Fighting Fake News with REAL 19/2/21; Money Rules media, health, enviroment, and politics

 

 

 

 

Money Rules

 

Why is this all happening? Our gutless Government is owned lock stock and barrel by conservative media. Our monopoly mainstream media is jousting with the monopoly social media platforms to gouge whatever they can out of each others’ revenue streams. Without the backing of monopoly level conservative media our current Government would have been chucked out long ago. So no surprise that the Coalition is sucking up to Murdoch. Bit trite for our Government to argue on behalf of Murdoch et al about how their revenue streams are being ripped off by the larger social media platforms, when that same Government is flaying the revenue streams of the ABC.

Un-Friending Facebook? – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Barilaro overrules EPA, ramps up logging, funnels bushfire grants to loggers

by Suzanne Arnold | Feb 19, 2021 | Energy & Environment

Despite unprecedented damage to forests and wildlife, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro overruled the Environment Protection Agency and determined that industrial-scale logging continues in NSW’s burnt and unburnt forests. Suzanne Arnold reports.

 

Bushfire Rorts: excess grants for sky-divers but no toilets for firefighters

by Callum Foote | Feb 17, 2021 | Government

A skydiving adventure park in a National Party electorate was showered in bushfire grants, getting far more than it asked for, while a host of bushfire recovery projects in the Blue Mountains were ignored, even badly needed toilet facilities for firefighters. Callum Foote reports on new documents in the bushfire rorts scandal. 

 

Be careful what you wish for: government-mandated theft backfires as tech giant pulls pin

Media

Bernard Keane

The government thought it was on a winner with an extortion racket aimed at big tech. That's now backfired disastrously. 

 FAKE NEWS EXPOSED

 Bolt had a week of rape mayhem and disaster to report on but couldn't so he had to opt to promote distraction instead

WHY DID THE ABC PAY A FAR-LEFT RIOTER, THEN BLAME THE RIGHT?

The ABC paid $2500 to a left-wing agitator who'd stormed the US Capitol, smashed a window, confronted police, shouted he had a knife, and urged the mob to "burn this s..t down", filming as he went. The ABC then blamed the violence entirely on the "far-Right", even after he'd been charged. Why?

We saw the riot on Capitol Hill. We heard Fox News try to suggest it was an ANTIFA run false flag to but the blame on the Right-Wing. The Militia's came prepared with guns knives and UIDs and 5 people died.  So what is Bolt doing trying to distract us from what we know?  As usual it's mud slinging the ABC with what he calling "dirty deeds done dirt cheap" Unfortunately the trend for fake news is fully concentrated at News Corp and the LNP is ensuring it stays concentrated there because they have a working partnership to influence. The bullshit is not diffused and watered down as it is on Facebook and they don't want there power weakened.

What "original" news does Murdoch's fake news generator News Corp and Sky actually generate? They are a Churnalist organisation at best having sacked so many of their journalists because of cost. News Corp is largely a paid and subsidized LNP influencer nothing more or nothing less and in an election year the LNP is dancing to Murdoch's will. Bolt is Murdoch's marionette. All week really he's had nothing to do because Morrison in his typical form has been a disaster happening before our eyes. He's been concentrating on self-promotion rather than leading. 

Bolt has obediently stayed "shtum". When that became too embarassing he's turned to it's distraction yelling "Hey look over there"

 

 

MARK ZUCKERBERG’S FACEBOOK NOW DICTATES GLOBAL WARMING BELIEFS

First Facebook censored conservatives.  Then it censored news unhelpful to Democrat Joe Biden. Then it censored Donald Trump. Then it censored an Australian politician who quoted scientific studies.. Then it censored Australia. Now it wants to police thought on global warming. And it's started by pushing alarmist claims. Facebook is a menace.

 Firstly Global Warming is a conclusion born out of Science a sceptic and on going methodology for understanding the physical world in which we live. It's not simply a faith nor a religion born out of self-interest. Beliefs tend rather to be non substantiated untested or discarded and out of date assumptions about what is occurring posited by contrarians for purposes other than a search for knowledge and understanding. Meteorology has improved because of the the application of science. Climate science has likewise improved about our understanding of the planet and has moved way beyond Bolt's misplaced "beliefs" based purely on interest. So much so Bolt is today's equivalent of a "flat earther" holding on to the religious belief the planet is cooling or if warming it has nothing to do with us so we need do nothing.

