News Limited Attempting To Rig The Election

Yeah, I know, not much you could say in defence of the ALP. Not without getting yourself into the twilight zone, again.

 

I wrote such a comprehensive reply, but lost it with one click Honestly, it took me about 30mins to type it up and i haven't the strength to do it again. How demoralising.

 

I notice that today's Telegraph in Sydney they are still running 'Doom and Gloom' regarding the superannuation changes.
Like this little heading....

Treasurer's $1b raid on Australian nest eggs.

Now, come on!!!
There is NO 'raid' on the nest egg at all.

The earnings over $100K will be taxed at 15%.
The Capital itself remains untouched.

Omissions and outright lies seem to be the media approach to this upcoming election.

 

I remember having a coffee with a colleague 15 years ago in Sydney. I said then that my super would be worth about as much as a loaf of bread and a capucino when I finally get the benefit of it. I have put most of my hard earned into property and made sure that most of it, basically all, is not tied to my super. Regardless of benefits.

The thing is super is a sitting duck for irresponsible governments. Labor today, big ears and his blue brigade tomorrow. It is easy pickings to fix up shortfalls in policy accounting.

This country is starting to get that raw sewerage smell to it.

 

You're right....I've got no arguments there! The fony abbott smoke and mirrors charade is inarguably prominent isn't it?

 

I worked 25 years as a journalist in NZ. Much of that time I spent as a senior journo at The Dominion, the morning newspaper in Wellington. In those days, The Dom was an independent, liberal daily and I was proud to be a part of it.

But it then turned into a rightwing rag. One editor left the paper to become a spin doctor for the National Party. He has previously been the Chief Political Editor.

The Australian is an extraordinary publication, failing all the tests of fairness and balance.

I don't care what it publishes in its editorials, they are the opinion of the editor, ie the management.

But in its commentary section a newspaper has a responsibility to cover a range of views, using writers from as many different political leanings as possible. Instead The Australian uses 99% extreme rightwingers, including the odious Graham Richardson.

In its news coverage, a paper should restrict itself to publishing the facts and leaving its readers to decide. Comment has no place in the news columns. The Australian doesn't get to square one on this test.

Yet it is also both the most self satisfied and thin skinned publication I have ever seen. Criticise it and you'll get the paper blazing at you with all guns.

Unsurprisingly, The Australian has never made a profit. But Murdoch will keep it going because it serves his purpose.

 

Ironic really, considering his support for free-market neo-capitalism ideology. If he were a true Randian, he would fix it to make it profit, or let it fail. Influencing public opinion in the underhanded way he's been doing and choosing to support or not this or that politician would have Ayn Rand rolling in her grave.

 

Where I live I have three choices: The Oz, the Daily Telegraph or the Courier Mail. I read The Australian a few times a week, at least it has some claims to be a serious newspaper.