World Politics

[auscyclefan94]

The internet filter was the idea of Chairman Rudd. You're 19 right...so I understand if you've forgotten. At least you live in a decent seat. My apologies for the assumption you vote Labor. Where I live, 75% of people do. The kids are all brainwashed by mummy, daddy and their high school teachers to vote Labor. Stand up to them and answer their questions and they run off crying. Also, every single one of them, even the ones a decade older than you, *****ed about broadband. Especially the men. They literally refuse to accept reality. They stuffed the Australian public over.

You might have missed this today:

http://www.theage.com.au/business/entire-nbn-board-resigns-20130922-2u835.html

Malcolm Turnbull, the man almost every Labor voter wants to head the Coalition, has called the bluff of the entire board of directors for the NBN. Major contracts will have to renegotiated and a full forensic audit. Oh yay!! Now we find who handed money to their BFFs from whatever Union. That's right, Labor's preferred Liberal party leader has said their work is $H1TE! That's because it is.

ACF94 I am with you. I love seeing heads roll from useless public servant jobs. Jobs that are completely unnecessary. Tim Flannery and his quack psuedo science Climate Change group are GONE and now the NBN mob are pretty much down the gurgler too. Oh happy days!

If I had my way, I would abolish the Federal Departments of Education and Health, who do not run a single school or hospital and run it through all the states. I read the other day that there are six separate departments of Indigenous Affairs at a Commonwealth level and each of the states and territories all have a department for that as well. A lot of our financial and service delivery problems if we streamlined the way we ran services.

The brainwashing of children in our education system is disgusting. It is social engineering at it's worst. Sadly, it only gets worse once one gets into Tertiary Education where the lecturers are open about their political biases and the curriculum is deliberately set to be that way.

I am no fan of Malcolm Turnbull, but he will do a good job with the NBN because he a) understands the Technology and b) has ran businesses before, therefore knows what is actually needed to get a big project up and running.

As long as it's the right ones including excessive amounts of managers. The wrong cuts will mean a cut in services which won't make anyone happy.

Cut, cut cut! Smaller government I say.

In regards to Merkel, I say she is a great leader and her record is very good. However, I do think that even most centre-right political leaders in Europe are social democrats and often big-government conservatives. I quite liked the FDP in Germany tbh, a party committed to free-market ideals.

 

[movingtarget]

If I had my way, I would abolish the Federal Departments of Education and Health, who do not run a single school or hospital and run it through all the states. I read the other day that there are six separate departments of Indigenous Affairs at a Commonwealth level and each of the states and territories all have a department for that as well. A lot of our financial and service delivery problems if we streamlined the way we ran services.

The brainwashing of children in our education system is disgusting. It is social engineering at it's worst. Sadly, it only gets worse once one gets into Tertiary Education where the lecturers are open about their political biases and the curriculum is deliberately set to be that way.

I am no fan of Malcolm Turnbull, but he will do a good job with the NBN because he a) understands the Technology and b) has ran businesses before, therefore knows what is actually needed to get a big project up and running.



Cut, cut cut! Smaller government I say.

In regards to Merkel, I say she is a great leader and her record is very good. However, I do think that even most centre-right political leaders in Europe are social democrats and often big-government conservatives. I quite liked the FDP in Germany tbh, a party committed to free-market ideals.

I agree with some cuts to the public service but they also need to stop subsidising non competitive industries like car manufacturing. Many other large companies have gone under without government assistance some of them with more of a future in this country than car manufacturers. What is so special about the car industry ? Same with banks. It's okay to treat the public like fools but when they get into trouble they want a bail out. The USA situation with banks was different but it still upset many to see them propped up after being responsible for the mess in the first place.

 

[thrawn]

If I had my way, I would abolish the Federal Departments of Education and Health, who do not run a single school or hospital and run it through all the states. I read the other day that there are six separate departments of Indigenous Affairs at a Commonwealth level and each of the states and territories all have a department for that as well. A lot of our financial and service delivery problems if we streamlined the way we ran services.

The brainwashing of children in our education system is disgusting. It is social engineering at it's worst. Sadly, it only gets worse once one gets into Tertiary Education where the lecturers are open about their political biases and the curriculum is deliberately set to be that way.