Facebook has upstaged Murdoch Media's selling of contrarian "belief" and Bolt's obediently whining. Firstly Facebook didn't censor Conservatives. It censored promoters of Domestic Terrorism and Violence because of increasing public pressure to do so.  "Standby and Stand-back" "be prepared" Trump's call was being activated. 

The extreme right-wingers aren't Conservatives nor is Andrew Bolt racist, misogynist white Christian supremacist. He doesn't even work for a Liberal/Conservative organization. He works for News Corp selling a specific right-wing message and enabling danger. The unnamed politician censored for fake and dangerous news and information  was Craig Kelly who was even censored by his own party as was a politician by the Victorian branch of the LNP. So there's been a lot of censorious activity going on but all on the behest of the LNP by the LNP.

 By the way Bolt quotes "science" but withholds the names of those he's quoting. Roy Spencer is a regular so often used an abused by Bolt you'd think Spencer would call out rape. Spencer obviously doesn't give a shit about Andrew who? However Andrew Bolt seems embarrassed to acknowledge Spencer  who no longer even has the Standing Christy has among the heavy hitting Climate Deniers in what was the Trump Administration. Bolt's claim that Facebook is behind all of this and wants to police "global warming deniers" is absurd besides they are a private organization and as Bolt has always said are free to do what they want in the market. Free to do what Andrew Bolt maintains he's free to do.

Facebook has chosen to withhold Bolt's and News Corps "fake news and opinions" from their platform they are entitled to. Fake News is the only "original" information News Corp runs and Facebook has said "Cool we'll fix that" but that's the only thing that's cool not the planet. 

Yes, on any other day Bolt's argument would be that Facebook is a Private Company as is News Corp  and the Bolt principle is that Private Companies can do what they want in a free market, Oops! Apparently Bolt's hypocritically happy with the government's censorship of Facebook.

The ABC  however can't according to Bolt. It can't be allowed to be either free original or question the government because that carries with it what Bolt regards as a left-wing bias. In fact diversity of opinion and political scepticism is fundamentally a left-wing activity. Andrew Bolt runs and works for the very censorious Murdoch Corp where everything editorially determined and certainly not algorithmically based like Facebook who who service a far more general and diverse agenda.To be fair to Australia and Democracy we need the ABC, an Independent Statutory Body, that ensures a trend to Real News and information. By and large if the ABC were a  digital hub on offer to us rather than Bolt's Fake  products being pitched for which he demands freedom from regulation. Regulation he wants of others like Facebook and the ABC. That freedom he demands be denied and reduced to others. 

The fascist trend Murdoch the LNP and the IPA are aiming for is not for the good of the country or Democracy.

 The  Kevin Rudd experience is REAL and needs to be Stopped 500,000 signatures demand it. That's far more than Andrew Bolt's ratings but less than the power of Murdoch.

Fighting Fake News with REAL, 27/9/20; Tax Shysters, Westpac, Deregulating irresponsible lending; VS, Victorian Socialists

 

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Tax shysters PayPal investigated by AUSTRAC for money-laundering, counter-terror financing

by Michael West | Sep 27, 2020 | Finance & Tax

Hard on the heels of its Westpac sting, Austrac is close to prosecuting Paypal for offences under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing laws. Michael West reports.
Immediately in the wake of the dramatic news, Westpac’s shares performed in line with the share market, which shows that although the settlement was large prima facie, it was also largely expected and, at a cost of roughly three months of cash profits for the bank, was not particularly onerous (also given the enormity of the breaches at 23 million in number and the seriousness of the breaches which included large corporate transactions and hundreds of cases of financing pedophiles).
On sharemarket trading the following day Westpac shares shot up sharply along with the other major banks when the government announced it was watering down lending criteria.
Immediately after what seemed almost coupled with the Westpac announcement it seemed Frydenberg announced the relaxing of the current irresponsible lending laws.(ODT)

 

The ‘Panama Papers’ exposed the greed of the…

By Paul Gregoire  The Panama Papers could have been a massive moment in

The Panama Papers could have been a massive moment in history. However, the culture of tax havens, loopholes and our richest paying zero tax continues unabated.

An Oxfam report released on January 20 revealed that last year 26 billionaires owned the same amount of wealth as the poorest 3.8 billion people around the globe. This was down from 43 individuals the year before. And this extreme wealth disparity is accelerating every year.

 

The Shovelhttps://www.theshovel.com.au/2020/09/26/morrisons-daughter-to-build-and-negatively-gear-second-cubby-house/

Scott Morrison’s 10-year old daughter today welcomed the federal government’s proposed relaxation of lending standards, saying she plans to use the equity in her first cubby house, built earlier this month, to build a second property. 

