Comments on: How to do things with questions (or not) http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/ Blogging politics, culture, sociology and life from Brisvegas Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:14:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: daiskmeliadorn http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469485 daiskmeliadorn Wed, 21 May 2008 07:12:36 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469485 hmm i think my brilliant plan to put a quote in there didn't work. let's try this one... <blockquote>I've just had a thought that will disturb the committed on both sides of the political fence: maybe with Kevin Rudd, what you see is what you get. We're so used to deception in politics that we expect to find it everywhere. But maybe the grand deception in this case is that there is none.</blockquote> hmm i think my brilliant plan to put a quote in there didn’t work. let’s try this one…

I’ve just had a thought that will disturb the committed on both sides of the political fence: maybe with Kevin Rudd, what you see is what you get. We’re so used to deception in politics that we expect to find it everywhere. But maybe the grand deception in this case is that there is none.

]]> By: daiskmeliadorn http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469484 daiskmeliadorn Wed, 21 May 2008 07:11:22 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469484 hey - this is a slightly belated comment and maybe should belong on an even older post. but i've been kind of thinking in the back of my mind about mark (?)'s comment that the media just don't get that rudd isn't spinning things, that maybe they should consider that he actually means what he says (shock! horror!) and, then, for no easily to explain reason i was looking at <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/a-smarter-vision-for-the-future/2007/10/23/1192941064156.html" rel="nofollow">this article by ross gittins from october last year</a> today. which is mainly about the "me too ism" blah blah but starts with this: <blockquote cite="I've just had a thought that will disturb the committed on both sides of the political fence: maybe with Kevin Rudd, what you see is what you get. We're so used to deception in politics that we expect to find it everywhere. But maybe the grand deception in this case is that there is none."> hey - this is a slightly belated comment and maybe should belong on an even older post. but i’ve been kind of thinking in the back of my mind about mark (?)’s comment that the media just don’t get that rudd isn’t spinning things, that maybe they should consider that he actually means what he says (shock! horror!)

and, then, for no easily to explain reason i was looking at this article by ross gittins from october last year today. which is mainly about the “me too ism” blah blah but starts with this:

]]> By: jane http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469458 jane Wed, 21 May 2008 06:14:10 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469458 Snap! Robynne B. This is what's puzzled me. Why is everyone so outraged now? You'd think the government had <strong>cut</strong> their pensions by $500, instead of increasing them. I also wondered if this sudden outburst of rage had more to do with the political affiliations of the protesters, than genuine concern. It reeks of beat-up by RWDBs, just like the carer bonus crap. The other thing that sticks out like the proverbials in all the bleating about the presents people didn't get in the budget, is that sense of entitlement to multi government hand-outs by everyone, but most particularly those who least need welfare. Seems the addiction to pork-barrelling is going to be a very hard habit to break. Snap! Robynne B. This is what’s puzzled me. Why is everyone so outraged now? You’d think the government had cut their pensions by $500, instead of increasing them.
I also wondered if this sudden outburst of rage had more to do with the political affiliations of the protesters, than genuine concern. It reeks of beat-up by RWDBs, just like the carer bonus crap.
The other thing that sticks out like the proverbials in all the bleating about the presents people didn’t get in the budget, is that sense of entitlement to multi government hand-outs by everyone, but most particularly those who least need welfare.
Seems the addiction to pork-barrelling is going to be a very hard habit to break.

]]> By: Robynne B http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469073 Robynne B Tue, 20 May 2008 10:42:25 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469073 I find it fascinating that these disaffected pesioners have only now become so disaffected. They sat back and said SFA when the lying rodent was in charge of the kitty, and now they are suddenly expecting so much more,And have chosen to ignore the fact that they are $500p.a. better off under Labor. I personally would find this new-found protest much more credible if they had challenged the former govt, rather than behaving like a bunch of dissafeceted liebral voters,who were too gutless to challenge their hero, which they probably were, and now expect Rudd to deliver what the lying rodent refused to. I find it fascinating that these disaffected pesioners have only now become so disaffected. They sat back and said SFA when the lying rodent was in charge of the kitty, and now they are suddenly expecting so much more,And have chosen to ignore the fact that they are $500p.a. better off under Labor.
I personally would find this new-found protest much more credible if they had challenged the former govt, rather than behaving like a bunch of dissafeceted liebral voters,who were too gutless to challenge their hero, which they probably were, and now expect Rudd to deliver what the lying rodent refused to.

]]> By: Mangoman http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469057 Mangoman Tue, 20 May 2008 09:50:36 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469057 Rudd was certainly keen to make his point but I didn't think he was particularly grumpy. I suspect that when he is actually grumpy then it is pretty clear. I thought that Rudd was well on top of his brief and had every point well covered. I was disappointed by Kerry's line of questioning. It is highly likely that the Government was surprised by the pensioner issue opening up. Pensioners had after all recieved a pretty good result. Those who prepared the Budget Speech may not therefore have spent a lot of time covering the pensioner issue. You can't fit everything in. If Rudd continues like this he will make the journalists earn their money - and probably kill a few bureacrats who have to provide the briefs. Rudd was certainly keen to make his point but I didn’t think he was particularly grumpy. I suspect that when he is actually grumpy then it is pretty clear.

