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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
The Coalition election campaign in Australia is entering its final weeks in disarray. Polls continue to slide, and the Liberals and Nationals appear directionless. Their approach has been marked by policy reversals, unclear leadership, and public backlash. A Party Without a Plan The Coalition’s approach to policy has been nothing short of chaotic. Take their ...
The Historical Context of Technological Change AI and technological change are transforming our world at an unprecedented pace. In The Coming Wave, Mustafa Suleyman dives deep into the implications of rapid advancements in AI, warning of both its promises and its perils. The book critically examines how these developments will reshape society, economics, and global ...
There is something deeply disturbing about Peter Dutton. It’s not his looks, though they don’t help. There is something that comes across to me as being deeply inhuman. He sounds as if he doesn’t care about mankind – or at least certain parts of mankind – and that is reflected clearly in his politics. A ...
In February 2017, Scott Morrison, the then Treasurer and later Prime Minister, took a piece of coal into the Australian Parliament. “This is coal. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be scared. It’s coal.” His demonstration highlighted the Liberal Party’s unwavering support for fossil fuels. Now, Peter Dutton, Morrison’s successor, has pivoted to nuclear power in Australia, ...
The Romanticized View of Victorian Street Life At Christmas time, TV fare always includes something by Charles Dickens. Usually Oliver Twist, but it could be Great Expectations, Nicholas Nickleby, or one of his other stories repeatedly adapted into films, musicals, or TV series. The portrayal of the poor in Victorian London seems to align with ...
In her best-selling book SPQR, Mary Beard told the history of ancient Rome in a conventional, historical way. She has moved away from that in her latest book, Emperor of Rome. In this book, she looks at the emperors who ruled the Roman Empire, starting with Julius Caesar (assassinated in 44 BCE) and moving through ...
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 ...
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