While she acknowledged her lack of a job and savings, Ms Morrison said she was thinking of her long-term financial future. “I’m unemployed, and have only a few dollars left from birthday and Christmas gifts. But with these new looser restrictions, the equity from my first cubby house and the $25,000 Homebuilder grant, I should be able to scrape together enough for a deposit to build another one. And with the tax benefits from two cubby houses being negatively geared, I’m hoping I can sell the properties before I turn 18, and then retire.” 

The Prime Minister’s youngest daughter also saw the broader economic effect of her plans, echoing her father’s fixation on tradespeople. “The looser lending rules will create more work for tradies, at a time when so many people are unemployed or underemployed due to the global pandemic. These changes will bolster the cubby house sector, create jobs and provide prosperity for people looking to invest in property”.

Federal Government fast-tracks grants to Foxtel

According to an ABC report, government funds were fast-tracked to Foxtel during the coronavirus pandemic.

Meet the Socialists Keeping Alive Working-Class Politics in Melbourne

09.26

• Andrew Charles

As Melbourne’s October council elections approach, the Victorian Socialists are stepping up their fight against neoliberalism — by fielding an unprecedented slate of 19 candidates, across five municipalities. 

 Take Stony Creek, a waterway in Melbourne’s working-class west. It’s still poisoned after a fire in an illegal chemical store in Tottenham. As Jorge Jorquera, Victorian Socialists candidate for Yarraville explained, “If this was happening in Toorak it would be a different story.”

However, as Liz Walsh notes,

We see elections as a way to connect a socialist message with working people. If we win, it’s going to be because we were upfront about our politics, and because people voted for socialist fighters. And if we don’t win, we’ve forged new connections and put local councils on notice.

Erik Locke

@Eriklocke33

We can do it Victoria! We're flattening the Herald Sun readership curve! Stay safe, don't buy it, read it or follow any of the journos. It is cunning, deadly but very visible.

 

FAKE NEWS

THE ARCHIBALD FOR THE BEST RACE PROPAGANDA

John McDonald is Australia's top art critic. But he really should protest at Australia's top art prize being hijacked by propagandists, and not encourage this debasement of art:  "In a year when Black Lives Matter protests are raging around the world, it was a safe bet the Archibald Prize would go to an Indigenous artist." It gets worse...

12m ago

No surprise Andrew Bolt wants Art to be reduced to decoration. Only exception if and when it glorifies and mythologizes the nations history or Christ as a White man.  How dare art awards be given to non patronized artists those not recognized by Bolt's hallowed secondary arena of galleries and the commercial art world. In this case the little known grandson of a famous Indigenous artist. It's bad enough he's indigenous but the subject matter is a reminder of Bolt's great racist folly. The attempted crucifixion of Adam Goodes. Bolt threw his shit and it hit a Teflon wall and it rebounded and covered him instead. No matter what Bolt did he couldn't find traction with his racist comments and attempts to have us turn on the Australian of the Year..

UH OH, TRUMP IS STARTING TO SOUND LIKE HE KNOWS HE'LL LOSE

Maybe Trump was just having an off day. Maybe he just misspoke. But his speech on Friday at a rally in Virginia sounded like he was already preparing excuses for defeat. Take these lines.

32m ago

Bolt seems to be preparing himself for the event  of Trump losing. If he  does he can then deny he was ever really a Trumpster. Bolt's always allowed himself a get out of jail card buried somewhere should he need it. However they are what they are pathetic attempts to escape. Sounds as if Bolt believes he has backed the wrong horse.

THIS VIRUS SCARE IS A RE-RUN OF THE CLIMATE ONE

The virus scare is just like the global warming one. Both are based on dodgy models and wild exaggerations. Both are hyped by scaremongering journalists quoting the most alarmist experts. Both are sold with a moral fervor, damning alternative opinions as evil. And both have politicians proposing ruinous responses that cause more harm than good.

1h ago

The virus scare is built on the same foundation as climate change. Yes, they are both universal problems affecting each and everyone of us be it differently depending on our global status . As for "shining a light on dodgy models" they have. Primarily on the  economic, political and social systems under which we variously live and have  operated under over the years. Climate Change more complex so more so the pandemic has brought into relief those social systems that have failed us with those that haven't.
 It patently obvious the US  the model of Capitalism our LNP currently wishes us to adopt has been the greatest failure. Whereas other less extreme Capitalist Socialist Democratic systems, less intent on privatizing everything, have fared better. The obvious difference is in regard to values of Human Rights and Common good and Public Services against extreme Individualism and a free market. Values geared to prioritizing a common good asan outcome have fared much better. It's those comparisons Bolt ignores.  His agenda supports one that's all the way with the USA and 'me' not 'we' as it's central value. One that is the very definition of Trump's world.

