A New Year

A new year is upon us and we look forward to all the good that it brings. Already we see changes thrust upon us and I guess that time will tell whether they impact on us positively, negatively or they don’t make a jot of difference to the way we live.

A few interesting ones that have come across my desk over the Christmas break are:

It appears 7 day trading is raising its head again here in the West. Whether you are for it or not, and for the record I’m against it, we have had a referendum and the people have spoken. But apparently, our learned Premier believes that the questions were misleading which led to an incorrect result so he, in all his wisdom, is going to set it straight. Is that right? And if so, who removed the PUBLIC SERVANT out of public servant?

It is now politically incorrect for Santa to say Ho, Ho, Ho. And they are also petitioning for slimmer more athletic Santa’s that promote healthier lifestyles. Well, to all those that seriously believe that Santa should lose 50kg and say tee hee hee next Christmas, I say actress, manhole..... and I will still open the door for a woman to walk through first.

Peter Garrett has finally been allowed to speak in his role of Environment Minister and he wants to ban plastic bags. I applaud his enthusiasm, and though I think its totally do-able and not before time, I have to wonder why he is silent over the Japanese whaling fleet and the disposable nappy problem. For those of you that don’t know, disposable nappies present a far greater long term problem than shopping bags due, mostly, to the huge number of them and the way they are disposed of every day. And, Whaling, well, in my humble opinion its just barbaric and disgusting.

The Federal Government are concerned that too many people are failing the citizenship questionnaire, so they are going to simplify it. At the time of writing, the questionnaire consists of 20 simple multiple choice questions, the answers to which are contained in a free book that the Government will post you or you can download from the internet. A 60% pass mark gives you the green light. It appears to me that you don’t have to speak English in order to study for or sit the test. And it needs simplifying???

The Pope has told his following that he has created a "get through purgatory free" card for 2008. It appears you just have to A. Be a Catholic and B. Travel to some "spiritually specific" locations and you go direct to heaven without hanging around in purgatory for the undisclosed length of time. Excuse my skepticism but....

So, with all that said, I hope everyone has a great 2008 and that at least some of you are still holding to our new years resolutions.

Am I the last one left?? It seems I have an opinion on almost everything and it also seems that my opinion lies a long way left of the politically correct, civil libertarian minority that have apparently taken over this country.

In order for you to get a handle on where I’m coming from, below are a few of the things I feel strongly about.

There is little or no justice in our legal system

Why do I pay more taxes that my multi millionaire neighbours?

Why is kidney failure deemed elective rather than life threatening?

How can a politician be caught lying and still keep his/her job?

Why are we selling our land to whoever wants it?

Why is swearing now acceptable on radio and television?

If smoking is that bad for you, why isn’t it illegal?

I won’t go on, the list is longer but I hope you see what pushes my buttons. I know I’m not the last one left because I get into discussions with people quite often and they share my concerns. We can solve more than half the issues on that list over lunch on any given day. But we won’t and we don’t.

My problem, and I believe it has struck the silent majority, is that we are apathetic to any and all causes until that issue visits us personally. We display shock, horror and resentment when individuals are dealt with lightly after committing atrocities on innocent victims. I have been known to rant and rave on and off for weeks about overseas investors buying parcels of Australia or the tax system, education system or at my frustration at not being able to explain to my 10yo that bloody, bugga and bull s*** are swear words even though the words are used now with abandon on radio and television.

I firmly believe our standards have been and are still being eroded by the noisy few that play on our apathy in order to have their way. I call it the “lowest common denominator” factor. I see it all the time. A few hundred people protest over an issue, I disagree with their views, quietly of course, the powers that be hear the noise and change the law and I in my apathy, live with the result.

This newsletter goes out to over 15000 people and I have bet my partner (dinner somewhere in the beautiful Swan Valley) that we will get a response of less than 0.1%. Prove me wrong. Have your say. http://thegocommunity.blogspot.com/

Who will "win" the next election? Howard or Rudd? Who cares?

Anybody that knows me, knows that I am as a-political as a

person can get. I happily generalize politicians with the

statement "if their lips are moving they are telling lies."

I, along with many others, long for the day where we can see

honest, diligent, astute, professional people running this great country.

I am skeptical that it will happen in my lifetime.



Our current two party system is a breeding ground for mediocrity

and self serving greed. And, sadly, our system dictates that the

party that receives the majority vote is often not the party that

ends up in power. Somehow the average person in the street

needs to do something about the fiasco we call democracy.

We can do it with our votes, but we need to be as studious and

diligent as we expect our elected representatives to be.



Here are a few tips:

1. Understand how our system works, go here:

http://australianpolitics.com/

2. Ensure that the person you vote for, if not elected, uses your

vote in a manner that suits you.

3. Check out this link: http://www.federalelection.com.au/links.asp

4. There is more info here: http://www.aec.gov.au/FAQs/

5. And WA specific info here:

http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/state_wa.htm

6. Consider the important issues: Health, education and the environment

Don't vote for either major party. In my opinion we should adopt a "keep the b******** honest policy". Vote for a minor party

(democrats or greens) or vote independent.

8. Remember to consider that we here in the West have spent years under a Federal coalition and years under a state labour party and

yet we have an atrocious education system, a failing health system and we have to import workers from overseas because of years

of neglect from state and federal government for traineeships and apprenticeships.



If I was as dishonest and inaccurate in my business as our politicians are with us, I would be in jail by now. Stop the rot! Use your vote as a voice for change. Email your state and federal representatives. Ask them to state in writing EXACTLY what they will do with your vote. And remember, above all else over the coming weeks / months, if their lips are moving..................



Got an opinion? Say it here.

How will our children cope??

As we watch our child and his friends wander merrily through primary school we seriously doubt the validity of the current Western Australian Education System. To me it seems that our children are being dumbed down. Perhaps partly because of increased class numbers, it appears the class moves forward at the slowest students pace, or, alternatively, the slow ones get left behind to fend for themselves. I know of families that have relocated to other states and have had to put their children back one year because they were behind for their age group.
It seems lots of kids cant spell, do their 1 - 12 times tables, divide or multiply without a calculator and with all this there is no homework.
Children seem to have lost their ability to go outside and invent a game to play that can keep them occupied for hours. They need computers, game boy, X-box etc.
And I can't help but mention their punishments which include "reflection time" and a "time out" room.
Our son is in the public school system, but having met quite a number of children that have come through the Private system I am skeptical that there is that much difference.
If a child comes out of Grade 6 without being able to write moderately well, spell correctly, add and subtract in their head and their idea of discipline is 5 minutes spent staring at the wall......what real chance have they got???