Comments for Chris White Online http://chriswhiteonline.org Blogging from a life-long unionist Mon, 21 May 2012 06:27:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Capitalism: a crock of crooks by Brenton Rittberger http://chriswhiteonline.org/2012/05/capitalism-a-crock-of-crooks/comment-page-1/#comment-2265 Brenton Rittberger Mon, 21 May 2012 06:27:05 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=2710#comment-2265 As an ex union and OHS rep on CBD highrise construction .Any thuggery and intimidation I observed and was target of was not being perpetrated by unions. Capitalism "a crock of crooks" Is on the Money so to speak.Time for the ALP to stand up and be proud to have represented workers but to realise Australia is currently disenfranchising too many in deference to the top 3 percent. It was good to see Bob give a rendition of "solidarity" but how many young voices are following. As an ex union and OHS rep on CBD highrise construction .Any thuggery and intimidation I observed and was target of was not being perpetrated by unions. Capitalism “a crock of crooks” Is on the Money so to speak.Time for the ALP to stand up and be proud to have represented workers but to realise Australia is currently disenfranchising too many in deference to the top 3 percent.
It was good to see Bob give a rendition of “solidarity” but how many young voices are following.

]]> Comment on Capitalism: a crock of crooks by Janet Burstall http://chriswhiteonline.org/2012/05/capitalism-a-crock-of-crooks/comment-page-1/#comment-2264 Janet Burstall Sun, 20 May 2012 13:15:31 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=2710#comment-2264 Thanks to Humphrey for compiling the list of corporate rip-offs, scams etc. Of course any misused union funds are puny amounts in comparison. And governments have no credibility, and in my opinion no business, in advocating corporate style regulation to clean up union affairs. However, I don't think that means that as a labour movement we should not be deeply concerned about the revelations about the HSU. I'm not sure what this article is saying on that topic. But it seems to me that the HSU officials are at the extreme end of disturbing practices in the union movement that should be prevented or reduced by some good old fashioned democratic reforms, and movement wide standards for democracy, including rank and file elections with preferential voting systems, ability for recall elections, level playing field for election candidates to contribute to union publications, transparent reporting of pay and expenses claims for officials, and pay tied to a relevant scale for members own pay and conditions. Where there is no avenue for effective dissent within a union then it is very difficult to call officials to account, and the opportunities and attractions for abuse of union resources are great. And the less likely are union leaders in an undemocratic union to recognise and speak out on precisely the crimes of capital that Humphrey has described. Thanks to Humphrey for compiling the list of corporate rip-offs, scams etc. Of course any misused union funds are puny amounts in comparison. And governments have no credibility, and in my opinion no business, in advocating corporate style regulation to clean up union affairs. However, I don’t think that means that as a labour movement we should not be deeply concerned about the revelations about the HSU. I’m not sure what this article is saying on that topic. But it seems to me that the HSU officials are at the extreme end of disturbing practices in the union movement that should be prevented or reduced by some good old fashioned democratic reforms, and movement wide standards for democracy, including rank and file elections with preferential voting systems, ability for recall elections, level playing field for election candidates to contribute to union publications, transparent reporting of pay and expenses claims for officials, and pay tied to a relevant scale for members own pay and conditions. Where there is no avenue for effective dissent within a union then it is very difficult to call officials to account, and the opportunities and attractions for abuse of union resources are great.
And the less likely are union leaders in an undemocratic union to recognise and speak out on precisely the crimes of capital that Humphrey has described.

]]> Comment on ACTU Congress: day 2 by jim sharp http://chriswhiteonline.org/2012/05/actu-congress-day-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2257 jim sharp Thu, 17 May 2012 04:30:08 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=2676#comment-2257 comrades there's a tried & true proletarian maxim know thine enemy so you can counter their shit-a-ganda with that in mind maybe all of us including the ACTU officials shud read study this neocon reactionary stuff from one of the IPA talking writing gobheads link>> http://ipa.org.au/publications/2003/insecure-work jim comrades
there’s a tried & true proletarian maxim
know thine enemy so you can counter
their shit-a-ganda with that in mind maybe
all of us including the ACTU officials shud
read study this neocon reactionary stuff
from one of the IPA talking writing gobheads
link>> http://ipa.org.au/publications/2003/insecure-work

jim

]]> Comment on Rinehart’s control by Sean OLeary http://chriswhiteonline.org/2012/02/rineharts-control/comment-page-1/#comment-2231 Sean OLeary Sat, 05 May 2012 21:28:23 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=2446#comment-2231 What's wrong with using nuclear explosives to harness nature for the benefit of Man? We're not apes, we're human beings with the capability to build upon, improve and harness the laws of nature. What’s wrong with using nuclear explosives to harness nature for the benefit of Man? We’re not apes, we’re human beings with the capability to build upon, improve and harness the laws of nature.

