Indeed
Isn’t it amazing that no matter what the science is telling us, there will be people denying the truth that coal fired power is now as outdated as the horse and buggy were in earlier days? The Australian government is beholden to some that just will not budge and will stick to the past, forcing up the cost of energy. They do this with the fervour of an 1810 Leicestershire luddite destroying anything and everything progressive or forward looking in their paths.
Just read this latest from ABC News; http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-25/the-truth-about-soaring-power-prices/8979860
We live in a townhouse sharing a joint roof but are considering going the whole hog and install solar panels with the Tesla battery back-up. The cost of doing that will go down as time passes. My guess is that with power bills reaching stratospheric heights there will be a tsunami of home-owners doing the same. It just doesn’t make any sense not to do this. The energy companies are shunning coal power stations like the plague and no one wants to invest nor spend money on maintaining the old ones except our Government staunchly defending anything that doesn’t move forward.
With a keener more forward Government the renewable technology could be hurried along by local shires to install complete off-grid power stations on vacant land that Australia has so much of, and bring affordable cheap energy to those in units or apartment blocks without roof space for solar panelling.
The transition period between the old and new technology could have been made easier and economically more efficient if we were not burdened by the Neanderthal fogeys in our present Government. Where do they come from and who puts them there?
It is the same with this referendums on SSM. Some of the same parliamentarians taking great delight in venting their hate and torture on refugees are now venting their rage on those who want the chance for love to stand a chance, and pass laws making choice of marriage equal to all, no matter what orientation. They twist and turn to try and prevent the law from becoming kinder and more just towards those who might be different.
Some of those same Parliamentarians take great pride in the bombing of foreign countries where we have no right to be involved in, and do so without asking permission from its citizens by holding referendums or postal polls. Billions of dollars spend on keeping a few thousands refugees in jail, billions on fighting in stupid wars, and now even more billions in propping up old coal powered technology. Were any of us asked our opinion or approval to do so?
So why the idiocy of holding referendums on SSM in the first place? Is SSM more dangerous than fighting wars or holding refugees in jails. Sorry, to be meandering so long about this SSM subject but rest assured I am just as keen to write about much more positive stuff. I suppose the return of Germany’s Angela Merkel is something to celebrate but…, the extreme right has also done well which is not so positive.
Was our previous PM Paul Keating right, when he predicted Australia could end up a ‘Banana Republic? I need a good carpet bowling session at the local RSL club.
Tags: abc., Angela Merkel, Australia, Coal, Energy, Germany, Leicestershire, Luddite, News, refugees, Solar
Oosterman Treats Blog 
September 25, 2017 at 2:22 am |
Spot on again from this fine blogger. Wouldn’t it be great if Keating could return. I stand corrected but It was only fairly recently that he was responsible to get the states to create a true electrical GRID connecting the eastern states across their borders. Banana republic ? Is it happening again with this push to dirty last century technology coal and away from (cleaner air) renewables ? Doesn’t our Oz’s responsibly matter ? Tony, the master of lying, obviously doesn’t.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 25, 2017 at 10:09 am |
We, in Australia just seem to be nurturing Prime ministers continuing as echo chambers for inaction. It doesn’t matter what the needs or emergencies, doing nothing is the preferred action.
No matter how often Turnbull mouths the word ‘ensuring’, nothing gets ever ensured. The Government is flat out doing nothing.
LikeLike
September 25, 2017 at 2:40 am |
This sounds so much like the US….unbelievable. I always think money and special interests are behind this sort of thing. And they know how to play the ignorant fools that support them….like what we have at present in the US
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 25, 2017 at 10:15 am |
Yes, Mary.
But at least in the US many states and local governments are doing their own thing and going ahead ignoring Federal Government.
The renewable industry is surging ahead because it makes great commercial sense. It is cheaper and more efficient.
Does Trump ever lie awake contemplating the destruction and chaos he is creating? I suspect not because his ego dominates everything. A king totally nude, masquerading as a fashion mogul.
