Time for rethinking
My October newsletter
As with nearly everyone, my thoughts are dominated by the disastrous outcome of the US election. I can’t see the US recovering from this for at least a decade and maybe much more. The prospects for positive change in Australia, which were already faint, have grown even fainter.
At 68, I’m too old to wait this out, so I need to consider where I can still make a useful contribution in the time left to me. That may take some time. I’d welcome your suggestions.
In the meantime, my usual monthly report. I kept pretty busy in October with
A workshop on privatisation and outsourcing organised by the Academy of the Social Sciences
The John Dillon memorial lecture at the University of New England, on the topic “Irrestible force meets immovable object: prospects for the energy transition”
An Economics Society panel on labour market regulation (password Lw1^da1c)
A presentation to Jobs and Skills Australia on Education and Training for the Modern Labour Market
Evidence to the Senate Economics Committee on housing policy
My October media report is here, password quiggin
Visit my Substack blog
I’m staggered by the US election result. It defies logic, morality, sensibility, and even Christian ethic. How a nation that was once “Gods Chosen Land” have plummeted so far?
Yet it was a democratic vote, and probably untainted.
I have two concerns, one I’ve expressed already.
The other, is that Trump’s acolytes will actually be the government, Trump will in short time, become a puppet of an unelected cohort of people largely untrained in government or ethic. Will they disembody the government institutions? Or Obama Care? Or social services? Unions? Will the armed Forces limit what orders they respond to?
I know all that will become apparent in a short time if he does a fraction of what’s promised.
I amazed at Australians, people that I know, who are jubilant that Trump has won. My wife went shopping and some idiot came up to her, cheering on for Trump. I can only put that down to the years of misinformation from Fox/Sky and other online pundits.
The wars fought against authoritarianism and for democracy seem now to have been in vain.