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Monday 22nd September 1997
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You might recall that statement by Union boss Jenny George who openly refused contribute towards the damage bill... despite the Australian Council of Trade Unions clearly being behind the violence.
Taxpayers are now carrying the costs of dozens of police injury compensation claims (est. Au$300,000), court cases resulting from the union's actions and the damage to property (est Au$300,000).
Only three protesters were convicted by the courts and not one has served a single day in jail... Is it any wonder then that the rent-a-crowd mob who protest so violently at Hanson meetings think that they can get away with anything?
The irony is that as a guest to Hanson meetings I have been warned by the police that I could be arrested for taking a photograph of the protesters - if they laid a charge of assault against me - something to do with the camera flash.... while the layabouts throw things, verbally abuse, push and punch guests while the police look the other way... mind you if a protester so much as puts a finger on one of the police they're off to in the back of a paddy wagon!
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad took a swipe at one of the world's richest men over the weekend - claiming (without naming) American billionaire and currency trader George Soros were causing an economic crisis in growing south east Asian countries through his international trading methods.
Mahathir proposed a ban on currency exchanges except for import and export purposes.
Soros responded at a gathering of 650 bankers in Hong Kong. The bankers had gathered for a World Bank-International Monetary Fund meeting. Soros told the bankers that Mahathir's statements were "vile and false" and were meant to cover up the Prime Minister's own failure to manage the country's economy.
"He couldn't get away with it if he were subjected to the discipline of a free and independent media in Malaysia," Soros said, "I don't believe that is going to be the policy of the Malaysian Government. I don't think he should be taken too seriously. If he were taken seriously it would be disastrous."
Soros suggested a meeting with Mahathir but the Malysian Prime Minister declined the invitation calling the billionaire "criminal" and a "moron".
Making the
news" -Goss was admitted to Mater Private Hospital where doctors have ordered that he take a complete rest.
Federal Schools Minister David Kemp yesterday rejected a request by state education ministers to help them increase literacy levels by increasing funding.
Kemp said that federal government had provided Au$1 billion over the last ten years for special literacy programmes without any improvement being noted.
"Its not a matter of calling on the Commonwealth for another half billion dollars to do the job they should be doing anyway," Kemp said.
"The issue is not one of resources. What is needed is the will to raise standards and make sure the first priority of every primary school is to ensure its students can read and write properly by the end of year three."
Queensland's education minister Bob Quinn said Kemp should put his money where his mouth is saying, "If they're genuine about their interests then they should provide some additional funds to the states.
"The states have been tackling the literacy problem for a number of years. In Queensland, we've put in Au$31 million a year compared with the Commonwealth's Au$8 million.
You say:
An interesting insight into what "they" mean when they call you a bigot:
WHAT THEY MEAN WHEN THEY CALL YOU A "BIGOT"
Welcome to "The Psychology of Liberalism 101." Today's lecture: Why
liberals are addicted to ad hominems, and what they mean by "bigot." This
is inspired by a recent communication from a reader. After complimenting my
mother (I did a column on her 85th birthday), he wonders how -- with such a
wonderful mom -- I turned out to be "so narrow-minded and bigoted."
Aside, why are liberals prone to insult-overkill to the point of
redundancy? I'm not just "bigoted," but "narrow-minded" too. Thus, I may be
distinguished from all of the tolerant, progressive and cosmopolitan
bigots. This correspondent was put to shame by one Jane Grey, who did not
provide a return address, probably for fear that I would show up with my
hooded friends one evening and burn a Star of David on her lawn.
Does the "mean-spirited, pompous trash" I write "bolster" my "deplorable
sense of self-esteem?" Lady Jane inquired. The letter was larded with
references to my "rantings," "kindergarten mentality," "preachy morality,"
"puritanical ravings, "bad-tempered reviling" and "small-minded
bitchiness." Like her namesake, Jane has lost her head -- but hardly
notices its absence. Liberals are frequently reduced to sputtering
impotence. Their choleric rage is the product of arrogance (the conviction
that opposing viewpoints are either evil, idiotic or a combination thereof)
compounded by subconscious inferiority.
Having for so long dominated the political debate, they are unaccustomed to
dealing with ideas, constructing arguments and presenting evidence. Those
who can't contend ultimately fulminate "Bigot" is their favourite invective,
along with its variations: "hateful," "intolerant," "prejudiced" and
"mean-spirited."
Their point is that conservatives -- really, anyone who refuses to
prostrate himself before their idols -- are a medley of David Duke,
Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott, the late George Lincoln Rockwell and
the early George Corley Wallace.
Since liberals refuse to define their terms, here's a handy guide to what
they mean by "bigot."
A bigot is a white person (by definition, non-whites can never be bigots,
regardless of how much they hate) who isn't eager to confess his
culpability for something others of his pigmentation did 50 or 150 years ago.
A bigot refuses to recognise the inherent justice of stealing a job or
educational opportunity from one who deserves it (on the basis of merit)
and presenting it another, due solely to race or gender. A bigot is a man,
or a woman, who clings to the sexist delusion that biology impacts on
behaviour and has the nagging suspicion that the female of the species
(whose nature inclines her to nurture) may not be as effective in combat as
the more aggressive -- not to mention larger and stronger -- male.
A bigot is someone who believes the culture that produced Michelangelo,
Mozart, Shakespeare and Edison is superior to those whose idea of a good
time is female genital mutilation, tribal genocide and pleading for alms.
A bigot wonders why X should arise at 6 am. and work 10-hour days to
support Y and her brood, when Y's exclusive occupation is the production of
fatherless children who will grow up to mug him. A bigot asks why America
must accept a majority of the world's immigrants (including millions who
break our laws each year to come here), when we currently have no shortage
of poverty, disease, illiteracy and racial tension.
A bigot refuses to put a lifestyle whose chief contribution to civilisation
is the spread of venereal disease on par with heterosexual monogamy, which
assures both the continuity of the human race and the socialisation of
succeeding generations.
In short, a bigot is one who clings to sinister superstition (religion),
vile chauvinism (love of country), outmoded patriarchy (the family) and
judgmental ethics (an objective moral code).
Pity, we can't all be as tolerant as the left. Hollywood's treatment of the
Catholic Church and evangelicals, and the educational establishment's
regard for the traditional family are among the many manifestations of
liberal benevolence. This curious and dwindling breed lacks the remotest
self-awareness. So, when they call you a bigot, consider the source
and wear it as a badge of honour.
Bob Birrell the report's co-author said yesterday, "The fact that a very substantial component of our next generation is being raised by the poorest segment of the community is very disturbing."
According to the report the number of sole parents jumped from 13.2% of the population in 1981 to 19.4% in 1996.
Families with children up to 15 years of age and who earned less than Au$22,650 per annum (Au$423 per week) now represented 43% of all families (900,000). Just five years ago only 31.7% of families lived below the poverty line.
The report says, "Poor families are shouldering a major part of the burden of raising Australia's children.
"Meanwhile, middle class and affluent families are gaining most of the benefits of economic recovery."
Yesterday my wife and I went for a canoe down the Brisbane River. Below are some pictures of family and friends taken over the last few days.
Bottom left, Monica and Ian Anderson from Norfolk Island joining us for a bar-b-que in Karana Downs; the "internet kid" Alex Balson with Mum on his last day of third term on Friday; pied cormorants nesting on the Brisbane River near our home; Viv standing on the steps above the jetty below our home.
Have a great day!
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