The fortnightly Essential Research poll finds Labor recovering the lead on its 2PP+ measure after losing it for the first time in the previous poll, albeit just barely. The primary votes, which include a 5% undecided component (up one), have Labor up two to 32%, the Coalition steady on 35%, the Greens down two to 11% and One Nation up one to 8%, while Labor’s 48-47 lead on 2PP+ (likewise with 5% undecided) reverses the result from last time.
Further questions focus on foreign policy, with a three-choice question on “Australia’s role in global affairs” finding 20% opting for “primarily an ally of the US”, 38% for “an independent middle power with influence in the Asia-Pacific region” and 25% for “Australia should do its best not to engage in world affairs”. On Israel’s military action in Gaza, 18% felt Israel justified in its present course with a further 20% saying it should agree to a temporary ceasefire, while 37% felt it should permanently withdraw. The poll was conducted last Tuesday to Saturday from a sample of 1216.
After a Labor blowout in the last poll, the weekly Roy Morgan has its two-party lead in from 53.5-46.5 to 51.5-48.5, from primary votes of Labor 32% (down two), Coalition 38% (up one-and-a-half), Greens 13% (down half) and One Nation 4% (up half). The poll was conducted Monday to Sunday from a sample of 1714.
The date of the by-election for Scott Morrison’s seat of Cook has been set at April 13, with nominations to be declared on March 22. Labor is yet to formally determine if it will field a candidate, but has offered public indications that it is unlikely to.
Xi is the untrammelled dictator of China who murders thousands of political prisoners, has absolute control over all media, has eliminated free speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of movement.
Trump is a POTUS candidate.
Spot the difference.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/liberals-consider-nsw-gay-conversion-therapy-ban-in-good-faith-20240315-p5fcry.html
The NSW Liberals aren’t as crazy as the Victorians, so hopefully a conscience vote will be allowed and we won’t see the divisive and risible rhetoric that usually accompanies anything to do with LGBTQ rights.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is about to visit Australia. This reciprocates Penny Wong’s recent ice breaking visit.
The Global Times is a mouthpiece for what the Chinese government is thinking, and this video is worth viewing to be informed on this issue from the source.
https://x.com/globaltimesnews/status/1769174752990806284?s=20
Rex Douglassays:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 4:37 pm
I see Blot is again ranting at Chris Bowen over renewables in today’s Murdoch newsletter.
_____________________
Team Global Express must be laughing all the way to the bank.
Why would any debate on the bat shit insane topic of gay conversion therapy be required.
If you’re for it you’re a religious loon. Simple as that.
@Boerwar 4:37:
Russia’s economy is a war-distorted economy. Three shifts working 24/7 building tanks. How that can be seen as a positive is beyond my comprehension.
***
Because, regardless of how productive what they’re building is (or is not) in economic terms, those workers are working. And getting paid. And spending their pay, boosting aggregate demand. Is the nonproductive nature of armaments going to be a problem? Well, as a share of the economy, Russia’s military budget (4.1% of GDP) is only somewhat larger than America’s (3.5% of GDP). Over the longer haul (10+ years), this could become a serious economic drag. But in the short term, the near-zero unemployment rate and the higher wages it leads to will only help the Russian economy overall.
As far as the overall impact of the sanctions goes, I understand that they’re not biting especially hard as yet – many Russian firms’ capital goods (machinery etc.) haven’t needed replacement yet, so their inability to easily import such goods from the West isn’t yet much of a concern. This will change over time, as Russian firms face the choice of either (a) paying extra to black/grey-market source replacement and upgrade capital goods, (b) converting those goods to their Chinese equivalents (which means replacing virtually all of their production line, due to lack of interoperability between Western & Chinese systems), and/or (c) attempting to develop/improve capability in house (and falling behind). The second option is far more expensive, but it’s a one-off expense; so long as the sanctions continue, the first will be a recurrent (if much smaller) expense. The third option, naturally, sets the Russian economy (or at least those firms which select it) up for a USSR-style comedown in 20-25 years, as the increasingly antiquated production lines become steadily less efficient than their competition elsewhere.
Incidentally, this is also a choice the Kremlin will have to make, over time – if only on a policy level to encourage private-sector firms to pick the Kremlin-preferred outcome.
