A brief explanation of paternalistic welfare reform following the 2011 Budget
And the wisemen and women came along and lookedover the tops of their glasses atthe people who were outsidethe fence and theysaid, smiling, kindly, knowingly: ah,weknow what'sgood for you. We're going tostrengthen you and make you strong and even moral and upright. You don't
know better. You
won't even really notice ifat first we put you down.
–John Falzon
Uncommon good(after reading Shaun Carney's article, 'Complacency may yet undo lucky country', The Age, 9 March 2011)
Shaun Carney and Ken Henry share my swimA journalist and treasurer who thinkThe common good is their uncommon Hymn
Today let's hear John Donne's sad tolling ringWithout that tune we all of us might sinkShaun Carney and Ken Henry share my swim
Each stroke for carbon tax I splash and singOur time on earth goes like a watery blinkThe common good is their uncommon Hymn
Ken's tenderness for wombats it could bringRare insight that such creatures form a LinkShaun Carney and Ken Henry share my swim
Our wealth drowns words like Shaun's pool-sunk and dimWe buy white goods enjoy the salesman's winkThe common good such an old-fashioned Hymn
And some say let's be cool leave folks their flingTheir harmless habits wash quick in their drinkBut I hear Shaun and Ken they share my swim
The common good it's real a cogent Hymn
–Jill Sutton
Listening to 774 ABC MelbourneBlack Saturday, 7 February 2009
Kylie rang and asked —Should I evacuate?Where should I go?
And he said — Kylie,your fire plan should be in place.Like the headmaster of the world.
I glanced at the nervous husband sittingat the foot of the table opposite from me
and I said — If I was Kylie I would sue himfor being an utter prick when I needed him.
–Jennifer Compton
El Caudillo speaks to John Howard (2007)
You too, Juanito, are a man of steelwith an impotent nation in your care:'talk peace; but make strong allies everywhere'is the best policy, and I think you feelyou've managed that with nothing to conceal:for Fuhrer and Il Duce, Bush and Blair.It seems all so straightforward; but beware —the dangers of democracy are real.
I never joined them in their great disasterand never suffered their humiliation:through a long life I kept myself afloat.Will you remain the smirking little masterthough propaganda suffer such deflation;or will you simply sink in the next vote?
–Evan Jones
Dr John Falzon is a sociologist, CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia, and a member of