LikeLike
September 25, 2017 at 2:42 am |
Gerard, this is an excellent analysis of the present situation in Australia. The people of Australia are sick and tired of the Liberals and the Labor went further ahead in the latest poll.
Please take the reelection of Merkel with a pinch of salt. 2/3 of the voters went against her and the new coalition might not survive the four-year term.
LikeLiked by 2 people
September 25, 2017 at 10:20 am |
Yes, Berlioz.
Merkel will have big job ahead. But she has outlasted 6 Australian Prime Ministers. That says something about her stamina and capabilities. Absorbing one million refugees and end up running a country with just 3% unemployment would have to be the envy of the world.
I reckon she will outlast Turnbull.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 25, 2017 at 3:07 am |
Labour in Germany used to be in a coalition with Merkel’s party. Now they want to go into opposition. I think this is just as well for otherwise the AfD would be stronger in opposition than all the other opposition parties. Germany needs a reasonable opposition party that is not full of hate but sticks to the facts and urges the government to do the things that need to be done.
Merkel is going to have a tough time if she forms a coalition with the Greens and the FDP (Business Party).
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 25, 2017 at 10:25 am |
Yes, Uta.
We shall wait with baited breath if Merkel will pull the parties together in forming a Government.
No matter what, she has performed miracles. She might do it again in the future.
We can only stand back in awe and total admiration of a true leader.
I don’t think Turnbull or Barnaby could even survive or stand in her shadow.
LikeLiked by 2 people
September 25, 2017 at 3:30 am |
So why the idiocy indeed?
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 25, 2017 at 10:31 am |
Yes, Peggy.
The SSM legislation should have been passed by Government years ago without all the present kerfuffle.
We did not get asked to engage in endless wars nor was there a postal vote on spending billions on border protection locking up refugees in jails who have done nothing wrong accept asking to be treated as refugees seeking help.
Who would have thought our Australia, country of my parents choice and future for their children, would sink that low?
I am so angry and sad.
LikeLiked by 4 people
September 25, 2017 at 10:46 am
Good point Gerard. I am sure there are many other migrants or children thereof who now wonder if coming to Australia was a wise move.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 25, 2017 at 11:54 am
Gerard, I stand with you being angry and sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 25, 2017 at 12:04 pm |
You think they’d start with new buildings and all roof tiles would be engineered as solar generators that are on south-facing roof spaces, then as prices came down more people could afford to change.
LikeLiked by 2 people
September 25, 2017 at 1:01 pm |
Spot on Charlotte but I bet you are in northern hemisphere because here down the Deep South, we need to face north to maximise use of the sun.
LikeLike
September 25, 2017 at 6:48 pm |
Mix 3 parts greed, 2 parts religious fanaticism, 3 parts jingoistic nationalism, with a heaping of bigotry and you can just barely begin to understand what motivates so much of our insane political decision making. Good post Gerard. –Curt
LikeLike
September 25, 2017 at 10:23 pm |
Just as well there is ‘Burning Man’,. Curt. It keeps us on track and anchored on the things that are really important, and that is art and the expressions of it.
LikeLike
September 27, 2017 at 5:28 pm
Art has always (at least it seems that way) played an important role in challenging the status quo, in encouraging us to look at things in a new way, Gerard. I noticed that one of the first things that Trump did was limit funding to the National Endowment of the Arts. –Curt
LikeLike
September 25, 2017 at 7:39 pm |
Only in Australia – the view here in New Zealand blames it on genetic inbreeding.
LikeLike
September 25, 2017 at 10:35 pm |
Yes, I am sure something sinister is going on in our Australian government. It can’t just be accidental that they keep bumbling along, year after year of non-action. In fact, Turnbull keeps ‘ensuring’ us over and over again about so much nothingness.
LikeLike
September 26, 2017 at 4:06 am |
Excellent, Gerard! Right on!
Oh…and love IS love and bowling is good for the soul.
I share in your anger and sadness.
(((HUGS)))
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 28, 2017 at 12:00 pm |
Yes, I am sure something black is going on in our Australian administration.
But at least in the US many states and local administrations are doing their own(a) thing and going ahead ignoring Federal Government.
LikeLike