Totally off stream…what effect will the anti-abortion dinosaurs in the Qld LNP have on Labor’s campaign material in the State election? Not much apparently from the polling?
BTW…didn’t see any posts regarding Insiders this am. Did James Paterson ace it?
Asha @ 4.11pm
“the Catholic Church, on the other hand, is an objectively evil organisation that has devoted it’s significant power, influence, and financial holdings towards advancing bigotry, obstructing progress, ruining lives, protecting the perpetrators of horrendous crimes, and generally just just making the world a worse place. Yes, I imagine their are plenty of good people within the church hierarchy trying to their best to do the right thing and horrified by what their colleagues are doing, but as an institution, it is just monstrous, and I really do wonder about what goes on in the head of any decent person who still defends it in this day and age.”
This could easily be “the Liberal Party, on the other hand, is an objectively evil organisation……………… .
The Liberals years since Howard have been in lockstep with the Catholic Church.
The complete disregard for Australia by agitating for the introduction of widespread use of a nuclear industry in the future, regardless of its safety, its cost, its desirability and the will of the people best exemplifies self interest of a political party at its worst.
Have we seen the Catholic Church and its opinion regarding a nuclear industry ?
”
Boerwarsays:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 6:38 pm
Xi is the untrammelled dictator of China who murders thousands of political prisoners, has absolute control over all media, has eliminated free speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of movement.
Trump is a POTUS candidate.
Spot the difference.
”
Wait for another year. People may not spot any difference.
Socratessays:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 6:20 pm
This tweet has an interesting reflection from former Greens Senator Andrew Bartlett.
“Andrew Bartlett@AndrewBartlett·35m
I don’t like being overly reductionist, but as the Libs have once again retained their long-standing comfortable majority in the bigger-than-Tassie-&-ACT Brisbane City Council, it might be worth their federal colleagues noting that 16 of their 27 candidates were women”
I hope the LNP does not think too closely on it.
—————-
The new LNP MP for Ipswich West is a bloke and he defeated a woman so just how important is gender or is this just something people are using to explain results.
hahaha still on the shoppies catholic train this evening?
The SDA and the catholic church are some of my most hated institutions, and i’m not usually a hater!
Those Labor apparatchiks who think Labor would never embrace nuclear power might do well to read this piece by “Labor Legend” Jennie George …
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/labor-legend-jennie-george-slams-alps-energy-policies/news-story/758f72cc766e8d92821b524a1e0130d7?amp
Note that I’m not saying Labor will do so. I’ve only ever suggested that if it looks like Dutton may get a boost by doing so, Labor may suddenly “warm” to the idea as well. Because Labor is … ummm … shall we say “flexible” … when it comes to policy.
Matt 7:26pm
Thanks for a good analysis of the Russian economy. I would generally agree with your arguments.
It is very hard to be certain exactly what economic metrics are for an autocracy that controls information. However I have seen several analysts say Russia’ real defence spend as % of GDP is higher than claimed. Carnegie pointed out that in the recent 2024 Russian budget defence os 6% of GDP.
https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/90753#:~:text=The%20Russian%20government%20has%20announced,spending%20will%20exceed%20social%20spending.
I have also been reading that Russia has been increasingly successful in bust8ng sanctions, especially on oil shipping, using “grey fleet tankers” i.e. unregistered, to dump the oil on legitimate markets. So they are suffering less than the should.
Finally I have been wondering about the reluctance of western countries to hand over frozen Russian assets in banks to Ukraine. I can’t help suspecting that in the short term it is very convenient to protecting the solvency of the banks at a time of high interest rates to hold onto the seized funds until markets calm down.
‘The Catholic Church…’
As an ex Catholic I find the vitriol directed at ‘the Catholic Church’ to lack discernment and nuance.
The Catholic Church educates around 800,000 students in Australia. The vast majority of the 100,000 educators are secular. Social justice is a core part of the teaching.
The Jesuist Refugee Service is an international organisation that provides all sorts of support services.
The St Vincent de Paul Society is a global organisation. Present in over 150 countries, the Society has 800,000 Members and 1,500,000 Volunteers worldwide. Every day, it helps over 30 million people.
