Sgt Hulka Uncut

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Archive for category Politics

The Cruelty Index

Sep 4

Posted by Sgt Hulka in Bad Ideas, International, Politics | Comments off

Well, the campaign period is winding down, and I have to work during the week, so I can’t be out doing face to face campaigning during the day, so I have decided to keep putting out videos on issues of importance to me in the campaign. Today’s video it’s about asylum seekers.

I have been interested in this subject since the Howard government started making a big issue of asylum seekers arriving by boat and attempting to emotionally affect my vote by lying about things like children being thrown from boats. Back then, I used to write long e-mails to the opposition leader to no affect. Now I put my research on film.

All data in my graph (below) are drawn from statistics available from the Department of Immigration fact sheets and annual reports. Data on costings comes from the current budget, and government records of mandatory detention offshore under the Howard government. Column #2 is the total number of visas issued in the humanitarian intake portion of the program. Column #3 is the total number of migrants to Australia, or the current quota for the last two years. Column #4 is the total number of persons held in mandatory detention at year end, and Column #5 is the percentage of migrants as a portion of the population.

Screen shot 2013-09-04 at 12.50.36 PM

The values, when plotted, remain pretty stable and boring, except for the numbers held in mandatory detention, of which several key points must be made:

• It is not illegal to seek asylum in Australia, regardless of the manner by which you arrive
• It costs between 5 and 10 times (up to $500,000 per person) the amount to manage an asylum seeker offshore as it does onshore.
• Money wasted on treating people cruelly has exactly ZERO effect on the criminals that they pay to transport them to Australia. People smugglers are criminals, yes, but punishing their victims is not addressing the root cause.

Not Quite Twitter . . .

Sep 3

Posted by Sgt Hulka in Good Ideas, Politics | Comments off

. . . but I am attempting to get the Australian Democrats message down to a more manageable size in today’s lastest campaign video.

Another day, another rant

Sep 3

Posted by Sgt Hulka in Good Ideas, Politics | Comments off

Hey, I did another campaign video yesterday, and yes it is another 5 minutes of me talking, so whadya expect. I am going to try to keep them much shorter, but if I go for the short get to the point type message, it might get a bit blue.

All well, probably take the risk anyway. I can always add a disclaimer in editing.

Campaign Launch

Sep 1

Posted by Sgt Hulka in Bad Ideas, Economics, Good Ideas, Politics | Comments off

Well, Sgt Hulka officially launched the campaign in Perth this morning with a hearty eggs on toast breakfast while answering questions from interested constituents in East Perth, followed by developing a campaign launch video and then did some one on one campaigning and distribution of policy materials. Although, I still need someone to explain to me why launch typically occurs with just one week to go in the election cycle.

Its been a hard four weeks and my feet are killing me, but plenty yet to do in the last week, including maybe a couple more of these:

Campaign video 1

We need to have a chat about Syria

Aug 29

Posted by Sgt Hulka in Bad Ideas, Evil Motherfuckers, International, Other Topics, Politics | Comments off

Hey, I was downtown at the Senate Forum last night, but didn’t get to share my view on what action we should take in Syria to counter the abominable response by the worst candidate I have met for election to the Senate this cycle, Sue Lines (LAB).

See, the Labor government is now ready to rush to support military intervention in Syria, and Sue attempted to pull our heart strings with ‘I am not sure the children of Syria can wait for the UN or the Australian Parliament to deliberate’.

Once again, a government with no real answers is ready to dance to the tune of the US or Britain with respect to military strikes that will do more damage, be indiscriminate in their effect (surgical strikes, my arse). Like the Coalition before them, then aren’t willing to do the hard work for years, then rush to some populist travesty in order to prove they are doing something.

