Having waited rather too long for a new blog post topic to fall into my lap, here’s one that falls back on the regularly updated tracking poll of Anthony Albanese’s approval ratings maintained by US pollster Morning Consult, which maintains the exercise for twenty leaders internationally. While these numbers have been basically steady since June, they suggest that Albanese ended the year on something of a high, with his approval registering at either 59% or 60% after easing to 55% in November, and his disapproval down since that time from 32% to 28%.
As for when the polling treadmill will crank back into action, I note that the Age/Herald had a Resolve Strategic poll in the third week of last year, although that may have reflected the imminence of a federal election. Newspoll and Essential Research took a fortnight longer to resume regular transmission.
I wouldn’t say innate, I’d suggest it has come from a basic framework which allows people to live together in a society. This is why I think there are so many similarities between different societies.
Hh
Thanks.
‘Barney in Belair says:
Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 11:54 am
…
Nah. The sense of what is ‘fair’ or ‘unfair‘, of ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, is innate.
…
I wouldn’t say innate, I’d suggest it has come from a basic framework which allows people to live together in a society. This is why I think there are so many similarities between different societies.’
————————————————-
Variations in relation to gender and/or sexual behaviours from one society to the next are somewhat inconsistent with this view.
Boerwar says:
Variations in relation to gender and/or sexual behaviours from one society to the next are somewhat inconsistent with this view.
________
Grossly simplistic.
“A curious concatenation of non sequiturs.”
And what about Palestine.
In this:
1. China backflips on its definition of Covid deaths.
2. Introduces a statistical inconsistency with previous reporting that is the order of thousands.
3. Asserts that it has consistently reported data to the WHO when this is not the case.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202301/1283798.shtml
“Tanks will be useless for Australia…”
I dunno, there’s a fair few old cricketers that they need to keep occupied.
WWP
You wish to add Palestine to your gishgallop of nonsequiturs?
Speaking of which, perhaps a comment from you on the Green’s multiple Voice positions disorder is in order.
One example of the simplisms which are being blindly assumed or asserted is that Australia would stop fighting should enemy forces land on mainland Australia.
This is highly unlikely.
Nothing like a Chicommie when it comes to ladling out the bullshit.
‘Zheng Yanxiong appointed as director of the Liaison Office of Central People’s Government in HKSAR’
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202301/1283796.shtml
For ‘Direct of the Liaison Office’ read ‘dictator’s fixer’.
Boerwar @ #109 Sunday, January 15th, 2023 – 12:17 pm
Our right win Christians, being the great warriors of our time, should assume the front line of defence.
Boerwar has got so much angst! China! The Greens! Cities!
Like an angsty teenager that wears diapers.
All this angst will be over once the nursing home comes for you. Any idea when that will be?
Boerwar @ #108 Sunday, January 15th, 2023 – 12:15 pm
He’ll revert to his, I’m not a member of The Greens, get out of jail card. 😉
“Like an angsty teenager that wears diapers.”
Give me the angsty teenager anyday. I’ve learnt a lot from angsty teenagers that last decade or so.
I don’t really have a view on the greens treaty stuff.
Obviously we need a treaty and a republic to be a mature grown up country and obviously we aren’t going to be growing up any time. That the greens internal politics is as childish and pathetic as Labor and Liberals, but without all the corruption is no big surprise.
“He’ll revert to his, I’m not a member of The Greens, get out of jail card. ”
Trying to stop idiot liars got old so I’ve let that one go.
Boerwar:….I do not intend to present you with a thesis….That is my nopinion, as your championing of tanks to defend an island continent is yours.
WeWantPaul @ #115 Sunday, January 15th, 2023 – 12:27 pm
And I don’t respect people with a superiority complex that have zero sense of humour.
“And I don’t respect people with a superiority complex that have zero sense of humour.”
Look it was almost funny in a try hard to be funny way like 500 or so times ago.
Rex Douglas says:
Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 10:19 am
I see another round of nasty attacks from Labor partisans on Thorpe for essentially having the temerity to push Labor to act on long standing reforms and the treaty process.