I thought that Rudd was well on top of his brief and had every point well covered.

I was disappointed by Kerry’s line of questioning. It is highly likely that the Government was surprised by the pensioner issue opening up. Pensioners had after all recieved a pretty good result. Those who prepared the Budget Speech may not therefore have spent a lot of time covering the pensioner issue. You can’t fit everything in.

If Rudd continues like this he will make the journalists earn their money - and probably kill a few bureacrats who have to provide the briefs.

]]> By: derrida derider http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469053 derrida derider Tue, 20 May 2008 09:33:23 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469053 Yep - but of course it's best that GWB doesn't work the long hours most senior pollies do. Imagine how much more damage he could do to the world if he did :-) Yep - but of course it’s best that GWB doesn’t work the long hours most senior pollies do. Imagine how much more damage he could do to the world if he did :-)

]]> By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469010 Mark Tue, 20 May 2008 06:58:38 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-469010 Peter Beattie too. It must be a pollie thing. Or not. I understand George W. Bush retires at 9.30 every evening and gets up around 6 though. Peter Beattie too. It must be a pollie thing.

Or not. I understand George W. Bush retires at 9.30 every evening and gets up around 6 though.

]]> By: murph the surf http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468970 murph the surf Tue, 20 May 2008 04:58:23 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468970 "It may have something to do with the fact that he only sleeps a few hours a night." Like that other imperious pollie Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven? “It may have something to do with the fact that he only sleeps a few hours a night.”
Like that other imperious pollie Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven?

]]> By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468959 Mark Tue, 20 May 2008 04:40:15 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468959 Not the first time Rudd's been in grumpy mode, Geoff. It may have something to do with the fact that he only sleeps a few hours a night. Not the first time Rudd’s been in grumpy mode, Geoff. It may have something to do with the fact that he only sleeps a few hours a night.

]]> By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468957 Mark Tue, 20 May 2008 04:37:29 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468957 No probs, Paul. No probs, Paul.

]]> By: Paul Burns http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468954 Paul Burns Tue, 20 May 2008 04:35:06 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468954 Mark, Thanks for that. Have saved the second link and will peruse it at my leisure, and perhaps make a submission. In my case it probably won't matter much because by the time all the stuff is brought in I'll probably be less than a year off the aged pension. Still, I might be able, indirectly, to help some other people. Looking forward to the post. Mark,
Thanks for that. Have saved the second link and will peruse it at my leisure, and perhaps make a submission.
In my case it probably won’t matter much because by the time all the stuff is brought in I’ll probably be less than a year off the aged pension. Still, I might be able, indirectly, to help some other people.
Looking forward to the post.

]]> By: Geoff Honnor http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468950 Geoff Honnor Tue, 20 May 2008 04:24:29 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468950 "I thought Rudd performed badly. His argument that they can’t fix everything immediately is a good one. But he stuffed it up being grumpy and bad-tempered about it. He needs a bit more of a charm offensive.' Agree. I thought Rudd was surly and in "how dare you question me' mode. Surprising, because he's usually much more deft. “I thought Rudd performed badly. His argument that they can’t fix everything immediately is a good one. But he stuffed it up being grumpy and bad-tempered about it. He needs a bit more of a charm offensive.’

Agree. I thought Rudd was surly and in “how dare you question me’ mode. Surprising, because he’s usually much more deft.

]]> By: philiptravers http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468843 philiptravers Tue, 20 May 2008 01:16:25 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468843 Paul down the road from me is rightfully concerned about prospects for him.And ,well,frankly,I am disgusted by some approaches in opinion here on this matter of aged pensions.Simply because Rudd says,he is to undergo a review of all these things,doesn't necessitate ,for one moment,in these very moments before the review,that this doesn't make conditions worse for aged pensioners.To assume it wont,is similar to assume it will,accept the later will be self-evident,where the former will not be so.Seeing an analysis of the word economy implies that one has a phenomena to ascribe that description,it then becomes apparent that the economy is a way of saying,looking at a series of figures and what they all mean. So, if, the suggestion of an increase in expenditure of $3 billion is real,when would this expenditure take place!? The answer to that is a complexity that the Feds could of taken advantage of,rather than seeing it as liability alone.I wont explain that,but monies would of flowed eventually into corporates,and,corporates can advance their tax measures to government fairly rapidly now! Paul down the road from me is rightfully concerned about prospects for him.And ,well,frankly,I am disgusted by some approaches in opinion here on this matter of aged pensions.Simply because Rudd says,he is to undergo a review of all these things,doesn’t necessitate ,for one moment,in these very moments before the review,that this doesn’t make conditions worse for aged pensioners.To assume it wont,is similar to assume it will,accept the later will be self-evident,where the former will not be so.Seeing an analysis of the word economy implies that one has a phenomena to ascribe that description,it then becomes apparent that the economy is a way of saying,looking at a series of figures and what they all mean. So, if, the suggestion of an increase in expenditure of $3 billion is real,when would this expenditure take place!? The answer to that is a complexity that the Feds could of taken advantage of,rather than seeing it as liability alone.I wont explain that,but monies would of flowed eventually into corporates,and,corporates can advance their tax measures to government fairly rapidly now!