Now I care as much about human beings as the the next guy, but we didn’t get here in a couple months in Syria, lots of people are already dead or dying, and unfortunately many more are to come, regardless if military action is taken now or not. If you want to do something about genocide, you need to support a change in the definition of the term by the UN, and to put fast action triggers in the UN plan for addressing it when it raises its ugly head. Addressing issues like this with violence in the short term is virtually never effective, doesn’t really save that many lives in the overall scheme of things, and leads to problems of regime change and occupation (who do you support amongst the dozens of rebel groups? Sunni, Shia, Alawite, Druze, Christian, etc?). You can only grow a representative democracy, not impose it, and this is a country that has had more than 40 years of dictatorship, since Assad’s old man Hafez used to compete with the Shah over the title of Most Evil Motherfucker on the Planet.

You want real short term action. How about the NSA using its powers for good instead of evil for a change? How about the NSA publish all it knows on Syria in as transparent a fashion as possible, and keep at it worldwide through all its available propaganda organs? Frankly, that will scare the shit out of all of us, including the Assad regime if they know that they will get no safe harbour anywhere unless they immediately surrender to the International Court of Justice. We can also continue to press the General Council and the Security Council to take joint action as and when we can get it through. Prepare for humanitarian assistance to refugees in neighbouring countries, and do what we can to ameliorate the worst of the negative effects.

That’s reality, and what we should be pursuing.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not a complete pacifist wuss, and I have a long history here of appropriate use of the dogs of war, but we ain’t there yet.

How to look like the reasonable candidate

Aug 27

Posted by Sgt Hulka in Bad Ideas, Economics, Good Ideas, Politics, Science | Comments off

Today’s observations from a campaigning novice come from my participation last night in a Senate candidates forum in the northern suburb of Perth. When trying to attract votes of engaged community members there are strategies that I think are obvious winners and losers, including:

Winners:
• Get some input on your uniform. If, like me, you have virtually no fashion sense and generally do not look in a mirror before exiting the house, check with someone who does. As mom used to say, it’s easy to be underdressed, but difficult to be over dressed.
• If you get 10 minutes to talk, use 5 and hand back the rest. I tend to over-explain things, especially when they are complicated issues, so trying extra hard to be concise has become very important to me.
• Try to talk last. This one has been very useful to learn. If you steer it such that you speak last, you can say in relation to the filibusters that have come before you, “I agree with X, but . . .” and save some time, as well as come off sane in relation to a point that might be right minded, but wrongly explained or too extreme.
• Study up ahead of time, but don’t use notes. I didn’t get to 95% of what I knew from my preparations, but referring to notes would have been tedious.

Losers:
• Overwhelm. For instance, both Wikileaks candidates showed up at the forum, as did 3 or 4 of their supporters, all in uniform (the black Wikileaks hoodies). Comes off like a gang or less than savoury political party in a room of maybe 30 audience members.
• Avoid polemic, and don’t even use the word, even if you know what it means (I’m looking right at you Socialists)
• Have one idea or policy. I mean honestly, some of these single issue parties really do give the elections for the Senate a carnival feel. As an environmental engineer, I surely do recognise the problems with overpopulation and resource use
• Filibuster. Yes Wikileaks, each party does get 10 minutes to present their case, but not 12 minutes, and not 12 minutes per member of the party at the meeting.
• Present your favourite conspiracy theory. Always entertaining, and I do love me a good one over the water cooler, but probably not a real good idea in front of a public you have not met before, with no evidence, and presented very emphatically (see polemic above)
• Don’t show up. The Coalition, Labor and the single owner Katter and Palmer parties didn’t even send a person along. Clearly their messages are better delivered through paid advertising and they need not actually engage with small groups of the public organised locally.

Given my accent and proclivity to drop the odd topical F-bomb when I get going, if you would have told me that I would come off as the reasonable, thoughtful alternative out of a group of 8 minor parties (including the Greens), I would have paid about 5:1.

Press Ganged

Aug 26

Posted by Sgt Hulka in Climate Change, Good Ideas, Politics | Comments off

Hey, for the occasional reader, or anyone wishing to catch my latest rant, I am actually now doing live gigs.

Funny story. I was looking for an alternative place to place my vote this year, as no way am I giving any of the major parties (Coalition, Labor or the Greens) my vote this time around. So, my buddy the Chairman asked just after the election was called, “Whatever happened to the Democrats?” Well, it turns out they are still around and have been continuing to develop policy since they last held a federal seat in 2008, and it turns out its still spot on.