I am no fan of Malcolm Turnbull, but he will do a good job with the NBN because he a) understands the Technology and b) has ran businesses before, therefore knows what is actually needed to get a big project up and running.



Cut, cut cut! Smaller government I say.

In regards to Merkel, I say she is a great leader and her record is very good. However, I do think that even most centre-right political leaders in Europe are social democrats and often big-government conservatives. I quite liked the FDP in Germany tbh, a party committed to free-market ideals.

Federal departments of education and health are necessary. Education is not limited to schools, but also includes tafe, private vet sector providers, universities etc. which definitely require attention from the federal government. Unless of course you were proposing a department of tertiary education to replace it. As the Fed's provide funding for health, they should also have a say in how it is spent. Also included in the general health portfolio is medicare. This would be a disaster if run on a state by state level - see disability for evidence of this. To be honest, I'd rather abolish state governments with the Federal government assuming larger responsibility, and having the councils provide services to local communities. Having 3 levels of government is pretty ridiculous.

Our education system is deteriorating, with literacy and numeracy rankings against other countries falling. You're going to have to elaborate on what teachers are brainwashing to think though, as I don't know what you're talking about. The lecturers I had at uni were fairly open about any biases they had, and most actively encouraged us to challenge their perceptions and biases provided we could back it up with a reasonable, empirically based argument. I can credit some of my better marks at uni to not feeding the lecturers opinion back at them, but rather forming my own unique arguments and backing them up. But hey, maybe you went to a **** uni.

RE: cuts, are you happy for the Libs to keep some of the cuts Labor made to middle-class welfare (e.g.private insurance rebates cut for those with a household taxable income of $150,000+)?

 

[thrawn]

I agree with some cuts to the public service but they also need to stop subsidising non competitive industries like car manufacturing. Many other large companies have gone under without government assistance some of them with more of a future in this country than car manufacturers. What is so special about the car industry ? Same with banks. It's okay to treat the public like fools but when they get into trouble they want a bail out. The USA situation with banks was different but it still upset many to see them propped up after being responsible for the mess in the first place.

It's amazing how often self-identified free market capitalists run to the government for help as soon as their own bad decisions cause them financial difficulties.

Agree that the subsidies for the car industry are ridiculous. The CEO of these companies in Aus are brilliant. Every 2-3 years they complain about how the manufacturing industry is dying and will be gone in the next 'x' amount of years. The boom, the government gives them even more assistance. I can understand, and agree with assistance given to farmers during times of drought etc.

 

[greenedge]

Your point about Merkel is interesting- she is one of the few female leaders worldwide so she does deserve recognition. Germany is also the most powerful country in Europe, so...

I have always enjoyed this thread but due to my age/ isolated country have not understood all the world concerns.
A good website to keep abreast of World Politics http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com

With Australia, Science should not go under Industry, i agree with the Education/ Health- though i don't feel i am being brainwashed.

Also the only way the car industry could survive (make their version of a profit ) is to just stop overseas cars coming in to Australia. That would never happen, with our Trade agreements so the Govt's will continue to be conned.

 

[Galic Ho]

Your point about Merkel is interesting- she is one of the few female leaders worldwide so she does deserve recognition. Germany is also the most powerful country in Europe, so...

I have always enjoyed this thread but due to my age/ isolated country have not understood all the world concerns.
A good website to keep abreast of World Politics http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com

With Australia, Science should not go under Industry, i agree with the Education/ Health- though i don't feel i am being brainwashed.

Also the only way the car industry could survive (make their version of a profit ) is to just stop overseas cars coming in to Australia. That would never happen, with our Trade agreements so the Govt's will continue to be conned.

Look at the price of a number of European model cars in the USA then compare the Aussie price hike. We're being screwed over. Same with a lot of tech stuff.

Personally I want a lot of tech companies not paying taxes, aka Apple, taken out and shot like the vermin they are. Horrible company. Evil company.