Yes, there are elements in the Catholic Church that are strongly reactionary. Yes, I find religious belief to be irrational. Yes, basic catholic beliefs are misogynistic and homophobic. Yes, there are significant institutional failures.
But there is also much that is good and practical and worthwhile and millions of the world’s poorest, most helpless, and most needful people are direct beneficiaries.
Boerwar so that means that one day soon you’ll have to choose between the vatican and the mosques of Palestine.
Quite the conundrum for a bleeding heart such as yourself!
Boerwar
Yes as a catholic educated atheist, I would agree that people should distinguish between the catholic church hierarchy (the ones who are world champs at defending paedophiles) and catholic churchgoers, who I find much more normal.
Sometimes things are not as they appear. Hitchens on Mother Theresa and poverty:
She always advertised the fact that she was a fundamentalist. Although she accepted the Nobel for Peace, she never showed any interest in peace, nor did anything for it. She never pretended to be fighting poverty, but always maintained that her job was to rescue a soul for conversion. Her words on receiving the Nobel were alarmingly candid—she said the chief threat to world peace was abortion and contraception. An absolutely preposterous proposition startling her audience, but she wasn’t being dishonest. She never really did much dissembling about her beliefs—that poverty was a gift from God, that the poor were lucky in their poverty. Though she kept saying this, she couldn’t get anyone to believe her—if I run into a secular fan of hers and ask ‘Are you aware she thought poverty was a gift from God?’, they’d look blank as if to say ‘surely that’s not true, she spent her entire life feeding the hungry’. And I say well, why do you think so? Can you name any case where she made any difference e.g. in famine relief? And they can’t. Her view is considered extreme even within the Catholic church. In the Indian version of the Second Vatican Council—The Bombay Seminar, held for Indian faithfuls to discuss the Pope’s proposals—she made a strong attack on the need for such a council, that there was no need for new thinking, only for more faith and work. This alarmed many in the church. She was represented as someone who selflessly worked for the poor, whereas her policies were explicitly designed to increase the chances of poverty on a large scale.
‘Ven says:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 7:54 pm
”
Boerwarsays:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 6:38 pm
Xi is the untrammelled dictator of China who murders thousands of political prisoners, has absolute control over all media, has eliminated free speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of movement.
Trump is a POTUS candidate.
Spot the difference.
”
Wait for another year. People may not spot any difference.’
—————————–
Excellent point.
There is close to zero general awareness in the West about what would happen should Xi die or be assassinated. Unnervingly, the same is true for China a well.
All the usual tacitly- or overtly agreed processes for succession planning have either been completely disrupted or eliminated altogether. Further, power is now so concentrated and Xi is reported to be so unwilling to listen to alternative advice, that people have become too frightened to tell him what he badly needs to hear. This might be one explanation for China’s debt/construction/local government crises were allowed to get out of control and also why there have been ad hoc responses far below the scale required to address the problem in a systematic fashion.
Part of the context here is the ever-growing isolation, xenophobia, historical resentment, expanionsm, militarism and nationalism being fostered by Xi.
C@tmomma:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 3:42 pm
[‘I agree. And to the position of Sonia Sotomayor, who is not in the best of health, so it is said, as a result of her diabetes. So there is a push from the Democrats to get her to retire before the Democrats possibly lose the Senate Majority and it makes it an option for the Republicans to really screw the SCOTUS in to a 7-2 Conservative Majority.’]
As you would know, the death of Bader Ginsberg resulted in the appointment to the Supreme Court of Coney Barrett, with indecent haste – 39 days. I saw a recent pic of Sotomayor and agree with you that she’s looking quite crook. I hope it’s not going to result in a repeat of Bader Gingsberg’s exit, which would result in the Federalist Society having an erotic dream. What makes it all the more crucial is that whereas 14 Democrats are up for election (plus 2 independents), only six Republicans are due to face their fate.
‘leftieBrawler says:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 8:06 pm
Boerwar so that means that one day soon you’ll have to choose between the vatican and the mosques of Palestine.
Quite the conundrum for a bleeding heart such as yourself!’
