I am ashamed. Are you?
Last night I slept badly after a challenging day. Belatedly I learned the Western Australian State Gov. has made public protests illegal. This has turned us into a police state, is definitely not democratic and I am ashamed to let it happen
Then I learned NSW is doing the same. They cut down a row of 150 + year old Moreton Bay Fig trees with no regard to the taxpayers or climate change for that matter. This is not democratic either.
I watched a snippet of the debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders where they argued who was the most compassionate. It was disgusting. Meanwhile Donald Trump behaved like a 3 year old strutting about banging his chest and saying by his body language, 'look at me. Look at me.' The American people are letting one these twits be the leader of their country while still thinking they are the greatest nation in the world. It is farcical. China and Russia think they are the greatest instead.
Even Australia thinks 'We're not so bad either, mate. Oi, Oi, Oi, Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.' Meanwhile we are showing little compassion or even common-sense towards asylum seekers. We are in fact causing them harm and I am doing nothing about. What we are doing is neither just nor humane.
Many of our politicians say they are Christian but from my learning during childhood what they are doing is definitely not what their leader Christ taught and it is not democratic as well. Thank their God I am an atheist. But nevertheless I am still ashamed.
On AL JAZEERA last night I saw masses of refugees living in tents in the rain and mud with little food and no hope. It is catastrophic. How these people must hate us. We send troops into their countries and bomb their homes and when they want - no, are desperate - for our help we are looking away. I am ashamed.
I climbed out of my sleepless bed last night and sent some money to Médecins Sans Frontières : a futile attempt to assuage my guilt by association to this uncaring world but it didn't work. I am still ashamed.
Friday, March 11, 2016
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Get God and Politicians out of Government
The other day I wrote a blog about getting God out of
Government. I need to clarify the God bit. I meant every god that has ever been
imagined by any race of people at any time of history - all gods (and goddesses
too) as well as fairies, elves, Santa Claus and everything that goes bump in
the night. The human imagination has few limits and the fact people believe
them to be true is mind boggling. Mind you some people believe anything written
is true.
My thoughts have moved on from this and I now think politicians
and political parties should be removed from government as well.
I believe in in democracy and Power to The People.
We need a new form of democracy where there are no political
parties. The government is electronically
controlled by robots. People vote on all issues of importance by some sort of
device similar to a smartphone. Needs more thought!
Power to the people. YAY
If the above is too scary.
How about removing the Government from how people chose to
live their lives as long as they do no harm to others, others' property and the Universe.
Walk in the light and do no harm.
Friday, February 26, 2016
Get God out of Goverment
Today I participated in a survey for the Australian Secular Party which started me thinking. Their main tenet seems to be - Get God out of Government' with which I agree fully.
I voted for them in the senate election last time we had an election and had the choice of give or take 60 candidates!
The survey was all about what we, their subscribers, thought about general policies. I agreed mostly with their tenets but disagreed entirely when they mention nuclear. My feeling is leave it all in the earth where it belongs although I still need to think about the medical uses.
Below are some of their policies which I pinched from their website - https://www.secular.org.au/
Foreign policy
International Law
The Secular Party recognises that civilisation is sustained by the rule of law. Globally, we support the enhancement of the International Criminal Court as a means of dealing with problems, rather than arbitrary superpower intervention. We support the development of international corporate law as a means of addressing adverse transnational corporate behaviour. […]
Republic
The Secular Party recognises that monarchies embody the concept of hereditary privilege, and that this is incompatible with the principle of equal human rights. The British monarch is also head of the Church of England. Having the monarch as the Australian Head of State is thus a violation of the basic secular principle of separation […]
Law and Justice
Incarceration The Secular Party recognises the need for incarceration to prevent harm, to foster reform and as a deterrent. Revenge should not be a motivation in punishment. The Secular Party advocates policies that stress rehabilitation, crime prevention and harm minimisation. One law for all The rule of law is best upheld and universal human rights […]
Prayers, Pledges and Labels
Prayers, pledges and labels Oaths and prayers Oaths sworn in association with a chosen religious book have legal standing in Australia. Prayers to a particular deity are used to open parliaments and religious references are made on other ceremonial occasions. The veracity of such oaths and the solemnity of such occasions are not enhanced […]
Immigration and Population
Global population is a significant issue in dealing with many environmental problems. Australia is a dry but relatively rich country, and has a low population compared with our neighbours. Australia’s resource wealth will enable us to maintain a privileged position in the global community. The Secular Party is opposed to policies that encourage a higher […]
Welfare
The Secular Party recognises that those who have become marginalised in society, such as drug users, criminals and the mentally ill, need support and fair treatment. Our view is that unwarranted cuts to services, that push responsibilities back to carers or others, merely create further problems. Our policy is to provide incentives for individuals and […]
Taxation
Tax exemptions for religion Religious institutions receive significant advantages in terms of tax exemptions and benefits. At the same time these institutions are largely unaccountable for their receipt and distribution of funds. The policy of the Secular Party is to end these religious tax exemptions and subsidies. This will benefit the average taxpayer and a […]
