I’d make sure that a “Building the Education Revolution” program didn’t mean a revolving door for kids with autism.
Vote 1, for anyone but Labor in Newcastle.
[This content was originally posted to Google Buzz, #66]
Trains, trains, trains. That’s what I’d have …
Fast trains, ponderous trains, silver trains, coloured trains, light rail, heavy rail, underground tracks, above ground tracks, overhead tracks, passenger trains, freight trains, tourist trains, coastal trains and transcontinental trains. I like trains. (Oh yes, they’re also way more CO2 emission friendly compared to road or air transport.)
In bygone days we thought nothing of pumping raw sewerage into our rivers and oceans, but nowadays most people are repulsed by this idea. One day, we will view long distance air travel with the same revulsion. When that day comes we’ll need trains. Lots of trains.
Toot. Toot. Vote 1 for me.
[This content was originally posted to Google Buzz, #65]
I’d stop politicians from using the phrase “black hole” (unless they were discussing the astrophysics component of the science research budget.) With each side of politics questioning the other’s costings, “black hole” is the new “moving forward” cliche of the election campaign.
What I propose is the commissioning, development and release into the wild of a computer virus that infects the word processing software of politicians and the media, whereby any time the words “black hole” appear without corresponding mention of star clusters, nebulae, pulsars or supernova, then the word processing software will automatically ‘correct’ the phrase “black hole” to something else, say, the full text of Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky”?
For less unenlightened pits and more mimsy borogoves, vote 1, Me.
[This content was originally posted to Google Buzz, #64]
I’d increase the Medicare levy in order to include basic dental care. It seems crazy that Medicare will cover seeing a doctor for an ear-ache, but not a dentist for a tooth-ache.
For health care with more bite, vote 1. Me.
[This content was originally posted to Google Buzz, #63]
I’d enforce continuous disclosure of donations to political parties, instead of the current system where we can only find out months after an election who was bankrolling the parties. How about a independent 3rd party organisation who collects political donations and forwards the money to recipient parties only after publicly disclosing the donations on their website.
For transparency in political donations, vote 1, Me.
[This content was originally posted to Google Buzz, #62]
I’d push for a change to have an Australian head of state, after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. This head of state would have the same powers as the current office of Governor-General. The head of state would be appointed with the assent of a two thirds majority of the parliament, ensuring that the appointment had bi-partisan support. The head of state would most definitely not be elected by popular vote. (I do not want winners of TV reality shows becoming president.)
For an Australian head of state, vote 1, Me.
[This content was originally posted to Google Buzz, #61]
I’d outlaw smugness in Apple’s advertising. On reflection, I suspect that Apple couldn’t manage that. Let’s make it simple and ban Apple from advertising at all. Undoubtedly all the Apple fanboys and fangirls would continue to buy Apple products in astonishing numbers, while the rest of us can be spared the endless stream of “the spin of the galaxy just came back into alignment” rhetoric that marks Apple’s promotion of newly released products.
For a world free of Jobsian hyperbole, Vote 1, Me.
[This content was originally posted to Google Buzz, #60]
I’d make sure the Australian government was more vocal in opposing Israel’s imprisonment and oppression of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
For human rights advocacy that doesn’t bow to political expediency, vote 1 Me.
[This content was originally posted to Google Buzz, #58]