Regulation is needed and that is what government is for. ACF94, if you sat through business lecturers in first year uni courses, you'd find out a lot about people. Human psychology. I could spot the ones who'd make horrible CEO's and Board of Directors...the way they simply responded to questions particularly in basic marketing and macroeconomic subjects...it's frightening. Greedy, deceitful, dishonest people who would run anyone over to make a buck. Then they hide behind their 'free market' speech and quote Milton Freidman. The guy was a quack who wanted to be able to do WHATEVER he wanted whenever he wanted.

Rule 1. People lie and will cheat. Just look at cycling. Regulation is needed. Period. Why did Australia's economy fair well? Study accounting and accounting regulation world wide. The USA has always thought they are special and refuse to play ball. They enabled the liars to defraud so many people in the hope of making a quick buck. Also most people don't realise there are two financial systems in place. The Roman system and the Westminster system. If you don't understand both and accounting theory, then sorry, but IMO you don't have a clue what you're talking about. Why? You lack perspective.

As for the hospitals...giving control to the states is stupid. Yes there is redundancy, but there is major corruption. NSW under Labor with Carr, Iemma, Rees and whoever that American woman was, well a number of local councils were tied into the Labor party. They embezzled millions. Want to know how much in debt Dubbo hospital was 3-4 years ago? $60 odd million. The money is there, the managers and people controlling funds are simply incompetent and cannot plan. Oh but they have a nice printed degree...it means little. Most degrees aren't worth the paper they are printed on because people are not taught how to think. Labor said Federally is hospitals did not improve they'd remove power from them. Did not happen even when States went wall to wall Liberal. The bad public sector managers need to be carted...named and shamed. Period. Never to be re-hired.

Take NSW Rail...or what it use to be called. Name changed recently...they split it up into two departments. One of the high up managers was dirty and corrupt. Fired regrettably by his buddy in Labor, the minister. Rehired on a private contract as an expert. That kind of crap is the problem. There need to be laws punishing poor expenditure of taxpayers funds and they need to be concrete. Then we'd see good people stepping up to the plate. The best. Contract theory also dictates wages play a part in who you get...well to a degree. But the remuneration needs to be in part. Sadly public sector cushy jobs attract the wrong types and has fundamentally skewed the basics of contract theory and it's applications.

As for education. In NSW there are currently about 50% of all working teachers, I believe from a specific generation of teachers, ones who COULD teach, who have a gift for it (yes it is a skill and no, many cannot teach period regardless of their job title) who will be retiring in the next decade. The current mob who go in have a huge amount who are burnt out in 3 years. There is a MASSIVE problem. Yes the problem is down to UNIVERSITIES. I just need to go up to Bathurst and look at the CSU teaching graduates. High school are bright enough, but everyone knows the bulk majority of primary school teachers are DUMB. Dumb enough that I'd only send kids to a PRIVATE school. What was Labor's proposal? More Julia Gillard crap ACF94...remember every portfolio she touched turned to crap. But how did the female teachers vote as a whole even after they opposed her changes to the teaching curriculum? They fawned and voted for her and abused many who didn't vote for a woman...particularly Tony Abbot. I know quite a few myself.

There literally is no fixing this attitude among the population. Many won't change or don't even recognise they are lacking something in their thought processes and knowledge base. Just like wandering into the Clinic. Some people will NEVER get it. Sadly they are the majority. Now if I were in charge of the education system...well I believe we could save a generation. The ones coming through. Little to no hope for the ones who are finished.

 

[darwin553]

ACF94, if you sat through business lecturers in first year uni courses, you'd find out a lot about people. Human psychology. I could spot the ones who'd make horrible CEO's and Board of Directors...the way they simply responded to questions particularly in basic marketing and macroeconomic subjects...it's frightening.

You're judging a future business person's abilities from their responses in first year uni courses? Now that is frightening!

 

[Galic Ho]

You're judging a future business person's abilities from their responses in first year uni courses? Now that is frightening!

Nope. Just observing their character. It speaks to the core of the person.

Seriously, it's not hard to spot the really dodgy ones. Sure you can't extrapolate and say, hey they'd definitely be bad. But add up a number of things and it's quite conceivable to fathom how your Rodney Adler's began. How you get fiasco's like Enron in the USA with Kenneth Lay and his boys...'The smartest guys in the room.' It's unbridled arrogance and a refusal to play fair. Rules do not apply to these people. They push, push and push some more.

