Comments on: Constructing Fear

By: Andrew Reynolds

Andrew Reynolds — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:06:32 +0000

Looks like paul has decided that ad hominems and jargon is all he has. Pity – it could have been interesting.

By: Razor

Razor — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 03:22:07 +0000

Darlene – I’m pretty sure the CFMEU ascribe to the theory that if you’ve got ‘em by the balls their hearts and minds will follow.

Timmy K has since left the CFMEU, following a punch up with another CFMEU employee in Kevin Reynolds’ office. What a great bunch of guys and gals!

By: Andrew Reynolds

Andrew Reynolds — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 05:45:59 +0000

Paul,
Considering, according to you, I am both engaged in “brainwashed adulation of Big Brother” and a pig, perhaps the request to go “past the adhominems and [be] ready to discuss issues” is a bit of hypocrisy. Happy to discuss the issues, as mentioned, but perhaps a request by me for you to withdraw the ad hominems would not be out of order – particularly as I have always (successfully) resisted the Siren call of “reality tv” and am not a member of the genus “Sus”.
If you truly want to discuss the issues, please withdraw and then make a point on which you wish to engage.

By: paul walter

paul walter — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 02:57:24 +0000

Yes, the latter.

By: Andrew Reynolds

Andrew Reynolds — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 01:38:10 +0000

Paul,
Not BBB – me, as a cursory read of the name above the comment would reveal.
I would be happy to debate an issue – the problem is that I cannot identify one in (what I perceive to be) that mish-mash of jargon and archaic language. Some clarity in your point or points would be appreciated. Perhaps you could enlighten those of us engaged in the “Gadarene rush” regarding what exactly you mean. Am I Legion, or just one of the pigs?

By: Darlene

Darlene — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:00:11 +0000

“I haven’t seen the doco but I know, very well, one of the CFMEU Officials in it. He admits that it is outright propaganda preaching to the choir.”

No point preaching to the choir if you want to change hearts and minds, though.

By: paul walter

paul walter — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:45:03 +0000

Bingo bango bongo: “Gee paul I have read much more comprehensible…” and so on.
Sorry, are we here to talk about my english or the IR issue and derivation and formulation of ideology?
Come back when you are past the adhominems and ready to discuss issues.

By: GB

GB — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:12:01 +0000

P.S. You don’t design an entire IR system on the basis of what can always be a very temporary “sellers market”, which I don’t concede exists at the moment anyway for most workers – not for those who are just in the average range of marketable skills, don’t have the option to up stumps and become a miner in WA.

By: GB

GB — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:00:35 +0000

Agree with much of that, GregM. Generally speaking, I think workers and their unions should put themselves in the shoes of their employers and not take an inflexible, bloody-minded attitude. But that’s really not the problem in a lot of (most?)workplaces today.

I work on what I guess you’d call the bottom rungs of the employment ladder, in a manual job, and from where I stand most employees are very generous towards their boss. I see a lot of people letting too many things slide – things like OH&S issues, unpaid overtime. Workers are very altruistic in this country.

I’m reminded of that George Bernard Shaw quote: “All progress depends upon the unreasonable man”. Occasionally you do have to stick up for yourself. The reason we need unions is that in reality most of us are conformists and don’t.

By: Razor

Razor — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:05:19 +0000

I haven’t seen the doco but I know, very well, one of the CFMEU Officials in it. He admits that it is outright propaganda preaching to the choir.

That’s why the ABC and SBS wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole.

Timmy K is a legend!!