Disqus - Latest Comments for evanhadkins

Re: Labor sitting pretty to win 2025 Election

evanhadkins — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 01:44:21 -0000

Those discontent with Labor can go elsewhere than the Libs. It will be interesting to see what happens to the independents' vote.

Re: Twelvetide 22:09 politics - The Cynefin Co

evanhadkins — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 17:05:07 -0000

Some indigenous groups had debate as very much part of their governing. I would go for teaching 'persuasion' rather than rhetoric - because we need to teach dealing with graphics and memes.

Very much enjoying this series Dave, many thanks for it.

Re: How can Australia reset relations with China?

evanhadkins — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 18:58:28 -0000

Perhaps Aus could show itself to be a good friend to China. Offer assistance to the rural poor there, help them to develop local sufficiency in food and renewable power generation, assist with the education of girls and women. As good friends we would of course express disagreement with policies we disagreed with (like imprisoning innocents - which would mean putting our own house in order on these things).

Re: China threatens the West’s primacy, not its democratic systems

evanhadkins — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 22:21:08 -0000

I think this is right, and fervently hope it is. The gap in the argument concerns what China may do as it becomes increasingly powerful - both economically and militarily. It shifted from biding its time under Deng to being assertive under Xi. There is no reason it may not shift again if/when it is dominant.

Re: Where next for private healthcare? - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Tue, 25 May 2021 05:06:26 -0000

I hadn't heard about SA, that's awful. I suspect you're right about the neo-liberal playbook Phil.

Re: Australia’s Pandemic Trap is Snapping Shut - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Mon, 24 May 2021 20:17:51 -0000

I for one think people's lives are more important than the economy.

I also think the costs should be equally born, not unfairly placed on the shoulders of the unemployed and underemployed, while planet killing corporates are subsidised.

Re: Where next for private healthcare? - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Mon, 24 May 2021 20:16:11 -0000

It isn't doctors salaries that are the problem though. I agree with the rest of what you say.

Re: Where next for private healthcare? - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Mon, 24 May 2021 20:14:17 -0000

In Tasmania the hospital system is dreadful. Both the majors underfund it. So people are left in chronic pain for months and years awaiting treatment. Those wealthy enough (understandably) take out private health insurance to get the treatment they need.

How we get governments to adequately fund health care is something of a tangent to the private health care discussion, but is related at the level of individual decisions.

Re: Road pricing must start with electric vehicles - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Mon, 17 May 2021 18:09:23 -0000

The difference is that electricity can come from renewables. Petrol doesn't. Shifting to a system that can be powered by renewables is to be encouraged - not discouraged by making the possibility more expensive.

Re: Is the end nigh for the Australian public university? - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Sun, 16 May 2021 19:14:59 -0000

International students being forced to rely on donations of food - says it all really.

Re: Is the end nigh for the Australian public university? - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Sun, 16 May 2021 19:13:57 -0000

And the reason there is so little noise about the appalling treatment by the government is because so many of us have been to uni. The treatment of students and teaching staff is as cash cows. The salaries of the admin staff are dreadfully inflated. They put money into property speculation rather than teaching. The idea that uni's exist as faithful servants of the almighty dollar (sorry, The Economy) shows the attitude of the well paid administrators - something many of us find dreadful.

Re: Road pricing must start with electric vehicles - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Sun, 16 May 2021 19:09:48 -0000

How about taxing the polluters as the beginning of reform. Instead of discouraging steps to keep the planet habitable.

Re: Saturday’s good reading and listening for the weekend - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Fri, 14 May 2021 23:41:41 -0000

re Tony Blair. The young people I know would happily fit into the 'woke' description. This is the adaption that the left needs to make - it is the intensifying of the conflict that began with the New Left decades ago - and remains unaddressed.

Re: Scott Morrison. Politics and Pentecostalism 101 - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Sat, 08 May 2021 21:14:38 -0000

I see no evidence the PM's religion influences his economic policies. I see no difference between his policy and those of secular people.

Re: Scott Morrison. Politics and Pentecostalism 101 - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Sat, 08 May 2021 20:30:36 -0000

Not all Pente's endorse the prosperity gospel. Not all those who endorse it do so to the same extent, and vary in how much they qualify it in light of other scriptures.

Re: Saturday’s good reading and listening for the weekend - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Fri, 07 May 2021 20:18:23 -0000

re Trumpism. There have been critiques of 'left' policies as postmodern pastiche as well. The contrast seems to be a coherent and consistent political program - if there ever was one, I don't think it's been seen recently (except perhaps from loonie libertarians).

Re: Saturday’s good reading and listening for the weekend - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 20:25:39 -0000

I'm not a pentecostal (in traditional terms mainstream protestant), but I'm sceptical of Boyce's reading of Pentecostalism. Keen to hear from any familiar with Pentecostalism. My feeling is that they would be very reluctant to give up dogmas like Christ's divinity and the verbal and plenary inspiration of scripture. There emphasis on experience is distinctive, but this is probably the burden of most sermons in mainstream churches too.

Re: “Americans Don’t Know How Capitalist China Is” An interview with Weijian Shan - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 20:18:05 -0000

Does this address whether the claims however old have any basis in reality?

Re: “Americans Don’t Know How Capitalist China Is” An interview with Weijian Shan - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 19:07:44 -0000

Because territorial claims are old doesn't mean they are legitimate or have any basis in reality. The US and China working together can surely be their mutual benefit and ours.

Re: Hong Kong: British common law labelled as Chinese oppression - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 19:26:57 -0000

These protesters should also be grateful they are not being shot, seems to be the opinion of some commenters here.

Re: Hong Kong: British common law labelled as Chinese oppression - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 19:24:30 -0000

Those who use a law have no responsibility for bringing a prosecution apparently. The users are to blame as well as the initiators.

Re: The Australian War Memorial avoids the central issue: Why did we fight so many immoral, corrupt and failed wars? - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 20:29:42 -0000

This may be true, "Afghanistan [is] now indelibly linked to Australia’s national story",but in the opposite sense to the one intended.

Re: Who is Australia's worst Health Minister? How does Greg Hunt rate? - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 20:27:51 -0000

The AIDS response getting useful was probably due to activists. Any success in the pandemic response is probably due to the states.

Re: Tudge on the bludge - new education minister offers nothing new - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 20:21:09 -0000

Here's a thought: education policy should be based on how people learn. Yes, I know, apologies: hopelessly idealistic.

Re: Education shouldn't be about contribution to the economy - Pearls and Irritations

evanhadkins — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 20:04:42 -0000

Love all of this.