It's character dude. If you're as old as I think you are, you should have figured that out by now. Even more so if you vote Liberal in elections. It's obvious. Then again I spot things way before most people do...my first law lecturer did tell my class to never stop questioning. He was right. You can only fake character so much...eventually you are found out. Take Kevin Rudd as a prime example. I knew he had none back before the 2007 election and yes, I thought he'd be Labor's best chance to get elected 2 years before they made him leader.

Some of us are that far ahead of the ball curve it isn't funny. Like I said, some things are obvious. It's not my fault others don't see it. Behaviour gives a lot of things away. Good people are always, or almost always good people. Fake, lying sycophants are always that. It eventually comes through. Problem is people don't like admitting they were conned or supported a fraud. Cycling is a pure reflection of this down to it's very core. A remarkable parallel with every day life.

 

[darwin553]

Nope. Just observing their character. It speaks to the core of the person.

Come back to me with something more reasonable like if you would have said '3rd year or above'.

 

[thrawn]

Look at the price of a number of European model cars in the USA then compare the Aussie price hike. We're being screwed over. Same with a lot of tech stuff.

Personally I want a lot of tech companies not paying taxes, aka Apple, taken out and shot like the vermin they are. Horrible company. Evil company.

Regulation is needed and that is what government is for. ACF94, if you sat through business lecturers in first year uni courses, you'd find out a lot about people. Human psychology. I could spot the ones who'd make horrible CEO's and Board of Directors...the way they simply responded to questions particularly in basic marketing and macroeconomic subjects...it's frightening. Greedy, deceitful, dishonest people who would run anyone over to make a buck. Then they hide behind their 'free market' speech and quote Milton Freidman. The guy was a quack who wanted to be able to do WHATEVER he wanted whenever he wanted.

Rule 1. People lie and will cheat. Just look at cycling. Regulation is needed. Period. Why did Australia's economy fair well? Study accounting and accounting regulation world wide. The USA has always thought they are special and refuse to play ball. They enabled the liars to defraud so many people in the hope of making a quick buck. Also most people don't realise there are two financial systems in place. The Roman system and the Westminster system. If you don't understand both and accounting theory, then sorry, but IMO you don't have a clue what you're talking about. Why? You lack perspective.

As for the hospitals...giving control to the states is stupid. Yes there is redundancy, but there is major corruption. NSW under Labor with Carr, Iemma, Rees and whoever that American woman was, well a number of local councils were tied into the Labor party. They embezzled millions. Want to know how much in debt Dubbo hospital was 3-4 years ago? $60 odd million. The money is there, the managers and people controlling funds are simply incompetent and cannot plan. Oh but they have a nice printed degree...it means little. Most degrees aren't worth the paper they are printed on because people are not taught how to think. Labor said Federally is hospitals did not improve they'd remove power from them. Did not happen even when States went wall to wall Liberal. The bad public sector managers need to be carted...named and shamed. Period. Never to be re-hired.

Take NSW Rail...or what it use to be called. Name changed recently...they split it up into two departments. One of the high up managers was dirty and corrupt. Fired regrettably by his buddy in Labor, the minister. Rehired on a private contract as an expert. That kind of crap is the problem. There need to be laws punishing poor expenditure of taxpayers funds and they need to be concrete. Then we'd see good people stepping up to the plate. The best. Contract theory also dictates wages play a part in who you get...well to a degree. But the remuneration needs to be in part. Sadly public sector cushy jobs attract the wrong types and has fundamentally skewed the basics of contract theory and it's applications.

As for education. In NSW there are currently about 50% of all working teachers, I believe from a specific generation of teachers, ones who COULD teach, who have a gift for it (yes it is a skill and no, many cannot teach period regardless of their job title) who will be retiring in the next decade. The current mob who go in have a huge amount who are burnt out in 3 years. There is a MASSIVE problem. Yes the problem is down to UNIVERSITIES. I just need to go up to Bathurst and look at the CSU teaching graduates. High school are bright enough, but everyone knows the bulk majority of primary school teachers are DUMB. Dumb enough that I'd only send kids to a PRIVATE school. What was Labor's proposal? More Julia Gillard crap ACF94...remember every portfolio she touched turned to crap. But how did the female teachers vote as a whole even after they opposed her changes to the teaching curriculum? They fawned and voted for her and abused many who didn't vote for a woman...particularly Tony Abbot. I know quite a few myself.