If the voice falls there will be a lot of angry people. The bullshit arguments will amount to naught. The Liberals and Nationals will be proud. The Greens will have to live with it.
Ven,
Appreciate your contributions from Europe.
Your recent post came across as intimating that morals and ethics stem from religions. Often agree with you but not this time.
Religions certainly have pushed that view and co-opted pre-existing human traits.
Barney in Belair at 11.54 puts it succinctly.
“Boerwar:….I do not intend to present you with a thesis”
Not that it would make any difference if you did.
BK at 7.24 am
This story in your morning round up is most significant:
https://michaelwest.com.au/long-long-covid-australias-pandemic-performance-needs-a-booster-say-experts-as-deaths-rise/
It is revealing that, after all the palaver about National Cabinet, there are no adequate, consistent data across all health jurisdictions in Australia.
The emphasis on dawdling in Australia on booster vaccinations is appropriate. Note that this has now badly affected the Cave Dwellers in WA, which has the lowest rate for fourth doses except for NT, when it had been the highest for third doses.
The per capita death rate from Covid in Victoria was 994 per million on the latest weekly figures released on Friday. It will now sadly have passed 1,000 per million, so every thousandth Victorian has died from Covid.
Comparatively, Victoria is now nearly as bad as Cyprus (1038), and worse than two European countries, Norway (829) and Iceland (663); Australia nationally is 679.
The location of the Army’s Abram tanks says it all about their usefulness.
Townsville, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Toys for boys with no thought as to what their role might be. No thought as to how they move their 65 tonnes beyond the nearest bridge.
If the church really set moral standards then priests raping little children would not be something that people in general find contemptible.
If morals were innate than the Australian newspaper would not be trying to defend the cover up.
“Note that this has now badly affected the Cave Dwellers in WA”
We went from 1000 to zero overnight, it will make for some remarkable PhD’s when the future laughs at us.
Ven 8:28
“ Cronus
Religion usually addresses the issues concerning morality.
How and why a person should behave in a moral and ethical way comes from scriptures, whether that is relevant now or not is another topic altogether.”
I’d be interested to know, understanding what we do now, what proportion of Australian Catholics still support Pell’s actions in knowingly moving paedophiles from parish to parish. At the risk of presuming, I suspect a silent majority are mortified by his actions and we are really only hearing from a noisy minority in the media. That anyone can still support him despite his unambiguous actions reflects very poorly upon them and their values and the small political and media group they represent. The issue for me of morality is that it is the crux of the religious institution represented and Pell’s actions are diametrically contradictory of their basic tenets, a fundamental failure of the most basic responsibilities.
WWP: “the greens internal politics is as childish and pathetic ”
It is the greens childish and pathetic behaviour that is at danger of sinking the voice referrendum.
If they do… white. hot. hatred.
I agree he is an arrogant prig (I would have said ‘prick’). But I don’t see anything particularly arrogant about the request. This matter is of huge importance to every Australian – or should be – and IMO the government should be open and transparent about every aspect of it BEFORE the referendum, not after.
US Presidential Election 2024 betting:
DeSantis $3.10
Biden $3.75
Trump $6.50
Harris $19.00
Newsom $26.00
Buttigieg $34.00
Pence $36.00
Haley $36.00
Youngkin $41.00
Whitmer $41.00
wht happend to perrottit scandle the media seem to have forgottin about it buy the waythe investergation in to labor upper house candadate Khal asfour found no evidence to back up any of the cclaims against him perhaps whiy the banks town mp has been silent since leaving the labor party plus garith ward mayrun again but sidoti who has icac found acted ceruptly Bradd hazard praised him in his final speech on his work on upgrading the local hospital
it seems Sidoti was av very good mp however if any labor mp praised a mp with adverse findings against them and praised them while they were under investergation alix smith would say labor was not fit to govern the health minister praises an mp icac found is cerupt and nothing
“US Presidential Election 2024 betting:
DeSantis $3.10
Biden $3.75
Trump $6.50
Harris $19.00
Newsom $26.00
Buttigieg $34.00
Pence $36.00
Haley $36.00
Youngkin $41.00
Whitmer $41.00”
They’ve got to find someone to replace Biden and fast.
