Views in Verse on Aussie democracy! (or is it?)

We like to think that life in 'the olde penal colony' is about as 'liberated' as it gets these days.

And, I guess, no-one is complaining either. But perhaps we just don't. Complain, I mean. We make the decisions these days ...don't we? We have 'personal rights'...





I say this after mulling over this weeks debate on ABC's Q&A program. (No, not bloody Clive - that was the week before!).

The subjects debated were as many and varied as always ...given they are 'thrown into the ring' by the crowd.

A few common threads did come together however around the opening and the closing topics: 'assisted suicide' and 'abortion'. It was clear to all and sundry in the studio that the very 'personal' nature of these matters really called for 'personal' decisions.

Paul Kelly (the revered journalist & feature guest on the program) very soberly reminded the passionate throng in closing that these matters are not 'personal' but are matters that have to be decided by 'society'; interesting choice of word as this gathering appeared to me to represent a very good cross section of 'society'.

What he meant of course was that such social mutterings indeed need to be ratified by our government and the processes that underpin it. Thereby the influences that control it - policy, strategy, media, churches, conservatism, vested interests, lobbyists, short term thinking, Eddie Obeid, Clive Palmer, or ...indeed, failure to make that "courageous decision, minister" (ex 'Yes Minister' BBC TV series).

The subject didn't come up. But I can't help but throw 'gay marriage' into this mix as well. Being supplementary to these matters in that 'we - persons in society' would love to change the 'status quo' of this matter as well. However we cannot influence it at all either, as our politicians are too busy 'rabbiting on' about matters that quite frankly no-one should really need care about at all (eg: a budget - due process - duh!).

Kevin Rudd campaigned in 2007 on a 'for gay marriage platform' and yet then lost interest as soon as he was elected. Julia Gillard, in going forward with it, dismissed it summarily as "not happening on her watch".

So, it kind of takes me back to where we started with the convicts and the imperial masters way back in our colonial days. There is only one group making decisions and it sure isn't the convicts. But hey we 'convicts' make our own decisions these days ...don't we?

Is this democracy? Perhaps, I'd better start this again. I don't think it is.

What the hell is wrong with our political system? More to the point ...what is right with it? All this current comment re '24x7' media is becoming increasingly pertinent - no one is game to make a decision as someone out there mightn't like it.

There is a new factor here we bring - 'social media'. We can influence, but we can't change. Maybe we just have to try a little harder. Our regimental cigar smoking 'masters' also need to find a way to deal with it (other than the ostrich approach) as it isn't going away soon.

This current senate stand-off with the budget is relevant in only one real way; we elect these people and give them a mandate to make decisions. They need to be able to make them or we really will have a society in crisis and everyone will have to just make their own 'personal' decisions.

But somehow I think that is what is happening anyhow! So why the hell should people feel guilty over making their own personal decisions then worry about getting thrown into jail for doing so?

Bloody stupid eh? But what would I know ...and what right have I got? ...my forefathers were convicts. I've paid taxes for forty years though. Mmm ...perhaps I'd better start over.

Might start a senate party campaigning on 'personal rights'.

PS: Clive, you'd better stop watching the headlights soon 'laughing boy' or you'll get run over by a mighty big truck (perhaps you feel you are bathing in a spotlight!) You should know Aussies don't suffer fools for too long mate!

Right of Passage

It's your time 

Lovely boy

your hard work's almost done

Acceptance wasn't easy

in a school designed for some

Your progression has been honest

Your plans so well thought through

Adulthood came quickly 

from your trials

Yet it'll take time

Lovely boy

to see a fairer state

In a society
designed just for some

Why do politicians we elect

hide so well from truth?

Can we allow this 

mere 'opinion on the run' ?

Own the space

Lovely boy

look to those who lead

Accept things that can't be changed

yet fight for what you need

Equal rights are there for all

no matter how it sometimes seems...
Don't let anybody
keep you

from your dreams!!!

Forwarded from my iPhone - Grahame J Flynn

Views in verse on Clive Palmer

Clive Palmer 'the populist'

snidely 'second guessing' the easy winners 

Wit and policy 'on the fly'

Racism - It's a hit and miss affair

Several commentators mentioned of Clive's appearance on ABC's Q&A panel the other night - where he had so cleverly picked up on the  'populist winners' as they were delivered from the audience. Easy pickings!