There literally is no fixing this attitude among the population. Many won't change or don't even recognise they are lacking something in their thought processes and knowledge base. Just like wandering into the Clinic. Some people will NEVER get it. Sadly they are the majority. Now if I were in charge of the education system...well I believe we could save a generation. The ones coming through. Little to no hope for the ones who are finished.

The problem with primary teaching is that you can get into an education/teaching degree at some universities with an ATAR of 55. High school teachers usually do a degree, followed by a DipEd. Usually looking at roughly a distinction average to get into the DipEd at a lot of universities, meaning higher quality.

 

[darwin553]

The problem with primary teaching is that you can get into an education/teaching degree at some universities with an ATAR of 55. High school teachers usually do a degree, followed by a DipEd. Usually looking at roughly a distinction average to get into the DipEd at a lot of universities, meaning higher quality.

Shouldn't the standard of teacher be better for secondary compared to primary school?

 

[Galic Ho]

Come back to me with something more reasonable like if you would have said '3rd year or above'.

None of the negligent and suspect personality types studied what I did in third year.

I wonder why? Oh that's right...their ilk are drawn to certain fields.

Which begs me to ask you...when was the last time you were at a university. Which field can you say confidently is full of BS artists? I'll give you a freebie, you've been talking about their type today in another thread.

 

[Galic Ho]

Shouldn't the standard of teacher be better for secondary compared to primary school?

It use to be the other way around.

If primary teaching fails to impart the necessary skills, you have an entire generation where many kids leave primary and infant school without the core abilities they need for high school. That is happening right now.

Kids are literally getting dumber...at least it appears that way. Reality is they are not being taught properly. Sad thing is a lot of bright kids are being left out. The education system is throwing lots of money in public schools at disadvantaged and behavioral problem kids...next to nothing for the talented and gifted. Sad part is the programs do not really help these disadvantaged or learning deficient kids. They remain stagnant. It's the system that is the problem.

Thrawn has it. Standards have been lowered far too much for teaching.

 

[darwin553]

None of the negligent and suspect personality types studied what I did in third year.

I wonder why? Oh that's right...their ilk are drawn to certain fields.

Which begs me to ask you...when was the last time you were at a university. Which field can you say confidently is full of BS artists? I'll give you a freebie, you've been talking about their type today in another thread.

I don't think it's too hard to guess what I have qualifications in if you have been following me in the clinic and particularly in the Froome thread.

 

[darwin553]

It use to be the other way around.

If primary teaching fails to impart the necessary skills, you have an entire generation where many kids leave primary and infant school without the core abilities they need for high school. That is happening right now.

Kids are literally getting dumber...at least it appears that way. Reality is they are not being taught properly. Sad thing is a lot of bright kids are being left out. The education system is throwing lots of money in public schools at disadvantaged and behavioral problem kids...next to nothing for the talented and gifted. Sad part is the programs do not really help these disadvantaged or learning deficient kids. They remain stagnant. It's the system that is the problem.

Thrawn has it. Standards have been lowered far too much for teaching.

I agree with much of what you have said although I wouldn't give up on the disadvantaged for the sake of the gifted or talented that are falling by the wayside atm as it is usually the public funding that is directed at addressing the disadvantaged in our education system that assists the gifted or talented from disadvantaged backgrounds too.

 

[movingtarget]

It use to be the other way around.

If primary teaching fails to impart the necessary skills, you have an entire generation where many kids leave primary and infant school without the core abilities they need for high school. That is happening right now.

Kids are literally getting dumber...at least it appears that way. Reality is they are not being taught properly. Sad thing is a lot of bright kids are being left out. The education system is throwing lots of money in public schools at disadvantaged and behavioral problem kids...next to nothing for the talented and gifted. Sad part is the programs do not really help these disadvantaged or learning deficient kids. They remain stagnant. It's the system that is the problem.

