T'was the night before Christmas.

 
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He wouldn't, would he? Bet he would at least think about it.

Have a very merry christmas.

Coag Meeting, a love in by ex 60's hippies?

 
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Oh, wasn't it nice to see them all together, loving and hugging at COAG. How long before they realise Kevin isn't Santa, but the boss.

They will merely be the foot soldiers in delivering Kevin's vision for health, education etc.

And you know what, I don't think it is a bad thing. I struggle to see what value the state governments add. I know there are regional issues to take into account, but does having a government in every state mean this is well dealt with. We've got Brumby, and I don't think we benefit.

Parliament will now sit for 5 days.

 
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It is so typical of new governments, management, relationships, to start off by wanting to clear the decks of the old, bad, ways and demonstrate to the world that things can be done better, in a more open way.

Then, the first compromise is made, and it is completely justifiable, however,in doing so the government, etc, has to stray just a little from the principles it was established on. Then it happens again, perhaps a little further and deeper, then a little more. Then the press find out about the first transgression. We all know what happens next, and before you know it they've been in power for two or three terms and they are starting to get just a little on the nose.

Then, the cycle starts all over again, and again.

Bali Conference for Climate Change.

 
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Shouldn't be cynical, I truly hope this is a time we will look back on and say that change really occurred. I don't just mean Bali, but the general change in attitude we are seeing worldwide.

The one thing that annoys me, is when Western Countries, particularly America, won't commit until countries like China and India can make significant reductions. My view, lead by example. I know they are hiding behind this argument to protect their own industrial base, buttttttttttttttttt.

Julia's Prime Minister

 

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It is a momentous occasion, our first female pm, albeit just while the boss is away. I did like her comment, about hoping some young girl, somewhere, would see that and see that it is possible. Or at least words to that effect.

However, does anyone imagine she had free rein, no pun intended. The list would be long, the follow ups relentless, and control would not be relinquished. Kevin is the sort of leader that would only go into surgery under local anesthetic, least he may not be available to ensure the "correct" instruction was issued, and then followed.

Also, will there be a leadership deal. Julia is only several years younger, and just as ambitious. Ok, I just wanted to be the first to say it.

Bali and Green Coal

 


I saw a bit of the 7.30 Report tonight, and while I didn't really listen to what was said, I did hear them mention the coal industry, at the same time as Bali, and reducing carbon emissions.

Now, I'm sure scientists have thought about, researched, tested, discussed, written papers etc to the nth degree. However, the solution to pump the emissions deep into the earth seems fundamentally flawed to me. Man watched smoke disappear into the atmosphere for years and honestly believed, because it disappeared, that no harm was one. Isn't it possible, that simply pumping it underground is the modern equivalent. We can't see it, so it isn't harmful. Is this the solution future generations will thank us for.

To me, the logic is the same as piping the fumes to China, and releasing them there, because no one would really notice.

And yes, I am using a PC, and lights, that are fueled by coal power plants. The TV is also on.

I have opted for green energy on my power bill, if that helps.

Kevin Andrews gets a new job.

 

Brendan Nelson has shown some quality, demoting Kevin Andrews to nowhere. The man is a disgrace and should have never been a minister. Even if he was doing Howard's dirty work, he did it badly. I'm sure not even John Howard wanted him to handle the Haneef case the way he did. You can imagine Howard saying, "Look Kevin, all I wanted was to raise the fear factor and do a little dog whistling on the racism thing. What in the hell did you think you were doing." "Ummmm, errr, ............".

Also, Tony Abbott got demoted, pity, I had lots of material for him. Hopefully, for me, a comeback.

Labor- Is The Big Storm Coming

 



Still having trouble publishing pictures, as such resorting to Picasa, to upload. I must admit my brain doesn't cope. I also have to apologise, the site is messy, better get that man in I was promising to do.

Labor, may also have a mess to deal with, depending on how things pan out economically. Hope they don't complain too much about the previous government, bit of a turn off.

Business and Politics. Scary Monsters

 

Best I could do, I seem to be having all sorts of problems up loading the pictures. It is a bit small, however, click on it and it becomes scarily large.

Post Election and Big Business.

I have to say I am grumpy. I've just heard about the banks starting to introduce interest rate increases above and beyond those that result from increases in the cash rate. I know it was discussed as a possibility before the election, but it is no surprise that they waited until after the election to actually do it. The reason is obvious, they didn't want to become part of the political debate, particularly as the election rhetoric of both parties would have been to take steps to stop the banks.

Now, everyone can see that banks margins are under pressure, particularly if you look to the short term movements in markets. However, the banks have aggressively chased instruments, such as securitisation, to improve margins in the last decade (and beyond) with spectacular success. Given the profits they have generated, it would seem, and I am happy for someone to argue otherwise, that they had capacity to pass on some of that benefit to their customers, but chose not to do so.

Now, when the markets ebb, well perhaps more than ebb, in the opposite direction they demand that the customers compensate them for such market movements.

Isn't this having an each way bet.

I'm sure, that when profits are announced in 12 months time we will see profits that are higher than this year. And, they will be announced as having been achieved in an increasingly difficult market. Fagan hell.