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Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by PaulP -With Pauline and One Nation all I see is a group of malcontents who can't get through the day without complaining about someone or something. A group of emotionally, psychologically and spiritually stunted individuals wondering about bitterly condemning others who are different to them. Totally devoid of humanitarianism... unless you're angry and fearful like them, which puts them closer to the Far Right than anything.
It's grievance politics all the way down.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Pre-game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney in Sydney
Last post by Thryleon -One games evidence is evidence only of how we performed in one game.
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Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by Lods -They know that there is a group of society where those issues have a home...and that's where their key support lies.
What they don't have to deal with are the consequences and costs of implementing them, and the political risks of advocating certain policies.
That's because they can never gain enough seats to form a government and have to deal with the consequences and costs.
They may hold a balance of power that can influence government policy but that still has them in a 'nothing to lose' position...and they can be outspoken.
Labor and the LNP don't have that luxury.
They 'can' form government, and it depends not on extreme right or left voters but a 10-20% group slap back in the middle.
That's where elections are decided.
It actually puts the LNP in a difficult position at the moment.
The leadership is mostly to the right of the party, with Taylor and his minions.
That may bring back some of the One Nation vote but it risks moving further from that 'middle ground' where the vote they really need lies.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Pre-game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney in Sydney
Last post by Lods -It could be anything from a heavy loss to a comfortable win.
The 'unknown' factor can work both ways.
It may help us by keeping the Swans guessing about the way we will play.
Many predictions of a win are based on the "catch them by surprise" idea rather than "we're a better side".
On the other hand, it may be that any improved aspects of our play in the practice games will fall apart under the pressure of a 'real' game.
While a good start to the season is important, more important will be the coming weeks as the players get used to playing together.
We've seen in the last two years how injury can impact the performance of a side that has had the advantage of many years together.
The injury impact on a side that is relatively 'new' to each other would be much greater.
So, no major injuries.
We need to have a 'consistency of personnel' early on so that the bonds can develop.
Tonight is important
All summer we've had a 'back and forth' about whether we'll improve or go backwards
At the end of the game we'll have a better idea of 'what worked' and 'what needs work'.
But we also need a body of about half a dozen games before we start to make real definitive judgements.
(So let's not go off 'half-cocked' whatever the result.
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Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by Baggers -Pat, just take the L and move on. Hanson and One Nation are not Communist or Socialist.Talk to me about actions not words, the labels self-applied are meaningless, the words are a script, rehearsed and delivered with professional aplomb. There is a reason in law the participants are described as actors.
Who does Hanson target, what or who is the focus of her political ire, somebody different?
How do her actions compare to her words? Do as I tell you and you'll be OK!
More directly for yourself, as a long supporter of the rights and freedoms of the individual, the freedom to identify, how would Hanson label you? How would those you care for fair in Hanson's world compared to RedTrump?
As I study Hanson's politics, I realise she is comfortable telling you how to vote, without really arguing a case.
We debate alternatives to governments but they have to be genuine alternatives. In the meantime, the press lecture us about labelling the MAGA like Sovcits as dumb, like winning the US election that lead to current events somehow proves us wrong, I'd call it a confirmation of truth! When RedTrump puts boots on the ground, will he be on the front line, would Hanson, who are the pawns?
Ignoring the underlying laws, how is local politics different?
Is this the uncomfortable debate Hanson's supporters do not want to have?
If there is a weakness in the current Labor or Liberal parties, it's the weakness is calling out the extreme minority views, they are beholding to the minority and it's a consequence of their own doing!
With Pauline and One Nation all I see is a group of malcontents who can't get through the day without complaining about someone or something. A group of emotionally, psychologically and spiritually stunted individuals wondering about bitterly condemning others who are different to them. Totally devoid of humanitarianism... unless you're angry and fearful like them, which puts them closer to the Far Right than anything.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 0 2026 Pre-game Prognostications Carlton vs Sydney in Sydney
Last post by Baggers -I reckon Derksen is a bit stiff. He'll be playing before much longer.
Boyd appears back in calculations after a year where he appeared forgotten.
Fog is a bit lucky: Evans' injury probably sealed his spot, although Byrne could take it away soon.
Yep, Fogarty is very lucky... probably in because Frankie is injured.
Sadly, I'd trust Derks with ball in hand more than Young.
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Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by LP -Pat, just take the L and move on. Hanson and One Nation are not Communist or Socialist.
Who does Hanson target, what or who is the focus of her political ire, somebody different?
How do her actions compare to her words? Do as I tell you and you'll be OK!
More directly for yourself, as a long supporter of the rights and freedoms of the individual, the freedom to identify, how would Hanson label you? How would those you care for fair in Hanson's world compared to RedTrump?
As I study Hanson's politics, I realise she is comfortable telling you how to vote, without really arguing a case.
We debate alternatives to governments but they have to be genuine alternatives. In the meantime, the press lecture us about labelling the MAGA like Sovcits as dumb, like winning the US election that lead to current events somehow proves us wrong, I'd call it a confirmation of truth! When RedTrump puts boots on the ground, will he be on the front line, would Hanson, who are the pawns?
Ignoring the underlying laws, how is local politics different?
Is this the uncomfortable debate Hanson's supporters do not want to have?
If there is a weakness in the current Labor or Liberal parties, it's the weakness is calling out the extreme minority views, they are beholding to the minority and it's a consequence of their own doing!
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Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by PaulP -30
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by LP -
Leaving aside the fact that too many people in lay discourse confuse and conflate fascism and authoritarianism, to say nothing of the blurring of lines and lumping together socialism, communism, Marxism, "the left" etc, I'll leave you with this : neither Hanson herself, nor any member of her party, nor any of her supporters, nor any scholar of the left, nor any students of the left, would consider One Nation to be socialist or communist, not in part, and not in whole.
Public commentary is rife with generalisations, but that doesn't mean the commentary is wrong, for example conflating Judaism and Zionists when one is really a hijacking. But .,........
The academic error seems to be driven by a need to categorize, but reality is not so convenient.