Thrawn has it. Standards have been lowered far too much for teaching.

I would say kids are emotionally dumber because they have been part of an idiot system of education that does not teach about real life. The "everyone is a winner" mentality and kids can't be criticised. Give every mediocre kid an award and be careful not to upset them. Political correctness has strangled not only the education system but society but you are allowed to get on Twitter or whatever and do what you want. Teenage bullying has moved from in your face to online where it is even harder to control. Many men don't even want to teach kids because of the the perceptions by morons regarding male teachers. Too many kids these days can't accept the word, No. They want it now and they want it all and they think they are entitled to what they want. What are kids talking about : celebrity culture, looks and everything superficial. I fear for the future and the people in control of it.

 

[Echoes]

Your point about Merkel is interesting- she is one of the few female leaders worldwide so she does deserve recognition. Germany is also the most powerful country in Europe, so...

What are you smoking? There are thousands of female leaders around the globe. Quite logical ! Since political governments no longer have the reality of power, we place women in them (the Éric Zemmour theory ! )


I said Merkel is a weak leader ! It means she is. If she were strong she would exit the euro, since it's in her nation's interest. But she does not because she's got an American gun on the forehead !

Shall I remind you that Germany is STUCK in a SUPRANATIONAL union, right? Like every nation states of the EU. A supranational entity is never in the interest of any people that are stuck in it. No leader of the EU can have free hands, right? The EU Commission and the ECB have the upper hands ! Merkel cannot say a word about Euro policy. Barroso can !

 

[Ferminal]

if you sat through business lecturers in first year uni courses, you'd find out a lot about people.

Really? There's not much to find out, just a bunch of drones, if we're lucky a few will go on to develop some decent skills.

 

[greenedge]

What are you smoking? There are thousands of female leaders around the globe. Quite logical ! Since political governments no longer have the reality of power, we place women in them (the Éric Zemmour theory ! )


I said Merkel is a weak leader ! It means she is. If she were strong she would exit the euro, since it's in her nation's interest. But she does not because she's got an American gun on the forehead !

Shall I remind you that Germany is STUCK in a SUPRANATIONAL union, right? Like every nation states of the EU. A supranational entity is never in the interest of any people that are stuck in it. No leader of the EU can have free hands, right? The EU Commission and the ECB have the upper hands ! Merkel cannot say a word about Euro policy. Barroso can !

I'm smoking nothing
There are not that many prime ministers, presidents, chancellors... of important countries (Brazil?) that are female is what i meant. I understand your points, though that does not mean i agree with them- i think Merkel is a strong leader if only because she will serve 3 terms. Sure she can't withdraw from the EU (due to America as you say) but her party does not have that as a political view anyways/ Germany could do a lot on the Euro policy.

I know too about their union/ agree with your point somewhat.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I would say kids are emotionally dumber because they have been part of an idiot system of education that does not teach about real life. The "everyone is a winner" mentality and kids can't be criticised. Give every mediocre kid an award and be careful not to upset them. Political correctness has strangled not only the education system but society but you are allowed to get on Twitter or whatever and do what you want. Teenage bullying has moved from in your face to online where it is even harder to control. Many men don't even want to teach kids because of the the perceptions by morons regarding male teachers. Too many kids these days can't accept the word, No. They want it now and they want it all and they think they are entitled to what they want. What are kids talking about : celebrity culture, looks and everything superficial. I fear for the future and the people in control of it.

This. Spot on.

I agree with some cuts to the public service but they also need to stop subsidising non competitive industries like car manufacturing. Many other large companies have gone under without government assistance some of them with more of a future in this country than car manufacturers. What is so special about the car industry ? Same with banks. It's okay to treat the public like fools but when they get into trouble they want a bail out. The USA situation with banks was different but it still upset many to see them propped up after being responsible for the mess in the first place.

I agree as well. The idea of funding industries over a decade long that can no support themselves is simply absurd. Cut the funding and either reduce taxes or put the money towards something useful.