]]> By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468838 Mark Tue, 20 May 2008 01:00:35 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468838 Direct link to the Disability Employment Services Review discussion paper: http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Publications/PolicyReviews/EmploymentStrategy/NationalMentalHealthandDisabilityEmploymentStrategy.htm From what I read, they're trying to construct a more realistic set of expectations for people with disabilities in regard to entering work and I would imagine benefit levels would also be considered in the context of the Henry review. If I get a chance, I'm going to do a post on this. Direct link to the Disability Employment Services Review discussion paper:

http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Publications/PolicyReviews/EmploymentStrategy/NationalMentalHealthandDisabilityEmploymentStrategy.htm

From what I read, they’re trying to construct a more realistic set of expectations for people with disabilities in regard to entering work and I would imagine benefit levels would also be considered in the context of the Henry review.

If I get a chance, I’m going to do a post on this.

]]> By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468836 Mark Tue, 20 May 2008 00:58:09 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468836 Paul, check out: http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Publications/PolicyReviews/Employment%20Services%20Review/ Paul, check out:

http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Publications/PolicyReviews/Employment%20Services%20Review/

]]> By: Paul Burns http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468832 Paul Burns Tue, 20 May 2008 00:51:30 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468832 Mark, I didn't see the Fin Review report.There's been nothing in any of the other MSM.I checked the budget papers and apart from the utilities allowance etc, ther only thing I saw was that they were going to call more disabled pensioners for face to face questioning at Centrelink. While this might make for a very exhausting day, since I'd have to go into town especially for it, and take a pretty enervating walk once I got there as Centrelink is not exactly in the CBD in Armidale, despite it being close to the new Woolies monstrosity built on top of a once polluted gas works. None of that puts money in my pocket. I'm far too ill to work, and am well aware Centrelink would just cross me off as stuffed, but I'd still have to jump through the hoops to keep my pension. Mark,
I didn’t see the Fin Review report.There’s been nothing in any of the other MSM.I checked the budget papers and apart from the utilities allowance etc, ther only thing I saw was that they were going to call more disabled pensioners for face to face questioning at Centrelink. While this might make for a very exhausting day, since I’d have to go into town especially for it, and take a pretty enervating walk once I got there as Centrelink is not exactly in the CBD in Armidale, despite it being close to the new Woolies monstrosity built on top of a once polluted gas works. None of that puts money in my pocket. I’m far too ill to work, and am well aware Centrelink would just cross me off as stuffed, but I’d still have to jump through the hoops to keep my pension.

]]> By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468828 Mark Tue, 20 May 2008 00:46:18 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468828 Indeed! http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23726970-601,00.html Indeed!

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23726970-601,00.html

]]> By: Fine http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468823 Fine Tue, 20 May 2008 00:34:03 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468823 I thought Rudd performed badly. His argument that they can't fix everything immediately is a good one. But he stuffed it up being grumpy and bad-tempered about it. He needs a bit more of a charm offensive. It's fascinating reading the difference between the Age and the OO on this. They're dealing with the same information and interpreting it in acompletely opposite ways. I thought Rudd performed badly. His argument that they can’t fix everything immediately is a good one. But he stuffed it up being grumpy and bad-tempered about it. He needs a bit more of a charm offensive.

It’s fascinating reading the difference between the Age and the OO on this. They’re dealing with the same information and interpreting it in acompletely opposite ways.

]]> By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468822 Mark Tue, 20 May 2008 00:32:44 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468822 Paul, I'm not sure what you mean by "deafening silence". A discussion paper has been released on overhauling the "welfare to work" changes of the Coalition, including the disability pension. It's been reported in the Fin Review (and possibly elsewhere.) There hasn't been the same brouhaha from interest groups and pollies, but that doesn't mean nothing is happening. Paul, I’m not sure what you mean by “deafening silence”. A discussion paper has been released on overhauling the “welfare to work” changes of the Coalition, including the disability pension. It’s been reported in the Fin Review (and possibly elsewhere.)

There hasn’t been the same brouhaha from interest groups and pollies, but that doesn’t mean nothing is happening.

]]> By: Robert Merkel http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468821 Robert Merkel Tue, 20 May 2008 00:29:11 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/19/how-to-do-things-with-questions-or-not/#comment-468821 David: but nobody has been able to ask hard questions of Labor about the issue, because no journalist has bothered to get their head around the issue. David: but nobody has been able to ask hard questions of Labor about the issue, because no journalist has bothered to get their head around the issue.

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