Economics
The Secular Party stands for the use of balanced judgement in economics, rather than any ideology. We recognise the general need for balanced budgets, but do not accept free market fundamentalism. In cases of market failure, government intervention is required. We recognise that Australia’s role as a major resource exporter is a significant factor in […]
Health
Health funding The Secular Party recognises the need for health services to be accessible and affordable for all citizens, including dental care and prescription medicines. We recognise that multiple funding streams, together with the burden of oversight means that private health insurance, and particularly public subsidies for private health care, are an additional inefficient burden, […]
Environment and climate change
We recognise global warming as a significant and dire threat to global civilisation. To address the problem, global carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced dramatically. Existing ‘cap and trade’ proposals may not achieve anything like the magnitude of reduction required. They may therefore be a counterproductive diversion. The required global emission reductions are equivalent to […]
Intellectual property
The Secular Party recognises that intellectual property rights protect the interests of creators and provide incentives for innovation. However property rights should not be derived from non-creative findings. Indigenous communities should maintain ownership of innovations derived from their custodial knowledge, and patents derived from the human genome, the custodial property of us all, should be […]
Censorship and freedom of expression
Blasphemy laws Christian-based blasphemy laws still exist in Australia, despite being rarely used. Islamic nations have campaigned in the United Nations to have laws banning blasphemy made mandatory worldwide. All such laws are an attempt to impose religious law, and to impose it in particular upon those who do not believe in that or any […]
Human Rights and anti-discrimination
Children The Secular Party believes that the UN International Convention on the Rights of the Child should be enshrined in legislation so that children receive fair and equitable treatment, without being taken advantage of or being abused. We endorse institutions that support and educate parents in parenting issues including preschools, schools and other organisations that […]
Education Policy
Education and funding The Secular Party recognises the societal benefits of a well-funded and high-quality education system. This is best provided by teaching based on universal values and principles, and school curricula founded on reason and evidence consistent with academic expertise. Currently, funding is inequitable and fails to properly resource students with complex needs, leading […]
I voted for them in the senate election last time we had an election and had the choice of give or take 60 candidates!
The survey was all about what we, their subscribers, thought about general policies. I agreed mostly with their tenets but disagreed entirely when they mention nuclear. My feeling is leave it all in the earth where it belongs although I still need to think about the medical uses.
Below are some of their policies which I pinched from their website - https://www.secular.org.au/
Foreign policy
International Law
The Secular Party recognises that civilisation is sustained by the rule of law. Globally, we support the enhancement of the International Criminal Court as a means of dealing with problems, rather than arbitrary superpower intervention. We support the development of international corporate law as a means of addressing adverse transnational corporate behaviour. […]
Republic
The Secular Party recognises that monarchies embody the concept of hereditary privilege, and that this is incompatible with the principle of equal human rights. The British monarch is also head of the Church of England. Having the monarch as the Australian Head of State is thus a violation of the basic secular principle of separation […]
Law and Justice
Incarceration The Secular Party recognises the need for incarceration to prevent harm, to foster reform and as a deterrent. Revenge should not be a motivation in punishment. The Secular Party advocates policies that stress rehabilitation, crime prevention and harm minimisation. One law for all The rule of law is best upheld and universal human rights […]
Prayers, Pledges and Labels
Prayers, pledges and labels Oaths and prayers Oaths sworn in association with a chosen religious book have legal standing in Australia. Prayers to a particular deity are used to open parliaments and religious references are made on other ceremonial occasions. The veracity of such oaths and the solemnity of such occasions are not enhanced […]
Immigration and Population
Global population is a significant issue in dealing with many environmental problems. Australia is a dry but relatively rich country, and has a low population compared with our neighbours. Australia’s resource wealth will enable us to maintain a privileged position in the global community. The Secular Party is opposed to policies that encourage a higher […]
Welfare
The Secular Party recognises that those who have become marginalised in society, such as drug users, criminals and the mentally ill, need support and fair treatment. Our view is that unwarranted cuts to services, that push responsibilities back to carers or others, merely create further problems. Our policy is to provide incentives for individuals and […]
Taxation
Tax exemptions for religion Religious institutions receive significant advantages in terms of tax exemptions and benefits. At the same time these institutions are largely unaccountable for their receipt and distribution of funds. The policy of the Secular Party is to end these religious tax exemptions and subsidies. This will benefit the average taxpayer and a […]
Economics
The Secular Party stands for the use of balanced judgement in economics, rather than any ideology. We recognise the general need for balanced budgets, but do not accept free market fundamentalism. In cases of market failure, government intervention is required. We recognise that Australia’s role as a major resource exporter is a significant factor in […]
Health
