Health Care & Aged Care Our illustrious Treasurer, Joe Hockey, is trying to sell the nation on the idea that we have to have a co-pay for visiting a doctor, or that the payments to doctors for short appointments needs to be reduced, because somewhere in the world today a child may be born who will live to 150 years of age. Of course, if he can't afford health care because, after he's paid his Medicare levy etc. he can't afford the co-pay, or doctors no longer bulk-bill so they can make up the shortfall imposed by government, he won't live so long and certainly not well. Hockey also relates the story of only having to pay $40 for the treatment of his son's broken foot. He says that was "inherently wrong", because he could afford to have paid more. No, Joe, that doesn't make it wrong. You - and the rest of us - pay the Medicare levy so that we can access health care. That's what it's for. We may need to raise the levy. The levy may only be raising half the annual cost. But there are other initiatives that can be taken and that would make sense to improve health care delivery and maintain access for everyone. You only need to read a newspaper to find out about them, or talk to actual health care professionals. It might mean more money spent now and less - significantly less - later, but it puts the program on a progressive track, taking advantage of new technologies, new techniques, new and better practices. But that's not what this government wants to do. At best their ideological commitment to "small government", something they never fail to fail to achieve, demonstrates a complete misapprehension that government is the one organisation that can apply the leverage needed to make things better. At worst it's simply that they hate Medicare. They hate the very idea of someone else getting something they think they're not getting - even when they are. Good Catholic boys who heard "the poor you will have with you always" and learned the wrong lesson from the story, they've somehow adopted the mindset that being poor or ill is a moral failing. Joe Hockey, Tony Abbott, our current and former health ministers, they are lying. Medicare is not "unsustainable", and we do not need to inflict "price signals" on health care.

American Novel I've heard it's been said that all of jazz is either a 12-bar blues or "I Got Rhythm", so maybe all of great American novels are either The Great Gatsby or ? Well, Donna Tartt's novel, The Goldfinch, I think, is Gatsby. It's a very entertaining novel, certainly, although the object referenced in the title is little more than a MacGuffin, one of the secondary characters is a highly improbable Russian, while the rest are nearly little more than backdrops, but all that's never mind. The story roughly parallels the vague backstory of Jay Gatsby, with the great love lost, the rise to a position in which to reclaim it, but then takes a different turn, with a redemption Gatsby never finds, but not the final resolution. The protagonist is agonizing at times and the prose let's him linger on his agonizing nearly beyond endurance, but you finish with a sense of how realistic that is and how the past drives his present. I haven't read any of Tartt's other novels, and I don't know that I'll go so far as to seek them out, but I'll be very interested in her next, I think, and can recommend this one.

Boxing Day There are two Australian traditional events the day after Christmas: cricket and the start of the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race. This year I went out to Watsons Bay, by South Head and the Gap, to watch the start. The line forms just past Shark Island by Rose Bay, and crowds line the harbour and the view points out to sea, at every vantage point along the way. Boats of all sizes and types also pour into the harbour to view the start and to accompany the racers, past the heads if they're suitable to the open ocean, but generally staying out of the way. Lots of helicopters, too, and one blimp, the latter a somewhat unusual sight. The Americans have a boat in the race, too, a super-maxi called Commanche, and it's apparently had a credible start. Next year perhaps I'll see about going to see some cricket, if there's any in town. I think the Boxing Day test is in Melbourne.

Moral Compass: Lacking Here we have the true measure of the current Attorney General of Australia and the Liberal Party's commitment to the rule of law: Because David Hicks has been labelled a terrorist, torture is o.k. Without the courage to face his questioner, George Brandis dismisses the torture of David Hicks by the CIA, with the apparent knowledge and complicity of a government of which he was a member, and scuttles away from actually answering to the charge. As much as it pains me whenever Dick Cheney rears his hideous mien to pontificate on terrorism and justify his crimes, it is worse to bring such men as this back into power and pretend that it's a good thing. Brandis, you toad, answer the question.

