The terrorists have won

[wayneL]

you want privacy? encrypt your emails. don't get into a flap because people are snooping, its hardly unexpected.

The above comment is nothing more than an argumentative dis.

I am doing nothing illegal. But folks wanted an example, I gave one. It illustrates that my civil liberties have been impinged by the gu'mint. Case closed.

 

[Pat]

human beings are the greedy savages. and aborigines were responsible for the extinction of the megafauna that once inhabited australia, and they brought fire as a method of land management. just because a people inhabit a place for thousands of years doesn't make them super magically in tune with mother earth or any crap like that.

Well, i'd like to think so. Every animal, and plant has an impact on its surrounding environment. Compared to our society the impact the Aboriginies have made is.... I think this is the point.

 

[caribean]

Hi disarray, answering someone's argument by choosing the 20% possibly incorrect component when you are ignoring the rest 80% just for the purpose
of giving an answer is i think not a way to go....i'm not perhaps the most intelligent around here, nor am i very good with expressing myself with words,
there's no precision in these arguments mate...it's a bit like trading, look at the forrest not the trees.
No offense meant by the way.....

 

[theasxgorilla]

4 HOURS LATER, my email of code turned up. Suspicious, I asked an acquaintance who works at the Geraldton Spy Station if emails get intercepted. Yep, they certainly do... and he said "you're probably on a list". WTF!

I thought you were out in the middle of no where trying to stay out of trouble!

 

[disarray]

The above comment is nothing more than an argumentative dis.

I am doing nothing illegal. But folks wanted an example, I gave one. It illustrates that my civil liberties have been impinged by the gu'mint. Case closed.

but when haven't civil liberties been impinged? the spanish inquisition? salem witch trials? world war 1 & 2? spying, dobbing in your neighbour and various propaganda pieces about "you never know who is listening" is as old as civilisation. regardless of whether or not you are doing something illegal, the onus has ALWAYS been on the individual to protect themselves from the government, not the other way round. if you trust the government then all is well, if you don't then it is up to the individual to take steps to protect themselves. the americans have taken this to extremes with the second amendment, but there are other ways to keep your information private - don't sign up for crap on the web, encrypt your emails, put false information in the census if you want and so on.

Well, i'd like to think so. Every animal, and plant has an impact on its surrounding environment. Compared to our society the impact the Aboriginies have made is.... I think this is the point.

i don't think we can really compare a stone age civilisation of 1 million vs. a modern tech multicultural civilisation of 20+ million. while we have made a much bigger footprint on the environment the differences in what both have are enormous, starting with life expectancy, health and then moving onto the trinkets we have. if we want to live beyond 35 without being plagued by body parasites then the environment must suffer. i do think we are starting to learn more about balance (as every society has to do).

Hi disarray, answering someone's argument by choosing the 20% possibly incorrect component when you are ignoring the rest 80% just for the purpose

it's not ignored, i agree with much of what you say no offence is taken or meant.

 

[2020hindsight]

....Last year, I sent some rather long Amibroker code via the same method, only after about an hour, it didn't arrive. Suspecting delays at the server, I sent a test email, which arrived within a minute. 4 HOURS LATER, my email of code turned up.

well I think the king and all the kingsmen (and their horses!!) are bloody FINKS .... I mean they couldn't even put humpty du...

hang on ... there's a knock at the door .. be right back .....

 

[wayneL]

but when haven't civil liberties been impinged? the spanish inquisition? salem witch trials? world war 1 & 2? spying, dobbing in your neighbour and various propaganda pieces about "you never know who is listening" is as old as civilisation. regardless of whether or not you are doing something illegal, the onus has ALWAYS been on the individual to protect themselves from the government, not the other way round. if you trust the government then all is well, if you don't then it is up to the individual to take steps to protect themselves. the americans have taken this to extremes with the second amendment, but there are other ways to keep your information private - don't sign up for crap on the web, encrypt your emails, put false information in the census if you want and so on.

I take your point, but we live in an era where we DO have civil rights/liberties, even as they are being stripped away.

Maybe this is the anomaly, but our fathers died on battlefields so we could enjoy freedom. Now their children are p!ssing it away through apathy and by being fooled by propaganda.

The cost was too great for us not to defend it now.

 

[Julia]

I take your point, but we live in an era where we DO have civil rights/liberties, even as they are being stripped away.

Maybe this is the anomaly, but our fathers died on battlefields so we could enjoy freedom. Now their children are p!ssing it away through apathy and by being fooled by propaganda.

The cost was too great for us not to defend it now.

But how effective is such a defence in reality? You are probably amongst a very small percentage of the population who has not sunk into apathy as a result of frustration. Whilst I admire your passion I don't imagine it will yield you any real results, sadly.

An example is the recent announcement by the Beattie govt in Qld about Council amalgamations. There is much outcry and anger throughout the State about this. Thousands marched on Parliament yesterday with loud cries of " we're not gonna take this" etc etc. It won't make a scrap of difference. The amalgamations will happen.

Government supporters will say that this is why we elect governments: to make decisions for us and they have a point I guess.

 

[wayneL]

Government supporters will say that this is why we elect governments: to make decisions for us and they have a point I guess.

