the F rant

…About people who promote themselves above their organisation. It’s rarely better to promote the brand above the product. Such is the case of John So, who is comign under fire for running a council almost Bracks-esque in nature – all show, no go.

All PR spin, all marketing wizardry, all press releases and media advisors, but bugger all going on underneath.

John So is under pressure. But then again, at least John So has done some really interesting and positive things for Melbourne in his time; Bracks has been doing nothing since he got in power in 1999!

FREEDOM: Economics, Politics and Business

Electrical Trades Union boss Dean Mighell has quit the ALP due to an expletive filled rant becoming publicly available. Kevin Rudd forced Dean’s hand due to the potential public backlash and a resignation came soon after KRudd made the call.

Three thoughts:
1. Union bosses carry on like this all the time – vitriolic and expletive filled threats to businesses are their bread and butter. The only difference in this case is that his was recorded and it became public. If only every union conversation were to be recorded!

2. That KRudd would sell out his own union mates to get the job as PM. What ever happened to “solidarity forever” Kevin?

3. That no matter how distant KRudd can seem from the union movement, the fact is the Unions founded the ALP, they ARE the ALP, they make up the vast majority of ALP Members of Parliament, and furthermore, Unions FUND the ALP. This background of thuggery IS the very foundation of ALP politics. It’s not a matter of “cutting out the cancer”, this type of behaviour and attitude permeates the ALP’s very core.

FREEDOM: Economics, Politics and Business

More funny comments in the Spencer Street Soviet about “The Great Global Warming Swindle”.

Tim Flannery, unAustralian of the Year has asked how the film was funded. Again, instead of trying to refute the fact presented, he tries to discredit the source, in keeping with typical cheap and stupid leftist debate in Australia.

Well, two can play that game Tim.

How was the “Inconvenient Truth” funded? Who paid for it? EEeeeeeaaaassssy to answer.

A company called Participant Productions. Participant’s goal is (straight from their website), “Participant believes in the power of media to create great social change”. As they have said on their site, “The movie is just the beginning. Our goal is to deliver compelling entertainment that will inspire audiences to get involved in the issues that affect us all”. They have funded not only the Inconvenient Truth (anti-human, anti-market), but other leftist films such as “Fast Food Nation” (anti-consumer-corporation), “Syriana” (pro-suicide bombers, anti-USA) and “Good Night and Good Luck” (pro-Communist, anti-Bush).

I’ve written about them before. Clearly an unashamed leftist film company.

Wake up people, not all is as it seems. Motivations do count. Gore wants to be President, and he’ll do anything in his power to achieve that, whether get the producer of Pulp Fiction (Lawrence Bender) to make a film about him, or stand on stage with a whole heap of pop stars he wanted to shut down years ago. Participant Productions wants to change the world to a far more leftist, anti-corporation, anti-market, anti-human one.

FREEDOM: Economics, Politics and Business

There’s controversy over the ABC’s screening of the excellent Channel 4 documentary, “The Great Global Warming Swindle”

So interesting how the left, the entrenched forces at the ABC and the environazis are screaming blue bloody murder over the possible screening of “The Great Global Warming Swindle”. They are ropeable. Angry. Trying to claim it’s some weird conspiracy. That it’s nothing more than propaganda.

On the other hand, if the show IS propaganda, if it is so disposable, then why get all upset about it? Why have this attempt to shut the debate down?

Because the left “intelligentsia” are incapable of debate, of an open expression of ideas. they are incapable of a form of communication where there are two sides, both expressing open opposition to each other’s thoughts.

They want to shut it down. NOW. They want to discredit. They want to play the man, not the ball.

They betray intelligent discourse in Australia, they betray themselves. They should be ashamed of themselves.

So here it is, a how to guide…

How to Engage in Contemporary Leftist Debate in Australia (aka How to Argue Against a Right Wing Fascist):

We read about it, chapter by chapter in The Age (or increasingly, Crikey.com.au).

FREEDOM: Economics, Politics and Business

In a mini little aside on this post from Russell Davies’ fantastic blog, he talks about helping others out to “save our souls”. Interesting. Have we (has Russell) been so conditioned by leftist media that in the simple act of providing for ourselves, building a better life, working hard and – gosh – making money, we should feel guilty and have to “give something back”?

I don’t feel I’ve sucked the world dry, nor do I feel that in the selfish act of taking care of myself, my family and my friends, I have made anyone worse off. Quite the opposite in fact. My hard work and creativity has provided the people I have worked with and worked for with great products, great concepts and great outcomes. More money, more jobs and more success. And people have benefitted as a result. I have provided choice, quality and a better life through my actions. Marginal, I know. I’m don’t think I’m that powerful that I’ve actually generated a quantum shift in any person’s life. But if through my work and kinship I have minutely and marginally improved the lives of even ten people, then I should feel happy about myself. Was it intentional – was my aim solely to improve their lives? No, not really. It was ultimately to improve my own life. It was about being selfish in my wishes and in achieving them, improving the world around me as a result. I don’t go to bed at night thinking that my white collar career trajectory has somehow contributed to the suffering of countless African children, or the oppression of “the workers”, because despite what you’d read in countless leftist, anti-Capitalist papers, LIFE and personal happiness begets life and happiness.

