Mandie’s report on the March – Tuesday morning, 15th November 2005
I would just like to say that it was fantastic to see such a good turnout – the largest number of people I’ve ever seen at a protest – not that I’ve been to that many, but apparently the largest number of people in a union-based protest for some time now. Depending on your sources, some say only over 100,000, others around the 250,000 mark. Whatever the case, it was a great turn out ... bigger than an AFL grand final a few times over and apparently traffic was blocked back from the city to St Kilda! I even saw some school girls who couldn’t make their way through the crowd to go to their school so decided to stay for the preliminary speeches and were surprised to find out the truth of matter about their future (ie. the other side of the story based on FACT and not lies!)…..at least there is some hope for the next generations – as long as they remember what it use to be like before it was all taken away they’ll at least fight for their rights (well, fingers crossed!). And as for the march itself, well the line of people (street thick – 4 lanes) covered two lengths of the city centre – I know this as I was there! (and unfortunately stupid enough to not bring a camera!)
It was also great to see the variety of people that were there….the media of course has painted the protest as strictly union-based propaganda….the union was a big force of course, they funded the thing. But to believe that it was just another rally where only hard core union nuts attended is incorrect. There were people who had already retired from the workforce and are naturally concerned about future work place conditions for their children, lots of single income families with their kids, uni students, typical tradespeople (yobbos, bogans, whatever stereotypical label you want to give them), and surprisingly a number of white-collar workers! Yes, there were guys in suits marching right next to guys in overalls, it was surreal and just great to be a part of such a strong sense of community spirit. Something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
Anyway, as to the real politics of the situation….despite the large number of people that attended the protest it was still the minority of Australians – whether or not people decided to not show up due to fear and scare mongering by employers or they are just lazy or don’t care, or have bought into the illusion that they’ll be one of the people better off with the new system – whatever. And I was quite shocked to hear that workers from the building industry were threatened with a 6 month jail term if they attended the rally – what a disgrace! But hey guess what, there were heaps of building workers out in force, it was fantastic to see and be a part of that energy! I think the majority of people will get a rude wake-up call after the legislation is passed and put into effect….that is just the way society is unfortunately – more reactive than proactive.
Now it has been said many times before and I’ll say it again – the net result of the IR reforms will be negative for the masses. Perhaps the new system will weed out the loafers or leeches within the work place (ie. not be able to justify their wage if they don’t do the work) … but my gut feeling says these sort of people will not change their habits and instead end up on the dole and the hard working people will pay for them to stay there. It’s like asking a drugo to stop doing drugs just because you say so – absolutely ridiculous! Unless there is an incentive (sort of reward) to do something people won’t do it – whatever is the path of least resistance will be followed. History tells us time and time again that people will do the minimum required to survive….even if it is illegal.
Also, some people may be surprised to know (it is a well-kept secret) that after you’re been on the dole for more than 2 years Centrelink no longer harasses you to find employment or do community service, fill out your diary, etc in order to get your dole payment – instead these people just get ‘lost and forgotten about’ in the system – ie. in other words it becomes too expensive to keep ‘training’ them to write resumes, etc. (those seminars are so helpful and not degrading at all!!)….I found this out through of friend of mine who has first-hand experience and knowledge of the system loop holes. Some people are professional bludgers and have a very good life surfing, camping in National parks, and occasionally doing some odd job for cash in hand so there is no record of extra income, etc.
On the other hand, the leeches and loafers of the workplace could adapt and become even more sneaky! (well, if they are managers it would be very easy as long as the people underneath them did more than their fair share of the work! – or additional responsibilities not identified in the initial job description)….shit, this happens already in many places! I think it will only get worse.
And one good point that seems to be overlooked a lot is that women will be worse off than men…for example, females on average earn less than their male counterparts for doing the same job as it is already! So much for claims that the feminism movement has already had it’s turn and achieved it’s goals – granted, women’s rights and working conditions are much better than previously, but we are still treated like second class citizens – almost at a subconscious level – by males and females alike! Such is the power of social/cultural expectations and the majority conforming the such values my friend!
