Democrats the GST party
I ask all Democrat politicians — Did you stand on a pro-GST platform at the last election? Did you let your supporters know that you will actually ensure a GST arrives in this country? Do you realise you are now traitors to the people like myself who helped you get into office?
I have no more respect for a party that is happy to allow diesel cuts, promote increased living costs and completely ignore the dying environment we are trying to save. It's the beginning of the end for the Democrats.
Olinda Vic
GST
The most clear cut class issue in Australian politics is the conflict concerning the goods and services tax. I cannot recall any Australian government during the last half century with the same determination to change the taxation system for the benefit of the wealthy than the present government.
The word regression should replace the word reform that is used by the government for its policies on taxation, industrial relations, privatisation, social services and education.
All the available evidence indicates that the organisations that represent big business are the motive force for the GST. When the plutocrats last week suggested a more pragmatic approach by some form of compromise with the Democrats the government started to have discussions with them.
The Labour Movement should [have] organised public meetings, canvass petitions, encourage its members to send letters to the press, participate in talk back radio, and, where possible, use the Internet to strengthen the campaign against the GST.
Strathfield NSW
International solidarity
We Burmese students residing in Australia want to express our solidarity and support for the struggle for the democratic cause for Indonesian and East Timorese people.
The Indonesian military is not only suppressing its own people but also the Burmese people by supporting the military regime in Burma. Therefore, a victory for the people of Indonesia and East Timor means a victory for the people of Burma and vice versa.
We will continue to stand side by side with the people of Indonesia and East Timor until the democratic will of the people is accomplished. The democratic aspiration of the people must be the ultimate goal worth fighting for.
[Abridged from a message to actions for the May 22 international day of solidarity.]
May 22 actions
A quick thanks and congratulations to those who put together the magnificent demonstrations in support of justice for the East Timorese on Saturday, May 22, all around this country. All ASIET members should be proud of it.
One day soon, everyone with a conscience will be at these demonstrations. They should be. Again, well done
Australia East Timor Association (NSW)
Rip van Winkle
Referring to the forthcoming Indonesian election Mr Downer stated that it is, "a very positive development in our relationship with Indonesia, that we can live side by side with a democracy, rather than be a democracy sleeping beside a dictatorship" (Sydney Morning Herald, May 22).
At last the Australian government confirms what East Timor and Indonesian democracy activists have maintained for years — that successive Australian governments have not just been appeasing the Indonesian dictatorship but have been sharing the same bed!
We will know Rip van Winkle Australia is awake when, for a start, it: acts forcefully in the UN and other international fora to get UN peace enforcers into East Timor ASAP, stops all military supply and training, expels all Indonesian intelligence personnel, reverses the de jure recognition of Indonesia's brutal colonisation of East Timor, demands the release of Xanana Gusmao and others, transfers all revenues from East Timor's oilfields into a UN holding account, and freezes all Suharto family/crony investments.
Unfortunately, it will take a lot more than an election to get Australia out of bed. After all, 200,000 dead East Timorese and continuing starvation, medical neglect and brutality are not much affecting the Australian/Indonesian affaire d'amour.
Gareth W R Smith
Mullumbimby NSW
[Abridged.]
Punishment and crime
Every now and then two topics tend to pop up. One is that when it comes to crime certain people say that "people should take responsibility for their actions". The other is the call for the "death penalty".
Well, once upon a time there was this lady called Lindy who went on a holiday to Ayers Rock with her husband and baby Azaria in 1980. While they were at their camping area, a dingo went into their tent and latched onto baby Azaria and carried her away.
By 1982 the whole population was divided. Ten million people believed that Lindy killed her baby "beyond any reasonable doubt". Eight million people believed that the dingo killed the baby.
In 1982, Lindy was convicted for murder "beyond any reasonable doubt". The 10 million people were jumping for joy when she was hung by the neck at the gallows in 1984, because they knew she did it "beyond any reasonable doubt", and they were the ones who voted for the death penalty to be brought back in.
But in 1988, little Azaria's jumpsuit was found at the base of Ayers Rock. Oops, said the law courts: we were wrong and Lindy was telling the truth after all. So in 1990 10 million people were led to the gallows for the murder of Lindy. After all, they brought the death penalty in — "beyond any reasonable doubt".
Rockhampton Qld
[Abridged.]
Henry Kissinger
In his article "New World Disorder" (May 24, US Newsweek), Henry Kissinger claims that, "In Russia, an outraged sense of humiliation over NATO's action ... In Beijing, the virulent reaction to the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade ... And in Europe, the seeming unity of the Atlantic Alliance has grown brittle ... If they can discern no such traditional rationale to US behaviour, they ascribe our motives not to altruism but to a hidden agenda for domination."
The author is trying to convince readers that the US imperialist expansion is not cruel oppression but US altruism. Kissinger forgets that the US ruling circles are the products of a militaristic society whose beliefs are moulded in "militant messianism". Under the banner of such "altruism", many barbaric atrocities are conducted.
Once one penetrates into US military history the appearance of "altruism" is immediately shattered. During the first 100 years, the US waged wars against American Indians to seize their land, (often plain genocide), the war against Britain, the war against Mexico and the Civil War.
And if one looks at the background of Henry Kissinger, who ordered (with Richard Nixon) the massive aerial bombardment of urban areas during the Vietnam War, his "altruistic" image is immediately shattered.
US society's morality is based upon innocent victims' corpses, from Vietnam, Palestine, Iraq, Somalia, Libya and Yugoslavia, to name few.
Mt Druitt NSW
[Abridged.]
The unemployed
So Tony Abbott thinks too many of the unemployed are too fussy about the jobs they will take.
Does he not know that 90% of the unemployed accept the very first job they are offered, no matter how dreadful? Has he not considered that when an offer is rejected, someone more suited to the position will probably fill it?
The mentality of the Coalition is that the unemployed should be forced into any job. A world where 25% work at highly satisfying and overpaid jobs; half work at moderately satisfying and moderately paid jobs; and 25% work at unsatisfying and underpaid jobs is deemed utopian and fair.
If there are rotten, badly paid, jobs that have to be done there are two civilised alternatives. First, everybody should be rostered to spend a time in these positions. Second, the government should pay a significant wage supplement for such jobs. Mr Abbott prefers rampant injustice.
Rydalmere NSW
letterhead = War truth
Prior to World War 1, all European countries had War Ministers directing/controlling their armed services. After World War 1 all these titles were changed to Defence Ministers, supposedly to imply new, less aggressive national policies.
Through the events now taking place in Yugoslavia it has become obvious that in all honesty NATO countries must return to the pre-World War 1 titles for their Ministers.
Adelaide