Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

So the real question is: are gay marriages (and Big Love) harmful to the individuals or their children? The little research I've found is neutral.

I think the time to start establishing a world government has come. It’s not going to be particularly fast or easy, but it is a path to many of our global problems that we do need to bring to the centre.

We have been conditioned to think that governments that raise taxes are bad, and those that cut taxes are good. But that is not true. The real question is how wisely the government is using the money it raises, is the money used more wisely than we would or could?

Personally, I don’t think productivity is all that important a goal – the world is plenty productive enough. Much better to focus on other things such as (i) improving our happiness; (ii) saving the environment; and (iii) helping the destitute.

Many of its shows are a significant benefit to the community. And, particularly in the Arts, one needs to test the boundaries. However, this program is a critical error of judgment, the type of blunder that, in one moment, destroys years of positive contribution.

The Carbon Tax is not going to make one iota of difference to whether our grandchildren have a Great Barrier Reef. What it will achieve is a rapid exodus of Australian manufacturing. Australia, the land of solar roofs, manufactured in China. Australia, the overseas-owned quarry.

Their argument is not that we now have the technology to live forever. Their argument is that we now have the technology (and knowledge) to live twenty years longer. In twenty years, we will have breakthroughs that prevent and cure most illnesses.

Sometimes an inquiry is necessary. There is a need to quickly and efficiently cut out dead wood so that the tree can sprout again. This is not the case with the flood response.

The purpose of this essay is to dethrone the king, not kill him. Man is a tool making animal. Capitalism, money and free markets are tools. They have their strengths and they have their weaknesses. We should not idolize them. We should not let them run our society.

What becomes immediately obvious is that there is more agreement than disagreement. Nevertheless, it has been said that a chain is as strong as its weakest link, and laying the issues out clearly explains why so many people are so cautious about the emissions trading bill.

One other point, however, is worth repeating. They will act in their own best interest, but are not out to overcome or crush us.

The argument that is made is that the patients are diverted to the private sector, so it saves the public hospital costs. What really happens is clear when we look at the details

The twenty first century is about collaboration. Unfortunately, our system actually works against collaboration. We demand differences in policies. We demand an entertaining circus, with each party at each others’ throats.

How can we claim that human beings have a fundamental right to life, without an equally fundamental right to death? If one is forced to do something, then it cannot be a right. 

Dear Dr Henry, I read, with some bemusement of your call to the Rudd government to press ahead with reform. With respect, you yourself have the power, within your sphere of influence as Secretary of the Treasury and adviser on tax reform, to press ahead with the four most important reforms that Australia should undertake.

Many of the postings on this site discuss problems and solutions. Much of these discussions are about radical change. This thread seeks to contextualise the broader discussions by outlining a model of five types of problem solving: doing nothing; bombing the bejesus out of it; throwing money at it; continuous improvement; and disruptive innovation.

Camaraderie, altruism, singing, mediation, a belief that things will turn out well (even if only after death) are all techniques confirmed by science. However, we felt betrayed by religion and turned away. We realised that not only is there no God, but that religious institutions were often as venal and corrupt as secular institutions.

Reading, ’riting and ‘rithmetic are not the objectives of an education system. Rather, they are by-products. What an education system must primarily do is foster a love of learning – the skills and attributes that a child learning to walk has, but appears to lose with age.

To achieve change we need to break down existing mental models. We do this by continually challenging existing models, at every opportunity and avenue. The financial crisis provides an opportunity, as people are more amenable to change in an environment of uncertainty. Let’s use it wisely.