———————————-
I repeat. The lack of discrimination and nuance in making judgements is clearly there – perhaps righteous anger clouds judgements?
One of my little amusements is noting the surfacing of various bigotries still deeply embedded in my now-atheist but formerly protestant and anglican friends. This stuff runs deep.
The highest position Jennie George attained as a parliamentarian was Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Environment and Heritage. But the moment she criticises a party policy, The Australian promotes her to “Labor legend”.
I’m currently in Vienna Airport after some business here, heading to Tallinn, Estonia, this afternoon. My plane lands pretty much as the Russian polls close. I also have a short stopover in Helsinki – will be interesting to see if there’s any NATO visibility there.
Tensions are high for the Russian community in Estonia. The main Russian-speaking city, Narva, lies on the Russian border to the north. Estonia ordered the Russian consulates in Narva and Tartu (university/commercial city to the south) closed in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. Those wishing to vote are able to do so by travelling to Tallinn and visiting the Embassy (I’ve previously posted the protest signage there) or cross the border on foot to vote, but there are concerns about getting back to Narva.
I will have more to report in about six hours when I am able to walk past the Embassy.
https://news.err.ee/1609284930/gallery-voters-protesters-and-police-gather-at-russian-embassy-in-tallinn
Goodness me. The Brisbane/Fremantle game is amazing. It was all Brisbane until 22 minutes into the first quarter. It has been all Freo since.
It is almost as if P1, having been baulked of a Labor caning in Dunkley, is now hurting for Labor to legalize nuclear power and to invest billions in scores of SMRs and in six monster nuclear powerplants.
‘Eston Kohver says:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 8:19 pm
I’m currently in Vienna Airport after some business here, heading to Tallinn, Estonia, this afternoon. My plane lands pretty much as the Russian polls close. I also have a short stopover in Helsinki – will be interesting to see if there’s any NATO visibility there.
Tensions are high for the Russian community in Estonia. The main Russian-speaking city, Narva, lies on the Russian border to the north. Estonia ordered the Russian consulates in Narva and Tartu (university/commercial city to the south) closed in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. Those wishing to vote are able to do so by travelling to Tallinn and visiting the Embassy (I’ve previously posted the protest signage there) or cross the border on foot to vote, but there are concerns about getting back to Narva.
I will have more to report in about six hours when I am able to walk past the Embassy.
https://news.err.ee/1609284930/gallery-voters-protesters-and-police-gather-at-russian-embassy-in-tallinn‘
——————-
Perfect recipe for Putin to do a bit of irredentist pot-stirring in order to create the sort of casus belli he fomented in western Ukraine and keeps frozen in Transnistria.
Claiming Trump will become a dictator is just stupid. The same applies for Dutton (I read that ridiculous claim on this site the other day) or any other Australian PM or US POTUS for that matter.
‘The federal government has reversed the cancellation of Australian visas for some Palestinians fleeing Gaza.
Some Palestinians have been left stranded after finding out their temporary Australian visas had been suddenly cancelled.
Many had already left Gaza, leaving them in third countries without a visa to travel to Australia.’
abc.net.au
This is an appalling way to treat desperate people. The government has talked about vague security concerns as reason for the cancellations, based on not being sure how these people left Gaza. As Samantha Maiden noted this morning on Insiders, they would have left any way they could.
There has been zero transparency. Nobody knows how many visas were cancelled or how many have now been reinstated. How many more cancellations are going to end up being reversed? If the majority of these refugees are eventually allowed to enter Australia, then this will go down as another monumental fuck up by this government regarding its response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Boerwar @ #1224 Sunday, March 17th, 2024 – 8:22 pm
Nope. Just pointing out possibilities. I know it is hard to hear for some, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.
Matt (soc etc)
This from the Conversation abt 3 weeks ago…..
“Russia’s public spending is at unprecedented levels, and around 40% of the government budget is spent on the war. Total military spending is expected to reach more than 10% of GDP for the year 2023 (the UK figure is 2.3%).”
https://theconversation.com/russias-economy-is-now-completely-driven-by-the-war-in-ukraine-it-cannot-afford-to-lose-but-nor-can-it-afford-to-win-221333
you’ve just redeemed yourself boerwar with that timely rebuttle of P1.
