“Historically they used religious teachings and the fires of hell and other such mythology to scare the bejesus out of our children. Now climate change is the new fear factor.”
Michael trembled:
“The fearful prospect of a secular hell on earth, complete with raging fires, terrifying storms, and flooding seas.”
Woe, said Warren:
“Don’t forget volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunami, polarisation, sunspots, overpopulation and the regressive socialist movement … now they’re terrifying.”
Derrick declaimed:
”It’s no wonder Bjorn was not allowed to open a climate course at our universities. He is too honest and practical and that would blow the lefties’ minds if students were presented with facts instead of feelings.”
GD said:
“We will never be able to ‘solve climate change’, that is a job for Mother Nature. Climate change is not a problem. The only problem mankind is faced with is the scam that says CO2 and ‘climate change’ is destroying the planet.
“Get rid of that scam, and it’s onwards and ever upwards. Mankind and planet have never been in a better position than today. We are truly blessed. It’s the money grabbers and scamsters who reckon we are in danger unless we pay them lots of money.
“Kick them to the curb. Don’t pay them any attention, and get back to living your wonderfully full and healthy life!”
Mark2 was unamused:
“Meanwhile, back in the real world …”
John blamed jets:
“Al Gore tut-tutted about plans to build coal-fired power plants in Bangladesh. I wonder if anyone tut-tutted back about how his private aircraft regularly burns copious amounts of kero at 35000 feet, when he could take commercial flights and help save the planet.”
Jane explained:
“Let’s accept (climate change) and adjust, as mankind always has in the past. Far more pressing is the ever growing population. This is where we MUST act. Why is it so difficult to say, stop disease, illiteracy, malnutrition, poverty, stop over population. Make this a much greater priority over this nonsense about global warming.”
P pointed out:
“It is a fact that countries that are wealthier have lower birth rates. By bringing countries out of poverty the earth’s population is stabilising.”
Mic mused:
“Why is it in Australia that the people most obsessed with global warming live in Canberra, while in the tropics, no one gives a toss apart from a very small clique. Canberra was -5 degrees this morning. That is 10 degrees colder than my fridge.”
Trevor trilled:
“Canberra is the centre of Catastrophic Anthropogenic Verbal Warming.”
Chris was cross:
“ ‘This state is in the middle of a terrible drought,’ said a Greens Councillor I heard on radio yesterday here in Perth who wants Australia to declare a ‘climate emergency’, whatever that entails.
“The fact is he told an outright LIE on radio and did so knowingly and deliberately and was not pulled up by the host of the show. WA has not had a real drought for decades and in recent years we have had record wheat harvest yields like no other decade in Australian history;
“This year our farmers are more than happy and are expecting another bumper year with wheat, canola, cattle, sheep, lamb, fruit, dairy, poultry, vegetables, crayfish and farmed Baramundi coming out of our ears.”
Jason was in the dark:
“In my town we’re now over 24 hours into our latest extended blackout with no certainty that power will be restored today. The last one of similar duration was less than a fortnight ago.
Because of the frequency of power outages folks here are relatively well prepared with wood fires, generators, oil lamps and a hefty dose of patience.
“But the town’s main employers have lost significant income which is flowing on to the workers. Income is down, food will soon start spoiling and if it goes on very much longer liquid fuels will begin running out.
“This is in Victoria, by the way. It’s interesting to contemplate what might happen if, instead of a tiny town at the end of the line, these conditions occurred in Melbourne and just how long it would take for civil society to start breaking down.”
Stan saw the light:
“I am amazed that supposedly intelligent people actually think that the world’s scientists and well educated good folks are unaware that ‘there have been ice ages’ and that the climate has always naturally cycled between warming and cooling.
“What is alarming those scientists is our current totally unnatural rapid and accelerating (global) warming only — over the past 55 years and without any significant cooling — going back tens of millions of years.
“The only possible/feasible explanation for the cause of this potential unfolding disaster is man’s release of 40 billion tonnes of Greenhouse gases each year. The US Geological Service states categorically that this absolutely dwarfs natural emissions.”
—
Toby Young wrote of his days at Oxford with Boris Johnson, the biggest man on campus and a Nietzschean ubermensch who wanted to be “world king”. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, said Michael:
“Just read the book on Winston Churchill by Boris Johnson. Remarkably clear, concise and clever writing. There was no apology for Churchill but I have yet to read a more entertaining and knowledgeable account on Churchill’s life and Philosophy. If anyone can bring Britain out of the mess they are in, it’s this man.”
Dominic had doubts:
“Blowhard or legend, we will know soon enough.”
Richard quoted Rand:
“There is one reason the left cannot score a hit on Boris. The same reason no-one could hit Trump, Shane Warne or the young (but not the present) Prince Harry. None of them will (or would) give what Ayn Rand called ‘the sanction of the victim’.”
Richard referenced rabbits:
“ ‘The boiled rabbits of the left’. What a fabulous description of them! May I please use it?”
Kaey’s say:
“Love Boris. What a character, refreshingly different from all the humdrum and politically taking the mickey, there should be more of it.