WHO CHOSE PRIVATE SECURITY?: THE MEMORY FAIL OF GRAHAM ASHTON

Former police chief Graham Ashton denies making the catastrophic decision to get private security guards - not his police - to guard Victoria's quarantine hotels. But what made him say on March 27 that the Premier's department made the call? Who did he speak to? Why does his phone not note such a call?  Why is the Premier pointing a finger at him?

1h ago

Why did 2 ranked Police Commissioners agree that they both thought the ADF and the Police were inappropriate to act as the hotel security guards? The look for one was their immediate reason. Imagine the image sent around the world and it's effect on the tourist industry. The second neither force was sufficiently trained for medical security and neither felt adequate training could be supplied immediately. So was this a case of passing the buck?
Jenny Mikakos was in charge of the DHHS a department crippled over time not by Dan Andrews but successive State and Federal Governments a system ready to fail period and not simply because of the Andrews Government. Private Security had become increasingly used over the years. For Christsake it had been guarding ADF and other public facilities for years but not as specialists. Profit not performance their bottom line.
They fucked Manus up. They run our prisons so what makes anyone surprised that they weren't going to fuck up the quarantine at hotels particularly on such short notice. NSW had learned from their experience with the Ruby Princess. Dan Andrews dealt with the first wave of Covid successfully. We were an example to the  country so their wasn't any reason to believe hotel quarrantine wouldn't have the same outcome. The system system however proved to be the problem but rather than amplifying that fact an individual scapegoat was needed.
Everyone and his dog were pointing fingers at each other except Dan Andrews and unfortunately like drop the hankey and in all probability was always going to be Mikakos left holding the hankey. Will it continue or improve probably continue because these things aren't turned around on a coin. What will be the outcome? Will Dan deal with the systemic issues? Will Morrison deal with the travesty of privatised Aged-Care? Dan should leave O'Brien yelling and screaming like a banshee in the background and let Andrew Bolt and the media wallow in their shit as well. After all 70% of Victorians are behind Dan they know he's got their backs.

Fighting Fake News with REAL; 29/7/20; Ross Gittens, Racial treatment of 10 year olds;

Thatcher and Reagan? He must be Joshing us

Ross Gittins 

 450k Seekers for 150k unemployed 1) Tames wage demands 2) Lowers costs 3) Minimises Welfare  (ODT)

LNP LOGIC

We learnt last week that, after September, this will drop to $408, about a third less than the reduced JobKeeper payment. Means-testing will be resumed, as will penalties for failing to search for jobs. JobKeeper has been extended for six months, but the JobSeeker supplement only for three, with no guarantee it then won’t revert to $40 a day.

Why so tough? Because the unemployed aren’t like you and me. They’re shirkers. If you want them to work, you have to threaten punishment. 

 

 

 

Van Badham

 

Australia doesn't need Reagan and Thatcher's neoliberal economics of misery

These economic times demand bold intervention from government to reconstruct our shattered economy and rebuild Australian workplaces. Frydenberg spruiking Reagan, Thatcher and their economics of misery as the answer is just another hapless stagger, downhill in the wrong direction.

 

Do you fear us? Why else does a 10-year-old Aboriginal kid need to be caged?

Isaiah Sines and Terleaha Williams

 The nation's attorneys-general met on Monday to discuss whether to raise the age of criminal responsibility. They decided that no action would be taken at this stage. Right across Australia, children can be locked up in prisons from the age of 10. 

US prisons activist Angela Davis says: “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” We cannot accept the idea that the best place for a 10- to 13-year-old kid is sitting in a police or prison cell.

We are just some of the strong Aboriginal young people in Mt Druitt fighting for a better future for our young people. We want to build a better future for our families and communities. We want to build the solutions.

  'Just mind blowing': While two Miami mayors ignored each other, Florida's COVID-19 cases spiralled out of control 

 Miami pop 2.7 mill... 65,000 cases Florida 15,000 per day

While Victoria struggles with a surge in COVID-19 cases numbering hundreds each day, the US state of Florida is battling a spike of a very different magnitude, with more than 400,000 cases.

