Random Observations of Life

Pondering the value of money in simple terms

Posted by Robyn Dunphy on April 17, 2014 in Family, General

The older I get, the more I doubt the wisdom of chasing rainbows.

In order to receive good wages, workers must be employed by companies making money. A company that is not making money goes out of business and the employees are then looking for work. If shareholders do not earn a return on their investment, they don’t invest. The balance required to pay employees a fair wage and provide a fair return to the investors is what keeps our capitalist economy afloat. No businesses equals no work. Equally, no workers equals no businesses.

Tags: economics, Global Financial Crisis, Great Depression, politics, thinking Permalink

18 Comments

I do not accept corruption – do you?

Posted by Robyn Dunphy on April 16, 2014 in General, Mrs O, Our New Life

We should be holding our public figures to account. Today Barry O’Farrell resigned as Premier of NSW over a bottle of Grange. A $3,000 bottle, to be precise.

Let me put this into a commercial context. A few years ago I worked for an international company. Acceptance of gifts of any value over about $20 was strictly verboten on the grounds we were at all times to be, and be seen as, strictly professional and ethical. We must have integrity.

The company I work for now is exactly the same.

Paul Sheehan has written he thinks this is all OK, because after all some previous NSW premier was worse – much worse. I agree that is the case, Askin was much worse. However do I consider a murderer not as bad because he only murders one person instead of twenty? A murderer is still a murderer, serial or otherwise.

Tags: Australia, corruption, integrity, Maya Angelou, news, O'Farrell, politics Permalink

26 Comments

Work until I am 70

Posted by Robyn Dunphy on April 14, 2014 in Family, Mrs O, Our New Life

I read Mr Hockey wants us to work until we are 70.

If the Abbott government decides to further raise the pension age, it would be staggered over half a decade or more.

Read more: SMH – Good article, covers a lot of considerations

I probably can work until I am 70, provided I stay on hormone replacement therapy to keep my brain functional. I have a desk based job not requiring too much physical exertion. Also I am probably excluded as the change will be staggered to take into account those who worked pre the Superannuation Guarantee Charge days.

What of my husband, however? He has a very physical job. Are we expecting him to be shoveling mulch at 70? What of brickies, sparkies or chippies? They can’t all move into management, after all.

Tags: Australia, economics, old age pension, politics Permalink

2 Comments

The rain seemed relentless

Posted by Robyn Dunphy on April 13, 2014 in General

Continued from Jones prayed. If you have just joined this story and wish to start from the beginning, go to What goes around comes around.

The Indian Ocean is not a friendly place. The world had learnt much more about this particular part of the world when a Malaysian Airlines flight had disappeared. The currents, the storms, the vast isolation: all had become apparent. It was raining again and the waves were high. The rain came every day, sometimes light showers, other times torrential downpours. The boat seemed little more than a cork bobbing in Lakes Entrance waters. Jones was terrified.

This boat was a reasonably large fishing vessel, modern and sleek, but it probably wasn’t certified for these waters, Jones thought. He had noticed the name in the wheelhouse, “Live Life”, and wondered why a fisherman would name a boat such.

Many of the passengers were sick. Vomiting could lead to dehydration and there was little water. The children particularly were a concern as they would dehydrate faster than the adults. A small child was curled up near Jones, her expression of fear and pain evident even though her eyes were squeezed shut. The girl’s mother was trying as best she could to breastfeed a baby. Due to the limited water supply, her milk supply was reducing with each day. There was no infant formula on board.

Tags: asylum seekers, Australia, Boat people, fiction, Human Rights, refugee Permalink

21 Comments

Who IS the boss around here?

Posted by Robyn Dunphy on April 6, 2014 in General

Democracy, we are told, is government of the people, by the people, for the people. Yet in the last few months it seems we are to be controlled, not governed in the true sense of a democratic society. Dear Current Government: you work for the people. Just a reminder.

The first warning bells sounded with the appointment of Tim Wilson to the Human Rights Commission. I waxed lyrical on that over three articles, which you may entertain as background material if you wish. As expected, the next chimes were the proposed repeal of Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. I’ve expressed my views on that particular proposal in at least two articles. More background reading if you so desire.

Today I was shocked to see this tweet. Read the fine print very carefully, especially if you work for the Australian Public Service (APS).

http://twitter.com/colleenmenzies/status/452629768932827136

Tags: 1984, APS, Australia, Australian Public Service, democracy, free speech, news, politics, public sector, Social media, Tim Wilson Permalink

23 Comments

Freedom of thought over hurt feelings

Posted by Robyn Dunphy on March 31, 2014 in General, Mrs O, Our New Life

There is much mainstream and social media coverage over the proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act. Like many, I am, prima facie, against changing the legislation. I do accept that I am open to being persuaded by what would need to be a damn good argument.

