China and Poverty

I haven't ever been jealous of other people's possessions, houses, cars etc. I am fortunate that I have always had a little money, which, to me, is essential and is much like oxygen. One does not need a lot, but enough to live with.
I think in any world recession/depression the problem is that a great majority of folk will not have enough, whilst those who have plenty will still demand plenty, and even more.
This is when it will get nasty, and, for good reason.
When you look back a little time, at what was called the Arab Spring, where many countries demonstrated and rebelled against their governments, it was not because of a high calling to American democracy or even representation, it was simply that as money got tight, the ruling class still had to have their growing share...and took it, and the rest of the people had, really, no food.
When you look back further at, say, the Tiananmen rebellion in China, in the capital, Beijing, it wasn't about a rising need for democracy at all, no matter how the West paints that time. It was simply that the price of cooking oil became too high for people to afford, and the huge money went into the pockets of corrupt folk in both government and emerging private industry.
I think the Chinese have learned well that people must be considered in any social equation. The Chinese people remain capable of the biggest bloodiest most horrific revolution ever, anytime, and one that has no endpoint and no resolution, one that would pretty well doom the world back to the stone age, unless the needs of people are considered. I'm sure the government of China is well aware of this. Because of this at-home awareness of consequences, I expect China and the people of China, will do okay in these darkening times.

Wyndham Plumbing, here in Melton, did a great job...Fast, quality, economical.

Wyndham Plumbing Group, Melton Victoria

As for our plumbing issues, we've decided to employ a company called Wyndham Plumbing Group, rather than try again with the Scottish shyster fellow who dropped by the other day. Wyndham is coming on Thursday. Their job is to fix 1: a leaking tap connection to the washing machine, and 2: a washer issue in one of the shower taps. I can't do that due to not having the skillset nor any of the tools.
We have paid them $130 to turn up... sometime that day...and await their diagnostic skills and fast repairs. I will be sure to well publicise their work.

Our Coward Journalists

Our Cowards in Journalism

Independent information from Ukraine notes that 70% of all American and UK and European weapons are not getting to the war front at all but are being sold off to Ukraine Government suppliers to mostly African countries in various states of despair and forment.

Ukraine has always been like that. It remains the most corrupt state in Europe and the West totally supports it in this form. It its the conduit in Europe of weapons, drugs and child sex trafficking.

It isn't possible at the moment for Western media to report anything much as the reporters are staying in nice hotels far from the action, and then being taken on whats called Dog & Pony shows by Ukrainian managers for occasional photo opportunities to inspire hate for their brother Russians. 

They are doing a great job. Zelensky and his marketers can not do anything bad or wrong, nor have they ever done anything like that. When has there ever been a critical statement? Is that realistic? Hmmm.

It is the nature of human beings to be somewhat cowards in the face of war, even when they have the job of being 'war correspondents'. Both cowards, and careerists, more intent of validating their 'wartime experiences' for audiences at home and for their future career progression, whilst sweating it out in nice hotels, waiting to be handed today's news by their Ukrainian managers over a nice breakfast.

Journalism has been like this for some time now, since the US noticed what free journalists would actually report in Vietnam, if allowed to. This was devastating to the 'war effort', to have truth come into it at all. Everything must be imbedded and controlled. Journalists have been willingly shut down and milk fed ever since in all the various wars.

True, Truth is the first victim in any conflict. Whilst the war goes on, the big money is being made by the weapons sellers in Ukraine, very important folk in the government, and in weaponising many African dictatorships for the present and future.

I do not support Ukraine in this matter. I am disgusted that Australian funds are being given freely to such high flying shysters, and that such shysters are being totally protected by 'real' journalists.

On Russia, Europe, and the Ukraine

Well, my colleague Liz, now in the UK informs me, the price for a litre of gasoline is now, in the UK, in Australia Dollars, $3.75.

Which is what we can expect here as time goes past the 6 month of the Federal Government excise subsidy here.

So, that's a lot!

As for how this will play out across Europe...and the UK, it will get higher in price, as will travelled food etc, and a lot higher.

This is the European Summer so no great pressure on heating oil/gas fuel etc yet...but that will come as the seasons change towards winter there.

Without Russian oil/gas, Europe will freeze and also have to pay exorbitant amounts for a bit of fuel from other countries, who will, wow, certainly make a killing profit.

So, what does this mean to the Moral Decision regarding the Ukraine?

1: Will the West/European Governments allow and make stricter the current embargoes on Russian stuff, or do they wish to actually stay in power? These are real politicians, not the Ethical Masters of the Universe.

2: Will there be a massive world recession without Russian gas, or a big but managed one, with it? Will more dodgy democracies fall, as Sri Lanka has already?

How much money will Europe keep pouring into the Ukraine, for weapons, rebuilding etc...when even under its current populist Zelensky Government, it remains still the most corrupt state/government in Europe, and yet our heroes?

Prior to winter, I would suggest that the EU will make a gesture of acknowledgment that Russia has/owns/controls/moderates the Eastern Provinces of Ukraine as their own, and Europe will put the brakes on the Ukrainian military, and Russia in response will enable the export of grains etc from the South sea ports, & turn on the gas to Europe, thus preventing the collapse of Europe and a further grain/famine decimation of the nations of Africa and Asia, etc.

I doubt Mr Putin will suddenly become a nice guy...as it hasn't happened so far...nor can he be in any way 'contained' by the West regarding his changes to the wobbly/plasticine Ukrainian Eastern provinces and borders, mostly full of Russians anyway.

So, I would expect a reasonable resolution, all Ethics aside, certainly before the snows of winter in Europe.

Australia Federal Election approaching

I thought a good Federal Labor ticket would be Penny Wong as PM with Sally McManus as Deputy, and I still think Ms Wong would be best, but Sally McManus has lost a lot of credibility over the past few years doing nothing to progress salary increases for ACTU members in a whole decade, whilst happy to kowtow with the Morrison regime, and, basically, 'corporatising' the ACTU elite...so I'd have to look away from her as being a 'hopeful'. A waste. Sally would have to show some mettle that she hasn't yet displayed at all. A decade is a long time to just hang around building your power base and not delivering anything.

and not delivering anything.

With the subjugation of Mariupol, the Russia will be looking towards both incorporating the Eastern provinces, Donesk etc, and also swinging around to take Odessa, I would expect.

By taking Odessa, the Russians would then control part of the pathway into Transnistria, which is very important. Transnistria is that place without passports or any national control where all the things that shouldn't happen in Europe happen in Europe. The Great Conduit for spies, weapons, trafficking, terror etc from all sides make free use of Transnistria. To off-load the weapons pouring into Ukraine, you use Transnistria to get them out to Africa for sale.