1. This unsettling video may change how you feel about masks

   

   By C Raina MacIntyre, Abrar Ahmad Chughtai, Charitha de Silva, Con Doolan, Prateek Bahl and Shovon Bhattacharjee Mon at 9:38am

   If you're not sure whether wearing a face mask is worth it, or you need to wear a mask but are unsure which type, new research should help you decide.

 

Dan Andrews Effort and Observation. Greg Hunt's Crocodile Tears and Murdoch Media's Fake deflections of the past few days are simply bullshit (ODT

The real issue, however, is that the aged care system is simply not fit for purpose in normal times and so was inevitably destined to fail when under this sort of extreme pressure.

Hunt on Tuesday praised the care his late father received in a home. “I cannot imagine better care that my family and my father could have got.”

But Andrews said “I wouldn’t want my mum in some of these places”, an observation many distraught families will relate to.

The interim report of the royal commission into aged care, released late last year, was scathing, declaring older people and their families were left “isolated and powerless in this hidden-from-view system”.

COVID has provided a tragic real time vindication of the commission’s observation.

 View from The Hill: Aged care crisis reflects poor preparation and a broken system

 

Van Badham

1h ·

This is from April 24.

Never forget how hard Scott Morrison and the Liberals pushed for “reopening” - even aged care homes - with threats, with bullying.

Now, we are here. This is a Prime Minister who creates crises and punishes those who are forced to deal with them.

618

The Bulletin

4h ·

OUR OPINION
MORRISON AGAIN ONLY TELLING HALF THE STORY

Yesterday Morrison was giving a press interview in Queensland, he was once again trying to con the Australian public by misrepresenting the FACTS.

Morrison’s made a statement about having to “cut his trip to Queensland short as he was needed to assist Victoria with the Aged Care Crisis.”

Now let’s just dissect that statement, the Victorian Premier DID NOT ask Morrison for his assistance, it was Morrison and the Federal Government that asked Daniel Andrews for assistance with the dramas in the Aged Care sector and the outbreak of COVID in Nursing Homes.

Since the LNP allowed privatization of Aged Care facilities it became a Federal Government problem not State. 

The Australian public are seeing through Morrison’s manipulation. The LNP and Murdoch are always trying to distract the Australian public on what is going on behind the scenes and this is why Australians need to stay alert. 

 The truth is Daniel Andrews is closing the eye and ear hospital and he’s reducing elective surgery except for emergency, so he could free up Registered Nurses to assist in Aged Care facilities.

 

 

FAKE NEWS 

 

Humour

JAPAN, VICTORIA FACE SECOND WAVE, BUT NOW WARY OF LOCKDOWNS

Japan is also battling a second wave of infections. But there's something different this time: so far, many fewer deaths. Japan's Government is also rejecting another shutdown. True, deaths are a lagging indicator, but are we learning to live with this virus? Even gung-ho Victoria is now shying from stage four restrictions,

7m ago 

 Has Bolt come to praise or criticise? We don't know and given what he's been saying he obviously doesn't either. Guess it's the golf that's been so important to him now that he can but doesn't play. He can, however, walk the streets if he takes off his suit and wears his head sock. But then his ego is that big he thinks he'd still be recognized.

MAKING WAVES

From SF Weekly: "California Surfing Has a Serious Diversity Problem.Nonprofits in SF and beyond are trying to bring more BIPOC and women into the sport." Why is it a "problem" if people of colour choose not to surf? 

45m ago 

No problem at all Andrew Bolt as long as it is a matter of "choice". However more often than not choice isn't the primary factor. It wasn't historically and as a result, it's cultural aftermath remains visible today. People of colour were banned from beaches in America.

 Bolt could ask the same question of Melbourne's Culture. Why is it a problem that Jews choose not to join the Melbourne Club or have holiday homes in Portsea?

Why are there so many people of colour in our jails and why do we deem ten-year-olds to be so dangerous?  Naivety is a false flag in Murdoch's world. Why aren't there more people of colour seen on Sky after Dark?

Fighting Fake News with REAL 19/5/20; China are the Victims and being called the Aggressors by wa very guilty LNP and MSN; Carbon Capture like Clean Coal a Carbon Tax is ever so simpler;

Xi backs COVID-19 review as China imposes 80% tariff on Australian barley

 Let's get one thing straight the Barley and Covid-19 are separate issues and are in no way conspiratorially connected other than by the LNP and MSN. They are only joined by an LNP political gambit with conservative MSM assistance. It stinks of a fake distraction to take the blame off the LNP.
China had posted a complaint about Australia's barley dumping in 2018 and China by WTO rules had 2 years to formally act on it. That time is up this week.  A tariff decision was needed by China due to a two-year time constraint of WTO rules and not by COVID which the media have weirdly coupled. 