I don’t personally experience being non-white. I do vicariously experience racism through the realities of my family. Cashiers who won’t accept money from my husband’s hand, one son being called the N word at school, the client in a hair salon who looked at me with daggers for daring to bring a black child into “her” hair salon. The nasty comments submitted to this site (thankfully few and far between) or the student doctor who clearly did not want to actually touch my son. Maybe he thought the black rubbed off.

I was involved in a debate on Twitter with a man who was adamant freedom of thought (and therefore expression, given the debate related to freedom of speech) was much more important than “hurt feelings”. His parents had left an eastern bloc country to ensure freedom of thought, he stated.

Did he actually have any experience of racial vilification, I asked?

http://twitter.com/amosz22/status/450250027110133760

Tags: Australia, Racial Discrimination Act 1975, racial vilification, racism Permalink

6 Comments

Jones prayed

Posted by Robyn Dunphy on March 21, 2014 in General

Continued from He felt the tip of a blade. If you have just joined this story and wish to start from the beginning, go to What goes around comes around.

Jones had always been a religious man. Or so he believed. He knelt in the cramped space and prayed. Prayed for his family, for his colleagues, for himself. When he had finished, he looked up and realised Sarah was looking at him, her expression one of disgust.

“Do you remember March 21st, 2014?”

Jones struggled to remember. March 21st? There was nothing special he could remember about any March 21st, let alone as far back as 2014.

“People were arrested for praying outside Scott Morrison’s office. You don’t remember that?”

https://twitter.com/kateausburn/status/446859585895165952

He had no recollection.

“You were all hypocrites”, Sarah spat out. “Claiming to be Christians yet treating vulnerable people with unbelievable cruelty.”

Tags: asylum seekers, Australia, Boat people, fiction, Human Rights, refugee Permalink

8 Comments

The many mysteries of MH370

Posted by Robyn Dunphy on March 17, 2014 in General

Not many of us understand the intricacies of the aviation industry and flight. We know pilots fly planes: how they fly them is a mystery to most of us.

Then one disappears. Into what seems like thin air. MH370 disappeared on the morning of March 8, 2014. I admit, like many others I became fascinated with the mystery. I was concerned for the people on board and for their many family, friends and co-workers. I was also fascinated with the seeming lack of management of the situation. Seems I wasn’t alone, although I note that the best critics are always the ones in the stands, not the ones down on the field playing the game.

Editor of website airlineratings.com, Geoffrey Thomas, says the search for the missing Malaysian Airlines plane is “one of the most botched aircraft investigations in modern history”.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-17/missing-flight-mh370-good-night-issued-from-plane-after-shutdown/5325816

Tags: Malaysian Airlines, MH370, news, politics Permalink

7 Comments

The global politics of high altitude piracy

Posted by Robyn Dunphy on March 15, 2014 in General

Everyone is used to piracy on the high seas. Somalian pirates on the high seas are renown. Piracy at high altitude? Perhaps we have just seen the first event in a new era.

Sooner or later it was bound to happen and maybe this attempt wasn’t successful – until there is a demand issued or wreckage is found, we won’t know.

In a press conference held on Saturday afternoon, Mr Razak said that the plane was steered in a westerly direction.

“These moments are consistent deliberation action from someone on the plane,” he said.

“According to the new data, the last confirmed communication between the plane and the satellite was at 8.11am Malaysia time on Saturday.”

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2014/03/15/13/28/data-suggests-skilled-flyer-turned-jet-malaysia-official

8 am? This plane either ran out of fuel and crashed into the ocean (clearly not the intent) or it landed somewhere and powered down.

Tags: Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines, MH370, news, piracy, politics Permalink

15 Comments

Australia and women: for those considering migration

Posted by Robyn Dunphy on March 8, 2014 in Family, General

You are a man from what is often referred to as a “traditional culture”. For whatever reason you find yourself living in Australia, or considering living in Australia. There are women in your life: a mother, sisters, a wife, daughters. There are some things you need to understand, some beliefs you need to let go.

You are a woman from what is often referred to as a “traditional culture”. For whatever reason you find yourself living in Australia, or considering living in Australia. You will find you can have a very different life here, if you are supported by the people around you and the men in your life.

Last week I read an article in The Age where Dr Sharobeem is quoted as saying

”I’ve heard men with my own ears shouting [to new arrivals]: ‘This country is about supporting women. It is our rule as head of the family to keep the women away from the bad influence of the country and not let them learn English.’ ”

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hotline-plan-to-help-hidden-child-brides-in-sydney-20140301-33sqm.html#ixzz2vK1hPxnx

If you are one of those men, I ask you to think about why you are here, or thinking of coming here. If you believe so strongly in those traditions, why are you coming to Australia?

I ask you to go and look in the mirror. Do you consider yourself any less equal than any other man in the street or in your workplace? No, I didn’t think so. Now look at your mother, or remember her face if she is not with you. She brought you into the world, carried you in her womb for forty weeks. Is your mother any less equal than you? If you are an intelligent man, and I assume you are, the answer has to be “My mother is my equal as a fellow human being”. If your mother is your equal, so are your sisters, your wife and your daughters.