Views in verse on political pragmatism

One year this week and 'the meter is running' on Tony Abbott. So how is he faring?

As always in political commentary there is much ado about election 'promises' made

Fourteen promises broken already according to one AFR scribe this week. But let's get 'back to basics' here ...in the spirit of Abbott's oft' mentioned mentor John Howard:

Maybe so but ..."were they 'core promises' or not?"

And ultimately "does it matter" given that strategic objectives are achieved




I must say despite some of the bizarre matters that surfaced in the budget (which were mostly not part of the election diatribe) Tony Abbott has been 'every bit' the 'leader' one would have hoped to see ...although it may not appear that way at times. Why is that?

We were coming off the Kevin Rudd/Gillard period where the leader always craved the spotlight - good leaders do not do this - they empower the operatives who then must be seen to perform and they support them by allowing them to manage their own portfolio. Accountability then comes further down the track. The modus operandi we see reflected in this now is a stable front bench (unlike the previous two Labour governments). As a result we are seeing 'the best' of his key ministers.

With Joe Hockey even though he has fumbled from one situation to another (until gaining some traction this week) Abbott has allowed him to solve his own problems without 'running into the burning house'. There is no doubt that Hockey's smiling face this week was testimony to this 'effective leadership'

We have seen Julie Bishop and Scott Morrison shine under this leadership first in the recent handling of the Russian involvement in the loss of the Malaysian Airline and (Morrison) who accepted Abbott's 'poison chalice' of 'boat people out of control' and has managed to tick one of the pre-election promises there.

Whenever he has stepped onto the big stage Abbott has always managed to carry out his role to the level most Aussie voters would have expected. There were unjustified concerns about this pre-election.

So what of the original promises made...is anyone really counting (apart from this diligent journo)? Perhaps we (and Abbott) himself should instead return to his five pillars that he came into office on - 'core promises'? Surely these would be the best criteria upon which to judge:

1. Fixing the economy (voter comfort perspective) 2. Balancing the budget 3. Scrap the carbon tax 4. Improve small business's lot 5. Improve the greater economy (with diversity in industry)

In the end we need to 'win wars' not 'battles'  in life.

If Abbott were to reposition himself with those pillars now going forward to the next election, he should be able to account for what in the long run may appear as unrelated 'pre-election' promises given he makes the required level of progress towards each pillar.

All this is achievable, but there is a joker card amongst all of this. If he continues to bring, what I earlier referred to as 'bizarre matters', to the table eg: paid parental leave, knighthoods returning, loosening financial advice guidelines ...things that the voting community hasn't demanded, he won't succeed. He usually seems to speak up himself on policy issues but this all needs to be relevant and interlocking with the greater programmes.

People are more than capable of assessing progress towards big goals over time and should reward effort on this basis of that. But if mixed with trivialities and 'I can't see the forest for the trees' items, then Abbott may find himself as a one term 'leader'. I somehow think he is a little smarter than that!

As a leader, Abbott is indeed impressive ...as he usually was in opposition. His team will now need to step up to the many challenges that we face in the world economy today and show that they have solutions ...without empty promises.

All this assumes that the voter is willing to entrust our leaders to deliver the big picture items as their pledge - we got there ...does it matter how? Or, do we as voters wish to (and have every right to) hold them to every word they utter along the way (leader and team).

Perhaps the politicians themselves need to be more outward in their use of 'political pragmatism' and somehow convey this to the media ...thereby "leave us alone ...we're doing our job!"

Promises

Turn away from the window

Come back over here...
try to see hope and not fears
Tomorrow's a stranger
that we should embrace
Why revisit yesterday's tears?

Today's promises
Aren't tangible things
In the way that most things are real
But they carry a cost
if forgotten or lost...
the very heart of what you feel

Who knows why
A matter of trust
Can be broken so easily?
What to do...
When things don't turn out
The way that you
thought they would be?

Yesterday's promises
Aren't tangible things
In the way that most things are real
But they carry a cost
when forgotten or lost...
the very heart of what you feel


Sent from my iPhone - Grahame J Flynn

Views in Verse on political intransigence (and ALL that goes with it)

I watched the ABC's Q&A tonight...

A panel of big name & no-name Aussies up for comment on current issues

Conclusion - Talk is great guys but hey...