 The Covid-19 inquiry, on the other hand, is a recent 2020 issue and entirely separate. However, the media and  LNP politicians are playing an extremely dirty political game of "don't blame us" for dumping by coupling the two. It's a Fake News gambit attempting to blame China and take the blame off them for the $1.8 billion loss to the industry, Meanwhile China is the victim in this process and is called the bully. 

A COVID inquiry is also reasonable if it's purely scientific and not part of Trump's political blame game, which one suspects it is when we see how Morrison has kowtowed to Trump on everything else while Trump has treated him as a doormat.(ODT)

President Xi Jinping said any review should be conducted by the WHO - and only after the pandemic ended. That came as China announced trade restrictions that will wipe out Australia's barley trade with the superpower

Government looks to carbon capture for climate action

While the direct and simplest regulatory means is a carbon tax the LNP choose the more complex means financing the imperfect carbon capture method with a crooked MP Angus Taylor overseeing the whole process. Now there is nothing to see here is there? They are actually giving money to the fossil fuel industry and calling it a loan and if it doesn't work bad luck. rather than the industry paying for the carbon, it releases. It as logical as their bullshit spin on "clean coal".

The Morrison government is eyeing legislative changes to allow its clean energy agencies to fund carbon capture and storage from fossil fuel projects in a bid to unlock $2b of private investment to reduce greenhouse gases.

FAKE NEWS 

Listening to the Coronavirus 'Experts' Has Led to Death and Despair

Ron Paul • May 18, 2020

• 600 Words • 4 Comments • Reply

On April 21st the Washington Post savaged Georgia governor Brian Kemp’s decision to begin opening his state after locking down for weeks. “Georgia leads the race to become America’s No. 1 Death Destination,” sneered the headline. The author, liberal pundit Dana Milbank, actually found the possibility of Georgians dying to be hilarious, suggesting that, “as... Read More

TONIGHT: CHINA INSULTS, PUNISHES AUSTRALIA, AS UN LICKS ITS BOOTS. MEDIA GOES NUTS OVER TRUMP'S DRUGS

 On The Bolt Report on Sky at 7pm: China belts  Australia, killing our barley trade and insulting the Morrison Government for its "joke" boasts. Unfortunately ... it's right. Plus the mad Queensland Government seems to think it's an independent country - closing its borders is damaging and dumb. And Trump takes a drug and watches the media meltdown. 

No surprise Bolt will misinform tonight and not mention that we have been dumping barley into China and the complaint was made 2 years ago without satisfaction. China was required by the WTO rules to do something this week or just allow the complaint to lapse. It's reasonable that they do what they have done given Australia has simply denied what was clear and obvious. But you won't hear that from Bolt or anyone at Ch9 now Fairfax it would seem. Australians haven't been the victims our MSM is now making out.

Fighting Fake News with REAL 1/4/20; 240,000 Americans to die; Locked Up Humour; LNP- never say never change in a day; Quid Pro Quo it's true meaning revealed again;

Trump Administration says up to 240,000 Americans to die from coronavirus

By Matthew Knott

The Trump administration expects between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans will die after contracting the coronavirus if social distancing is maintained, a figure the US President said was "very sobering".
If 240,000 Americans die from the virus, it would be four times as many American casualties as the Vietnam War and 80 times the number of people who died in the September 11 attacks.

President Trump stands before a screen showing the projected curve of infections in the US. Up to 240,000 Americans could die.

More than 700 deaths from the virus were recorded in a single day on Tuesday (Wednesday) in the US, topping the previous peak reached the day before.

 What Andrew Bolt and Murdoch Media report as a trivial flu

 The Originality of the LNP never fails to amaze

Just a few days ago, this from Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann:

“No, we will not look at a UK-style system (income support) because in an Australian context that just wouldn’t work,”

One week later: “But we are going to do it in an Australian way”. Kaboom, income support for six million Australians.