C@tmomma says:
Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 9:46 am
Alpo @ #57 Sunday, January 15th, 2023 – 9:41 am
“C@tmomma says:
Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 9:36 am
Alpo,
It’s complicated but relatively quickly the EU is coming around to a stronger position of support for Ukraine.”…
Yes, the EU have no other option… and the Lithuanians are already worried that if Ukraine falls, they will be next to be “liberated” by Putin.
If you watch Jake Broe’s videos he has been referring recently to a map of Europe and Russia Pre WW1, ie of the Russian Empire and he says that that is Putin’s ultimate aim, to restore the boundaries of the Russian Empire. It’s a lot!
———————————————————————————————
In short, since day 1, that always seemed to me to be Putin’s intent. Ukraine was only ever meant to be a stepping stone to much earlier borders. The excuse of Nazis was simply that, an excuse.
Barney in Belair @ #101 Sunday, January 15th, 2023 – 11:24 am
Hmmmm. Evolutionary psychology is an interesting topic. Not sure how it fits with evolutionary anthropology. Ive read that humans were quite nice people before they settled into larger societies – from there they did develop a rules based culture in order for large groups to function. But they must have had some basic niceties before when in far smaller groupings. And some of those rules bases larger societies may have been able to function, yet not all were very nice.
And what of societal breakdown? During civil wars it isnt just the nutters that do awful things. Innate acts of kindness seem rare during these times. And then what of significant cultural influences like in Nazi Germany (and they arent alone in that).
I will hesitantly suggest we are complicated beings capable of great acts of kindness and truly awful acts and these are not confined to the outliers. As a base, yes, probably the average is an innate level of kindness (right/wrong). But cultural and environmental influences (some sort of great disruption), or both together, are able to move the average significantly.
I often wonder what the culture of capitalism, with its ‘greed is good’ and acting on self-interest does to that ‘average’ over a long time period. I am not altogether anti-capitalism (I am certainly anti laissez faire capitalism) but do think about its long term effect on society.
with same sex marige brandises draft was not the final bill any way dutton is just triying his usual devisive tricks this n s w liberal government since perrottit took over reminds me of the last nsw labor government plus people have forrgottin largily about obead now so the liberals cant run on that ishue any moore as it was years a go and minns seems to have no scandles the china revolations lasted a day but when it turned out liberal mps were also atendid the trip the media quickly droped it plus liberals abandon campaigning on land tax and raising damb wall as the public arnt interested
Boerwar says:
Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 9:52 am
‘frednk says:
Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 9:44 am
Boerwar says:
Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 9:41 am
…
One of the prominent items for discussion now is how many and how soon Ukraine’s supporters can get main battle tanks to Ukraine.
But they are not getting or want the tanks we have brought.’
———————————————
The British, German and US main battle tanks are, IMO, much of a muchness. That said, as with all designs each embodies compromises.
My view, FWIW, is that the real problems with what is being proposed are: (1) different rather than standardized platforms (logistics and training nightmare) and (2) not enough. Ukraine could use a couple of thousand tanks. The numbers being discussed are penny packets.
If we offered Ukraine 100 Abrams they would take them in a nanosecond.
——————————————————————————————-
Regardless of what some commentators have said, if we ask any infantry soldier whether they’d prefer to fight with or without tanks support I’m confident the response would be a unanimous yes. Motorised infantry in AFV’s supported by tanks and artillery is an extremely potent fighting force.
Pell. I am up for a conspiracy theory if you can make it half believable.