All Dogs Go to Heaven Remember that Twilight zone episode where the guy dies and doesn't know it until he meets the devil and can't take his dog with him? Apparently, just like in that show, when he meets the angel, he will, because dogs count. Gotta like this pope, don't you? Showers at St. Peters for the homeless, Patti "my sins belong to me" Smith playing a show at the Vatican, and now we get to see our pets in heaven. If we can get to gay marriage and women priests, it'll be the New Jerusalem right there.

Paying for It The Liberals are abandoning their proposed $7 co-pay for doctor visits: good. It was a bad policy. The policy proposed adding this out-of-pocket tax to pay for a so-called “medical research future fund”, but the purpose was quite simply to drive people away from doctors, based on the claim that too many were going too often for too little. Are there people turning up at their bulk-billing physician’s office or clinic at the least sign of a sniffle or just because they’re lonely? Probably, but that doesn’t make Medicare “unsustainable”, as is so often claimed to be its status. In fact, Medicare is eminently sustainable, but health care itself does need work. I read a lot about various efforts being undertaken to improve health care delivery in the US and elsewhere. These may involve larger initial outlays, but the outcomes produced provide significant reductions in long-term costs well-beyond what’s spent at the beginning, and overall patient health is similarly improved. That’s big, as big, in its way, as antibiotics. It’s also smart, much smarter than driving people away from doctors or increasing the tax used to pay for health care. The supporters of the tax call it “structural reform”, but it isn’t a reform, unless you think abandoning universal health care is a reform, and it isn’t structural, as it doesn’t address health care itself. Pushing people away from health care is only going to make it more expensive as more people end up with worse health an earlier intervention could have prevented. Pushing health care into the private sector will not only increase costs, it will make it unavailable to the poor and burden the middle class, but that’s the idea, really. Liberals hate the poor. They regard poverty and illness as moral failings that should be punished. They despise the middle class for being aspirational and sucking up money that belongs to the wealthy. This is an ideological driver for the party and for the policies they seek to enact. That and the fact that Medicare was a successful Labor Party initiative for the last forty years, and nothing Labor has ever done can be tolerated. The Liberals have decided on a practice of extreme opposition, even in government, and this is one of the worst actions they’ve yet undertaken. Don’t count on the “co-pay” tax being gone forever. The Liberals are nothing if not persistent. Update: Absent the ability to put through their tax, the Liberals now propose to effectively stop paying doctors what they're owed for providing health care under Medicare. This is a despicable abrogation of their responsibility to the public and a slap in the face to doctors.

Who's Got the Guns? O.k., it's America, so the first answer is everybody. Except that's not right. What we need to remember while Ferguson burns is that the police have the guns, and having the guns means using them right. Quoting from Spiderman is simplistic, perhaps, but with great power comes great responsibility. Having guns and the right to use them means using them responsibly. Having the legal power to use force, even non-lethal force, for the purpose of controlling crime means using force responsibly, with restraint and judiciousness. A lone cop against a lone alleged assailant shouldn't require a spray of gunfire. The grand jury got it wrong. Well, they got what they got, and that led to wrong, so the question has to be what happened to lead them to their decision? Why did they think that all that gunfire didn't warrant an indictment? Maybe we'll find out from AG Holder, but I have my doubts. We surely won't find out from the arrests that will follow the riots. We didn't find out after Rodney King, either. But it's long past time we did, that we asked ourselves the questions: why are police so quick to shoot and kill unarmed black men? Why do we need our police to be so heavily armed that they serve effectively as an occupying army? Our politicians have let this get out of hand. In the scramble to be most "tough on crime" they give the police far too much leeway, far too many powers, and even where judicial restraints may exist, this requires judicial review, and it's too late by then. There were marches in the 1970's and '80's to "take back the night", a campaign against sexual violence against women. Maybe we could use some "take back our communities" now.

Whatever a Spider Can I want Spiderman gloves. I'll probably need Spiderman shoes, too, and a forklift, but Christmas is coming . . . .

October Showers Bring November Flowers Doesn't have quite the same ring to it. But as we head rapidly into summer, for now, the Jacaranda trees are in bloom, spreading purple joy and a carpet of petals as the head towards leaf. This is the "philosopher's tree" in the Sydney University quad, a very popular tourism location these days.

