Comments on: Government looks to wedge…AFL http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/ Blogging politics, culture, sociology and life from Brisvegas Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:30:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: yeti http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409867 yeti Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:16:42 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409867 Razor have you ever smoked pot? You must be insane if you think that recreational cannabis use is somehow so damaging that it requires mandatory piss-testing - in any job! I guess you're not a Right-winger of the 'libertarian' school. If there's any drug that should be banned it is alcohol - addictive, family-wrecking, violence and stupidity inducing poison that puts an huge burden on the ambulence service. If you were a police-man would you rather patrol a town full of drunks or a town full of stoners? Let's have some consistency, if alcohol is legal then pot, which every medical study shows to be far less harmful, should definitely be legal. Razor have you ever smoked pot?

You must be insane if you think that recreational cannabis use is somehow so damaging that it requires mandatory piss-testing - in any job! I guess you’re not a Right-winger of the ‘libertarian’ school.

If there’s any drug that should be banned it is alcohol - addictive, family-wrecking, violence and stupidity inducing poison that puts an huge burden on the ambulence service. If you were a police-man would you rather patrol a town full of drunks or a town full of stoners? Let’s have some consistency, if alcohol is legal then pot, which every medical study shows to be far less harmful, should definitely be legal.

]]> By: steve http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409843 steve Mon, 08 Oct 2007 22:35:37 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409843 Meanwhile on the eve of a Federal Election the sittings of the Queensland Parliament due to start this week have already thrown up a split between the two top Nats Seeney and Springborg, <a href="http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22551758-3102,00.html" rel="nofollow">wedged over stem cell legislation</a>. It would not be the Queensland coalition without a change of leadership whenever they hear the word, election. It just seems to be a natural Pavlov Dog resonse by them. Meanwhile on the eve of a Federal Election the sittings of the Queensland Parliament due to start this week have already thrown up a split between the two top Nats Seeney and Springborg, wedged over stem cell legislation.

It would not be the Queensland coalition without a change of leadership whenever they hear the word, election. It just seems to be a natural Pavlov Dog resonse by them.

]]> By: wbb http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409832 wbb Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:07:00 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409832 Of course it's a wedge. A very small and pathetic one - but they will run every single wedge they can think of b/w now and December. Cynical populism will be taken to new extremes by Howard's desperadoes. And it might still work for them. Inch by bloody inch. As for the subject itself - all I wish is that the ABC would not feel compelled to breathlessly report every single instance of an athlete taking drugs. It's just not that big a story. I reckon there's a producer at the ABC who is obsessed with this topic. Of course it’s a wedge. A very small and pathetic one - but they will run every single wedge they can think of b/w now and December.

Cynical populism will be taken to new extremes by Howard’s desperadoes. And it might still work for them. Inch by bloody inch.

As for the subject itself - all I wish is that the ABC would not feel compelled to breathlessly report every single instance of an athlete taking drugs. It’s just not that big a story. I reckon there’s a producer at the ABC who is obsessed with this topic.

]]> By: Robert Merkel http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409805 Robert Merkel Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:56:34 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409805 BTW, guys, it's getting a little willing. (and my comment probably contributed to that - sorry). Could we all play the ball please? BTW, guys, it’s getting a little willing. (and my comment probably contributed to that - sorry). Could we all play the ball please?

]]> By: Francis Xavier Holden http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409794 Francis Xavier Holden Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:16:50 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409794 After the death of the Mainwaring yob why isn't there an inquiry (or is that enquiry) into the drug culture at Channel 7? After the death of the Mainwaring yob why isn’t there an inquiry (or is that enquiry) into the drug culture at Channel 7?

]]> By: Liam http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409774 Liam Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:40:14 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409774 It is pretty good. Worthy of a Cheech and Chong grin and a thumbs-up, maaan. It is pretty good. Worthy of a Cheech and Chong grin and a thumbs-up, maaan.

]]> By: Bingo Bango Boingo http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409773 Bingo Bango Boingo Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:36:59 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409773 Razor, my writing is usually riddled with typos, so I'd be the last to get stuck into steve about this. I am merely acknowledging genius. It works on two levels: either it's a corruption of 'ingest' which I guess would apply to party drugs like ecstasy and GHB, or it's a corruption of 'inject', which covers ice and heroin. BBB Razor, my writing is usually riddled with typos, so I’d be the last to get stuck into steve about this. I am merely acknowledging genius. It works on two levels: either it’s a corruption of ‘ingest’ which I guess would apply to party drugs like ecstasy and GHB, or it’s a corruption of ‘inject’, which covers ice and heroin.

