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 the one great single class society

 Australians - whatever it takes ...together! He who chooses to talk and not act will not be rewarded afterwards.

Views in Verse on the one great single class society



Joe Hockey has long been lauded as a key contender for leadership of the Australian Liberal Party given he has appeared in the past 'electable' in the eyes of the Australian public. Son of a migrant - common appeal - easy going style - no pretension to grandeur.

Now he gets the Treasurer's job: fails to sell his first budget, can't legislate it, unable to collaborate on it, no alternative floated and yet ...amongst all of this he is 'writing a book'. And then ...despite the carnage around him he ...goes ahead and formally launches the book. So in the space of a few weeks he has gone from being Joe, everyone's mate, to Joe the Treasurer given to 'hubris' (something Australian voters will not tolerate!).

In this same space of time, Julie Bishop - another of Abbott's senior ministers, formerly a twenty year practising lawyer, and probably not seen as warm to the electorate because of her stern demeanour; in the meantime. she simply gets on with her Foreign Affairs role.

The first major challenge she has in her role, the loss of 28 Australians over the Ukraine. Julie Bishop simply goes out and successfully takes on Vladimir Putin. In doing so, represents to the world how we as Australians like to be seen to support each other. No need to promote herself. She just went out and did her job as best she could. Australians love to see their representatives 'doing the hard-yards' as they do themselves in their own work every day.

We see ourselves as a single class society working together as one - there is no room for 'hubris' in getting things done - chest beating doesn't pay - all uphill from here Joe!

Good luck! Get some new advisers!

The Rose, the Sun and the Sea

She was the kindest of woman

her beauty long lost to the sun

She came to this port as a stranger

for the love of "a wayward one"

Most thought:

 "he'd since died a sailor"

Put it down to his 'late father's bent'

But back to this headland

she'd return each day

Early ...without relent

After this vigil

She'd walk through town

Shoulders thrown back as she'd go

Watching out 

for new arrivals

the coachman's brow would lo'

In the early years 

neat and composed

Never missing the odd chance to talk

Her appearance waned

with each new year

yet purpose still clear in her walk

She'd stop and she'd chat

to the waifs and the needy

A port town carries it's share

Helping out at the sailor's home too

Plenty of work to do there

She also worked hard for a living

under the Milliner's shop

Until one grey morn'

when the Constable announced:

"her rounds had come to a stop"

It seems the Squire

from a nearby cove

had called that very same day

With ghastly news 

that a body was found

Floating ...face down ...in the bay

Her funeral was said to be touching

All of the children were there

Even the seamen 

made their way up the hill

with flowers ...to rest in her hair

The Mayor declared her (to be)

"of good breeding"...

who came to us 'through the back door"

Describing such situations as "travesties..."

"...such things shouldn't happen at all"

Most would have noticed too

a stranger there...

Sitting amongst the throng

A refined old woman...

Who said not a word...

In a short while she was gone

The Landlord later noted:

"personal things were taken...

...right to the very last one"

All that was left 

in his seaward loft

Was a rose...

...now bleached by the sun.

Forwarded from my I pad - Grahame J Flynn

  

Enter 'the bear' - he's out of the cave

Views in verse on 'the cut and thrust'

Joe Hockey has had a subtle introduction to Australian public life as our new Treasurer since September '13. No longer...

These past few months he has 'arrived' and is running a cool yet fearless program designed to hit anything that smacks of high subsidies or tariffs. This is designed of course to give life to the realeasing of public funds to infrastructure oriented projects (the backbone of the Abbott election campaign). Behind this of course: anything towards better productivity. 

The latest: stonewalling with CC Amatil, the owners of SPC Ardmona, against requested taxpayer funding to save jobs there. However, despite the real impacts, he is showing both consistency and starch given his firm hand shown with our lack-luster motor vehicle industry demands and subsequent implosion. The recent Simplot scenario appears a more viable model to meet his objectives. To their credit it seems the company sorted that out themselves! 

The farmers are now bleating again too given the growing drought. Perhaps, they'll be next for Joe's tough love approach. Now that'll take 'ticker' given the Liberal's Country Party commitments.

However, despite his familiar maudlin look at times, it seems that there is an icy demeanor lurking below. Especially given all of this is being matched by the growing risk of unemployment. He's even challenging the building unions! I hope he's sleeping well at night with that one.

He clearly loves the cut and thrust. I wonder what he does in his spare time ...?

FRENZY

A full-on frenzy take me there
Brings a rush beyond compare
Feel the heat ...stinging treat
cop it hard ...cop it sweet

It's a wild man let loose inside
Living with that white ball's ride
Cold sweat upon the brow
The devil's laughing at me now:

"Risk it all ...time to call
Bet the lot ...feel the shock
Golden tokens ...far too hot!
Think ...the family ...it's all you got"

Then the wait... the sudden fate...

"it's black and high my friend"

Panic subsides,

your mouth is dry...

...time ...to go again!

Forwarded from my I-pad - Grahame J Flynn