Orders and Disorder It makes no sense for John Boehner to say in the same sentence that Americans "want to get things done and they don't want the president acting on a unilateral basis", when he's spent his entire time in the House doing everything he could to ensure nothing got done. Equally, it makes no sense for Obama not to use executive orders as much as he can, but I admit that sometimes Obama, and the Democrats who used to run the Senate, made no sense to me in their inaction previously. Harry Reid could have gotten a lot more done if he'd just woken up to the fact that he wasn't working in the Senate he was accustomed to from years ago, and Obama could have given up on giving away the farm in his attempts at bipartisanship, too. Now we have to hope the veto stamp has a fresh inkpad.

Cooperation Co-opted Here’s the thing: Obama always promises to work with Republicans, but Republicans don’t cooperate. Their concept of cooperation is “do what we say or we’ll do nothing at all.” It seems to have gotten worse over time, maybe since Nixon. The whole impeachment thing seems to have set a partisan divide in place that cannot be reconciled. The Reagan “small government” line has taken hold in the mind of voters to the extent that Republican politicians cannot recognize that their sainted Ronnie didn’t shrink government, he increased it; didn’t lower taxes, increased them; didn’t eliminate the deficit, increased it. Or else they simply won’t admit it was all spin and lies, although even the author of Trickle Down Economics, David Stockman, eventually repudiated the concept. Clinton co-opted much of the conservative agenda, to the country’s harm, particularly by 2008, when financial deregulation bit the country hard, leaving little recourse for the next Democrat to deal with the legacy of the incompetent buffoon, George W. Bush, who left the country mired in two wars and without the tax revenue it needed or the economic nous to deal with it. The end of the Greenspan era couldn’t come soon enough, and didn’t. Maybe this is what it really comes down to, the deliberate conflation of the economy and the society, pandering to the far reaches of the latter with anti-abortion legislation, no effective gun control, and false-flag racially discriminatory anti-voting laws, while serving the interests of the extreme end of the former, the 1% (and themselves, of course, servants of the 1%), with insane tax cuts and the elimination of any help for the poor, let alone any support for the middle class or those poised to transition to it, all with a rhetoric that treats poverty and illness as moral failings. And the country falls for it. Regularly. Clinton was a good President, especially domestically. But his personal transgressions were enough for the Republicans to gain the White House, and key governorships around the country have ensured a stranglehold on the House for many years yet to come. Carter was, if not a good President, at least not a bad one, who had to struggle more with foreign affairs than left him any way to deal with domestic, which was especially unfortunate with the rise of OPEC, let alone Iran, let alone the reds-under-the-beds fervour of Reagan. Obama, too, has been a better President than he gets credit for, if only because of Obamacare, a flawed but significant revision in the nation’s vision of itself as a progressive country. And, yes, that vision is itself flawed, although when “progressive” became a curse I’m not sure. Does it go all the way back to FDR? Sometimes I think so. The assaults on Social Security certainly indicate as much. But the assaults on civil rights suggests it goes back even further, and you’re left wondering if any progress remains possible, with so much left yet to do in making that “more perfect union”. The Republicans serve wealth alone. They hate anyone not them. And they even hate themselves. They have built their party on envy, on greed, on selfishness. They will not stop, because they can’t, not any more. It’s too late for them to suddenly become reasonable. It will take generations, if it ever happens at all, and the so-called “tea party” is doing everything it can to ensure it won’t. And the 1% are doing everything they can to ensure that any conservative impulse serves their interests and not those of the nation.

Why the Privileged Can't Have Nice Things So Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey isn't allowed to take up the entire footpath at his favourite pizza shop and that's a problem with government, not with him wanting more than is reasonable, not with the reasonable regulation of public space. Just another example of "Big Government" stomping all over the "little guy". Of course, in the same article you'll see that the cost of governmental red tape is nothing compared to the costs businesses impose upon themselves. I feel sorry for the neighbourhood that had to endure Hockey shouting and stamping his feet and waving his arms and berating the shop owner. This "Don't you know who I am", born-to-rule attitude is typical of the Liberals. When will the Australian public learn: the Liberals hate them, they hate everyone who isn't them or isn't rich. Get take-away, Joe, and shut up.

