tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.comments2013-02-16T02:56:58.057-08:00watermelonTony Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877735303444060966noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-66573580452223889362012-10-06T06:25:38.851-07:002012-10-06T06:25:38.851-07:00Certainly a principled stand. Not unlike Jean Curt...Certainly a principled stand. Not unlike Jean Curthoys' stand with the oppressed in her book, Feminist Amnesia. She argues that the amnesiac feminists have sold out since they're in positions of power and so they are oppressors and Marx showed scientifically that the oppressors oppress the oppressed. And anyhow she has specific arguments to show it. But I say if there are perhaps more ordinary people who do good in simpler ways and take pleasure in each others' company and don't take too much notice of the word from on high that's no argument for breaking free from the oppressor vs oppressed opposition.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16764970942233131818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-13504805022393277242012-08-23T18:12:52.131-07:002012-08-23T18:12:52.131-07:00Wot? No mention of the carbon tax in unholy partne...Wot? No mention of the carbon tax in unholy partnership with Labor? I would have thought that was more -- and more significant --grist for the mill.If anything registered a qualitative shift rightward, that was it.Dave Rileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05319742357589026156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-59102626003778477142012-07-25T03:34:53.902-07:002012-07-25T03:34:53.902-07:00Janet's argument that a Paris Hilton Tax (inhe...Janet's argument that a Paris Hilton Tax (inheritance tax) is not "effective", whatever that means, is bunk. Andrew Leigh, an economist (and now Labor MP) wrote fairly comprehensively on just this topic, calling for the reinstatement of the inheritance tax:<br /><br />More here: http://posterous.alexwhite.org/bring-back-the-paris-hilton-taxAlexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15876998985575038738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-3991364800991112682012-07-25T03:33:38.884-07:002012-07-25T03:33:38.884-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15876998985575038738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-79454789430339090242012-07-24T19:20:00.601-07:002012-07-24T19:20:00.601-07:00Needless to say I hope Janet is right [although th...Needless to say I hope Janet is right [although this is not what was said in the short debate at the national conference]and that abandoning the inheritance tax was a precursor of adopting and pursuing a suite of effective egalitarian tax measures. This would certainly put paid to my point about the abandonment being part of a political orientation that was both strategically and electorally ineffectiveHall Greenlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15668500538643039802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-63927570408387551532012-07-23T22:54:35.161-07:002012-07-23T22:54:35.161-07:00The key argument for the dumping of the inheritanc...The key argument for the dumping of the inheritance tax that this article doesn't cover and which I understand is what swayed the policy conference is a claimed lack of effectiveness. <br />Whether this is true or not, this is what delegates were weighing up - its effectiveness as a tax, versus the electoral damage it does to us. Personally I would have preferred to see us keep the tax in our policy, but I understand on the basis of what people were considering why it was removed.<br />As a values driven party seeking electoral success we are unavoidably in the space of being pragmatic idealists, and its valuable to choose our battles carefully. Treating asylum seekers humanely, and campaigning and policy for action on climate change that reflects what the science says is necessary are battles worth fighting. So is working for a much more egalitarian distribution of income and wealth, but I can live with the removal of this mechanism from our policy platform when we've got many other ways of achieving that outcome.<br /><br />Janet Rice<br />Greens Vic Senate CandidateUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06096777416298254638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-15797682548290764292012-07-23T16:29:38.864-07:002012-07-23T16:29:38.864-07:00Part of being an activist group is to stand by an ...Part of being an activist group is to stand by an unwavering commitment to your point of view through thick and thin. Part of being a representative political party is to represent the view of people across the country even if they did not vote for you. I think that you need to accept that the Greens are no longer an activist organisation and their role in the Australian political landscape has changed. There are other great activist organisations that are taking over the role that the Greens once held and perhaps you should think of joining one of them. Its Sad i know, but unfortunately inevitable. Beware the war between states, this looks like its could easily become like the labour party but instead it is the NSW left faction that is splitting the party apart. Come on the Greens are better than that.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12243675412437110514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-37601264366547268422012-07-16T05:54:46.099-07:002012-07-16T05:54:46.099-07:00Hi Caroline,