Why are we made to feel guilt by some sections of the media and society for simply living a happy life? Is Michael Leunig so unhappy and ashamed of his life that he must remind us all that we should share in this guilt? That he has “seen the light” and in living, in pursuing whatever goals and aspirations we desire, that we are all bloodsuckers?

This is ultimately what the “black armband view” of Australian history tells us. That instead of standing on the shoulders of giants, we are actually standing on the heads of those around us and before us.

I’m sorry, I don’t buy that view. I follow Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill’s view – that we all in our own way pursue our own interests (whatever they may be), and in doing so enhance, enrich and build a community, a world around us. We as humans seek our own welfare and best interests. That includes a STRONG element of societal congregation, love and acceptance. We temper our extreme selfishness or greed with an understanding and compassion that we should and ultimately do think of the others around us. But we can only contribute to the wellbeing and happiness of those around us if we have invested in ourselves enough. We treat others as we would be treated, but we can only treat others in the best possible way if we ourselves understand and expect a particular level of treatment. Self respect begets respect of others. Self love begets love of others.

Yeah I’m sure there are people who are nasty, or screw others over as a point of interest (and I’m sure Russell Davies is NOT one of these people); they should atone for their sins.

However the rest of us nice people, we “unwashed masses” that the elites will tell you are unenlightened, unfulfilled and in serious need of re-education, well, we’re travelling very nicely thanks very much; loving life.

FREEDOM: Economics, Politics and Business

I had a look through my web stats last night, looking at the terms people are searching for which lead them onto the very peculiar blog you find yourself reading right now.

I found that there were three searches for the term:

the teams what has wan the most grand finals

I’m proud that the person who typed that term into Google was led here. I’m glad that person has visited the pages of this little site. It’s good to know the intellectual mean of this site is HIGHER than JOE COCKER.

FUTURE: Digital Media, Marketing, Insights and Trends

Alfred Chandler, the man who almost singlehandedly invented the field of study in Business Management, has passed away.

In the past few months, we have seen the deaths of many a great contributor to our thinking and society (namely, Milton Friedman) – Alfred Chandler was one of these “gurus”.

While this site articulates some of his achievements, I can’t help but be reminded of the time when I referred Chandler’s work to a mate of mine at uni.

This friend of mine and I were discussing the issues around cost management, and the obsession at the time in spending millions upon millions of dollars on e-procurement and other online facilities in an effort to save a couple of hundreds bucks on a tonne of paperclips (it was the late 90s). We both thought it was a waste of time and resources. I recalled that Chandler had raised the very issue in his marvellous book, “The Visible Hand” – he also felt it was a false economy, so I endeavoured to grab the book and show my friend the next week.

So the following week, as a total fluke, we were there in a lecture, when the lecturer started talking about some of the works of “Herbert Chandler”. I turned to my friend, who was sitting behind me in the lecture, and pulled out the book, pointing to his name on the top, “A-L-F-R-E-D CHANDLER”. My mate pissed himself laughing, and we both shook our heads at the dreadful “Lecture by PowerPoint” that was unfolding in front of us.

So upon hearing of his death, my friend emailed me this week:

I hear Albert Chandler is dead.

Vale Edwin Chandler……. First Hilton Freeman, now Alwyn Chandler.

Writer of literary and reference milestones such as “The Visible Gland”, and “Scaley Pokes”

God rest his hole.

FREEDOM: Economics, Politics and Business

The papers are leading with news that senior AFL players such as James Hird and Brendan Gale have “hit back” against the Federal Government’s attack on the AFL’s drugs policy. This drugs policy, which will allow players who have taken drugs on more than one occasion to continue playing (three strikes and you’re out), has come under attack from the Federal Government, who believe that the policy is too soft on illegal drugs. So Hird and Co. have come out and attacked the Federal Government.

Weirdly, no paper has recalled that James Hird is a hardcore Liberal hater. You see, JAMES HIRD IS AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S STANCE ON ANYTHING, BECAUSE HE’S A BLOODY WHITLAMITE!

James Hird was raised by Whitlamites in Canberra; James’ own mother dragged the little two year old to the steps of Parliament to protest Whitlam’s sacking, a story recounted by Greg Baum in this piece from The Age.

So what a surprise! Brendan Gale, the potential ALP preselection candidate and James Hird (Whitlamite) come out bagging the Liberal Government!

But let’s not stop there – not only are these two ALP to the core, so is much of the AFL board:

Bill Kelty
The man the ACTU calls “A key figure in the Union Movement for over 30 Years”

Mike Fitzpatrick
Millionaire, would be ALP Senator for Victoria, private advisor to ALP politicians and Labor Party figures.

Sam Mostyn
Former staffer to Paul Keating, she replaced Anne Keating (Keating’s sister) on the board of the NRMA. Her involvement in the Labor Party takeover of the AFL is best articulated in this piece.

And let’s not forget Andrew Demetriou of course. He is besties with the powerbrokers of the ALP, has been touted as a future ALP candidate, and furthermore, suggested that Sir Rod Eddington become Chairman of the AFL when Ron Evans died. Sir Rod is of course the ALP’s “Business Adviser”, the guy whose job it is to sell the ALP’s business credibility.

As a former union boss, Demetriou has the perfect pedigree to become an ALP Member of Parliament.

Typical ALP, typical unionists.  Solidarity without transparency.

FOOTY: Sport in general, FREEDOM: Economics, Politics and Business