Suburban Scrawl

From the campaign trail. Midnight in Eagleby. All of a sudden, out the front of a modest suburban house, a woman appears wearing only her underwear. She runs up to the Peter Eather sign on the front lawn and starts trying to knock over or rip out the sign. "Oi! What are you doing!?", the resident called out. At this question, the woman gets down on her hands and knees and starts kissing the sign. "Sorry, Pete, I'm so sorry."

Missing Signs

An incredible number of signs have been stolen or destroyed in the Logan City Council election campaigns. Lonnie Nielsen has lost over 60 signs, and he is merely running in a local division. Credit must be given to the political operatives in Beenleigh, though, as this area has been relatively unscathed. Kudos to candidates Peter Eather, Ray Hackwood and Jennie Breene for their fair play with signage.

Vicious Politics

The politics of the Logan City Council election has been the most unpleasant I have dealt with during my political involvement. I can confidently say that this is the first election I have not enjoyed. If it was not for a couple of mates running, Peter Eather and Lonnie Nielsen, I would have happily had nothing to do with this election.

I have paid a personal price for involvement in these elections. The token neglect of family has been eclipsed by the vicious lies distributed about myself and friends from a number of different sources. At its lowest moments, I privately had concerns for the safety of my property and family. There are certain archaic political elements out there, adherents to threats, lies and bullying, that must to be consigned to history books.

Beer

I do not know about you, but the image the Australian Labor Party website is using to advertise their response to binge drinking leaves me feeling rather like a beer. Kids may never listen, but they never fail to emulate. The drinking culture in Australia extends well beyond those that today we call youth.

I have drunk too much perhaps five times over the last ten years, so I am not claiming to be a saint. Before the end of the year, I too will inevitably end up once again at the Holy Grail. I remember the pub from a moderate couple of beers there back in 2005.

My simplistic personal view is:
(1) If you become violent or aggressive when you drink, you should never drink.
(2) If you have one drink and can not stop, you should never drink.
(3) Never drink to escape your personal issues and demons.
(4) Do not drink every day, more so if alcoholism is in your family.
(5) Otherwise, it is all about moderation and not drinking to get drunk.

The Australian Cares Not

The Australian newspaper pulled an incredible stunt last Friday when it claimed the Rudd Government was going to scrap bonuses to carers and pensioners. Absolutely no decision had been made on the Howard Government one off payments, which had never been budgeted for in the future and were purely desperate scrambles to buy votes. The Rudd Government was also going to provide bonuses, while the Australian continues to perpetuate the lie that the bonuses were going to be scrapped.

Welfare

It has come to my attention that my view of welfare differs noticeably from common views in the society. I support most forms of welfare, but I see welfare as assistance or help, not to provide a lavish lifestyle. Many people see it as their right and believe that the Government owes them welfare. If I am ever in a position in life where I require welfare to survive, I will be thankful for every cent I get, because someone, somewhere has to pay for it. Money does not grow on trees.

Interest Rates

My family has been slugged by about five interest rates since we bought our home one year ago. Suffice to say, it is all rather unwelcome, but has not meant significant strain. Politicians are still talking like they have influence over interest rates. Yet they only have moderate medium to long term influence through mechanisms such as investment in skills and removing infrastructure bottlenecks.

Rosie

My daughter Rosie is almost six months old now, and is the most adorable little creature. When not screaming, she is a happy baby, smiling, giggling, chattering and attentive. Rosie gets bored easily and likes different people, situations and experiences. At times, she is incredibly focused on particular items. For some reason, she has taken to simulating coughing noises lately.

Rosie is enjoying being able to grab items and wants to eat everything. She gets upset when not in on what is happening and does her best to take playing cards out of your hands. At my parents place for dinner, the best may to placate her is to give her a large piece of lamb or similar to suck on, which looks ridiculous.

Rosie sleeps in a little sleeping bag like piece of clothing, as she kicks off all sheets. Rosie fights sleep, particularly during the day, but sleeps through the night once she finally falls asleep. My only contact with her on many days is a kiss in her cot when I get home late at night. Such is our society that career success is usually at the expense of family.

At the worst of Logan City Council politics, I came home to be informed that my baby had used the potty three times today. I always find it strange that, in the real world, people strive to hurt people for their own ends. The beautiful innocence of my daughter contrasts with the horror of what becomes of many people as they age. Does it have to be this way?

Overseas

On Friday evening I will be departing Australia, with three relatives, for Malta. I will be apart from my wife and baby as my wife was disinterested. Inevitably, I am going to find the separation from my daughter hard. Little Rosie will be completely different by the time I return in four weeks time. I hope she remembers me.

I am nervous about the impending 24 hour flight. There are two legs, Brisbane to Dubai and Dubai to Valletta in Malta. I do not enjoy flying at the best of times, so I am trying to suppress anxiety at being in the air for that long. I hope the Emirates seats are comfortable, because I am also hoping to be able to sleep on the flight (something which I could not achieve on a midnight flight from Perth).

Accommodation has been locked in overseas. Before arriving back in Australia, I will be staying in Valletta, Rome, Venice, Zurich, Munich, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris and London. Most of the trip will be with my father and transportation mainly by rail. I have not packed yet.

Blogging

As much as I enjoy entering some text into a computer when I have the time, this blog is gradually being neutered. I am finding that the more involved I am in politics, the less I can say. Recent events have demonstrated to me that many people can not separate my personal views from the views of my employer, Brett Raguse MP, Federal Member for Forde.

I have for some time accepted the personal costs of blogging, such as threats and slander. I have also accepted that this blog will harm me if I was to ever seriously consider running for a seat in a Parliament. The situation has changed recently, as I am now often seen as a "Brett Raguse staffer" rather than a community member in my own right outside of work hours.

At the moment, I am being decidedly reserved on my views about Logan City Council local division and Mayoral candidates. To spill the beans would, I believe, make the operation of politics locally more open and transparent. Unfortunately, it would inevitably cause more political problems and difficulties than it is worth.

Cheers

Well, I will not be present for the Local Government elections on Saturday. I am confident on a couple of outcomes, but have no idea how most of the divisions will eventuate. I suspect that most people in the general population are jaded with elections and not paying attention. I anticipate high levels of people not voting at all, donkey votes and informal votes.

# posted by Stuart Anthony Fenech : 21:00