The Greens NSW are already an excell...Hi Caroline,<br /><br />The Greens NSW are already an excellent example of electoral success. Just take a look at the past couple of years:<br /><br />We increased our state parliamentary representation by 50 per cent in the 2011 state election, going from 4 to 6. We also reclaimed the NSW Senate spot in the 2010 state election, without benefiting from the $1.6 million donation from Graeme Wood that all the other states benefited from. Our statewide vote continues to grow at a measured rate, consistent with the idea that we are attracting voters for the long haul, not just a bunch of swingers.<br /><br />In the current political environment, that's a pretty impressive achievement if you ask me. <br /><br />Mark Riboldi<br />Marrickville GreensMark Riboldihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11228171766522539956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-63889795218317561722012-07-13T19:36:33.598-07:002012-07-13T19:36:33.598-07:00Thanks for the analysis Hall. The conservative ben...Thanks for the analysis Hall. The conservative bent of other state parties is certainly worrying.<br /><br />I feel NSW's low representation in federal forums is unfair given that federal funding contributions are not worked out in the same manner. That is, NSW contributes a large amount, proportionate to our number of members, to keeping the national party going.<br /><br />Having said that I think we have to avoid the temptation to write off Greens parliamentary representatives and their staff with cliched labels - 'green bourgeoisie' etc. Does this really help? The left in the Greens don't have a monopoly over virtue - everyone is pursuing what they see as the best course for the party and to progress what we stand for.<br /><br />I think we need to do is keep doing what our NSW policy representatives have done so well to date - putting in the hard work, making the arguments, trying to convince others and build support. <br /><br />And show in NSW that a left Greens party can also achieve electoral success.<br /><br />Caroline, Inner Sydney GreensAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02566622718551575512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-65400913649912783272012-07-12T23:21:16.162-07:002012-07-12T23:21:16.162-07:00Interesting and measured I have been thinking for ...Interesting and measured I have been thinking for a while that NSW SDC is overloaded with admin burden and it is time to start a NSW Greens annual conference designed to deal with policy and issues, but is forums, talks and debates and separated from any resolutions except possibly constitutional amendments.kiamavoterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03021522216853683933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-84126623951691553682012-07-12T21:02:49.400-07:002012-07-12T21:02:49.400-07:00Thanks Hal (and Tony) for posting this comprehensi...Thanks Hal (and Tony) for posting this comprehensive account of the recent Greens policy conference. To have such concerns raised by someone who has been involved with the Greens for so long, eloquently illustrates some of the points I raised here: http://bluntshovels.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/why-it-matters-that-the-greens-dumped-an-estate-tax/<br /><br />Walking away from progressive policy, in the quest for mythical donations should be shocking to all Greens members.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-87718265018802562692011-06-21T07:59:54.577-07:002011-06-21T07:59:54.577-07:00"overwhelmingly lives thrown away in the inte..."overwhelmingly lives thrown away in the interests of our British and American “great and powerful friends”. It is difficult to say this in the face of the grief felt by families of recently killed Australian troops but it has to be said. The sacrifice of tens of thousands of Australians in wars has not been noble. It has not been for “freedom” or for “us”. It has been a tragic waste."<br /><br />The surviving members of the jewish population might disagree. Many inhabitants of Europe and SE Asia might disagree. <br /><br />Have a look at the end of the war in Europe and see if you think it was truly a tragic waste... it's possibly THE most useful thing you could have done with your life - helped to end the genocide of an entire race and give millions upon millions of people a future. Look at what we have achieved with our lives in comparison, we even allow our leaders to send our soldiers to wars/places that don't concern us. We just whinge on blogs.<br /><br />A lot of stuff subsequent to WW2 hasn't been particularly edifying but to run down what the soldiers did in Europe in 1939-45 is pretty shitty. What would have happened if they didn't? Sometimes, just be thankful they did it, the world became a much better place because of them and it wasn't you who had to see those things.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02250240553795493810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-48615184628174898702011-06-21T07:35:36.118-07:002011-06-21T07:35:36.118-07:00As a Vietnam veteran and more recently an anti-war...As a Vietnam veteran and more recently an anti-war activist, I say "Support the troops - bring them home!" <br /><br />Great article, Tony.The Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03884172849865230486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3510900456075723606.post-50683174535540674962011-06-13T08:57:22.248-07:002011-06-13T08:57:22.248-07:00The best way to support the troops is to bring the...The best way to support the troops is to bring them home.<br /><br />Afghanistan, graveyard of empires, has claimed another victim.<br /><br />Even Greg Sheridan, world champion cheerleader for US miltary policy anywhere, anytime, has jumped off the bandwagon.redboxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02350819856027947509noreply@blogger.com