For such a prolific and content-rich contributor and claimed Labor type I’d like to see more of your posts dedicated to tangible, domestic themes and issues that you think Labor need to concentrate on to win the November election.
You can be better than the likes of p1, RD, WWP, RM, SD etc etc. Just believe in yourself and leave the crap behind.
Good on ya Neville FUBAR !
goll says:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 8:33 pm
“Good on ya Neville FUBAR !”
WTF?
Make the argument – exactly how will either of them become a Dictator?
A controversial $2.7bn rebuild of the Gabba should be axed in favour of a new $3.4bn stadium in inner-city parklands, an independent review into the beleaguered Brisbane Olympics has found.
Premier Steven Miles and his cabinet will on Monday consider findings of the 60-day review of Brisbane’s multibillion-dollar Olympic infrastructure program and decide whether to accept recommendations.
The Australian understands the report called for the Gabba rebuild – which had already suffered a 170 per cent early cost blowout – be scrapped and a new stadium be built at Victoria Park, on the outskirts of the CBD.
Wealthy stockbroker Steve Wilson, a former chair of Brisbane’s Southbank arts and parks precinct, had pitched to the review that a 48,000 seat stadium at Victoria Park, on the northern fringe of the city.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/scrap-gabba-rebuild-for-new-innercity-stadium-brisbane-olympics-review-finds/news-story/5b894b512799ebaaaffc0f2ae71faa63?amp
You’re too simplistically reductionist, leftieBrawler.
What Boerwar and Socrates have said about the Catholic Church is a much more nuanced and realistic position than your bitter one.
Can I just say that the Catholic Care ladies and gentlemen, and Greensborough Growler, helped me and my family when we were down and out financially when no one else would. And they did it repeatedly, no questions asked. Because they truly believe in their cause of helping the destitute when they need it.
I’m not an overtly religious person, but what I do know is that you and nath are blinded by your hatred of the Catholic Church and the ‘Shoppies’ to an unnecessary and unnatural extent and you can say what you want about it all but you will never convince me.
FUBARsays:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 8:37 pm
goll says:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 8:33 pm
“Good on ya Neville FUBAR !”
WTF?
Make the argument – exactly how will either of them become a Dictator?
—————-
Don’t see Dutton being a dictator but Trump says he wants greater presidential powers over the executive.
Eston Kohver:
It has been oft said: London, Paris, New York – but how’s your love life? I do hope it’s better than mine. I’ve carried on enough.
Wow! Fancy being found to have redeemed yourself in the eyes of leftieBrawler.
If I ever see you saying that about me, I swear I’ll vomit.
I’m proud to be on your shit list. I find it a vindication of everything I believe.
Fubar
Conversely, make an argument they will not. Your pitch is here demand “proof/arguments” to support a particular point of view. Your so-called factual stuff is usually thin on the ground when someone calls on you as you studiously ignore such challenges. Come on digger, you can do better than this….
”
Team Katichsays:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 4:34 pm
Boerwar, the Russian economy is in much better shape than the German or British economies. The Western sanctions not only haven’t worked, they’ve had a boomerang effect.
—————————————–
Imports of Russian goods were only capped (iirc), not stopped. And many sanctions (or part there-of) have been sidestepped. And with tight controls on the flow of money out of Russia while still having massive resource extraction that is being exported at high levels – the economy is somewhat resilient to the sanctions.
And they are at war. Government spending on war is the driver of the growth they have (which is lower than what was forecast at this point before the war started).
So comparing Russia with Germany is complicated.
If the West decided to stop all imports of Russian resources Russia would collapse in a heap. You could say that the West buying Russian fossil fuels is keeping Russia afloat and able to fund their war. You’d think that would convince the West to transition away from fossil fuels quicker – despite some of the hardship it may bring.
”
The hardships will produce results like witnessed in Ipswich West and Inala.
“Nope. Just pointing out possibilities. I know it is hard to hear for some, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.”
Sure sure.
Minimum time for large scale nuclear reactors – establish regulatory framework, train up an industry – go to the market place: 15 years. At a minimum.
Then the magical thinking has to happen: the market will actually invest in a technology 3 times more expensive than renewables.