Stimulae
Apart from the assorted state government stimulus initiatives, the Federal Government has been notching up stimulus at the rate of more than one per week.
On March 12, a $17.6 billion stimulus – a $4.76 billion doubling in Newstart allowances, now dubbed Jobseeker, and $6.7 billion for business wage subsidies. The former an extremely welcome relief for the poorest Australians and economically sensible as they are sure to spend it. The latter, a “trickle down” initiative as businesses but only partially effective as businesses were dropping customers and closing doors by the day.
On March 19, a $90 billion three-year funding facility was declared by the Reserve Bank to help banks continue to lend to business, and another $15 billion aimed at second-tier banks and other lenders. Another trickle down initiative, essentially a liquidity fillip for the banks who are more likely to lend it to large corporations more likely to pay it back.
On March 22, a $66 billion package, including a $550 coronavirus supplement to Jobseeker and a second $750 payment to welfare recipients. This was designed to keep small business keep their workers but it was flawed in that it incentivised employers to keep higher paid workers and discard those on lower incomes.
On March 30, the big $130 billion income support package followed income support measures in other countries. This is very welcome and benefits some six million Australians but is designed to entrench the employer/employee relationship and fails to support the millions of Australians who fall through the eligibility cracks.

 Cufflinked Comrades: neo-conservative socialists and the victims of the big bail-out - Michael West



 

The Coronavirus CrisisThe Coronavirus CrisisIn Exchange for Aid, Trump Wants Praise From Governors He Can Use in Campaign

Robert Mackey

Quid Pro Quo 50 Purrrr-fect Calls
 “Imagine living in a part of Louisiana or Texas that’s prone to devastating hurricanes and flooding,” Karlan said. “What would you think if you lived there, and your governor asked for a meeting with the president to discuss getting disaster aid that Congress has provided for — what would you think, if that President said, ‘I would like you to do us a favour. I’ll meet with you, and I’ll send the disaster relief once you brand my opponent a criminal.”

How to shut Andrew Bolt down

 STOP ADVERTISING

News Corp community newspapers to cease printing papers

By Zoe Samios

The Manly Daily, The Wentworth Courier and The Diamond Valley Leader are among a group of 60 newspapers forced to stop print publication due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
News Corp Australia announced on Wednesday morning it would turn its 60 community newspaper mastheads to digital-only products and suspend print publication from April 9 due to rapid declines in advertising revenues.

Community title readers will be given a free 28-day digital subscription to access the titles and News Corp's metro mastheads the Herald Sun, The Daily Telegraph, The Courier-Mail and The Advertiser online.

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller said the decision to suspend printing had been "forced" and had not been taken lightly.
"The suspension of our community print editions has been forced on us by the rapid decline in advertising revenues following the restrictions placed on real estate auctions and home inspections, the forced closure of event venues and dine-in restaurants in the wake of the coronavirus emergency," Mr Miller said

FAKE NEWS

TONIGHT: LOSING NOT JUST OUR MINDS BUT OUR HEARTS IN THIS PANIC

On The Bolt Report on Sky at 7pm: still just 20 deaths, the latest 95 years old. What's the human cost of locking up everyone, rather than detaining the infectious and protecting the old? And have we lost our heart - trying to turn away a ship? Have we lost our mind - banning couples from visiting each other? And why a pay rise for public servants? 

Just 20 deaths note Bolt doesn't mention that  4,860 cases that have been diagnosed and growing let alone the unknown cases and carriers to date as only some 240,000 people have been tested since January. Bolt is doing everything counter to what the experts and our authorities are saying on the matter. Laws have been introduced to obey those instructions. Bolt is arguably saying isn't necessary! Isn't he breaking the law? 

He's not Derryn Hinch daring the government to charge him but why hasn't he been charged? Do News Corp and Sky have that much power that their employees can invite the public to not just ignore but break the law?

The best advice given by medical experts, virologists, and epidemiologists, given the circumstances, that we don't have the equipment or even the manpower to test all Australians again and again and again let alone the capacity to treat them. So the herd immunity approach wouldn't be practical here.  That seems the case in Sweden and  Netherlands which remain among the top affected countries in the world. The UK  considered it as an option and were convinced not to go ahead with it. Bolt certainly doesn't provide any convincing arguments for doing it. He keeps pointing to Taiwan, South Korea Singapore and Hong Kong but they don't enhance his argument as Australia is so very very different a place. To quote Waleed Aly the case is not that simple Waleed, and he is talking to you Bolt because it seems you are so very very simple.

Bolt is reminiscent of the cotton plantation owners of the deep South in America their slaves were dispensible their business not.  Bolt, in the same way, is telling Australians Coronavirus or not to get back to work and get your flatlined wages and ensure that the Corporate CEOs get the bulging bonuses and the company profits are going to be shared with shareholders.
Bolt is an isolate he gets paid here but spends a good part of his wages out of the country he certainly doesn't practice what he preaches and is one of the least productive Australians preaching what productive Australians ought to do.