It's time to DO SOMETHING!



The Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss was there as the spokesman for the 'everything that could go wrong has gone wrong ' nearly one year in office Coalition government of Tony Abbott. Given the array of issues tabled there was little that could really stick to Mr Truss as so much seemingly needs doing. Funnily enough a great smokescreen.

But look lets get a little more focussed here. A little John West. What are things that really matter?

There was an underlying fear of unemployment in the room - fear of an economic indicator increasingly peddled currently about that has about as much statistical accuracy as odds on the horses. However the dissonance remains. The mood in of late has been peppered by such things as closure of the car industry, offshore outsourcing and a realisation that manufacturing in the traditional sense is all but gone.

However, one needs to look through the whipped up scenarios of doom... and focus on the BIG issues. What must be done ...not what can't be ...nor what probably won't ever happen.

Nevertheless, my only really galling moment watching the program was when Mr Truss offhandedly expressed the view that we simply need to focus on the right types of industries so as to ensure employment. We - who is we? More importantly - when? The time to act has come. And his timing could not been worse than today.

Mr Truss's cavalier comment came on the same day that CSL, one of our largest and most successful biotechs (one of the industries we are talking of rebuilding on), advised the media that its' manufacturing will be moving offshore along with (firstly) 500 jobs. They cited all the usual reasons (all valid by the way - tax, red-tape, inflexible labour force). Thereby, the benefits of making these products, innovatively developed here over the past decades, will be lost to its' local workers.

The addressing of all these key issues are the 80/20 things that the Government needs to be getting on with - the rest, yes - just noise.

But Mr Truss, Mr Abbott (wherever you hide these days) Joe (perhaps its all getting too hard) and the remainder of the highly mandated new Government of 2013, it is time to hit these pressing 80/20 issues and FIX THEM!

No stress ...just do what has to be done.



One day at a time

Lots a trouble in the world my friend
That's something that we all know
Seems to me that we hear it each day
But it ain't gonna stop the show
Cause dwelling on the downward spin
Only makes your misery grow...

So when people say:
"Nice to see you old mate...
how are you going today?"
Might be the sky is falling in
But I just simply say...

 I've been living my life
One day at a time
Just watching the sun
Rise and fall
Life sure is good
When all that you do
Is done for your one and all
My family and friends
Mean the world to me
I listen when I hear them call
I'm living my life
One day at a time
Winter spring summer and fall

Too much talk about
religion and war
And money that's for sure
It's all just 'cock and bull'
The glass is half empty
Seems all of the time
whenever man is it full?

So when people say:
"Nice to see you old mate...
how are you going today?"
Might be the sky is falling in
But I just simply say...

 I've been living my life
One day at a time
Just watching the sun
Rise and fall
Life sure is sure good when
All that you do
Is done for your one and all
My family and friends
Mean the world to me
I listen when I hear them call
I'm living my life
One day at a time
Winter spring summer and fall



Sent from my iPhone - 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

Views in verse on trust - do you know what you are eating?

I am passing on this privately initiated health message (as below). It seems that our Government is loath to do anything about this clandestine situation despite the public health risks and strangely despite the obvious loss of benefits to our own agriculture and manufacturing. Please read all of this - it is very important!

Furthurmore, the companies who are involved in such duplicity should be well and truly aware that the most important asset they have in their business is their brand - trusting a brand is fundamental before buying it. People in the western world eating packaged fish from favorite brands when indeed that food is coming from a place where their are no control regulations is a ticking time bomb. Companies & sponsoring countries such as New Zealand and Canada who are adding their trusted 'source' to this practice are breaching a basic confidence in their markets by all consumers - Grahame.

Below : EXTRACT FROM RECENT SOCIAL MEDIA:     Check this out at the Freezer before purchasing !!!!!!A week or so ago, Current Affair did a Report on frozen vegetables imported from New Zealand.  As it turns out if it is a Coles or Woollies home brand there is a more than good chance that the product has come from China.  Products made by McCain’s, Birdseye and other supposed reputable companies from New Zealand are now purchasing vegie products from China and selling that product under their name.

