Thought of the Moment

There is a lot of talk going on here at the moment about is about Industrial Relations laws and the reforms our government has put through despite vocal opposition from the public, where employers can require employees can require their employees to sign workplace agreements without rights and benefits Australian workers had previously been accustomed to.

The common defence, when people object to this, is to say something along the lines of 'If you don't like it then go take a job somewhere else instead of whining'. At the moment I am on unemployment benefits. One part of the agreement I was required to sign for this stipulates that I will be penalised by having my payments stopped for 8 weeks if I refuse to accept any suitable job offer - suitable being any job I am capable of doing. So if I find myself presented with job conditions I consider unfair I have the options of taking it anyway or dealing with zero income for perhaps two months. Fortunately I am in the position of having a family I can turn to for support when it is needed (indeed it was at the urging of my mother who considered the conditions I was working under disgraceful that I quit my previous job as soon as I did; I have no personal experience to judge what is fair and what is not), but I don't expect that everyone would have that option. Sometimes, you take what is offered or you don't eat.

Confession, that I am admittedly naive and ignorant on the matters of politics and economics and that economics particularly I must struggle to maintain any interest. These are nonetheless the thoughts I have formed.

Every Flavour?

In the Harry Potter series they have so-called Every Flavour Beans and this bothers me. Amongst other nastiness, sometimes they will be human flavour.

Are You Ready?

For Wiccan Jesus.