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Issue No. 128 | 15 March 2002 |
Why I'm Marching
Interview: The Wedge Buster History: Fighting for Peace Unions: Rattling the Gates International: Facing Retribution Technology: How Korean Workers Used The Web Industrial: Working Futures Review: Rumble, Young Man, Rumble Satire: GG Survival Doomed: Fox-Lew In Charge Of Rescue Bid Poetry: PSST
Girl's Maiming Sparks Entry Plea State Law Push For Virgin Sites Outrage at Privatisation by Decree Woomera - Flames, Razors, Rope and Despair Asset-Stripping Sparks Walk-Out Opposition Grows Over Howard's Freedom Attack Heffernan Prompts �Right of Reply� Demands Levy Struck to Support Rockhampton Meatworkers ACTU Assists former Ansett Staff
The Soapbox The Locker Room Week in Review
On Inequality Harmony Day
Labor Council of NSW |
Letters to the Editor On Inequality
Dear Sir, On reading the article "The Changing Nature of Inequality" , Labor Review , issue79 ,( http://www.council.labor.net.au/labor_review/79/update791.html) , I was filled with feelings of apprehension , and dejavu , of a previous life where one was compelled to tug on the forelock in the presence of the master. Is this not just another facet of serfdom , imposed through economic rather than physical intimidation , not only on the individual , but on sovereign states , and compelling these states to punish their .citizens for non adherence to policies that National Socialism would have embraced freely. As the very core of Socialism is to care for those disadvantaged through a collectivism , and what better way than as we as individuals or groups climb further out of the pit of bondage , be it economic , political or religious , we pull our brother and sisters with us. Some have said that in this Comradeship, lies the seeds of humanity. Are these not the threads with which legends such as "Robin Hood", William Tell, and even our own Ned Kelly, were over generations woven into a colorful tapestry of self sacrifice, and even the myth of Australian Mateship.
Recent times have seriously challenged these myths, in not only there respective homes, but on a Global basis, with the pivotal change in national and international values. Values based on pre Dickensian England, where property held more value than Human Life.
The Great Dividing Range (The Great Divide) once meant a geophysical manifestation a system of mountain ranges and plateaus in eastern Australia. Which extended for more than 3,500 km along the eastern coast of Australia from the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland to Victoria State; a branch of the system is submerged in Bass Strait before reappearing as the central highlands of the island of Tasmania Today when someone refers to the Great Divide, it is the division of our society, the separation between Rich and Poor. The division between families who all work and accept middle class welfare payments for private education, Child Care, and various other subsidies , which were initiated as a blatant "Pork Barrelling", exercise by one or other of the main political parties , to placate the nosiest of their supporters. If there was an abundance of this "Cake of Benevolence", and there was full employment, with educational and medicial facilities provided, commensurate with this theft from the Commonwealth purse, then one would have naught to complain about. Unfortunately, the cake is smaller, and those that have, are receiving more, much more than their share, leaving only the crumbs and abuse for those disenfranchised and vilified in a vulgar and reprehensible attempt at character assassination and guilt transference unto those in real need of a Social Wage , - the aged ,the sick and the unemployed . What an absurdity , for families with income in excess of several thousand dollars a week , claiming any form of government subsidy , while there are homeless roaming our streets at night, like "Lost Souls". While there is a 3 year waits for a Hip Replacement, while Australians die from heart disease, while waiting on treatment, these funds being used in a manner no different from a third world country ,: For the purchase of Votes!
This article , "The Changing Nature of Inequality" , grabs into the past in using the gestures of Martin Luther , nailing his thesis to the Castle Church door ,in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. to make his point, I would suggest that rather than nail to doors belonging to policy makers, rather their foreheads would be a more appropriate and transparent situation in which to broadcast these policies*. (*See article: http://www.council.labor.net.au/labor_review/79/update791.html)
Tom Collins
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