“We need the days when we laughed and played and stopped this politically correct, victimhood and marshmallows getting offended.”
Susan said:
“My husband once told me I was wasting my time studying English Literature. I impressed him once by recognising T S Elliott’s poetic quote in the movie Apocalypse Now: ‘I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of silent seas.’
“Many times throughout my life the study of the English language has proved to be very worthwhile and reading Toby’s article is a wonderful example of how persuasive the English language can be.
“Beautifully written article Toby! It made me sigh and wish that politicians world wide had the gift of words that you do. I am so tired of listening to their lies as they heel to the party line whilst not believing the rhetoric themselves. It is amusing to see them back track when they are caught out but this has caused a great surge of public distrust in government and it is refreshing to see someone like Boris come along to take the mickey out of them.”
A dill, said Bill:
“I am a big fan of Farage, Boris on the other hand is a fool. People are hoping he will be another Trump and surprise on the upside. He won’t! Trump held all the aces, Boris holds none. The EU holds all the aces.”
Antony opined:
“Boris cuts an impressive figure. He’s articulate, patriotic, charismatic and unscripted, so is Farage. He’s also low on integrity. For example he condemned Trump’s tweets to the ‘Squad’ despite making similar politically incorrect comments himself. Farage possesses Boris’s strengths minus his weaknesses.”
Greg grinned:
“An enjoyable read from someone with an insiders view of Bojo’s character, and of us commoner’s with our foul language, bawdy jokes and thirst for a beer, or three.
“Boris’s quote that ‘Voting Tory will cause your wife to have bigger breasts and increase your chances of owning a BMW M3’ may have outraged Orwell’s ‘Europeanized intelligentsia’, but the common folk knew exactly what he meant, cause it spoke to them in words they understood; it meant opportunity to improve you family’s situation, to move up the ladder.
The more I read about him the more I like.”
Not so much Margaret:
“Bojo the clown has been willing throughout his career as a journalist and politician to do and say anything to advance his own career. Bojo the clown got sacked from an English newspaper because he told untruths in an article he wrote as a journalist.
“Bojo the clown misled the British voters when he stated that leaving the EU would result in the UK saving money when in fact the UK will have to pay over 40 billion pounds to leave and will have to pay billions to set up tariffs and new border arrangements.
“Bojo the clown will discover if the UK leaves the EU that Bojo’s new best friend Trump will force the UK to privatise their NHS, as Trump has already stated, as part of a trade deal with the US.
“Bojo’s actions will result in Scotland separating from the UK and becoming an independent nation in the EU while the troubles in Northern Ireland will start again as a result of the restablishment of the Irish border.
“Bojo sadly is not a joke but will be the most destructive UK PM in history who will leave the England as a part of little island sinking off the coast of Europe.”
—
Behind the big hat, an obsession with steam trains and the high offices he occupied over a prodigious political career, there really was something different about Tim Fischer. It came down to an innate, unassuming decency, wrote Jamie Walker, of the former deputy PM who lost his battle with cancer yesterday. Farewell, said Fred:
“I remember Kim Beazley saying of Tim, in parliament at his farewell, that ‘you are one of few who is truly loved by both sides in this place’. Pretty good summation.”
Richard’s requiem:
“A great Australian, who put country above party in supporting the gun laws, and stood down at the height of power after defeating Hanson in the 1998 election.”
Oliver offered:
“Tim Fischer has been honoured an ‘authentic Australian’ and he should be further honoured by granting him his greatest wish, that: Sir John Monash be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.”
Goodbye from Gavin:
“An outstanding man in all facets of his life, Tim Fischer will be remembered for his unique style of both representing his electorate and an enduring love for Australia. He gave everything to his work and was greatly admired by everyone for his amazing energy and goodwill towards others.
“He served in Vietnam with dignity and was Ambassador to the Holy See among many other achievements. His love of trains and his uncanny ability to connect with everyone have surely made him someone this country can be very proud of. RIP Tim!”
Martin mourned:
“Everything about Tim Fischer was honest and determined. He was the Patron of All Good and Decent Causes. He unselfishly put his shoulder to every wheel that he could, whether it was locked in position, or ready to roll. Losing Tim Fischer is like losing a lighthouse.”
Last word to Jennifer:
“Vale to the boy from Boree Creek from a girl from Boree Creek. We were children of families who were part of the local farming community, who participated in sporting and community events and who worshipped in the tiny Boree Creek Catholic Church.
“As time went by I was always proud to acknowledge the achievements of Tim Fischer.”
—
Super hit isn’t productivity revolution we are promised
The Chalmers superannuation tax proposals represent a dead hand of bureaucracy with a side of unintended consequences. The changes have the potential to undermine the usefulness for today’s working generation.
Bulk billing has its drawbacks
If the government’s aim to lift bulk bulling rates to 90 per cent is not met, it will have two options: to further increase the incentive for GPs to participate, or rely on a greater user-pays component.
Welcome to the column where you provide the content. Bjorn Lomborg warned that while things on earth have by and large never been better, outsized fears of a climate apocalypse could take us down the wrong path and slow the growth that has lifted billions out of poverty and transformed the planet. Suffer the little children, said Warren: