What If: We're Right about Everything...

I've often wondered if the sceptics RE: Global Warming and Peak Oil (typically the NeoCons, the religious conservatives and the generally ignorant) have ever thought "hey, what if these nutcases are right?".

It's an argument I've thought of taking with the "head in the sands" types I meet regularly and ask them - "what if I'm right? If I'm wrong, then at worse, I'm going to look like a fool. But if I'm right, then are you really willing to ignore the possible consequences?"

Just a thought...

Why - Are We All Skitso?

I've come to the conclusion that we're all a bunch of hypocritical, do one thing say the other, one minute left but thiuking right (and visa versa) bunch of fools.

Look at the things that piss us off - particularly when it involves government involvement.

We all complain about pedaphiles and want our kids protected ... but when a school bans cameras at a swim meet, we tear the organisers to pieces.

We all want affordable healthcare ... but if anyone thinks about increasing the medicare levy then look out.

We think the world is too violent ... but are aggreived that we can't carry an automatic weapon around with us (or worse, have to apply for a licence to have one!).

We think the government is too leniant with criminals ... but no-one stops at Stop signs anymore and are aghast when we're caught speeding, making all sorts of excuses why we should be excused that one time.

We become a bunch of neurotic whingers that want everything controlled and stopped ... as long as it doesn't impact on me. Yet another sign we are becoming self obsessed...

Fox News' Obsession with (Bad News) Iraq

I was stuck by a comment made by the likes of Bill O'Reilly once in the media about the "liberal" media's obsession with the bad news stories coming out of Iraq and not allowing coverage of any of the positives.

Well, recently we signed up for cable and my regular channel surfings takes my via Fox News - and all I EVER see is ... bad news Iraq stories. Coverage of bombings, terrorism, attacks, american deaths - even the positives are wrapped up in dour, depressing coverage. Yet, when I compare this to Sky, CNN or BBC - nothing. Iraq doesn't rate a mention unless something significant is happening - but on Fox, it's EVERY news break has an Iraq story.

So, is this yet another case of the wolf crying fowl?

Urban Design - Why do we get it sooooo wrong???

Brisbane and the South East corner of Queensland is slowly dying. It thinks it is a young, vibrant city - and indeed, the city of Brisbane certainly is a stunner - just a pity it has come at the cost of the urban fringe which is ensuring that it slowly squeezes the life out of the South East corner.

But why has this had to happen. Many have argued for years that this was coming - that without a suitable hand on the tiller and with careful and planned development, that Brisbane would soon become this horrible urban smear stretching from Noosa in the north to Coolongatta in the South. And, unsurprising, this horrible vision has come true - and look at the consequences:

• Core public services (water, hospitals, public transport, roads) all straining under the load
• Water at a premium
• Land at a premium

And at what cost? What of:

• The health of its citizens?
• The health of the environment?
• The viability of the entire region?

And yet, it could have all been avoided.

Brisbane faced the crossroads in the late eighties when the first signs of burgeoning growth were evident. The city was faced with two options:

1. Allow the city to continue to burst at the seams - a development at all costs approach OR
2. Encourage satellite cities to nurture the entire region.

Our proposal was simple.

1. Put a physical boundary on the growth of ALL centre's in the South East - Brisbane, Logan, Caboolture, Ispwich, Toowoomba, Esk, Beaudesert, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast
2. Establish HIGH SPEED traffic corridors between these centres (this was to mean both road AND rail - but with a particular emphasis on rail as they can be used to encourage development hotspots (its useless having a subdivision if it's not serviced by rail whereas as long as the road goes past the front door...))
3. Force each "satellite" to population limits based on resources available (water, available land, etc).
   
4. Let each centre develop and compete for development.

It seems so simple now - yet they stuffed it and look at the consequences.

Question is, how do we convince Townsville/Thuringowa to avoid going down the same path?

Thoughts - Capitalism = Democracy?

I've long riled at the suggestion made by supporter of the Capitalist system that it somehow is a mirror to democracy. The corporation does what it's shareholders want it to do and they get to vote on it like a real democracy.

BULLSHIT!!!

How can it be a democracy where individuals or individual companies can hold such large share holdings that only their interest carry? It's like saying that your votes in a democracy should be based on your weight - so Big Wal just lost out.

I really grow tired of this constant comparison like it's some panacea to our woes. If anything, a corporation is more like a dictatorship. Look at News Corp - Rupert is doing all he can to ensure he maintains majority ownership and can't be toppled from the top. Why? Because he doesn't want it to be a democracy. He doesn't want to loose all that power and influence he has.

So if I hear another right wing wanker pull that one out of their arse, god help me!!!

Prediction - Peak Oil is Here (but they're not telling)

There's been a rush on Nuclear Power generation in recent weeks. Most notably in OZ where Howard has decided to make a debate out of the issue (with preordained results, etc). I don't know what's going on in the US, but I noticed this article today on BBC News.

There seems to be a lot of jockeying going on at the moment, as as countries like OZ have the upper hand (we have lots of the stuff) are their machinations going on to take control of the new (looming) cartels?

I suspect so. But why? My prediction is that Peak Oil has finally hit the political reality and the power brokers are making their play. Of course, don't expect them to tell us it's happening - that would be probably bring about the collapse of the Western world!!

Prediction - Peak Oil is Here (but they're not telling)

There's been a rush on Nuclear Power generation in recent weeks. Most notably in OZ where Howard has decided to make a debate out of the issue (with preordained results, etc). I don't know what's going on in the US, but I noticed this article today on BBC News.

There seems to be a lot of jockeying going on at the moment, as as countries like OZ have the upper hand (we have lots of the stuff) are their machinations going on to take control of the new (looming) cartels?

I suspect so. But why? My prediction is that Peak Oil has finally hit the political reality and the power brokers are making their play. Of course, don't expect them to tell us it's happening - that would be probably bring about the collapse of the Western world!!