Fighting Fake News with REAL 22/1/20; Morrison PM- Forget the underlying cause the symptoms are more important; Science has been nobbled for years and has a voice; What Money really does for the LNP;

Australia consumes 1.3 per cent of the world's carbon emissions and profits from the sale of a further 2.6 per cent of the total global emissions. The total is more than 10 times the global per capita. Scott Morrison says it is for the good of Australia's economy and by exclusion he says he doesn't care who is harmed by Australia's profiteering. (M.McCarthy) 

According to Morrison forget the cause of the problem lets adapt to its effects backburning is as important as emissions 

Leading scientists have demanded urgent action on the climate crisis as Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended his government’s policies.

“For decades, climate scientists have been warning Australian governments about the escalating threat of catastrophic bushfire conditions because of climate change,” Dr Beer said.
“I am horrified that what my study found has now occurred and the fact this means it is only going to get worse,” he said.

Leading scientists hit back at PM's soft stance on climate change

 Scientist who linked climate change with bushfires says it’s not too late

“Grants Were Allocated Fairly”, Bridget McKenzie Says From Her Personal, Custom-Built Gymnasium And Swimming Complex – The Shovel



Fake Newsman is back

 

The exactness he expects of others he certainly doesn't expect of himself. Mr Picky is back to take money from our disasters not donate any. He's certainly against "trendsetting". His silence was such an obvious breath of fresh air when the bushfires were at their extreme as were the floods and he was "away". But then that's his definition of empathy. My bet he left the country the ugly Aussie Andrew Bolt 

 BOLT'S LOGIC IS THAT OF A DENIALIST MURDOCH DECLARED "THERE ARE NO DENIALISTS IN HIS ORG". Science has shown with the increased rate of CO2 there has been a concomitant increase in the planet's temperature and that increase has had "indirect" consequences in the trends in global climate and weather extremes we've not seen in the past. Emphasis Mr Bolt on the term "trends" and "extremes" not all particular events. 

Smoking tobacco shows a concomitant trend in lung cancer but not all smokers suffer it does Bolt encourage his kids to smoke because of the lack of a proven 100% connection? If they did and a medico offered what turned out to be a false warning would he damn the medico and medicine? 

 

SAVED BY THE RAIN THE WARMISTS SAID WOULDN'T FALL

December 11: "There will be no relief for drought-ravaged regions over the summer, with Bureau of Meteorology officials [saying] there would be no significant rain until at least April." Yesterday: "Rain across firegrounds in south-eastern Australia has slowed several blazes." The dud prediction is because global warming does not explain our fires. Andrew Bolt

22/01/2020

Fighting Fake News with REAL,7/1/20; The LNP voice and the Bushfires. Purely a Natural disaster; You can't change what we have done overnight but we can manage better;

Australia Is Burning Like Never Before. These 9 Photos Show the Horrific Devastation.

 

Factcheck: Is there really a green conspiracy to stop bushfire hazard reduction? No, but the LNP are happy to spread it.

This Faux Christian Trumpster, Accidental PM has sacrificed the Nation but more so the Common Good. He will lead us to yet another war and not just one against Science but one in the Middle East that can't be won and will cost Australian lives. (ODT)

Key points:

• Australians' satisfaction with democracy is the lowest it has been since the Dismissal in 1975, a new study suggests
• Public trust in government is also at an all-time low, according to the study
• Just over a decade ago, contentment with democracy was at an all-time high

 Public trust in governments is at an all-time low, Australian National University finds - Politics - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

'You are a climate denier': Craig Kelly in car crash TV interview over bushfire crisis

The backbencher was called a 'disgrace' and told to 'wake up' during the combative encounter on British TV that will anger colleagues

The backbencher was called a "disgrace" and told to "wake up" during the combative encounter that threatens to undermine Morrison's efforts to reassure Australians that his government accepts the link between climate change and extreme weather events.

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 We need to put some serious thought into what future life will be like under climate change. Perhaps shifting peak holiday season to the cooler months is the place to start. 

Yes, there have been very large fires in the past but they weren't followed up with yet more very large fires a mere 15 years later.
Normally, you'd be expecting a gap of 50 or 100 years. So the ecology is telling us that we are seeing the intervals between the fires shrinking. That is a really big warning sign.
And this increasingly frequent fire activity is completely consistent with what climate modelling was suggesting. The whole system is moving to a world that is hotter, drier, and with more frequent fire activity.
It's what was forecast and it's what is now happening.

 As bushfire and holiday seasons converge, it may be time to say goodbye to the typical Australian summer holiday - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)