Problems in Chechnya

Read about the Chechnyan region today here.

Godamn Vladimir Putin. Don’t you love the fact that he supposedly has the mandate of the people? I mean, sure, he controls most of the media and the main oppoisition leader was arrested by his police state authorities, but who cares! He did economic stuff! Which were totally him, and not simply demand for Russian oil!

He seems to justify authorotarian measures as “fighting terrorism”. Remind you of anyone?

Anyway, onto Chechnya- quite cleary a case of the Russian majority abusing the Chechen minority. There’s the racial element involved, and of course there’s the whole Christian-Muslim thing. But mostly the Chechen people are a bunch of ragdolls for Russian polticians, particularly President Putin (or PP), to play cops and robbers with. Basically, they offer the Russian President and his corrupt ilk a chance to play the “tough guy” role, with the military and Presidency acting as prosecutor, judge and jury.

In other words, absolutely despicable behaviour. And it’s not just Russia.

I’m not to going to mention the I-word, but I know you were all thinking it.

Rudd’s Booze Tax

Today the Rudd Government announced a new tax on “alcopops”. See here.

Some commentators (read: Andrew Bolt fans) have said that this symbolises the degeneration of Australia into a “nanny state”. I have to disagree. There’s a difference between stifling bureaucratic government of society and a government protecting it’s citizens.

This will help prevent brain damage amongst teenagers, who are going to be the ones running our country at some point. I don’t want to sound like a political cliche, BUT WON’T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN etc etc.

This also brings up a problem with Libertarianism/neo-liberalism- sometimes, there are some things that only a government/authority can do. For example, it was silly of the former government to expect market forces to magically come up with a solution to climate change (and I think almost everyone now agrees that climate change is a very real threat). Businessmen will often act only in their short-term interest, not thinking that there’s no point in being rich today if you’re going to die tomorrow.

So, all in all, I readily support this policy by the Rudd Government. Good on the bloke.

Hello world!

Hello there, whoever may be looking in. This is a new blog I’m going to start, which primarily I will concentrate on politics. Particularly Australian politics. But I’ve also started it in time for the U.S. Elections this year.

And it won’t all be politics and boring stuff! Just mostly.