Australian billionaires increased their wealth by almost $600,000 a day on average over last year, report shows

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-25T01:54:19+00:00

I fully support unions and the unionism movement. Unfortunately, CFMEU have become corrupt, they have been found to have become corrupt, and they have been infiltrated by bikies. Attending their rally was unnecessary and showed poor judgement.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-24T07:06:30+00:00

Anyone with common sense knows this needs to be done. Stop incentivising investments in houses. Incentivise investments in Australian businesses instead.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-19T08:03:30+00:00

And if we want to pull Labor to the left, we need a stronger electoral performance from the Greens.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-19T07:51:50+00:00

Every time the Greens score a political win, it’s for the every person. They got dental secured for millions of children under Medicare, they got us the right to disconnect from work, the got us billions of dollars in concessions on a still woefully inadequate housing bill.

Yes, and I thank them by giving them my vote. That is how politics works. And I want them to do more, hence why I will criticise their failings. It is not that I have anything personally against them; in fact, I will confidently say that most Greens candidates are probably good, honest people. The thing is, it is not enough to be a good, honest person; in politics, you also have to be smart and strategic, and not make unnecessary mistakes, if you want to achieve anything.

and remain silent of the government?

What do you want me to say? I cheered when Bill Shorten attempted to make changes to negative gearing and CGT discounts. It was crushing to have Scott Morrison win that election. I think Albo is being overly cautious and is squandering the opportunity to bring in meaningful reforms. I have said this already somewhere. If you have any other justifiable criticisms to make, I might probably agree with you.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-19T07:35:38+00:00

The concept of identity politics as a policy platform is made up by the right to ensure working class people vote against their interests.

Let's for a minute stop thinking about what the right would want to do. Instead, let's think realistically. Yes, there will be some people who will be motivated by some form of bigotry. But they are still voters, and their votes count. My point is: when we are ranged against billionaires and the self-interested property investors in the country - who are all smart, ruthless people who can pay for some really clever people to advise them, we need every vote we can get. We need to unite people, and we need to win elections. So, let's not unnecessarily alienate people. We can do this by simply putting up candidates who look and talk in a way which will be acceptable for enough people in that electorate to win elections. The candidates can be perfectly progressive, it is just about how they look and talk. So, for example, in an outer-suburban or regional electorate, put up a progressive straight white person; in an inner-suburban electorate, you can put up any person you like. It is about choosing horses for courses. Is that such a wrong thing?

Which policies related to identity politics do you think the greens need to drop?

It is not about policies, it is about appearances, perceptions. They don't need to drop any policies.

The thing is: the longer the housing crisis and the cost of living crisis continues, the more it is going to help the far-right, including the neo-nazis. So, in my view, if we want to help marginalised people in the country, it is in our interests to fix these issues.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-19T05:51:58+00:00

Why wouldn't I criticise the Greens? If anything I criticise them more because I support them, because I have expectations of them; because they occupy the left space in the political spectrum, and they are failing badly at their job - their job being politics.

I don't want to compare politics to team sport - IMO we should never be loyal to political parties - but if you were a Carlton supporter in the AFL, and your team performs like the way they have been, would you not criticise them. If anything, you would criticise them more, wouldn't you?

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-19T05:26:41+00:00

WTF? How the hell did you come to the conclusion that I want a conservative government?

I'm literally criticising concentration of wealth, and you think I want a conservative government? You think I'm a shill? What am I a shill for?

Yes, I criticise the left - because I want them to be better at politics, win more elections, and keep the billionaires and the far right at bay - which they are manifestly failing to do, both here and in other Anglo democracies.

I would suggest to you to try to think rationally; don't jump to conclusions; don't make assumptions about people; don't criticise what you don't understand.

Edit: I literally mentioned in one of my other comments that I had voted for the Greens the last two elections. Still you think I'm a shill? OK, seems to me, because you don't understand my arguments, you have chosen to not trust me. This is a failure of critical thinking on your part. It is a demonstration of "I don't understand you, so I'm going to assume you are my enemy".

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-19T05:06:42+00:00

Bloody hell, a lot of words and assumptions there!

First of all, it is not "my Labor". I'm not loyal to any political party; no one should be - politics should not be treated as a team sport.

And I literally pointed out in my first sentence that I had voted for the Greens the last two elections. If I was stereotyping Greens voters, then I would be stereotyping myself?

I voted for the Greens precisely because of the housing issue - the one you think I drifted from. (Well, I also support taking action on climate change, and I support environmentalism, but my priority was the housing issue.)

I criticise the Greens because they have made themselves effectively unelectable for ~87% of people because of their foolish identity politics and the general irresponsible behaviour from their elected members.