Health funding The Secular Party recognises the need for health services to be accessible and affordable for all citizens, including dental care and prescription medicines. We recognise that multiple funding streams, together with the burden of oversight means that private health insurance, and particularly public subsidies for private health care, are an additional inefficient burden, […]
Environment and climate change
We recognise global warming as a significant and dire threat to global civilisation. To address the problem, global carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced dramatically. Existing ‘cap and trade’ proposals may not achieve anything like the magnitude of reduction required. They may therefore be a counterproductive diversion. The required global emission reductions are equivalent to […]
Intellectual property
The Secular Party recognises that intellectual property rights protect the interests of creators and provide incentives for innovation. However property rights should not be derived from non-creative findings. Indigenous communities should maintain ownership of innovations derived from their custodial knowledge, and patents derived from the human genome, the custodial property of us all, should be […]
Censorship and freedom of expression
Blasphemy laws Christian-based blasphemy laws still exist in Australia, despite being rarely used. Islamic nations have campaigned in the United Nations to have laws banning blasphemy made mandatory worldwide. All such laws are an attempt to impose religious law, and to impose it in particular upon those who do not believe in that or any […]
Human Rights and anti-discrimination
Children The Secular Party believes that the UN International Convention on the Rights of the Child should be enshrined in legislation so that children receive fair and equitable treatment, without being taken advantage of or being abused. We endorse institutions that support and educate parents in parenting issues including preschools, schools and other organisations that […]
Education Policy
Education and funding The Secular Party recognises the societal benefits of a well-funded and high-quality education system. This is best provided by teaching based on universal values and principles, and school curricula founded on reason and evidence consistent with academic expertise. Currently, funding is inequitable and fails to properly resource students with complex needs, leading […]
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Democracy?
More thoughts on how we are not a Democracy.
The American Presidential Election is a circus and Donald
Trump is the leading clown.
Is this democracy?
The other day Bill Shorten said 'Under a Shorten Labor
Government...'
Is this democracy?
We are in fact ruled by political parties of this ilk or
that: groups of people with vested interests.
The other day the Busselton City Council voted down a
shopping complex proposal 5 to 4 after lobbying by some business interests in
town although it appears most of the ratepayers want the development. We were
not asked.
This is not democracy. Yes, 'The People' have a say every so
many years but that is it.
The purpose of the government is to distribute the taxes
levied for the benefit of these tax payers. They must provide infrastructure so
we can move about, eat, sleep, make sure we are educated and keep us healthy
and safe.
Governments need to concentrate solely on these things.
Simplistic perhaps, but this stops governments trying to dictate how the tax
payers live their lives.
This is all about power over us. It is not democracy.
Instead governments are selling of utilities, education and
healthcare so that these services, for which we pay taxes, are put into the hands
of people who want to make a profit from our illnesses, education our children
etc.
We need another way
Any ideas?
Walk in the light and do no harm.
Discombobulate - Word of the Day 18/02/16
Discombobulate
verb
Pronunciation
dis·com·bob·u·late \ˌdis-kəm-ˈbä-b(y)ə-ˌlāt\Definition
Discombobulate
- upset, confuse
Examples of discombobulate
Inventing cool new ways to discombobulate the old order - Kurt Andersen.Origin of discombobulate
Probably alteration of discompose
First Known Use: circa 1916
Related to discombobulate
Synonyms
addle, baffle, bamboozle, beat, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, confuse, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, perplex, pose, puzzle, vex
Related Words
stick, stump, weird out; abash, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle; agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, stun, unhinge, unsettle, upset; beguile, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, misguide, mislead, snow, string along, take in, trick
Rhymes with discombobulate
circumambulate, circumnavigate, transubstantiate, underestimatediscombobulation - noun
Merriam-Webster
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Tim Minchin and Cardinal Pell
Watch this and learn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHR39ez56RE&sns=tw</a>
Tim Minchin sings to Cardinal George Pell to return home from Rome to face the music.
Musician and comedian Tim Minchin has taken aim at Cardinal George Pell in a provocative song in which he asks Australia's highest-ranking cleric in the Catholic Church, stationed in the Vatican, to return to Australia and answer what he knows about the cover-up of child sexual abuse under his watch in Ballarat.
Pell says he is too sick to return. He is the ultimate denier over many issues. A dinosaur who should be put out to grass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHR39ez56RE&sns=tw</a>
Tim Minchin sings to Cardinal George Pell to return home from Rome to face the music.
Musician and comedian Tim Minchin has taken aim at Cardinal George Pell in a provocative song in which he asks Australia's highest-ranking cleric in the Catholic Church, stationed in the Vatican, to return to Australia and answer what he knows about the cover-up of child sexual abuse under his watch in Ballarat.
Pell says he is too sick to return. He is the ultimate denier over many issues. A dinosaur who should be put out to grass.
Monday, February 15, 2016
What is Energy?
What happens when we sleep?
I wish I knew. At the end of the day I fall into bed
exhausted: my mind discombobulated and body aching.
After 8 hours supine on my
bed I arise with my mind alert and body refresh.
What on earth happens during
those eight hours?
Sleep is a wonder.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)