Even a tenth.
do they though the democrats did well in congress gaining an extra snenate seat and the republicans aredevided in the house yet people seem to constantly have low opinions of centre left parties eg on gameing card perrottit says he personaly suports this card no mp backs him other then the retiring mp rob stokes gives no detail and posters hear with out any detailsay labor must concede to a devided government yet albanese has to release evry eliment of voice and guive detail or they will apose perrottit can say he suports somthing with no detail but thats okay
Sceptic says:
Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 9:57 am
frednk says:
Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 9:44 am
We should outsource our defence strategic planning / procurement to Norwegian / Finish consultants… to get some lateral thinking.
Instead we humour our brasses fantasy of playing with the big boys.
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australias-new-tanks-are-overkill-and-overweight/
The M1 purchase was a total waste of money, like the other 95% of procurement in the last 50 years
—————————————————————————————-
Except for those that act as an obvious strategic deterrent, most weapons platforms are a waste of money ……….. until they aren’t. Remarkably like home insurance.
frednk @ #124 Sunday, January 15th, 2023 – 11:52 am
Morals can be suppressed when shown a greater goal. What those are in your two examples makes an interesting question.
i do think a yunger democrat will do better then bidon how ever many hear dissmissed albanese because he does not like to do to much media and he isp m now ands same now with minns who i did not like the way he undermind mckay with the help of unions and news corp but he seems to have turned in to a good leader
With dutton demanding detail on the voice but Alix smith seems to think perrottits personal view on pockies is good enough desbite providing no detail his party room has not debated it no cabenit minister has suportid it acsept stokes yet smith is not demanding any detail as to how it would work the liberals can anownse somthing like this and also keans climate change targit gives us no detail as to how will be achieved and the media says welljust give liberals a go where lbabor is held to a higher standard
“ Russia’s attack on an apartment building in Dnipro on Jan. 14 has killed 14 people, including a 15-year-old girl, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Valentyn Reznichenko said early on Jan. 15.
Ukraine’s Emergency Service reported earlier that 73 people were wounded in the attack, including 14 children. At least 59 people were hospitalized.”
https://kyivindependent.com/news-feed/update-death-toll-rises-to-14-in-russian-strike-on-dnipro
High time Ukraine was sent the main battle tanks and fighter jets that would enable them to finish off the Russian invaders who continue to kill Ukrainian civilians.
WeWantPaul says:
Sunday, January 15, 2023 at 1:25 pm
They’ve got to find someone to replace Biden and fast.
This will have you in total despair .. worth a listen
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/in-politics-how-old-is-too-old/id1050430296?i=1000594377337
It wasn’t so long ago that Ronald Reagan was considered over the hill, too old to govern. Now a sitting President has turned eighty in office, and a Presidential contest between Joe Biden and Donald Trump would put two near-eighty-year-olds against each other. (Trump—while denying President Biden’s fitness—commented, “Life begins at eighty.”) Yet the question of age has not disappeared; even some of Biden’s ardent supporters have expressed concerns about him starting a second term. David Remnick talks with the gerontologist Jack Rowe, a professor at Columbia University who also founded Harvard Medical School’s Division on Aging, about how to evaluate a candidate’s competency for office
Verdict… he’s not TOO OLD!
I’m hoping he retires this year & Harris takes over.
Bystander at 1.15 pm
The referendum on the Voice has been indicated for the second half of 2023. The earliest suggested date is August, which is 7 months away. We are still in the summer holidays. Even in NSW, only a small minority of the electorate is focused on politics now, 10 weeks from the election, while there has been very little policy debate so far.
There are two responses to the call for transparency. One is to understand the nature of the Constitution regarding what level of detail is usually specified. This is the response from Anne Twomey in the 9 papers recently. See also:
https://theconversation.com/an-indigenous-voice-to-parliament-will-not-give-special-rights-or-create-a-veto-196574
The second is to understand the political process, including the timing of releasing draft legislation etc. The current timing is far from unusual compared to previous referenda. Timing is often crucial in politics, so don’t expect the government to jump to Dutton’s agenda. The government will make announcements in good time.
