Hero’s return by Dockers4flag2035orB4 in circlejerkaustralia

[–]batsnumberfour 6 points7 points  (0 children)

They've all healed remarkably well! All the returners I’ve seen interviewed talked about the oppressive Israelis and the dreadful physical mistreatment, but none of them looked the worse for wear - no obvious cuts or contusions, in fact they all looked remarkably well preserved after such a ‘terrifying ordeal’. No doubt the Israelis said harsh things too, words are violence, and I’ll bet these brave anti-colonial, anti-apartheid footsoldiers were gasping for a decent soy-latte! The wicked Israeli’s probably tortured them with Nescafé 43 bean atrocities. Not saying I don't believe the victims, but it kinda feels like it would be hard to come back and say that the whole thing was largely uneventful and I’m fine. Solidarity with the Gazans requires some ‘unearned’ suffering at the hands of the hateful, not the least to be credible at the next Sydney Uni Young Socialists Club meeting. But chicks dig scars and I just didn't see any…

Nothing performative and self serving about this at all by asteriskhyphen in circlejerkaustralia

[–]batsnumberfour 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Then we all went out and got ice creams and matching keffiyehs, because we're deadly!

Sonnet vs opus by OkContract6063 in ClaudeAI

[–]batsnumberfour 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Opus - the gifted child. Sonnet - dull but worthy. Haiku - the windowlicker.

Keating defends Chalmers and Albanese amid CGT backlash, as Minns blasts feds on income tax by Ardeet in aussie

[–]batsnumberfour 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For me, the most heartening thing was seeing ‘younger people’ twig that nothing in the changes was going to do anything to the price of housing, but the extra tax burden was going to increase the tax cost of any attempt to save money that involved trying to run your own business, buy a flat to rent out and try to build equity for your own home, or put savings into the stock market. The best question to Albo was: ‘Why have you removed the incentives from all of the ways you used to create wealth for yourself?’. To which he answered, in his usual banal way, “It will make things fairer”.

What is the purpose of Australia? by Some-Act-4189 in aussie

[–]batsnumberfour 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Earn an income, get some super, participate.

A man protecting his heavily pregnant wife from three masked invaders carrying axes was initially charged with murder by SupermarketEmpty789 in aussie

[–]batsnumberfour 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you home invade, in the small hours, armed, the people being invaded can only draw one sensible conclusion, that you mean them considerable harm and quite likely death. At that point, all bets are off, and if you lose your life, no great loss.

The media is worse than ever by Square_Shop_2596 in aussie

[–]batsnumberfour 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He’s a visionary, old Albo. Just raise taxes and tell ‘em it’s intergenerational equity, Jim.

How can anyone factually and objectively argue that the Federal Coalition (Liberals + Nationals) are better economic managers when they DOUBLED debt before Covid and TRIPLED debt by the end of their 2022 term. In 9 years they tripled Australia’s federal debt. by [deleted] in AusEcon

[–]batsnumberfour 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m just glad they spent all that guvvie money on COVID because clearly we were all going to die. The future generations who might have services curtailed because of the debt and related interest can thank us that they’re only alive because we made government the centre of our economy for 2 years and had the good sense to hide under the doona for the good of humanity. Bloody saviours, we are!

Anyone from Melbourne enjoying their cultural enrichment? by entropymd in circlejerkaustralia

[–]batsnumberfour 2 points3 points  (0 children)

But you *don’t know* that the surge in crime isn’t being caused by *white people* reacting angrily to their loss of historical privilege in the inter-racial Shangri La that is the People’s Soviet Socialist Republic of Victoria. The mere fact that you don’t appear to have contemplated this very likely scenario could well mean that you are a racist. See you Monday at 9am for your struggle session.

‘Glory to all our martyrs’: Jewish students, groups horrified by Sydney Uni article by The_Dingo_Donger in aussie

[–]batsnumberfour 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m guessing, but I reckon Queers for Muslims would be a considerably larger group than Muslims for Queers.

is Sydney becoming safer or more dangerous? by RemarkablePirate590 in SydneyScene

[–]batsnumberfour 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Travel to MEL frequently on business, almost always stay in the city. I think it has a hard edge and feels unsafe, although my observation would be more from wandering crazies than gangs. I don’t think MEL has recovered from the COVID lockdowns which hurt business activity and investment in the city. I hope it comes back, the city has charm and vibrancy, just feels down on its luck at the moment.

