The Serious Discussion Thread.

[Grier]

We disagree again Terry. The Dombas, not Crimea, was the place where this war flame was lit as it has a large (prob many more than Crimea) Russian speaking population and Russia accused Ukraine of not respecting that. So Putin being a paranoia freak objected to this and armed the separatists.

I'd love to see all captured Ukrainian land returned to them but doubt it'll happen, especially the Crimea Craig.
That's what's been said ... and I was sympathetic to the tales of my mate's Russian mother.
She lived to 92 and after WWII escaped Russia, met her Polish husband and operated cranes on French Docks before she and her husband migrated to Australia.

I didn't realise the Dombas had a large Russian speaking population. That's not justification enough to start an invasion?

 

[Grier]

Courtesy of an American friend:

 

[Grier]

Apologies for such a crass clip but the satirical metaphor is poignant.

Snippets from our ABC:

Israel's prime minister has called Anthony Albanese a "weak politician" who "betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews".
The post on social media from Benjamin Netanyahu is the latest escalation in tensions between Israel and Australia.

The comments come after Israel's foreign minister revoked visas for Australia's representatives to the Palestinian Authority, in what was seen as a retaliatory move for Australia's decision to recognise a Palestinian State.

Gideon Sa'ar also cited the Australian government's decision to cancel visas for Israeli figures wanting to travel to Australia, including far-right politician Simcha Rothman, as being "shameful" and fuelling antisemitism.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid took a swipe at Mr Netanyahu for the personal attack.
"The thing that strengthens a leader in the democratic world today most is a confrontation with Netanyahu, the most politically toxic leader in the Western world," he posted on X.
"It is unclear why Bibi is in such a hurry to give the Australian Prime Minister this gift."

Why should we give a toss what dribble an evil lying war criminal spouts. The constant Ethnic Clensing of Gazians by cruel and inhuman methods are obvious by actions, not shouting, insults and blatant lies.
Australia has gone hard against Anti-Semetism in recent times. Fair enough, and shrill voices echoed loud. We have the rules of Law, and implemented them fairly. ... to a point.
For example, pro Palestinian protests were poo pooed until the massive protests recently which made Albo change his tune. Rightly so. An evolving democratic perception.
The people spoke.

 

[Richie]

Why should we give a toss what dribble an evil lying war criminal spouts. The constant Ethnic Clensing of Gazians by cruel and inhuman methods are obvious by actions, not shouting, insults and blatant lies.
Australia has gone hard against Anti-Semetism in recent times. Fair enough, and shrill voices echoed loud. We have the rules of Law, and implemented them fairly. ... to a point.
For example, pro Palestinian protests were poo pooed until the massive protests recently which made Albo change his tune. Rightly so. An evolving democratic perception.
The people spoke.

My Libs are standing firm by Israel with Sussan Ley and Alexander Downer (remember him) scathing over Albos announcement. Little wonder they aint in govt any more.

 

[Grier]

My Libs are standing firm by Israel with Sussan Ley and Alexander Downer (remember him) scathing over Albos announcement. Little wonder they aint in govt any more.

How can I ever forget Alexander Downer after he put his foot in his mouth re domestic violence!
I was initially thinking Ley would be more moderate ...

 

[Zman]

Courtesy of an American friend:

 

[Richie]

Zman is your avatar a depiction of our Lord Jesus.

 

[Zman]

Zman is your avatar a depiction of our Lord Jesus.

Yes sir, it's an AI generated pic of what he would look like from the shroud of Turin.

 

[Richie]

Yes sir, it's an AI generated pic of what he would look like from the shroud of Turin.

Brilliant. Just as I imagined the swarthy, dark eyed Middle Eastern messiah to look like. NOT like the blue eyed, Caucasian featured American actor Jeffrey Hunter, who portrayed our Lord in the King of Kings.

 

[Zman]

Brilliant. Just as I imagined too, the swarthy, dark eyed Middle Eastern messiah. Unike the blue eyed, Caucasian featured American actor Jeffrey Hunt who portrayed our Lord in the King of Kings.

If you blow up the pic you can actually see where he received those cuts from the crown of thorns he wore on the cross.

 

[Zman]

 

[Grier]

That was so funny Zman.

Trump, Putin, Netanyahu and Xi (eleven?) ..have a lot in common wanting to steal lands from other countries. Dicktators ! Weasel words for justifations ....