BBB

]]> By: Razor http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409772 Razor Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:26:44 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409772 BBB - I am the last one to point out typos, but seeing that j is so far away from g I call "Fair Bump Play On!" Nice one Steve. BBB - I am the last one to point out typos, but seeing that j is so far away from g I call “Fair Bump Play On!”

Nice one Steve.

]]> By: Bingo Bango Boingo http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409771 Bingo Bango Boingo Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:20:06 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409771 steve, 'injest' is a great potential entry for the Washington Post's New Word Competition. But what should be definition be? How about 'pretending to take drugs in an amusing or entertaining fashion'. BBB steve, ‘injest’ is a great potential entry for the Washington Post’s New Word Competition. But what should be definition be? How about ‘pretending to take drugs in an amusing or entertaining fashion’.

BBB

]]> By: steve http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409770 steve Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:08:08 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409770 Katz,you are cruel. Don't you know that the only safe drugs are the ones Razor injests personally? Katz,you are cruel. Don’t you know that the only safe drugs are the ones Razor injests personally?

]]> By: Razor http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409769 Razor Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:58:02 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409769 ha ha ha ha

]]> By: Katz http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409768 Katz Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:54:01 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409768 <blockquote>I think sporting bodies should be involved in testing for illegal drugs because it can have significant health implications for the athletes. It is looking after their welfare.</blockquote> So is checking that they change their underwear relatively frequently. should the AFL be testing for that too, Nanny?

I think sporting bodies should be involved in testing for illegal drugs because it can have significant health implications for the athletes. It is looking after their welfare.

So is checking that they change their underwear relatively frequently. should the AFL be testing for that too, Nanny?

]]> By: Razor http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409767 Razor Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:51:27 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409767 Frank - I don't see any events were Ben Cousins was treated favourably in that article. Exactly when do you think he was treated favourably? And how do you think he should have been treated? And what Phil is saying about the Dealers and Traffickers makes complete sense. Frank - I don’t see any events were Ben Cousins was treated favourably in that article.

Exactly when do you think he was treated favourably? And how do you think he should have been treated?

And what Phil is saying about the Dealers and Traffickers makes complete sense.

]]> By: Razor http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409765 Razor Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:47:48 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409765 Katz - athletes apply for therapeutic use exemptions for banned prescription drugs if they are required for medical purposes. I don't think dope is legal even by prescription in Australia. I think sporting bodies should be involved in testing for illegal drugs because it can have significant health implications for the athletes. It is looking after their welfare. Katz - athletes apply for therapeutic use exemptions for banned prescription drugs if they are required for medical purposes.

I don’t think dope is legal even by prescription in Australia.

I think sporting bodies should be involved in testing for illegal drugs because it can have significant health implications for the athletes. It is looking after their welfare.

]]> By: FDB http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409764 FDB Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:44:34 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409764 <blockquote>If the state wants to know whether sports people are using such drugs illegally, let the state do the testing and take the heat for being an intrusive busy-body.</blockquote> A-fucking-men to that.

If the state wants to know whether sports people are using such drugs illegally, let the state do the testing and take the heat for being an intrusive busy-body.

A-fucking-men to that.

]]> By: Katz http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409763 Katz Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:39:51 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409763 <blockquote>Katz - there are very good reasons for prescription drugs being prescription drugs. I get the impression you don’t support the current prescription drugs policy, then??</blockquote> There are sometimes very good reasons for a presciption drugs regime. It is open to debate at the margins. On the issue of drug testing: it is quite possible that an AFL footballer testing positive for marijuana or morphine was using those drugs legally, i.e., with a prescription. It is equally possible that a netball player testing positive for RU486 was using it illegally, i.e., without a prescription. None of these drugs is performance enhancing. Therefore, the sporting bodies concerned have no business to know whether or not players have been using any of those drugs. In other words, I'm recommending that the sporting bodies butt out of testing for such drugs. If the state wants to know whether sports people are using such drugs illegally, let the state do the testing and take the heat for being an intrusive busy-body.

Katz - there are very good reasons for prescription drugs being prescription drugs. I get the impression you don’t support the current prescription drugs policy, then??

There are sometimes very good reasons for a presciption drugs regime. It is open to debate at the margins.

On the issue of drug testing: it is quite possible that an AFL footballer testing positive for marijuana or morphine was using those drugs legally, i.e., with a prescription. It is equally possible that a netball player testing positive for RU486 was using it illegally, i.e., without a prescription.

