E D I T O R I A L

Vale: Rule of Law
As the US attack on Iraq continues, the Howard Government fires a $60 million shot at the CFMEU and bemused onlookers begin to wonder what the �Law� means any more.

F E A T U R E S

Poetry: If I Were a Rich Man
Through a distortion in the time-space continuum, we have found a recording showing how people a few years into the future will deal with health care.

Interview: League of Nations
ICFTU general secretary Guy Ryder on the war, core labour standards and why Australia is an international pariah.

Industrial: 20/20 Hindsight
A retrospective analysis of the Accord is needed to help develop future strategies. Is it worth trying again? And if so, what would need to be different?

Organising: On The Buses
A new rank and file leadership team is standing up for the harried bus driver in the run-up to the NSW State Election

Unions: National Focus
A gaze around the country reveals some inspiring and innovative organising initiatives, a fruitful connection with young workers in South Australia and some typically robust industrial campaigns reports Noel Hester.

History: The Banner Room
On the eve of it�s refurbishment, Jim Marr ventures into one of Trades Hall�s best kept secrets; the room that houses relics of labour�s halcyon days.

International: The Slaughter Continues
Chilling new statistics from Colombia's main trade union confederation CUT: nine trade unionists assassinated in the first two months of this year.

Legal: A Legal Case For War?
Aaron Magner looks at the legal implications of the crusade of the Coalition of the Willing

Culture: Singing For The People
When there�s a struggle for social justice, when a war is brewing or rights are being eroded, the first ones to pen, paper and protest are often the folkwriters.

Review: The Hours
On the eve of International Women�s Day Tara de Boehmler follows the tale of three women who would rather choose death than a life devoid of personal choice.

Poetry: I Wanna Bomb Saddam
Scarier than Star Wars, the latest weapon to be deployed in the battle for Iraq is the Singing Dubya.

Satire: Diuretic Makes Warne's Excuses Look Thin
Australian cricketer Shane Warne today admitted that he was still feeling the after effects of the diuretic he tested positive to.

N E W S

Cole�s Bad Medicine

Unions Condemn Protest Violence

Hospitals Pick Sweatshops Over Chain Gangs

New Faces Part of Labor �Rejuvenation�

Cobar Draws Line in Sand

Test Case � UK 26, Australia 0

Uncle Sam and the Union Busters

Calling All Artists � May Day Poster Comp

Nipping Surveillance in the Bud

Bus Drivers Back Childcare

Forced Labour Prevails Despite Sanctions

Union Gains On Display

Activists Notebook

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Workers Friend
Shock jock Alan Jones snubbed his Liberal mates to bucket the Cole Royal Commission and launch Jim Marr's book

The Locker Room
Boer Bore Boring
In the face of oppression Phil Doyle falls asleep in front of the TV

Guest Report
Dead Labor
The Hawke and Keating legacy is John Howard, Leonie Bronstein argues.

Seduction
Hands Off, Tony
John Della Bosca argues the NSW Industrial Relations System gives his State a competitive advantage.

Bosswatch
Groundhog Day
Another year, another round of corporate excess. Bosswatch returns from its summer slumber to find the same old dogs up to the same tricks.

L E T T E R S

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Back-Slapping Bob

Dear Sir,

With the recent election victory actually gaining one seat for the ALP, the back slapping between the Premiers office and the Sussex Street Apparatchiks might as a consequence add to the already lengthy hospital waiting lists for endoscopic spinal surgery.

This could be accompanied by the sounds of trumpet blowing and revisionist history being the order of the day. Not being one to retract from a bit of re-invention or revision , so with acknowledgement to the writings of real Cardinal and his puppet Louis XIII , I could in my minds eye visualize the 'Cardinal E. Richelieu' of Sussex sending this communication to Premier Carr.

24 March 1624

From the Desk of the Cardinal

Palace de Sussex

Dear Bobby,

At the time when you resolved to admit me both to your council and to an important place in your confidence for the direction of your affairs, I may say that the left faction shared the government with you; that the power brokers conducted themselves as if they were not your subordinates, and the most powerful ministers of the state as if they were sovereign in their offices.

I may say that the bad example of all of these was so injurious to this state that even the best regulated parliaments were affected by it, and endeavored, in certain cases, to diminish your parliamentary authority as far as they were able in order to stretch their own powers beyond the limits of reason.

I may say that every one measured his own merit by his audacity; that in place of estimating the benefits which they received from your government at their proper worth, all valued them only in so far as they satisfied the extravagant demands of their imagination; that the most arrogant were held to be the wisest, and found themselves the most prosperous.

I may also say that the federal alliances were unfortunate, individual interests being preferred to those of the public; in a word, the dignity of the Premier and Party was so disparaged, and so different from what it should be, owing to the malfeasance of those who conducted your affairs, that it was almost impossible to perceive its existence.

It was impossible, without losing all, to tolerate longer the conduct of those to whom you had entrusted the affairs of state; and, on the other hand, everything could not be changed at once without violating the laws of prudence, which do not permit the abrupt passing from one extreme to another.

The sad state of your affairs seemed to force you to hasty decisions, without permitting a choice of time or of means; and yet it was necessary to make a choice of both, in order to profit by the change which necessity demanded from your prudence.

Thoughtful observers did not think that it would be possible to escape all the rocks in so tempestuous a period; the party was full of people who censured the temerity of those who wished to undertake a reform; all well knew that faction leaders are quick to impute to those who are near them the bad outcome of the undertakings upon which they have been well advised; few people consequently expected good results from the change which it was announced that I wished to make, and many believed my fall assured even before I had been elevated.

Notwithstanding these difficulties which I represented to you, knowing how much Premiers may do when they make good use of their power, I ventured to promise you, with confidence, that you would soon get control of your state, and that in a short time your prudence, your courage, and the benediction of your Gods would give a new aspect to the realm.

I promised you to employ all my industry and all the authority which it should please you to give me to ruin the Liberal party, to abase the pride of the ministers, to bring back all your subordinates to their duty, and to elevate your name among the States of Commonwealth to the point where it belongs.

Cardinal E. R.

Now we wait with anticipation for the antics of the Three Mouseketeers?

If you give me six lines written

by the most honest man, I will find

something in them to hang him.

--Cardinal Richelieu

Tom Collins

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005