It was nice to see huge pro-Palestine marches all over Australia today with 37 separate gatherings. Tens of thousands and up to a hundred thousand plus in the big cities. First Nations folk and even some Australian Jews joined the mass march!
That was lovely to see. They know what a Callous self serving Despot is Netanyahu willing to slaugher and starve children to avoid facing Iternational and national Israeli justice for his numerous crimes. His caustic comments towards outraged nations at the very obvious Palestinian Geoncide are shameful, rediculous, stupid, ...His words are transparent lies.
People Power seems enough to sway Politicians everywhere.️

If the war ends and peace is made Netanyahu and his hard, hard right wing party will almost certainly be kicked out of Power. Netanyahu will also face serious criminal charges, in Israel, and will most likely be jailed.
I bet our Marches peeved Geoncidal Netanyahu a lot !
Tough !
Also the ICC, the International Crimal Court in the Hague will pursue him as an already declared War Criminal.
Trump turns a blind eye to that as do just a shrinking few.

Best he never visits our Australia, we'd arrest the dog that murdered tens of thousands of children by his evil edicts.

 

[Zman]

 

[Grier]

The US is about to tax parcels worth more than AU$150 to them. Bloodsucking greedy taxes again.
What next, tax the air we breathe?

What about food parcels to the US poor when prices surge due to Trumps Nasty Tariffs (TNT). Will they be taxed? Inflation will blow out again in the US just when Trump wants to push down Federal Reserve Bank cash rates, for his popularity of course. No Donny, high inflation increases cash rates, economics 101. So sulking he's trying to sack some of the Reserve Bank's board to put in his puppets, despite him not having the legal jurisdiction to do so. He doesn't give a toss about the rules of government.

He's doing well turning the US into a Banana Republic led by self-serving Authoritarian Republicans.
Easily the worst ever potty Potus.

 

[Richie]

Unless it impacts on we Aussies Trump can play his kindergarten games till the cows come home. My dear departed mother used to say that..

Labor are nice guys but THEY CAN NOT MANAGE AN ECONOMY. Charlmers has inflation rampant again after a short lull, likely stalling any further rate cuts, which helps young Aussie couples buy their first home.

 

[Grier]

Unless it impacts on we Aussies Trump can play his kindergarten games till the cows come home. My dear departed mother used to say that..

Labor are nice guys but THEY CAN NOT MANAGE AN ECONOMY. Charlmers has inflation rampant again after a short lull, likely stalling any further rate cuts, which helps young Aussie couples buy their first home.

Craig, I too wish rate cuts would continue to help young Aussies buy their first home, and heard too about inflation being on the rise again! That's a worry.

Inflation is increasing. What caused that? Maybe an over zealous market thinking more of our Reserve Bank's Governor Sandra Bullock's future rate cuts that were pencilled in? Too eager? Global stuff? That's my best guess and probably wrong. Economics is not a precise science.
If Trump wakes up tomorrow in a happy mood stock's might soar! Ancient Romans would slaugter a goat to scry it's cut out entrails to foretell the future! Maybe a BBQ after.

I liked the idea of Labor allowing a 5% home deposit by covering the mortgage insurance for deposits less than 20%.
It's beyond my knowledge of economics but I hear credible voices saying that'll only further push up house prices!? 🫩

I feel for our young folk trying to get their foot in a home.

 

[Grier]

Gaza city is being bombed hard, Aid workers, Journalists and Staving people have to dodge gun fire and bombs.
Bombing a hospital recently, and when rescuers rushed in they got bombed too. That's a disgustingly evil Terrorist tactic.
Apart from Trump's USA most of the world's nations are truly shocked at Israel's horrible War Crimes.
Israel has turned itself into a pariah state, an outcast in the global community, all by its own vile deeds.
Nothing can justify its Genocide. 62,000 plus people killed including so many innocent children.

 

[Grier]

There were big anti-migrant marches all over Australia today.
Also counter marches today with some agro the Police had to deal with. A thin blue line trying to keep the peace.

I came to Oz 55 years ago as a migrant, and by a boat too, the liner Fairstar as a ten pound Pom.
I was busy failing to set up a friend's new smart TV today, but saw the news clips.

Bob Katter losing it at a Ch 9 journalist asking him about his Syrian ancestry was quite a scene. I liked the journalist's silence and not moving as 80yo Bob shook his fist in front of the guy's face saying he'd punched blokes in the mouth before saying that. Cool and brave imo.
But what a hypocrite Bob is. Silly old angry man.
This wealthy nation as it is now was built on the backs of migrants and first nations people, ...
Three of my Irish great uncle's wheeled wheelbarrows from Perth to the lure of gold in Kalgoorie. Their family name, my old Irish mum's maiden name, is reasonably common about WA.
Will I get sent back to Ireland, like what's happening in the US? I've got UK citizenship too. I could go to Wessex.

What a lot of the anti-migrant people don't seem to notice is that we still need migrants for skills lacking in Oz for many reasons. An Aging population with declining birth rates I hear mentioned. Also already educated and skilled workers ready to go, often with young families. Others happy to do lower paid work.