So, I start to check them out, have some discussions with the guy who heads the tram up over here in WA, then go along to a meeting, and after committing some money, and trying to talk a good option into being the second Senate candidate for a couple hours, I end up being a candidate for the Senate to help the team strategically this election. Because it also turns out that there are one hell of a a lot of people like me this election, and we need a credible alternative. We can and should catch a good part of the protest vote this election.

But, let’s be honest. I have a better chance of coming in most spirited newcomer in the Melbourne Cup this November. But as I always say, if you’re gonna be a bear, be a grizzly. So, in support of the Australian Democrats and with their endorsement nationally, I am campaigning this election for a Senate seat as our second candidate. I have been working the pavement every weekend, talking to prospective constituents about their concerns, and trying to convince them that sound economic policy need not be cruel, and sustainability means more jobs all the time in addition to making sure your kids can breathe, swim and eat without an EVA suit in a hundred years.

Observations from campaigning include:

• You will get ZERO editorial coverage as a minor party in Australia unless you pay for advertising, or you are the butt of a joke. Fair enough, I ain’t complaining, just saying from personal experience.
• The wind is not your friend.
• It isn’t that bad, talking to people you meet on the street, even if they are crazy. See, I’m not the most personable guy (no really). And, I don’t like to hassle people who are just going about their business; so when out in public, I typically mind my own business. I’m wallpaper. It’s a skill. But having to carry out what is basically direct advertising means you want to talk to anyone who wants to talk to you, and sometimes those people have problems you can’t solve, or just want to have a rant, or have views you don’t share (and sometimes are even offensive). But, you know, free speech is a two-way street, and it has been a lot more pleasant than it has been a chore engaging with people during a campaign.
• It’s expensive and I could use some help.

For the record, here’s the issues I’m focusing on, although the party has comprehensive policy across the board.

Aust Dem Flyer 1
Aust Dem Flyer 2

Aust Dem Flyer 4

Aust Dem Flyer 5

Now this is funny

Aug 26

Posted by Sgt Hulka in Economics, Politics | Comments off

Nice to see some US cartoonists are still going well in addition to Ted Rall.

Love your work Mr. Sorensen

Jen Sorensen

So, this is where we have come to . . .

Jun 14

Posted by Sgt Hulka in Bad Ideas, Politics | 1 Comment

. . . when a DJ on a local station in Perth can ask, and then press the question, to the Prime Minister of Australia, about whether her partner is gay.

The question would certainly be based on no more evidence than the fact that Tim Matheson is a hair dresser, and that he is “living in sin” with the Prime Minister rather than their being married. Plus, he is a quiet reserved guy that certainly won’t defend himself, given how much he is likely to care for his partner and her career. Makes me wonder.

See, back when I was in the US Army, and came to realise thousands of miles from my birthplace, in a setting selected at random based on a date, that I was actually a shitload more intelligent than some of the people giving me orders, a wise sergeant said to me, “Son, I know he’s a douchebag, but you are saluting the uniform and the rank, if not the man.”

And that is really the point is it not, that by going there, a man who has no respect for a woman, or a prime minister because of her party affiliation (or both, who knows), is willing to attack her like that in public because he isn’t even willing to show respect for the office. He’s a dick with a microphone, and without a shred of proof is willing to smear with rumour a hard working woman and her defenceless partner. What a cunt.

I suppose then that means that a man I believe to be my intellectual inferior, with demonstrably bad views on government policy, culture, ethics and theology could be questioned as such when he is prime minister. Shouldn’t I, based on the factual evidence available, be able to ask Tony Abbot, and then press him on the matter, “Tony, when were you first anally penetrated by one of the priests that you have been in the care and custody of many times in your young life? No, come on Tony, we all know it happened, just based on statistical evidence, and let’s face it, you act like a man who has been fucked in the arse before, so tell me, when was the first time?”

I’d be willing to take the jab that I would expect coming if I had the opportunity to do ask Tony that in public, but you know what, I wouldn’t do it. I wouldn’t do it out of resect for the office he held and the fact that he has worked his whole life in a career I hate, but none the less respect someone’s need to do it, and I am not a publicity seeking radio whore in a small market on a small station with a very small mind.