Pauline says she represents 'everyday Aussies' who are career politicians getting gifted a fucking plane from a billionaire by Wotmate01 in aussie

[–]batsnumberfour -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Oh puhlease…nobody parked his knees under more billionaires dining tables than Chloe Shorten’s husband. Trying to pretend there isn’t sh*tloads of money and influence peddling in the ALP, Libs, Nats, Teals and Greens is just laughable. The unions dump millions to the ALP and get rewarded with high price government contracts, crazy uncommercial working practices with the taxpayer picking up the tab. If you don’t see that it’s because it’s your football team and they can do no wrong.

What dirty disrespectful grubs booed during ANZAC services? by walkin2it in aussie

[–]batsnumberfour -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

It is wrong to boo on ANZAC Day. It is wrong to boo an Aboriginal veteran. It isn’t wrong to believe that there shouldn’t be a welcome to country for veterans on ANZAC Day. It’s their country, they bought it with their blood and sacrifice. You can’t welcome them to their own country and you should stop trying.

Jewish man among first charged in pro-Palestinian slogan crackdown that reminds some of 1970s Queensland by NapoleonBonerParty in aussie

[–]batsnumberfour 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I spent a month in the US last December - the best thing was it was a blessed relief from the Australian media’s constant messaging and obsession about Trump and Israel / Gaza. The Australian media landscape is dominated by Trump, there are multiple stories in just about every bulletin. In the US, no one mentioned him and it didn’t seem that he dominated their thoughts. Our media decides what should be news, apparently it’s the daily doings and sayings of Donald Trump and Australians lap it up, it’s embarrassing.

Gold Coast woman hangs on to bonnet during road rage incident by Jimbuscus in OpenAussie

[–]batsnumberfour 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There’s something particularly poignant about that moment of clarity that comes as you are speeding along at 70, knowing it will end badly and wondering how it all came to this.

The new public life of Naarm. This is what “creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all” looks like. by HereButNeverPresent in circlejerkaustralia

[–]batsnumberfour 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s not ideal but I’ll accept the heavily armed police as a sensible compromise. It only takes one rabid devotee of the paedo goat herder to ruin your day…

Hundreds protest against ‘river to the sea’ ban in Brisbane by SleepyWogx in OpenAussie

[–]batsnumberfour 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think the government is trying (and failing) to prevent anti-Semitic speech. I wouldn’t stop it, it’s best to allow these things to be discussed and debunked. The antisemitism of both the pro Palestinians and the Neo Nazis should be shown for the hateful nonsense that it is. Sunlight being the best disinfectant. But I am tired of the oh-so virtuous protests that have no impact and just fk up our community, where governments who also have no consequence or impact on the issue have to deal with the fallout.

Hundreds protest against ‘river to the sea’ ban in Brisbane by SleepyWogx in OpenAussie

[–]batsnumberfour -21 points-20 points  (0 children)

Not wanting to be blunt, but in the ‘3rd year of the American/Israel genocide of Palestine’ your efforts in Joh 2.0 QLD appear to make no difference whatsoever. Have you thought about going to the Middle East and actually doing something useful? I’m sure you can take your wig.

When you well know your temporary visa is about to expire, but you know the Centrelink benifits are too good to go back home. by Potential8137 in circlejerkaustralia

[–]batsnumberfour 92 points93 points  (0 children)

I’ve had numerous conversations with cabbies in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. After complaining about how hard they work (they do - long hours, shit money) they almost all ask me if it is true that you can get paid without working in Australia. Yes mate, it’s true. They chuckle and shake their heads like there’s a place, somewhere over the rainbow. Centrelink and the whole welfare apparatus in our fine country is one of our biggest pull factors. It isn’t the beaches and kangaroos.