Televised Wars and Forgotten Lessons I can remember watching live TV in 1991 as the USA launched Operation Desert Storm—the first Gulf War. Led by the theatrically nicknamed “Stormin’ Schwarzkopf,” the spectacle of war unfolded like a made-for-TV movie. For a month, the bombing campaign transfixed global audiences and ended in a ceasefire. It was … Read more
conflict, defence, Eisenhower, GUlf War, Impreial decline, Iran, Iraq, military-industrial complex, spending, US foreign policy, war, war on terror
The Rise and Erosion of the Welfare State: A Social Contract Under Siege (Again)
lemontree.press
By Our Public Goods Correspondent, Still Fighting for Bulk-Billed Dignity The erosion of the welfare state is more than policy drift—it’s a dismantling of a hard-won social contract. The belief that society should care for its most vulnerable is ancient—rooted in faith, morality, and history. But the modern welfare state, as a state-backed promise of … Read more
Welfare State Found Dead in Ditch (Again): New Suspects Include Trump’s DOGE, Dutton’s Dream, and the Muskification of Public Policy
lemontree.press
By Our Social Safety Net Correspondent (Still Unpaid) Once a cherished post-war promise, the death of the welfare state has arrived—again. Found behind a Centrelink office, it clutched a Centrepay form and muttered something unintelligible about “universal dignity” and “Gough would’ve never allowed this.” Police say foul play is likely. Eyewitnesses described the state as … Read more
austerity, DOGE, Elon Musk, Neoliberalism, Peter Dutton, political satire, public policy, , , welfare reform
Nexus – Yuval Noah Harari
Yuval Noah Harari’s delves into the dangers of AI but uniquely examines this issue through the lens of human societal development and the lessons we may or may not have learned. Yuval Noah Harari’s Nexus asks, “Why are we so good at accumulating more information and power, but far less successful at acquiring wisdom?” Beginning … Read more
Western Civilization Origins: How the World Made the West by Josephine Quinn
Josephine Quinn (Bloomsbury) Challenging the Myth of Western Civilization Origins How the World Made the West is a revolutionary book that challenges the myth of Western Civilization Origins. Josephine Quinn argues that our understanding of history was shaped by modern interpretations, not ancient truths. What we see when we look back into the past is … Read more
Exploring Orwell’s Life: D.J. Taylor’s Biography and Paul Theroux’s Fictional Take on His Burma Years
Revisiting Orwell’s Life This is a long book, and D J Taylor, who wrote a George Orwell biography 20 years ago, believes there is significant value in revisiting the subject.. There is new biographical evidence available in terms of letters between Orwell and his friends and lovers. Sadly, Taylor identified only eleven people who knew … Read more