None of these drugs is performance enhancing. Therefore, the sporting bodies concerned have no business to know whether or not players have been using any of those drugs. In other words, I’m recommending that the sporting bodies butt out of testing for such drugs.

If the state wants to know whether sports people are using such drugs illegally, let the state do the testing and take the heat for being an intrusive busy-body.

]]> By: Razor http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409762 Razor Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:39:20 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409762 cc - firstly, your slander that the Government has little regard forthe welfare of Australians is not supported by any evidence. Hundreds of Billions of dollars are spent every year on welfare and improving the welfare of all Australians. And an ALP Governemnt is unlikely to be significantly different. Exactly how doesn't the current Government have regard for the welfare of Australians? What policies would you change or impliment and how much would this cost and how would you rasie the revenue to pay for it? cc - I never said that banning is the only thing that should happen. I also support the current AFL policy of getting players help with their problems. You might think intial two year bans do harm to the player, club, game and society. I thin it will only be beneficial for all parties in the long run. Just as disciplining young children isn't always a pleasant experience when it is being done, the long-term benefits are well worth the effort. cc - firstly, your slander that the Government has little regard forthe welfare of Australians is not supported by any evidence. Hundreds of Billions of dollars are spent every year on welfare and improving the welfare of all Australians. And an ALP Governemnt is unlikely to be significantly different. Exactly how doesn’t the current Government have regard for the welfare of Australians? What policies would you change or impliment and how much would this cost and how would you rasie the revenue to pay for it?

cc - I never said that banning is the only thing that should happen. I also support the current AFL policy of getting players help with their problems. You might think intial two year bans do harm to the player, club, game and society. I thin it will only be beneficial for all parties in the long run. Just as disciplining young children isn’t always a pleasant experience when it is being done, the long-term benefits are well worth the effort.

]]> By: Frank Calabrese http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409761 Frank Calabrese Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:36:16 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409761 Re Ben Cousins, may I refer you to his Wikipedia entry which covers events where he was treated rather favourably. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Cousins Re Ben Cousins, may I refer you to his Wikipedia entry which covers events where he was treated rather favourably.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Cousins

]]> By: cc http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409759 cc Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:33:39 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409759 Phil, while it may well be a case that those dealing one kind of drug are also dealing the other to suggest that players are obviously automatically doing both is absolutely ridiculous. By that logic, an athlete using performance enhancing drugs would automatically taking recreation ones. And that is simply not the case. Drug taking, both recreational and performance enhancing, is never that cut and dried. Alastair Lynch took performance enhancing drugs, but not for a moment would anyone suggest he is recreational drug user. Likewise, an 18 year old boy (who happens to be a footballer), who is persuaded to try a recreation drug at a nightclub cannot be assumed to be a drug cheat. He may well be endangering his life - but it is unreasonable to assume he is also taking performance enhancing drugs. Phil, while it may well be a case that those dealing one kind of drug are also dealing the other to suggest that players are obviously automatically doing both is absolutely ridiculous.

By that logic, an athlete using performance enhancing drugs would automatically taking recreation ones. And that is simply not the case. Drug taking, both recreational and performance enhancing, is never that cut and dried. Alastair Lynch took performance enhancing drugs, but not for a moment would anyone suggest he is recreational drug user.

Likewise, an 18 year old boy (who happens to be a footballer), who is persuaded to try a recreation drug at a nightclub cannot be assumed to be a drug cheat. He may well be endangering his life - but it is unreasonable to assume he is also taking performance enhancing drugs.

]]> By: Razor http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409757 Razor Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:30:49 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/10/08/government-looks-to-wedgeafl/#comment-409757 Katz - there are very good reasons for prescription drugs being prescription drugs. I get the impression you don't support the current prescription drugs policy, then?? As for my narrow view of leftism - why would that be? I don't like the "do as I say, not as I do" approach of Kevin Rudd? I find the Peter garret - No US Bases (what's that . . . ?) Sorry - i support US Bases and the US alliance, hypocrisy, I find the PC clap-trap idiocy and hypocrisy completely insane. Katz - there are very good reasons for prescription drugs being prescription drugs. I get the impression you don’t support the current prescription drugs policy, then??

As for my narrow view of leftism - why would that be? I don’t like the “do as I say, not as I do” approach of Kevin Rudd? I find the Peter garret - No US Bases (what’s that . . . ?) Sorry - i support US Bases and the US alliance, hypocrisy, I find the PC clap-trap idiocy and hypocrisy completely insane.

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