PS: in tagging this article, 6PR’s dickhead doesn’t even get a “evil motherfucker” because he isn’t smart enough to qualify.

The future looks stupid

Jun 11

Posted by Sgt Hulka in Bad Ideas, Climate Change, Economics, Politics, Snake Oil | Comments off

OK, a bumper crop of Hulka today, as here is another thought that has been brewing in my head for a couple weeks. See, periodically, I can see the future. But I am unfortunately a cynical futurist, and when I can see things well, I can basically only see bad things. Here is the first of my views on where we are going in Australia in the next few years.

We are almost certainly going to have a Coalition government in Australia following the next election. If that future Coalition government follows through on its promise to repeal the carbon tax AND also repeal the move to carbon trading, it will be a very retrograde and bloody-minded step that will cost us billions of A$.

The step back will take us back to before the Howard government started us down the path of legislating NGERs (estimating CO2e scientifically) and the CPRS (the trading instrument for the CO2 market), and essentially ignore (in a bureaucratic sense) the anthropogenic effects of CO2-e gases in the atmosphere. I believe it will also expose the government of Australia to significant legal claims with respect to liabilities created in the implementation of carbon pricing mechanism to this point by industries. As industry in Australia has already “tooled up” significantly to address its CO2-e emissions in its methods of accounting, capital planning and trading, it likely has a valid claim of loss if the government abandons the game, rather than just modifying the price, or moving more quickly to a floating price. One thing is for certain; the abandoning in full of the pricing of CO2e, and failing to internalise those costs is wrong scientifically, is known to be wrong scientifically by a large majority of the members of the Coalition, and is therefore simply bloody minded.

And here is some evidence as to why I am telling the truth: I don’t have an interest in advocating my position, and will actually likely do better financially if what I believe is bad policy goes through. For my company (which is carbon neutral and independently certified as such), it won’t make much difference. We don’t emit much now, we emit at a lower rate each year, and we have enough CO2-e in the bank to cover our needs in the short term, regardless of the effect on the market of the government abandoning carbon pricing. In fact, we can probably hedge our long-term expense very cheaply in the short term, if a new Coalition government carries through on its promise. Plus, I can also probably figure out a way to make some money on the bad change in policy.

But over time, the real important loss under proposed Coalition policy will be that of opportunity to Australia as a whole. This is because the adage that “the world is ruled by those that show up” is fundamentally true. Australia is now in a position where we participate and lead in addressing anthropogenic emissions of carbon internationally, and we can help define the markets that will deliver a means to address it. A future Coalition government has committed to abandoning participation, in a move that will rightly be viewed as embracing climate change denial. We will be left out of the “team” that makes up policy and infrastructure in the trading of CO2-e, and the yanks will likely end up owning the game again.

Add to this another really bad idea from the Coalition that I have gone through in detail before, direct action. See, direct action involves picking winners and losers in industry. Shit like giving large emitters large sums to stop emitting nasty shit rather than regulating them. Picking individual winners and losers by any government is virtually always (and I cant think of a single counterfactual) a bad idea. It’s assumes a way too effective means of prediction, is distorting of markets and invites corruption. I hate it when Labor does it, the Greens do it or the Coalition does it. That is not to say that incentivising markets is wrong. I have nothing wrong with the government providing incentives for innovation, just incentives for any specific innovation. Incentive for anyone that can improve the delivered efficiency of electricity to homes in all Australia = good. Direct subsidy to build more gas fired power plants to private companies because that is the currently available cheap fuel = bad. Now, you want to talk about doing a little bad in the short term to get a long term good, let’s discuss nuance, but it had better be part of a well thought out and comprehensive plan, and not just the next government’s rort for their buddies. I am not sure the Coalition does nuance.

I am happy to be proven wrong by evidence and alternate theories at this point, or by history, but that is my view about where we are going with respect to doing something bureaucratically about climate change. My next prediction of looming bad could be the NBN under the Coalition. But we shall see. I also take requests.