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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Peter Wheeler, a political activist for the Labour Party in the UK, reflects on the pivotal 2024 British General Election, which marked a significant shift in the country’s political landscape. He has been a local government councillor as well as having held senior posts within the Labour Party. He campaigned tirelessly in the recent election. ...
This article provides a detailed critique of Enlightenment ideals, exploring their long-term impact on modern society. I think that the ‘enlightenment’ will ultimately be the greatest European contribution to the world. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be criticized. It seems that that no reasonable person can be against the ideals of the Enlightenment. The ...
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