Or, if SMRs actually happen )same time frame, even if they work) – five time more expensive.
Then another 5+ years to the first SMR up and running … or 10+ years for large ones.
Again assuming … magical thinking … that these is absolutely no NIMBY-ISM backlash against the very idea of nuclear reactors in the neighbourhood.
Yeah … it takes someone really … special … to see the possibilities of a Labor pivot to entertain nuclear power …
Mexicanbeemer says:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 8:40 pm
Trump can say whatever he likes but the checks and balances of the system remain in place. For home to become a Dictator would require the full support of the military, security and law enforcement agencies. It isn’t going to happen.
Tricot says:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 8:43 pm
Done.
Henry @ #1205 Sunday, March 17th, 2024 – 7:23 pm
Indeed!
And why the Liberals should just allow a conscience vote and be done with it. Those opposed can exit stage left, disappearing up their own fundaments.
FUBARsays:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 8:25 pm
Claiming Trump will become a dictator is just stupid. The same applies for Dutton (I read that ridiculous claim on this site the other day) or any other Australian PM or US POTUS for that matter.
=============================================
Trump made that claim yesterday. Are you suggesting he lied?.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/12/trump-says-hell-be-a-dictator-on-day-one/676247/
C@t I have no issue with you beyond my disapproval of the SDA. I’ve always, always defended you and spoke out against others who have engaged in bullying you. If you have decided that this is the issue to nail to the mast of how the two of us are to get along in the future, then I’m saddened by it.
I’ve been forced to step up with a bunch of new appointments which will mean more and more required attendance at conferences. I’d like to think we could be cordial comrades if we happen to be in the same rooms this year lol!.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/alan-jones-returns-to-australia-says-health-problems-will-keep-him-off-air-20240317-p5fd36.html
Make of this what you will.
goll says:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 7:40 pm
“This could easily be “the Liberal Party, on the other hand, is an objectively evil organisation……………… .
The Liberals years since Howard have been in lockstep with the Catholic Church.”
Rubbish.
The LNP Legalised Same Sex Marriage.
FUBARsays:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 8:44 pm
Mexicanbeemer says:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 8:40 pm
Trump can say whatever he likes but the checks and balances of the system remain in place. For home to become a Dictator would require the full support of the military, security and law enforcement agencies. It isn’t going to happen.
————-
Yep the military probably won’t back someone with no service history and having mocked service personal.
I had literally never even heard of Jennie George before today.
leftieBrawler says:
Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 8:00 pm
hahaha still on the shoppies catholic train this evening?
The SDA and the catholic church are some of my most hated institutions, and i’m not usually a hater!
———————
You are right there leftie.
The Catholic Church got away with its many priests avoiding any punishment for much child sexual abuse.
Many Catholics like to pretend it didn’t happen . Many believe that any priest in jail shows an error in law.
Reading biographies of young children growing up in Catholic homes, the priest visiting, allowed into the child’s bedroom, to spend weekends away with a priest, with the parents eager permission, is hair raising. Scary.
How parents could be so trusting? Brainwashed by the church. And would not believe the child if they spoke about what might have happened. Of course the priest would tell the child not to say anything about any encounters.
Shows how much in thrall the Catholic Church has on even those who are not strongly believing Catholics. Early beliefs, true or not, often linger, maybe forever.
Certainly glad I didn’t have a religious upbringing. In fact religion should be excluded from a child’s education until they are at least 12.
So can make a clearer analysis of what the church teaches.
Never happen, of course. Look how many of our politicians are religious, or had a religious early life. And they make many decisions supporting the church.
Including the churches tax free status.
And our Labor and LNP government gift the Catholic Church significant taxpayer money so they can present their schools with attractive buildings and grounds to attract many students away from the much less well funded public schools.
Aristotle said ‘ Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man”.
It is essential to tge church the Catholic religion ( or any religion ) is taught early, knowing how effective the conversion of a young person is to religion up to 7.
The aim of the Catholic Church. Often using fear of what will happen in the ‘afterlife’ – ‘burn in hell’ is a powerful scare campaign.
Similar to the Liberals in their conversion plan for people to their religion/cause.
Religion fools many people.