No Help to Women Of course Julie Bishop, Liberal Foreign Minister, is "not a feminist". I doubt she's done one damn thing ever in her life to benefit any woman other than herself. She won't use the term, won't describe herself as a feminist as a consequence, but also because she belongs to a party that has no time for women or equality. Julie Bishop cannot be a feminist or describe herself as such because if she was her party would not allow her a voice, let alone a seat on the front bench. She cannot be a feminist because that would mean valuing herself and other women equally to men. Her sneers at and contempt for women are evident. She might as well start wearing a blue tie. It's her only hope of getting to be PM.

Rock 'n' [Out]rage Best cover versions? What about Husker Du's cover of "Love is All Around", the Mary Tyler Moore theme song?

Pokies in the Eye Back when Peter Holmes a Court and Russell Crowe took a majority ownership in the South Sydney Rabbitohs, they tried to get the scourge of poker machines out of the club venues. It didn't work. Today, James Packer, billionaire and casino owner, has bought out Holmes a Court. This is bad for the Rabbitohs, who already have far too close a relationship with gambling, and for the NRL, which is also far too invested in the betting industry. It's also bad because it's James Packer, scion of one of the most rapacious capitalist families in Australia, and whose casino in the Barangaroo development now being erected on the harbour foreshore is one of the finest examples of real estate and government collusion you could ever hope for; we may never know just how the approvals for this got done and the extent to which current and future modifications will continue to preference Packer and the developers over the rest of the city. Don't think for a minute that it's a coincidence that the public housing residences that overlook Barangaroo are being forcibly vacated and auctioned. As a long-time member, I am very sorry to see Holmes a Court leave, but even sorrier that it's come to this: selling out the club to the gambling machine of Australia. Sports gambling isn't the problem it's been in the States, or at least not the problem it's sometimes been. It happens, and players caught out get canned. But you can gamble on damn near anything in this country, so there's a lot of money in it, and therefore a lot of influence. It's still ethically challenging for South Sydney, though, as this is traditionally a club that prides itself on its community roots in an underprivileged and once-majority indigenous part of the city, with a history of social services commitment, and here they are playing into the hands of one of the most significantly socially damaging sectors of the economy. Every club needs money. They have to pay the players, the operation of the club has to mean the team can perform, and the NRL has to get its cut. Sure, the league has television, increasingly catering to the more moneyed cable end of town, at the expense of everyone who doesn't turn their hard-earned over the Murdoch's Foxtel, and the usual marketing gimmicks like home and away uniforms, variations on branding, etc. pull in plenty - you can buy a membership for your dog, you know, although he's not likely welcome at the ground - but it's still expensive, even with the salary cap. Russell can't support the club on his own forever, as he famously YouTube-ranted at us a few years ago. I still object. Packer is the last one I want with an ownership stake in the Rabbitohs. Well, one of the last ones. There are probably others I haven't even thought of. The Rabbitohs wear Crown Resorts branding, and Star casino, and it's wrong. They are promoting a social cancer that harms their base more than anyone else. All too late, of course. The money's there to stay.

Nobody Did It Gone Girl is a long movie, at 145 minutes, but worth all of it, and doesn’t feel long. It moves along at a good pace for a mystery that has no mystery in it, or at least not after you know the gimmick, after which it becomes a pretty good psycho-drama. It’s missing some exposition from the book that might have been helpful, but doesn’t suffer, and some of the emphasis was changed. Neil Patrick Harris was Supporting Actor Oscar-worthy, and the leads, Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck, were more than just well-cast. Definitely worth the price of admission and one of the best adaptations to the screen I’ve seen. Best Screenplay, too? Could be.