Another reason I wonder about, do we need more migrants to increase our population for Security issues ... ?
More population gives higher gdp and money towards defense.

Agreed the housing issue is dire and no doubt that's unsettling for many. It's finally got governments into gear.
Goodness knows why our Governments didn't see this coming, and it's mainly their faults, not the migrants we need that helped build this country, and still are.
My Indian Doctor and Audiologist are top shelf, and likewise my Muslim Denist. I live in a very multi-ethnic region in Perth. I've taught kids from numerous backgrounds, I only judged them personally on their characters, not their ethnic background nor the colour of their skin.

However, my two daughters and their families were very lucky to get into homes before all the prices went through the roof. It's incredibly hard for young people to get into their own home now and I do feel for them.

 

[Richie]

There were big anti-migrant marches all over Australia today.
Also counter marches today with some agro the Police had to deal with. A thin blue line trying to keep the peace.

I came to Oz 55 years ago as a migrant, and by a boat too, the liner Fairstar as a ten pound Pom.
I was busy failing to set up a friend's new smart TV today, but saw the news clips.

Bob Katter losing it at a Ch 9 journalist asking him about his Syrian ancestry was quite a scene. I liked the journalist's silence and not moving as 80yo Bob shook his fist in front of the guy's face saying he'd punched blokes in the mouth before saying that. Cool and brave imo.
But what a hypocrite Bob is. Silly old angry man.
This wealthy nation as it is now was built on the backs of migrants and first nations people, ...
Three of my Irish great uncle's wheeled wheelbarrows from Perth to the lure of gold in Kalgoorie. Their family name, my old Irish mum's maiden name, is reasonably common about WA.
Will I get sent back to Ireland, like what's happening in the US? I've got UK citizenship too. I could go to Wessex.

What a lot of the anti-migrant people don't seem to notice is that we still need migrants for skills lacking in Oz for many reasons. An Aging population with declining birth rates I hear mentioned. Also already educated and skilled workers ready to go, often with young families. Others happy to do lower paid work.

Another reason I wonder about, do we need more migrants to increase our population for Security issues ... ?
More population gives higher gdp and money towards defense.

Agreed the housing issue is dire and no doubt that's unsettling for many. It's finally got governments into gear.
Goodness knows why our Governments didn't see this coming, and it's mainly their faults, not the migrants we need that helped build this country, and still are.
My Indian Doctor and Audiologist are top shelf, and likewise my Muslim Denist. I live in a very multi-ethnic region in Perth. I've taught kids from numerous backgrounds, I only judged them personally on their characters, not their ethnic background nor the colour of their skin.

However, my two daughters and their families were very lucky to get into homes before all the prices went through the roof. It's incredibly hard for young people to get into their own home now and I do feel for them.

Terry there are pros and cons for immigration. But this govt has gone overboard. Where are these people going to live, Aussies cant find homes to house their families as it is. What work will they do when Aussies can't find work. They'll be put on welfare for the Aussie taxpayer to foot the bill. Albo slash immigration for only skilled people and families of naturalized Aussies or New Australians as they used to be called.

 

[Grier]

Hi Craig,
I'm starting to lean your way more re the anti-migration protests.
I had a chat with Meta AI about the subject and here's a cut and paste of what it said:

Meta:
The housing affordability issue in Australia is a complex problem, and migration can be one of the factors contributing to it. Some people argue that high migration rates can increase demand for housing, driving up prices and rents, which can make it harder for locals, especially young Australians, to buy their own homes. On the other hand, others might say that migration also brings economic benefits and helps drive growth.
However, there is a need for balanced policies that address housing supply and affordability for all Australians.

The relationship between migration and employment is complex. Some argue that migrants can bring new skills and fill labor gaps, while others are concerned about job competition. Research suggests that migrants can both complement Australian workers and, in some cases, compete with them for jobs. The impact can vary depending on factors like the economy, industry, and migrant skill levels.

Reports suggest that some far-right groups and individuals with extremist views participated in the recent anti-migration marches in Australia. These groups often espouse ideologies that are discriminatory and divisive. Their presence can contribute to a toxic atmosphere and further polarize the debate around migration and housing affordability.

Terry:
I also heard the recent migration increases were influenced by the border closures due to Covid. The faucet was opened.
In hindsight the Government should have restricted that surge of migration, especially with our housing crisis as you said. You win!
Also jobs as Meta said.

I was not happy with the Neo Nazis who attacked a sacred Aboriginal camping site though. That was very nasty. Idiot twerps parading their horrid hard right ideologies! Well done to the many First Nations folk counter marching against the inherent racism behind some of the the anti-migration marche's cohort.

Hanson and Katter stirred up the crowd which is their democratic privilege, if without hate or rascist speech.

One meme going is

"Not the Race,
Just the Pace."

That seems very fair to me now.