]]> Comment on Our spending on the military by rob http://chriswhiteonline.org/2012/05/our-spending-on-the-military/comment-page-1/#comment-2219 rob Fri, 04 May 2012 07:18:32 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=2630#comment-2219 This is a great summary Chris. The big question in education circles is whether or not the Gillard Government will genuinely implement the Gonski Review which it established into school education funding. The AEU, the Business Council and the NSW Government have all said they support the recommendations but they are opposed by elite schools. The recommendations would introduce a standard by which all schools would be measured, and where they fall below would receive additional funds. No school would be defunded despite the obscene gap between the educational opportunities afforded the already-privileged and the average. The full cost involved is $5 billlion per annum, and legislation to commence the transition will be needed this year. If Labor does not implement, it may well face defeat having compounded educational inequality and also lost one of its key traditional constituencies. Given that nobody has been able to justify the level of military spending we currently make, even with the proposed budget trimming (which is good), other than vague generalities about the Indian and Pacific Oceans (i.e. India and China who I haven't noticed having aggressive designs on Australia), it should be easy to find the $5 billion. Maybe one less useless submarine? This is a great summary Chris. The big question in education circles is whether or not the Gillard Government will genuinely implement the Gonski Review which it established into school education funding. The AEU, the Business Council and the NSW Government have all said they support the recommendations but they are opposed by elite schools.

The recommendations would introduce a standard by which all schools would be measured, and where they fall below would receive additional funds. No school would be defunded despite the obscene gap between the educational opportunities afforded the already-privileged and the average.

The full cost involved is $5 billlion per annum, and legislation to commence the transition will be needed this year. If Labor does not implement, it may well face defeat having compounded educational inequality and also lost one of its key traditional constituencies.

Given that nobody has been able to justify the level of military spending we currently make, even with the proposed budget trimming (which is good), other than vague generalities about the Indian and Pacific Oceans (i.e. India and China who I haven’t noticed having aggressive designs on Australia), it should be easy to find the $5 billion. Maybe one less useless submarine?

]]> Comment on May Day by referencement sur google http://chriswhiteonline.org/2012/04/may-day/comment-page-1/#comment-2203 referencement sur google Wed, 02 May 2012 11:03:15 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=2621#comment-2203 Useful info. Fortunate me I discovered your site by chance, and I am surprised why this twist of fate did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it. Useful info. Fortunate me I discovered your site by chance, and I am surprised why this twist of fate did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.

]]> Comment on Occupy and black bloc debate by Peter Curtis http://chriswhiteonline.org/2012/02/occupy-and-black-bloc-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-1751 Peter Curtis Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:00:18 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=2468#comment-1751 The question is, what will be the best tactic to build a mass movement. Violence as a primary strategy does not win the hearts and minds of others who we want to build the movement. That the class dictatorship - sometimes openly so and sometimes hidden is very violent, by necessity. At a critical point there must be a violent confrontation by the working class, the 99%. But it must be organised and decisive. The question is, what will be the best tactic to build a mass movement. Violence as a primary strategy does not win the hearts and minds of others who we want to build the movement. That the class dictatorship – sometimes openly so and sometimes hidden is very violent, by necessity. At a critical point there must be a violent confrontation by the working class, the 99%. But it must be organised and decisive.

]]> Comment on Rinehart’s control by jim sharp http://chriswhiteonline.org/2012/02/rineharts-control/comment-page-1/#comment-1731 jim sharp Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:41:03 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=2446#comment-1731 Check out the video the mining industry never expected you to see: http://www.getup.org.au/minersmediaplan You simply have to see this video to believe it. Check out the video the mining industry never expected you to see:

http://www.getup.org.au/minersmediaplan

You simply have to see this video to believe it.

]]> Comment on FRETILIN HERE TO STAY by Brian T. Manning http://chriswhiteonline.org/2011/09/fretilin-here-to-stay/comment-page-1/#comment-1642 Brian T. Manning Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:06:48 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=2058#comment-1642 Hi Andy, A slight inaccuracy.The two pieces of equipment handed over were receivers, not transmitters. One had been modified by Andrew in order to transmit but was not used when the Codans were obtained. My Transmitter that was used as a 'public radio' giving access to media and politicians is currently on loan to the Maritime Museum in Sydney. I don't know what became of the one that was used 'underground' after the link was shut down by Cosmos when it was learned Alarico had surrendered. I think it was appropriate to present them to a Fretilin Congress. I am sure Fretilin will place them appropriately in a permanent home. A Luta Continua Regards Brian Hi Andy,
A slight inaccuracy.The two pieces of equipment handed over were receivers, not transmitters. One had been modified by Andrew in order to transmit but was not used when the Codans were obtained. My Transmitter that was used as a ‘public radio’ giving access to media and politicians is currently on loan to the Maritime Museum in Sydney. I don’t know what became of the one that was used ‘underground’ after the link was shut down by Cosmos when it was learned Alarico had surrendered.
I think it was appropriate to present them to a Fretilin Congress. I am sure Fretilin will place them appropriately in a permanent home.
A Luta Continua
Regards
Brian

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