future of democracy.
Book Reviews -
The Sorrows of Empire. Geoff Muirden reviews this book by Chalmers Johnson, which covers some of the ground in Meade's article. This time it is an American citizen wondering whether the USA can sustain the current situation. He lists four sorrows of Empire. All are in progress already.
(1) perpetual war and terrorist acts
(2) loss of democracy and civil liberties
(3) use of lies tomaintan control
(4) bankruptcy
Media Distortions to the Right and Left - Peter Carter finds two books to open your eyes or confirm your cynicism.
Weapons of Mass Destruction. Americans Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber describe the aggresive public relations exercise that sold the war in Iraq to the US public and from there to the Uk and Australia.
The Electronic Whorehouse. Paul Sheehan writes as an insider in the media. His book is mainly examples of media distortion.
Grains of Truth Buried in a Polemic -
Not Happy John! is a good read if you don't mind the polemic. Alan Fitzgerald reviews a book by Margo Kingston, a cotroversial, often scatty, writer that doesn't fit the mould. Howard toadying attitude to foreign visitors, such as Chinese Prime Minister Hu and US President Bush makes uncomfortable reading. The Australian Electoral Commission gets a blast over Australians for Honest Politics and Abbott's role in the whole affair is an illustration of how the major parties set out to destroy the minor parties.
Other Media
Counterpoint - a must listen, if you can, awkward times, ABC Radio Narional, 4pm Monday, 9pm Tuesday.
After years of prodding the ABC has finally put on a program which might be described as conservative, but not so far as right-wing. Michael Duffy, writer and publisher, hosts an interview program which broadcasts politically incorrect views not heard elsewhere on theirABC. Some sessions are transcribed on to
www.abc,net,au/rn/talks.counterpoint.