Vicious circle

Day by day, month by month , year by year.

Every year it gets worse. Hardly surprising for the seeds of hate and distrust have been sewn and embedded deep in the psyche of both sides.

As always nowadays, it's the innocents who suffer while the extremists continue their ideological battles.Both sides claim justification for what is happening.

It's getting worse because both sides but in particular groups such as Hamas have realised that in order to obtain their objectives hey have to be disciplined, organised and trained. The rumoured plan that they aimed to invade Israel through the tunnels with a large number of their organisation is probably what led Israel to their assault some three weeks ago.

Gaza is a strategic tool and even though the current conflagration might eventually die down  , it will only be temporary before the next and possibly more violent outbreak takes place.

nutty

Feel a bit like this 

 today.....

.

Hat in the ring?

Have a go, Joe.

The new book recently published by Penguin and written by Joe Hockey has caused an increase in volume in the chattering classes.

 Entitled "Not your average Joe" the new book ( populist title) is seen as Joe Hockey's intent to be considered a serious Prime Ministerial candidate. Cometh the hour, cometh the man?

Bill Shorten remains unimpressed referring to Mr Hockey as a "cigar-chomping Treasurer ".

 Perhaps the cigar is a hint?

Scots Referendum

Nutting it out

The time for the Scottish referendum on Independence is drawing nigh. At this stage it could go either way but statistically it's more likely that the Scots will remain part of the UK and not an independent state.

Currently, according to The Scotsman poll, about 48% will vote to remain integrated within the UK while 41% want independence and 11% undecided. 

It seems that the undecideds are shifting their preference towards the pro independence vote but as with everything change is always possible. It would take a major event to swing the vote for a decisive independence victory.

There is an enormous amount of talent within Scotland that could be utilised. However the problems facing a possible independent Scotland are enormous with the EU, Oil, Currency and the National debt posing major headaches, not insurmountable but nevertheless daunting.

Interesting to note that some 17% of voters say they would seriously think of leaving if Scotland succeeded in its quest. Not surprisingly the strongest "No"votes are from the older age group.

Would Hadrian's Wall be re-erected if the Scots were to go hae?

Cruisin'

Currying Favour

A bit of background for those who are not aware of the situation.

Around the 11th June a boat carrying some 150 Tamil asylum seekers that left Pondicherry in India bound for Australia was intercepted by an Australian customs vessel. They have been kept at sea for about a month, their exact whereabouts a closely guarded secret by the government.

Meantime , a deal has been reached with the Indian government , after a bit of shuttle diplomacy and "gifts" of a couple of naval vessels to the Sri Lankan Navy , by which the boat people will be off-loaded, probably on the Cocos Islands then transferred to the Curtin detention center in WA ( not an attractive spot in the desert)  where they will be interviewed by Indian consular officials. These will decide who to return to India (Indian residents ) and will consider taking Sri Lankan nationals.

There is the ever present risk that those being returned will face prosecution or persecution and despite a High Court challenge, in Australia of the whole governmental detention process, the immigration department under Scott Morrison is pressing ahead with arrangements to return the Tamils to India, which is not party to the Refugee Convention. Australia which has signed the convention seemingly trying to cherry pick its U.N. obligations as well as its legal obligations within Australia. .

The Australian government has been heavily criticised by the U.N. for its  hardline, military led border regime 

One would imagine that the 150 Tamils would be glad to get off the ship, get their feet on dry land and escape endless evening meals  of  baked beans on toast, Nor would it be too hard to imagine that  dyed in the wool, staunch Liberals would be complaining at the cost of it all , since they have to fork out through the nose when booking a four week Ocean cruise for themselves.

It beggars the question as to where all this money is coming from. Apart from these refugee policies there has been considerable outlays on the MH 370  and MH 17 disasters. Time and time again we have been warned that the economy is in dire straits with cut backs and Scrooge budgets reaching out far into distant time horizons. What gives or are we missing something here?

As a final note a recent poll found 26 % of Australian thought we were too harsh on illegals, some 30% felt our treatment was right and the remaining 44% thought we were not hard enough!

(OMG! To be fair, am not certain of the details of the poll but it was quoted by one of the technical gurus on the ABC's  The Drum, a week or so ago). Quite often those who arrived here with the "proper"process are often the most vociferous in voicing their opposition to queue jumpers.