They Stand Above the Rest Rabbitohs vindicate their fans' faith, over 43 years, and the 2000-2001 fight for reinstatement to the competition, with a decisive win over the Canterbury Bulldogs. Glory, Souths, indeed, a magnificent effort. Valiant Sam Burgess will go down in the annals for his determination and courage. Lote Tuqiri will the grandest "old man" of Rugby League for years to come. Greg Inglis has his first "legitimate" premiership and it couldn't happen to a better player ever. Chris McQueen stepped in at just the right moment to make a terrific difference. Adam Reynolds is a champion beyond price. John Sutton captained the team through a tough season and a convincing win, 30-6. We all wish David Tyrrell a swift recovery and most welcome return in 2015. Sad to see Sam Burgess off to Union in the UK, but wishing him all the very best success regardless and sending him with our thanks for his years of service, along with his brothers, whom we hope to retain, George, Luke, and Thomas, all bringing us to this fantastic result. Sad also to see retire Nathan Merritt, one of the most exciting players in the game, but wishing him great good fortune in the future, whatever next path he takes. Everyone contributed, everyone deserves praise and thanks, tonight and across the season and the years that have led to this. Glorious, and privileged to have been there.

Glory, Glory South Sydney Rabbitohs are in the Grand Final, taking on the Canterbury Bulldogs (boo, hiss). An historic occasion, as they are here for the first time in 43 years (41 if you discount for when Rupert Murdoch - boo, hiss - kicked them out of the competition for two years; there were riots in the streets!). It's gonna be a night to remember.

Dear Tony Do you have any of those fridge magnets left that prevent terrorism? I lost mine and now there's women in burqas everywhere!

The Nanny State Becomes the Police State When the USA Patriot Act went up, we knew it was a bad job. Sure, mostly because John Ashcroft was part of it . . . o.k., not mostly, but don’t discount the influence of evil. But bad. The whole NSA scandal came straight out of the this act, among other things. And now Australia, the ten-years-later me-too nation, is headed into the same error. Laws passed today, without significant dissent, will allow the Federal Attorney General to issue warrants for Australian police and spy agencies to tap phones, internet usage, and conduct searches, without judicial oversight or even, effectively probably cause. These police will be exempt from prosecution for any misdeeds – except, incredibly, torture, by the specific concern on one Liberal Party member at the concession of the AG, as if the rest of what abuses may occur are irrelevant. Why? Because some Syrian blowhard recommended killing, among others, Australians, on behalf of the so-called Islamic State. Naturally, some weak-minded moron proceeded to attempt exactly that, was shot and killed for his efforts, and the whole nation is in an uproar of fear and loathing. It’s gone so far that there are police with assault rifles patrolling the halls of Parliament House and more weak-minded morons saying Ban the Burqa (as if wearing a veil was a common tool of suicide bombers even in those countries where it’s commonly worn, among which Australia is not). “Less freedom for some for the protection of the rest” is the mantra we’re being conned with. More freedom reduces risk, especially if it can be grown in those countries where freedom is severely restricted , but it isn’t really about suicide bombers, beheadings, or what threat IS actually poses here or abroad to anyone, let alone Australians. It’s about power. And as we saw in the States, once power is gained it is not easily relinquished, even by those professing more high-minded ideals. Obama has not closed Guantanamo. He has not curtailed warrantless wiretapping. He has stepped up the use of assassination-by-drone, including against US citizens. The powers Bush established for himself and his administration have not been ceded by Obama, and any expectation that he would do so was always delusional. Why should he? Especially if, in doing so, he armed his opposition with tools to use against him? The same is true here. Howard instituted laws following the 2002 Bali bombings that were a USA Patriot Act lite. Rudd and Gillard, achieving government in 2007 did nothing to dismantle them, and while the spying on Indonesia is likely to have commenced under Howard, it was certainly escalated under Rudd/Gillard, to the point of tapping the Indonesian president’s wife’s phone. Abbott caught the flak on that one, but he didn’t back off it. And now we have more laws, more extensive spying, domestic and international, with plenty of exemptions to keep the spies from answering to any abuses they inflict, either procedural or physical. They may stop short of torture, but we know from the Bush Justice Department how easy it is to redefine torture. These laws are wrong, but they’re never going away. What a mess.