So the Dutton discourse needs to be seen in context. It clearly signifies that Dutton is shaping up to promote a No vote. But he still knows that this has risks for him, given the relatively strong support for the Voice in the few polls conducted, even in Qld. See:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/03/peter-dutton-saying-no-to-the-indigenous-voice-or-saying-maybe-but-meaning-no-is-not-a-cost-free-exercise
If you want to understand Dutton’s actual position, listen to the comments of Ken Wyatt, who talked proposals about constitutional recognition to the Tory cabinet.
Even Sky News, which as Boerwar notes is hardly a popular outlet, has reported on the advice Wyatt has given Dutton:
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/former-indigenous-affairs-minister-ken-wyatt-has-called-for-liberal-mps-to-be-given-a-conscience-vote-on-voice-to-parliament/news-story/9b550bc8c72ba77f8c23dd762960ec4d
See also: https://thewest.com.au/politics/ex-liberal-minister-for-indigenous-australians-ken-wyatt-slams-ministers-opposing-voice-to-parliament-c-9015009
‘Former Liberal minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt has criticised his former colleagues for trying to “tear down” the Voice to Parliament, saying many MPs have not actually “sat in the red dirt” and listened to Aboriginal people.’
“[calls for Ukraine to cede Crimea to Russia to buy a quick peace] are too quick to reward Russian aggression, which has razed entire cities and slaughtered thousands of Ukrainian civilians over the last year alone. And they are too slow to recognize that returning Crimea to Ukrainian control is not only a matter of moral and legal principle that would restore rights and freedoms to millions of people under the Kremlin’s occupation. It is also the only practical way any peace plan could succeed.
The truth is Crimea has no natural physical connection to Russia. Crimea is an extension of the Ukrainian mainland, and as such, it has been deeply connected to and dependent on Ukraine’s resources and trade for centuries.
Crimea’s historical experience of Russian and Soviet rule, meanwhile, has been one of persistent ethnic cleansing, violence and trauma. This helps explain why a majority of Crimea’s residents voted for Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It also helps explain why in 2013, prior to Russia’s invasion of the peninsula, a large majority of poll respondents in Crimea expressed the view that Crimea should be a part of Ukraine.
If the past teaches us anything, it is that Crimea suffers decline when separated from Ukraine, and that Crimea triggers conflict when occupied by Russia. Failing to understand this history is to sleepwalk into a future of more military escalation from the Kremlin.”
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/13/peace-ukraine-crimea-putin-00077746
Everyone should ignore any voice urging Ukraine to cede Crimea to Russia. They are speaking Putin’s lines.
Big assumption in there. Additional western military hardware may not significantly or quickly change the war in such a fashion. Maybe it puts pressure on Russia to find a diplomatic solution. But I think Putin would find other (possibly more inhumane) tactics to strengthen his position rather than backdown.
I dont disagree with additional hardware support. But if your aim is to quickly end the suffering of innocent people in Ukraine, then something more substantial would be needed.
The latest hypohystericalhistory on the MQ28 Ghostbat, Unmanned Systems and the future of Australian Air Power.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=SrPIoBSIcrc&feature=shares
I dont think that is relevant. The US has no natural physical connection to Alaska.
Unfortunately there is no international justice when talking about a superpower with a UN Veto and a dictator who doesnt give a rats about his people.
It will be up to Ukraine. I dont see Ukraine giving up sovereignty to Russia but they may end up having to agree on an armistice where Russia retains control of some part of Ukraine – probably Crimea – similar to 2014-2021.
Crimea is very important to Putin. The threat of losing it (or even having prolonged war on its doorstep) is something he probably cant survive. That means he is capable of anything to keep it – from escalating the war to ending the war. That is a cold hard awful thing – treating a large landmass and its people like a pawn. And i can see that would be a very bitter pill for many to take.
What’s with the conspiracy the media are burying the nazi scandal?
It’s the 2nd item on abc news online.
It’s the 1st and 2nd item in the guardians ‘new south wales’ section, presumably only visible depending on settings.
It’s 4th in the ‘Sydney’ section of the smh.