Some of the Nurses union’s banners interested me: “Under Estimate a Nurse at your own Peril Mr Howard!” and “This won’t hurt a bit Mr Howard”…etc. you get the idea. The conditions in which Nurses work are bad already (I know, I use to live with one and she went to Europe for better pay – or I should say an appropriate amount based on years at uni, etc) - imagine the abuse of rights even further – because let’s fact it, women are more willing to compromise and sacrifice things to keep the peace than males are….it is just basic biology really (level of testosterone – aka ‘the fighting hormone’ – instead of the ‘flight’ hormone)….too bad if little old Johnny has a heart problem and is attended by an angry nurse….I can just see the medical record now “he died of complications that can’t be explained” (ie. a cut artery by mistake, sissors left in body, too much anaesthetic administered, etc).
Anyway, the most important point that I think was raised is the huge potential for further division of social monetary classes. We will end up just like America with a minority of rich upper class and the masses working themselves to the bone, with more health problems (physical and mental – ie. stress) just so the rich can remain rich or further increase their wealth….and more cuts to the public health system will do wonders no doubt!!! The most stupid thing of all with reduced wages for the majority of people is that it also means less spending – and thus a negative impact on the economy!! Sure, business could reduce the price of their products with lower wages but if there is no local demand for their product they will be reduced to compete on the global stage – and therefore not make as much profit!! Of course things may differ depending on the type of commodity and who else makes it, but still….it doesn’t take many brain cells to figure out this policy will screw millions of Australians over.
And another thing in regards to the idea that this new legislation will improve Australia’s economy…correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t Australians in more debt than ever before? – so reducing the take home pay will mean they’ll have to give up their house or car in order to make the repayments due to interest. They’ll then have to rent – the landlord of course being one of the rich upper class, thus further increasing the divide between rich and poor. I really struggle to understand how Mr Coward (aka the Little Lying Rodent) can sleep at night knowing he is throwing the future of so many down the drain and reversing all the good that protests, union activities, etc have done in the past. His children will be one of the rich upper class so I guess he doesn’t care about anyone else the selfish prick!! Does he want to be remembered as the politician who not only halted social progress and also put it in reverse?…..will working conditions and lifestyles deteriorate to the point that things will not be much different to the 1900’s??
In my opinion many similarities can be drawn between what Johnny is doing to the public and how a boa-constricta kills it’s prey. Each time you exhale the snake tightens it’s grip, causing the trapped animal to slowly suffocate by getting no air – not that different to drowning. Now with every new bit of legislation Johnny introduces that causes the poor masses to suffer more is slowly but surely stripping away people’s rights and freedom until they will exist no more….and which each kill he gets stronger as his rich mates will help him more and more to suppress the mass poor so they can make more money…greed is such an ugly human trait.
It is really depressing how stupid humans are to not learn from the mistakes of their fore-fathers….and that despite all our technology (advanced tools) we are really not too different from medieval times. We just kill ourselves more efficiently – better bombs, weapons, etc. It’s actually amazing that Johnny didn’t get someone to ring into Flinders St with a bomb threat to undermine the protest even more than he already has through media links!! It makes me so angry and frustrated as an individual who actually cares about the future…yet the sense of hopelessness that comes with an interest in politics can equally cause one to feel like sobbing like a little girl out of despair with the knowledge that there is nothing one of the masses can do that will change the situation. Unless you sell your soul and remove your spine in order to go into politics…hence the dilemma, to change the situation you must transform into someone who you despise!!
Anyway, the little lying rodent raves on about stopping terrorism….did he ever stop to think that the reason why the US was penetrated so easily on 9/11 was it’s own oppressed and pissed off citizens fighting back at the system that had caused them so much misery for so long?? Surely even a child would realise this – if you make someone real angry they come and hurt you!! The actions of politicians are not that different to the interactions on a school playground….there are bullys picking on the weaker ones, and fights between the bullies for supremacy, the people who get inbetween the fights in attempt to stop the non-sense (normally a girl and two boys – surprise, surprise!) and seek resolution of the problem by more peaceful non-violent means, people who have things stolen from them for no particular reason other than greed or discrimation (eg. race/sex) – shit it especially happens between siblings, people who are ‘on the same side’ so to speak (if you think in terms of evolution and the drive to preserve your own genes).
It really does amaze me how humans have the capacity for such great team work and co-operation towards a shared goal but instead continue to fiercely compete time and time again – even over the most pety things!! I think it is all about the rich not wanting to change their ways so they instead persuade the poor to change their lifestyles in order to suit theirs!!! (sounds very familiar to the basis for centralisation of CSIRO corporate services to me!!)
ANYWAY, enough venting from me for now….time for a beer to relax and unwind…..