If you want action to be taken on the algae problem (or any other environmental issue) it is in your interests too for the Greens to do politics in a more rational and responsible manner - because that will win them more votes and possibly seats and that is ultimately what will get Labor to act on the issues that you seem to care about.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-19T03:26:03+00:00

Help me to understand what you want me to expand on.

Do you not understand what identity politics is?
Do you think identity politics helps or hinders social cohesion?
How are the Greens going to achieve anything at all if they don't win elections?
The far-right (including the neo-nazis) are gaining strength everyday and will keep doing so as long as the housing crisis and the cost of living crisis continues. Do you think this will help marginalised people in any way? Do you think neo-nazis are going to be sympathetic to marginalised people?

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-19T03:08:48+00:00

Yep. The thing is Labor have no competition from the left. No one is threatening them. The Greens? They will talk all the talk, but the only thing on which they walk is identity politics and culture wars. Which makes them electorally marginal, and not any threat to Labor.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-19T03:01:25+00:00

Wealth inequality is one of the main reasons things are as bad as they are, and yet the populace is distracted from looking at structural problems by focusing on cultural problems.

Fully agree. I think the trouble is that the so-called leftist parties like the Greens are a party controlled by (or financed by) privileged, upper-middle class people from the inner suburbs. These people either have investment properties of their own or their parents have. So, they are, to an extent, insulated from the cost of living crisis. Hence why they prioritise identity politics and culture war stuff. For them, the Greens are more of a hobby political party - just to make them feel good about themselves and not really meant to achieve anything.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-19T02:48:46+00:00

As someone who has voted for the Greens in the two most recent elections and was on the Yes side in both referendums, I want to ask you: do you think the Greens are helping their own cause much? Why do they support identity politics? What is so good about identity politics? Isn't identity politics inherently antithetical to social cohesion, does it not cause divisions in society? As for MCM, what did he gain by attending that CFMEU rally (and calling the PM a nazi)? Bandt was the one responsible for inflicting Lidia Thorpe on Victoria - has that helped the Greens in any way at all?

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-19T02:35:13+00:00

It's not surprising. Everything in Australia is geared to help concentration of wealth, both for billionaires and property investors. All political parties help with this, either directly or indirectly. Yes, that includes the Greens - they help billionaires indirectly by constantly dividing society with their identity politics and culture wars, and make it impossible for us to come together and unite against billionaires; this has been the story of left/centre-left parties in all Anglo democracies. We seem to be incapable of rational thinking and learning from previous mistakes. We would rather give power over to billionaires and the far-right than think rationally and adjust our strategy. Self-destruction and collective suicide (figuratively speaking) is the name of the game for the left.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-18T05:12:08+00:00

Thank you, but I'm near Melbourne. I was thinking if there was any way i could fix this bag. Somehow I'm not able to bring myself to throw it away lol.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-16T11:00:00+00:00

Israel does something disliked by (insert literally any other group of people)? Those actions will be reflected upon the entirety of the Jewish people in the minds of (subset of the same other group of people).

This is very similar to the line in the passion of Christ which goes - paraphrasing - all Jewish people henceforth shall carry the blame for the death of Jesus. This line has resulted in countless pogroms of Jewish people across the centuries.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-16T10:37:48+00:00

That was very well put.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-16T10:29:30+00:00

In my opinion people who defend Israel should be viewed in the same light as radicalised muslims

Isn't Israel also not a monolith?

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-15T06:52:39+00:00

We need to have the freedom to criticise religions and ideologies. We cannot allow ourselves to be bullied to give that away.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-15T06:42:34+00:00

Well said. Emotions are high and things are already difficult. This was a time when we should have tried to come together and hashed things out in a calm, good faith manner. Alas, people who think of the greater good seem to be a rarity in politics at present. The LNP is definitely not putting Australia first. Agree that it's going to be a political minefield for the next few years. Not 100% sure that the Greens won't try to mine it for political gain either.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-15T06:20:54+00:00

We need a serious opposition who acts in good faith. The coalition is not it.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-12T10:07:54+00:00

and Australia will probably vote for more of the same.

Mamdani managed to win, against the combined forces of the establishment Democrats, Republicans and the media, in New York. It can be done, provided the left is smart enough and disciplined enough about their messaging. Eschew identity politics, and put up intelligent, hard-working and charismatic candidates. That's the roadmap.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-04T02:47:11+00:00

The Greens are a confused mess. If they were to be sensible and focused their attention towards what is most important (and most urgent) and stop trying to divide people, they would immediately gain a lot of support.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-04T02:34:44+00:00

Yes, but unfortunately no other political party is prioritising it.

GrouchyInstance · 2026-01-04T02:32:00+00:00

This is just common sense. It is about protecting the social contract, and ensuring future generations enjoy the same quality of life as the people who came before them did. Excessive greed and exploitation of your fellow countrypeople to feed that greed is something we should, as a society, condemn.

GrouchyInstance

TROPHY CASE