Basically check where it is produced by the comments on the back of the pack and if it says produced from New Zealand and Imported product it has Chinese vegies in it, put it back on the shelf.  I would even go as far as to say, even if it has product of New Zealand on it, I would be suspicious about where those vegies in that pack come from.  I suppose to play it safe unless it has been grown and packed in Australia stay away from it unless you don’t mind digesting poisons. Pretty scary stuff!!   Learn from BARCODES This will cheer you up, hope you're not having chicken for dinner Please remember.......the Australian barcode prefix is 93 PLEASE NOTE - if you love Australian produce and the thought of keeping jobs here, AND you like to eat healthy foods and buy quality products, then please read on.  Please also note the Australian barcode prefix is 93.     DANGEROUS IMPORTED FOODS There are no food inspection regulations of foods grown or processed in China, Vietnam, Hong Kong or Thailand.   Other world countries are scared of China making 'black hearted goods’, but can you differentiate which one is made in Australia, the USA, The Philippines, Taiwan or China?  For your Information ... the first 3 digits of the barcode is the country code where-in the product was made.  Example: all barcodes that start with 690; 691 through to 699 are all MADE IN CHINA.   4 71 is Made in Taiwan . This is our right to know, but our governments and related departments never educate the public, therefore we have to RESCUE OURSELVES.  Nowadays, Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products 'made in China, so they don't show from which country it is made.  However, you may now refer to the barcode.  Remember, if the first 3 digits are 690 through to 695, then it is Made in China.  Don't forget, Hong Kong is now China, too. 00 ~ 13 USA and CANADA 30 ~ 37 FRANCE 40 ~ 44 GERMANY 49 ~ JAPAN 50 ~ UK 57 ~ DENMARK 64 ~ FINLAND 76 ~ SWITZERLAND and LIECHTENSTEIN 93 ~ AUSTRALIA

628 ~ SAUDI ARABIA 629 ~ UNITED ARAB EMIRATESs 740-745 ~ CENTRAL AMERICAa All 480 Codes are Made in THE PHILIPPINES..   DO NOT BUY FOOD PROCESSED IN CHINA, HONG KONG, VIETNAM or THAILAND!!! Remember, there are no food inspection regulations!!! WATCH WHAT YOU BUY.  ESPECIALLY 'HIGHLINER' FISH PRODUCTS; all come from China, even though the box says 'product of Canada', it is from China and 'processed' in Canada, that is, only the coating is added and packaged in Canada.  The fish are raised in pens using chemicals that are banned in Canada as cancer-causing but legal in China.  This was exposed on CBC TV's 'Marketplace'. Please think before buying anything from China. Avoid buying all processed food packaged in China.  Anything goes!  We just don't know what else is in those packages.  Unlike the United States and Canada (and Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Great Britian et al). China does not have laws regulating food processing.Basically, do not buy any processed food from China.  This includes Hong Kong.  MANY companies are using a Hong Kong address to avoid this type of image reputation

Remember - to buy Australian - search for the 93 barcode. There is a poem on 'trust' to follow. No one offers second chances when it comes to trust.

Promises

Turn away from the window

Come back over here...
try to see hope and not fears
Tomorrow's a stranger
that we should embrace
Why revisit yesterday's tears?

Today's promises
Aren't tangible things
In the way that most things are real
But they carry a cost
if forgotten or lost...
the very heart of what you feel

Who knows why
A matter of trust
Can be broken so easily?
What to do...
When things don't turn out
The way that you
thought they would be?

Yesterday's promises
Aren't tangible things
In the way that most things are real
But they carry a cost
when forgotten or lost...
the very heart of what you feel


Sent from my iPhone - Grahame J Flynn

Unmet expectations come at a cost...

Views in Verse - on consequences.


Unmet expectations come at a cost... consequences

Promises

Turn away from the window

Come back over here...
try to see hope and not fears
Tomorrow's a stranger
that we should embrace
Why revisit yesterday's tears?

Today's promises
Aren't tangible things
In the way that most things are real
But they carry a cost
if forgotten or lost...
the very heart of what you feel

Who knows why
A matter of trust
Can be broken so easily?
What to do...
When things don't turn out
The way that you
thought they would be?

Yesterday's promises
Aren't tangible things
In the way that most things are real
But they carry a cost
when forgotten or lost...
the very heart of what you feel


Sent from my iPhone - Grahame J Flynn