Federal departments of education and health are necessary. Education is not limited to schools, but also includes tafe, private vet sector providers, universities etc. which definitely require attention from the federal government. Unless of course you were proposing a department of tertiary education to replace it. As the Fed's provide funding for health, they should also have a say in how it is spent. Also included in the general health portfolio is medicare. This would be a disaster if run on a state by state level - see disability for evidence of this. To be honest, I'd rather abolish state governments with the Federal government assuming larger responsibility, and having the councils provide services to local communities. Having 3 levels of government is pretty ridiculous.

Our education system is deteriorating, with literacy and numeracy rankings against other countries falling. You're going to have to elaborate on what teachers are brainwashing to think though, as I don't know what you're talking about. The lecturers I had at uni were fairly open about any biases they had, and most actively encouraged us to challenge their perceptions and biases provided we could back it up with a reasonable, empirically based argument. I can credit some of my better marks at uni to not feeding the lecturers opinion back at them, but rather forming my own unique arguments and backing them up. But hey, maybe you went to a **** uni.

RE: cuts, are you happy for the Libs to keep some of the cuts Labor made to middle-class welfare (e.g.private insurance rebates cut for those with a household taxable income of $150,000+)?

The Federal Department of Education does not run an educational institution. It does not run TAFE's and while you could have specifically a department for Tertiary Education, it would only look after Universities and would be no way near the size the current Department of Education is. I would not abolish state governments, they can run services better than at a centralised level of government. Give the money to the states and let them direct the resources to the areas that are needed.

Teachers are definitely brainwashing kids. Blind Freddy can tell you that the Education system is full of left-wing teachers. Whether it be in History, English, Legal Studies, Science or almost any other class, it is veiled in a left-wing ideology. I don't know what you studied but you must have been pretty blind and/or deaf not to notice that Universities as well were/still are marinated in leftist BS. I certainly did not go to a **** Uni, I went to the best Uni in Australia.

I am happy with some of the cuts Labor made, but the Labor Government still spent and planned on spending on some ridiculous programs that were going to have little effect on the productivity or well-being of this country. They were a terrible government.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Merkel is a very impressive leader. Germany's position in comparison to other European countries and in comparison to the starting point is quite good. However, she is a social democrat like most leaders, on either side of politics, are in Europe. The centre in Europe is definitely further to the left than in it is in Australia. Merkel is a consensus politician, she is not a conviction politician like a Margaret Thatcher was. Merkel will flip-flop on a lot of issues and her stance on Europe is disturbing. The fact that she strongly backs the EU and the Euro is not good. That is why I am sad that the FDP are likely to not meet the 5% threshold in the German elections because economically they will keep the CDU in check.

I guess Germany should be thanking their lucky stars when they look at a country like the UK. The conservatives have a dripping-wet as their leader, David Cameron and a socialist in Ed Milliband in charge of Labour. I hope UKIP gain some power in the next UK elections. Perhaps then, the Tories may actually become right-wing again.

 

[Galic Ho]

I don't think it's too hard to guess what I have qualifications in if you have been following me in the clinic and particularly in the Froome thread.

I don't read the Froome thread anymore. Haven't been in there for weeks. So I have no idea. Not that I need to know.

The field I was referring to was Communications students. Double degree ones are fine, but the pure comm students excluding most Theatre Media students...well I trust them as far as I can throw them collectively.

I remember sitting down with a bunch of sports journos at a bar day trivia on campus and none of them knew what the Webb Ellis trophy is. None. The sketchy business students are marketing/management types. Though there are only a handful who are iffy. It's the comm students one has to be wary of.

 

[Galic Ho]

I would say kids are emotionally dumber because they have been part of an idiot system of education that does not teach about real life. The "everyone is a winner" mentality and kids can't be criticised. Give every mediocre kid an award and be careful not to upset them. Political correctness has strangled not only the education system but society but you are allowed to get on Twitter or whatever and do what you want. Teenage bullying has moved from in your face to online where it is even harder to control. Many men don't even want to teach kids because of the the perceptions by morons regarding male teachers. Too many kids these days can't accept the word, No. They want it now and they want it all and they think they are entitled to what they want. What are kids talking about : celebrity culture, looks and everything superficial. I fear for the future and the people in control of it.

Great summation. After the election the ruckus a particular mob I know caused on social media...well it was disgusting. The worst trend I've noticed is the 18-20 year old group who think they know everything. They really do not like being told NO on social media.