I like the Swiss system of Citizen Initiated Referendums. That is democracy.

http://www.basiclaw.net/Principles/Direct democracy.htm

Democratic governments are supposed to make decisions on behalf of the people, not for the people. Otherwise what is the difference between dictatorship and democracy? The choice of dictator?

 

[caribean]

It appears to me, that a handful of these northern European countries have got a lot of things sorted out quite well, and their citizens appear to be more intelligent and well balanced people (at least from a political point of view) than say the rest of the world.
Why is it that we seem to follow every new idea coming out from one particular country or maybe two,and you do know which ones i mean....
The other thing i could never understand is why does a country with just 17 million population needs to have so many parliaments (federal and states) and all the bureaucracy that goes with it?
Are there any studies out there that show how much bureaucracy we carry per head of population, and compares us with the rest of the world?
As i've stated above, it appears to me, i don't have facts.

 

[Sean K]

The other thing i could never understand is why does a country with just 17 million population needs to have so many parliaments (federal and states) and all the bureaucracy that goes with it?
Are there any studies out there that show how much bureaucracy we carry per head of population, and compares us with the rest of the world?

Would be interesting to know. I think our geography necessitates seperate administration. Tyranny of distance and all that. Even with wifi.

 

[theasxgorilla]

Why is it that we seem to follow every new idea coming out from one particular country or maybe two,and you do know which ones i mean....

Language is a big factor, IMO. The ability to get ideas from other places is limited by language barriers.

Don't feel bad though, for better or worse many of these countries have around 80% of their adult population with high English language competence, so we influence them. Fortunately it seems to be limited to lifestyle things like beach culture, beer and music. For some reason they don't like our politics.

 

[2020hindsight]

I like the Swiss system of Citizen Initiated Referendums. That is democracy.

ok folks, we have a motion on the books - Hansel suggests we ban all Citizens! - and Seikos and ....

PS pisstakes apart, it does sound promising

 

[Julia]

I like the Swiss system of Citizen Initiated Referendums. That is democracy.

http://www.basiclaw.net/Principles/Direct democracy.htm

Democratic governments are supposed to make decisions on behalf of the people, not for the people. Otherwise what is the difference between dictatorship and democracy? The choice of dictator?

Yep, exactly what we have here in Qld, Wayne. Democracy has given way to a smiling dictator.

 

[Duckman#72]

Yep, exactly what we have here in Qld, Wayne. Democracy has given way to a smiling dictator.

Ha ha!!

But can I slightly amend that please Julia.............."given way to a smiling dictator that tends to apologise a lot." We really are lucky to have the world's "sorriest" Dictator.

Duckman

 

[caribean]

But after all.....i enjoyed a great dive this week on my small NSW coastal town... later i had a great dinner party with some friends, and while i was sipping my Taylors cab sav watching the sea, i'm thinking.... we are living in the greatest country in the world....and at the very least we're allowed to voice our political opinions, cheers, hope you had a good weekend.

 

[Julia]

But after all.....i enjoyed a great dive this week on my small NSW coastal town... later i had a great dinner party with some friends, and while i was sipping my Taylors cab sav watching the sea, i'm thinking.... we are living in the greatest country in the world....and at the very least we're allowed to voice our political opinions, cheers, hope you had a good weekend.

Thanks for that, caribean. You are right to remind us. So easy to get upset about the bits we don't like.

 

[numbercruncher]

Big new study just released, apparently only a small minority of Muslims (7pc) support the Radicals/Nutjobs.

Thursday February 28, 04:22 AM

Muslim support for radicals just 7%: survey
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A huge survey of the world's Muslims released Tuesday challenges Western notions that equate Islam with radicalism and violence.

The survey, conducted by the Gallup polling agency over six years and three continents, seeks to dispel the belief held by some in the West that Islam itself is the driving force of radicalism.

About 93 percent of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims are moderates and only seven percent are politically radical, according to the poll, based on more than 50,000 interviews.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/080227/19/15z7t.html


Apparently this is good news ! 7pc is only 100m people for the west to keep their eye on I guess we can stand down ASIO etc etc

What a study to release to the public and then try put positve spin on it, I always whudda thunk that 1pc or less of Muslims supported Radicals, amazing.

 

[dalek]

Apparently this is good news ! 7pc is only 100m people for the west to keep their eye on I guess we can stand down ASIO etc etc

What a study to release to the public and then try put positve spin on it, I always whudda thunk that 1pc or less of Muslims supported Radicals, amazing.

This 7% number is particularly alarming when you consider it is likely to only represent those with radical views that have "outed" themselves.

 

[saltyjones]

terrorism has been part of life in australia for decades. kidnapping children from aussie mothers & taking them to m##### countries has been going on for so long without it being a headline story. just ask my wife. in the early 1980's in her grief she befriended many woman in sydney with the same marriage trauma. those kidnapped kids have been brainwashed all their childhood by the ###### fathers. just ask to find out more! i say just ask the multitudes of those aussie mums who have lived half lives without the presence of their kids........serious stuff that has never been challenged by social commentary. and it went on for decades.