How he had garnered the easy points that were there and just cast them into his policy bag as he went along ...just another night at the office.

Until he delivered a colourful rant against 'Chinese Bastards' as the debate went on. This was then seen as: a side issue, to do with his company problems, more just Clive being Clive. Perhaps not.

If you roll it up with all the other populist points he tucked away during that debate ...this I suggest was just another. As soon as he sensed though how poorly timed it was, he then attempted to 'wrap it up in a blanket of concern' re: communism, "shooting their own people", buying our ports...facts instead of his summary views.

Clive Palmer, just like Pauline Hanson before him, has a mistaken belief that all Australians if given the chance will respond to a racist call. I suggest that Clive was simply 'tucking another populist point in the bag' when he second guessed himself on racism as soon as the words slipped from his mouth. The tirade that followed was then camouflage for what he had unwittingly allowed to creep into his agenda . Quick wit and 'policy making on the fly' are strange bedfellows.

But why did he then carry on so to such an extent? He knows that that he cannot afford to be compared with Hanson. She proved that Australians will think through the real issues over time and see racism calls for what they are. Bunkum!

I blogged on 'White Australia policy' in this country only five days back. It is well and truly buried and so will Clive be if he allows himself to put up side by side against Hanson. People will readily see a lot of comparisons to her that will not speak well to his judgement. Voters at the end of the day in this country, once the fanfare is done, try to seek out 'integrity'.

Perhaps the 'populist' Messiah has fallen at the first turn...

There is a chap in a social club to which I belong who regularly emails around racist rants to 'all and sundry' on our common email list. He has been admonished time and time again by return emails. But he just doesn't get it. Regardless of what continues to happen, he just keeps sending them. He believes in his heart that everyone thinks the same way he does. He will keep doing it. Somehow he filters out the reality. Sad really.

Just getting back to Clive as he delivered his rant about "Chinese bastards" ...sitting right next to him was Penny Wong . I was embarrassed for you Clive and if per chance you don't think to apologise to her ...I will right now. Sorry Ms Wong. He knows not what he does.

The Others

You took me in when I needed help

I know that you are my friend

He vouched for me also at that time 

A ready hand to lend

She too was like a sister to me

Without asking a thing in return

But it's not about them of whom I speak

It’s the others that I spurn

I didn’t mean you, when I spoke of ‘a plot’

I didn’t mean him, involved he’s not

I didn’t mean her, I’d be needlessly hurting

It’s the rest of the others to whom I’m referring

It’s all the others, who offer a threat

It’s all the others, whose intent I get

It's all about them, their motives aren't true

I know this just simply, because …I do!

from my desktop Grahame J Flynn

Clive Palmer - the new messiah

Views in verse

- on a call to integrity!

What a showman! But the real challenges await round the bend... how will he respond?



Clive Palmer gave birth to a new party at the last Federal election (PUP) and it seems that the mining magnate, now politician, hasn't stopped creating mayhem ever since. We have been treated to a political whirlwind these past few months; he has created a PR freight train to usher in his new senate team which it seems will hold power over decision making therein. The major political parties at his mercy? Is this a new dawn in Australian politics?

The most amazing thing to be sure (not the sight of this 'coalman' standing on the same stage as Al Gore last week) is that his senators are only now taking their seats this month. The scene is now set by Palmer for a critical awareness both inside and outside parliament of who will be wielding power going forth! How will he use it?

He has achieved this on a wave of popularity supporting everything he sees is good but without having to at this time make a single hard call. Good politics Clive and good luck. No doubt a great showman; the call to integrity awaits around the bend ...let's not set our hopes too high shall we? Many have said that his true motives lie in 'get squares' aimed more at his local Queensland rivals than any true platform of any national macro reform.

There's only one thing I know for sure is that objectives drive behaviour - what he does from here on will set the scene for why he really got into all of this in the first place. Time will tell.


The new messiah

Follow me
If you're tired
Of the way that it's all wired
We know
There's gotta be a better way

Follow me
If you're angry
About politics at large
I know we can both see a better day

Follow me
If their outlook's
much more vague
than yours and mine

Follow me
I know we'll
Get along
just bloody fine

Follow me
When I promise
About the changes we will make
Listen well as I explain
That things may change.

Dream on
As my intention
And promises to you...
Seem to float
Just like sweet bubbles
down a drain

From my iPad - Grahame J Flynn