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Letters to the Editor


From time to time, a commentary on the world will bubble up inside of me to the extent that I'm forced to write a letter to my local, metropolitan, daily newspaper, The Age. This is where I blow of some steam. Feel like venting too? Add your own comment or visit my homepage.

Wednesday, February 25, 2004

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More Bloody Sex and The City 'Analysis'

Dear Editors,

Can you please send me to a big city overseas so I can fill endless column inches with pap about my favourite TV show? Caroline Overington - get over it already!
Vent!         


Sunday, February 22, 2004

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Politicians' Super

An old saying: an honest politician is one who, once paid for, stays bought. We should have kept the present superannuation deal, but demanded no subsequent consultancies or directorships.
Vent!         


Saturday, February 14, 2004

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Commodity Politics

Many people wonder why mobile phone plans and mortgages are so needlessly complex. One reason is to prevent "apples for apples" comparisons: once that happens, publicity stunts and marketing gimmicks stop working and suppliers have to compete on price. The items become commodities.

Mark Latham, as a trained economist, is well aware of this. By adopting the Liberal's traditional mix of social conservatism and economic rationalism, he has commodified public policy. In proposing cuts to politicians' super he is offering, in effect, to do the same job for less pay. How could this strategy be approved by Labor's unionist base?

Now that Howard has responded with a price cut of his own (rather than differentiating on policy), the winner will be the party willing to govern for the least pay. This will get rid of the professional politicians, leaving only the "true believers" and the "good haters" in political life. And so Latham's strategy becomes clear: Labor politicians have the fire in the belly to work for free, whereas (except for Tony Abbott) the Liberals don't have the passion.
Vent!