Government addicted to Spending

One of Tony Abbot's rhetoric's is that we have a government addicted to spending. He is always quick to compare spending today to 2007 - the last year of coalition government. In recent days, Labor's budget has blown out to $12B in the red, having the government scratching its head on where the money is to come from.

I think both sides of politics are to blame on this one. There was a perception that we would ride the mining boom for years, as such, revenues were high and we were afforded tax cuts, superannuation incentives, baby bonuses and a raft of other handouts. Now all of a sudden we have woken up with our major assets sold and trying to find ways to rake in extra revenue in an election year.

Politicians are well paid. Why can we never draw in quality. It feels that there is a great degree of self interest and representatives rarely do what is right for the country. When you look to Italy, Monte tried that and took massive swings against him. What is wrong with voters these days/

Boston Marathon.

I woke up this morning to the news that there were explosions that went off as runners were completing the Boston Marathon. As the morning went on, it was clearer that this was an act of terrorism.

Whilst the victim and their families have my condolences, it just goes to show how the actions of a few can have profound impact on many. I'm sure there will be increased focus on security and intelligence, with agencies scratching their heads wondering how they can prevent something like this in the future, but the truith of the matter is you cant - as soon as one loophole closes, people find another. There are crazy people out there and where there is a will, there is a way - particularly when some are willing to risk all to find a way.

I think the only way through this is via education. At least I can rest in the trust that the US will not use this as a catalyst to go to war into another oil rich nation.

Super Schmuper

The big news of the week is that the government is fiddling with Superannuation. My father and Team Leader at work are taking a keen interest - feeling that they have much to lose if things do not go their way.

Whilst I acknowledge that I should be interested, the word bores me and I find it difficult getting motivated when discussing the topic. It took me years to consolidate my various super finds from former employers and whilst I have been advised to make voluntary payments, I have lagged behind and not been as regular with them as I should be.

I'm sure one day I will pull my finger out, but for now, I'm left wondering why I do not take the interest that I feel I should? Am I too young? do I not respect my finances enough? do I feel the mountain is too high to climb? maybe a little of all three.

Blind leading the blind.

The big news story of the last couple of days has been the leadership challenge that wasn't. We felt moments away from getting a new (or should I say "recycled") prime minister only for Kevin Rudd to do his math, find out he was short and withdraw without challenging - hanging his colleagues who supported him out to dry.

Firstly, I feel for Simon Crean. He stuck his neck out for the good of the party and was let down by Rudd protecting his reputation and public image. I really wish he would have nominated himself for Prime Ministership but that wasn't to be.

Secondly, I cannot adequately express how disappointed I am in Rudd. Had he have been sensible and not challenged last year when he had no chance of leadership and challenged now, he would be Prime Minister today. Whilst he has a wonderful vernacular and speaks a language that resonates well with voters, it has been widely reported that he was difficult to work under and regardless of how many times he can say that he is a changed man, the events of yesterday prove otherwise. If you cannot get the numbers in this fragile climate, you will never have the numbers.

Now to our Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. Regardless what the media has said about her, she has held a minority parliament together for over 2 years now. She has passed many major legislation items and is liked by the caucus. She should be congratulated for that but also realise that she is not charasmatic enough to win over voters and is steering a sinking ship. Labor voters are no longer listening to her and she has no chance of winning, regardless of all this she stands defiant. I really hope she comes to her senses before next election - the last thing I want to see is a coallition landslide.

All of the above just highlight how disfunctional Labor has become and proves that something has to change in the way the party is managed. I'm all for balance but it certainly looks like annihilation from here.

Death to the broadsheet

Today the SMH went from a broadsheet to a compact format. They are cautious not to use the word "tabloid" as that denotes a trashy form of journalism often dished out by News limited. The website has had a makeover as well, I expect in preparation for the paywall due in the coming months.