For example. A friend was posting things a few days before the election. Labor fanatics I know were spamming feeds with their propaganda. People who in High School (I graduated in 2000) I know personally would not have made a squeak back then because they aren't bright; they just kept at it. Now one 19 year old responded to a single status update from my mate from uni whose whole family votes coalition without fault. Like I said before, 75% of people where I am from vote Labor. Now this kid got his panties in a twist, didn't like the jokes and attempted to get serious all after he initated it by calling Abbott some obnoxious and disgusting things. So I challenged him...he did not like me proving him wrong and resorted to the classic tactic of deflection. He did ask me to 'educate' him and when I did...well it's just like the Clinic. You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.

My mate was joking about this kids responses on Facebook during election night. He was not having a good time. Social media I observed years ago has given a trumpet, a sounding board, a broadcasting system to those who when I was in school never spoke up simply because they knew to open their mouths would see them being proven as idiots. The sad part is those I know who did voice their opinions in school who are left leaning...they have a lot of anger and hatred for the most part. The ones who aren't angry, sadly despite being intelligent by my standard (IQ of 120+) still post factually incorrect crap most often published by the ABC. The topics? Economic expenditure and internet infrastructure. The two things I pretty much won't ever be talked down on. I know they're wrong.

I don't block people on this forum. Social media I do prevent some people I know from receiving my updates. Heck last year I suggested inadvertently somebody not refer to others as racists when they in fact don't fit the definition. I was promptly deleted as a friend. No judgment from me...just a suggestion so someone who is callous later on did not verbally destroy them. Social media is great...it's the people that are the problem. So many messaged but little understanding and knowledge. Lots of distortion.

Actually I just thought about it a different way. If anyone has ever played WOW (World of Warcraft) when I've watched my youngest brother play (he's one of the best players in the world) years ago, there is a message box/board. How do you get your message heard in a sea of messages? SPAM. Wall to wall text using a macro. That is what social media is for the ignorant and less knowledgeable...a pulpit for them to spam everyone. Block is your friend.

 

[Galic Ho]

Really? There's not much to find out, just a bunch of drones, if we're lucky a few will go on to develop some decent skills.

I meant from the perspective of someone willing to learn and explore how things work. One learns a lot in a new environment. Kind of like an Aussie or American young rider in Europe. Those who make it there, or with this analogy, those who are willing to question and fathom more than the basics, their eyes will be opened.

Do they like what they see? Up to the person I guess.

 

[Galic Ho]

Teachers are definitely brainwashing kids. Blind Freddy can tell you that the Education system is full of left-wing teachers. Whether it be in History, English, Legal Studies, Science or almost any other class, it is veiled in a left-wing ideology. I don't know what you studied but you must have been pretty blind and/or deaf not to notice that Universities as well were/still are marinated in leftist BS. I certainly did not go to a **** Uni, I went to the best Uni in Australia.

I am happy with some of the cuts Labor made, but the Labor Government still spent and planned on spending on some ridiculous programs that were going to have little effect on the productivity or well-being of this country. They were a terrible government.

English? Not that I remember.

History and legal studies? Definitely.

Girls I know who became English teachers? Definitely left leaning.

My macro tutors at uni were the local Bathurst high school economics teachers. All right leaning. They taught economics the way it is. As a science. Marketing was taught as an offshoot of economics. Studying economics, well one thing became clear. There is a right and wrong way to do things. Labor's policies almost always were wrong in terms of subject context and application and thus we had a good chuckle at some former treasurers. Namely Paul Keating thinking printing more money would lower inflation. I think it must have been comedy central there whilst Swan was Treasurer. I can imagine all the laughing now.

That kid I mentioned in my reply to movingtarget, I suggested he hop in a car, head to CSU and simply sit in on a macro lecture or two and learn something. Had no reply to that. Too busy following what mummy and daddy have implanted in his brain from day one. He also did not like me suggesting the local high school teachers were left leaning. They were bad, but tolerable when I was in year 12, now...like I said. Private school for kids is the way to go.

BTW Monash Uni is not the best uni in Australia. No Victorian Uni is.