We have had the Daily Telegraph delivered at home for years. I hate the paper and would never pay for it. Dad likes it because it is loaded with biased stories that support his point of view. I think that the SMH being a broadsheet is a good thing. I've never worked out a way to hold the large pages and I wonder if the Daily Telegraph would be as successful if the SMH had put its act together years ago and changed format before the decline that all printed newspapers are going through right now.

I can imagine that there are fish and chip shops and charity outlets up in arms about losing such a solid source of disposable wrapping paper. I don't know if the move is too little, too late or not but I wish them all the best with it - the more competition News Limited has, the better it is for all.

What is his Storious?

I was a big fan of the Paralympics last year, moreso than the Olympics themselves. I don't know if it was Australia won more medals, if the coverage was better on the ad-free ABC, or if the constant swimming replays and lack of diversity bored me on Channel 9 or a combination of all of the above, but either way I was addicted to the games for those couple of weeks and watched as much as I possibly could.

In the last day or so the news that Oscar Pistorious had murdered his girlfriend has filtered down the media. I was as shocked as the next person, but have to say, am not one of Oscar's biggest fans. I am of the school that believe that he should not be able to race in the normal Olympics - at least not with the carbon fiber blades that he uses. It is a significant advantage in my mind and whilst I have sympathy for him being born without fibulas, do not believe that it is a level playing field if he competes.

That leads me to his tirade after he lost the 200m final at the Paralympics. He all but called his opponent a cheat for having better prosthetics, particularly as his opponent was an above the knee amputee. I think Oscar had a point, however, he should have targeted the people in charge of defining regulation instead of his opponent. There was an obvious sense of double standard and a general lack of sportsmanship, particularly as if Oscar had ran the same time as he did in the heats, he would have won gold. He later apologised, however, it felt like the true Oscar has let himself out of the bag and it was a lasting memory for me.

It is sad that someone seen as such a role model is capable of murdering someone. I hope for his sake and the sake of his fans that there is a logical reason why this occurred, even if it is not justified. I'm sure he will feel a great sense of remorse for what he has done and hope that some good can come out of it - maybe SA can get some gun reform or Oscar can reform himself and be a different kind of role model.

Media killed the Radio Star.

The big news story of the last week is how 2 young DJ's made a hoax call to a hospital where Princess Kate was staying and how a few days later, a nurse committed suicide as a result.

This has been playing on my mind quite a fair bit in the last few days. Firstly, the whole radio station is vile, which in turn attracts ratings and encourages more vile behaviour. In my opinion, this isn't the worst stunt the station has pulled (even though it produced the worst result). A few years ago, one of the morning presenters put a 15 year old onto a lie detector machine while her mother quizzed her on her sexual history, knowing full well that the poor kid was raped when she was 12. Inexcusable by the mother and inexcusable for the station allowing it.

I honestly believe the prank was a couple of kids trying to have some fun. The prank itself was way over the top that it was beyond believable for most. It could have been much worse - they could have asked the gender of the baby, if there was a chance of twins, etc, but none of these were asked, instead the "Queen" fed her corgis. At the time I had a work discussion about it with my team leader, he believed that the hospital staff would have lost their jobs and the prank was way out of line.

I think the prank highlighted issues with the hospitals processes which they now need to address. In a perverse way, the suicide a few days later has helped the hospital and the worldwide media focus on the presenters and the prank. I wonder what pressure the hospital put on the nurse in her final days. What counseling did they offer? I'm not condoning the prank, but think the hospital is getting off lightly from media scrutiny. Also, what was the mental state of the nurse? It's safe to assume something must not have been right for her to take a radical step.

I also think Anonymous is out of line. What right do they have to demand these kids resignation? If they have broken the law, I have enough faith in the legal system that it will be dealt with. I also have faith that they are being punished enough with suspensions and the guilt of a lost life. Regardless, I'm sure their reputations have taken a severe hit and their future radio job prospects are now limited. Its amazing how this one mistake has blown up internationally yet all their other stunts went unnoticed.

As I said earlier, I have a strong dislike for this station and think the prank was in bad taste, but I think the hosts needs a bit of slack cut.