Possum
@pollytics.bsky.social
Political, economic and policy stuff. An unrepentant guitar gear hoarder. You know who I am.
A social democrat on the beats - a libertarian between the human, civil and political rights sheets.
The stupidity in this country is exhausting.
Moreton Bay
A social democrat on the beats - a libertarian between the human, civil and political rights sheets.
The stupidity in this country is exhausting.
Moreton Bay
The Australian defence and strategy position is to maximise our capabilities to fit our needs.
If Israel told us what to do, we wouldn't be party to a two state solution, wouldn't recognise Palestine, and wouldn't have overturned Morrisons recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital.
If Israel told us what to do, we wouldn't be party to a two state solution, wouldn't recognise Palestine, and wouldn't have overturned Morrisons recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital.
January 21, 2026 at 1:11 PM
The Australian defence and strategy position is to maximise our capabilities to fit our needs.
If Israel told us what to do, we wouldn't be party to a two state solution, wouldn't recognise Palestine, and wouldn't have overturned Morrisons recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital.
If Israel told us what to do, we wouldn't be party to a two state solution, wouldn't recognise Palestine, and wouldn't have overturned Morrisons recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital.
They manufacture most of the best military equipment available for sale. Australia's position is to buy the best military equipment available. Our strategic arrangement is interrelated to that - hence basing. Pine Gap and Five Eyes is, again, similar but different.
January 21, 2026 at 1:08 PM
They manufacture most of the best military equipment available for sale. Australia's position is to buy the best military equipment available. Our strategic arrangement is interrelated to that - hence basing. Pine Gap and Five Eyes is, again, similar but different.
I could, but they'd probably scratch their heads and wonder what I'm ranting about.
January 21, 2026 at 1:02 PM
I could, but they'd probably scratch their heads and wonder what I'm ranting about.
China doesn't own it, they lease it. They can be thrown out on their arse whenever the Australian government sees fit. Currently, the lease is being shopped around for a new owner, with the government being the one doing the spruiking. Not all things are simple 'isms'
January 21, 2026 at 12:59 PM
China doesn't own it, they lease it. They can be thrown out on their arse whenever the Australian government sees fit. Currently, the lease is being shopped around for a new owner, with the government being the one doing the spruiking. Not all things are simple 'isms'
China ultimately will in many areas because it is has larger economic capacity. The US has to compete for the first time since WW2 and unlike most nations, is not quite sure how to (many of us who weren't the only global superpower figured it out decades ago)
January 21, 2026 at 12:52 PM
China ultimately will in many areas because it is has larger economic capacity. The US has to compete for the first time since WW2 and unlike most nations, is not quite sure how to (many of us who weren't the only global superpower figured it out decades ago)
Not really. We've been deliberately diversifying our supply chains so that China or any other country doesn't fart and cause a tsunami. But we sell to whoever wants to buy at the best price and let the consumer imports rip. Our military is US based because we buy the best that's going.
January 21, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Not really. We've been deliberately diversifying our supply chains so that China or any other country doesn't fart and cause a tsunami. But we sell to whoever wants to buy at the best price and let the consumer imports rip. Our military is US based because we buy the best that's going.
That's economics. If they want to carry a loss at their expense and give us the benefit - more fool them. Australia has been a very Ricardian comparative advantage economic place going on 4 generations now.
January 21, 2026 at 12:43 PM
That's economics. If they want to carry a loss at their expense and give us the benefit - more fool them. Australia has been a very Ricardian comparative advantage economic place going on 4 generations now.
Those half a dozen rural seats will get exactly what they voted for.
January 21, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Those half a dozen rural seats will get exactly what they voted for.
More to the point, it's the enemy you can control the most.
January 21, 2026 at 12:32 PM
More to the point, it's the enemy you can control the most.
Makes no difference to us at all as long as they buy. We don't make trade a moral crusade, be it selling ore or grain to China, or judging the morality of the baker we buy our bread from. We generally think people who do that must have been kicked in the head by a horse when they were a kid.
January 21, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Makes no difference to us at all as long as they buy. We don't make trade a moral crusade, be it selling ore or grain to China, or judging the morality of the baker we buy our bread from. We generally think people who do that must have been kicked in the head by a horse when they were a kid.
The less the Australian media pays attention the better, the more the Australian population pays attention off their own bat the better.
January 21, 2026 at 12:12 PM
The less the Australian media pays attention the better, the more the Australian population pays attention off their own bat the better.
Reposted by Possum
Slight tangent, but it has been said many times that Indonesia gets nowhere near the attention politically and economically that it merits, and this is perhaps nowhere near as true in the inverse ratio to how important the relationship is as in Australia.
January 21, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Slight tangent, but it has been said many times that Indonesia gets nowhere near the attention politically and economically that it merits, and this is perhaps nowhere near as true in the inverse ratio to how important the relationship is as in Australia.
I couldn't agree more!
January 21, 2026 at 11:55 AM
I couldn't agree more!
They're a bit like the old lefty joke where you put 5 teals in a room and you'll get 9 factions.
January 21, 2026 at 11:29 AM
They're a bit like the old lefty joke where you put 5 teals in a room and you'll get 9 factions.
Chaos, and not particular well organised, all looking for a messiah. And I'm here for it! 🤣
January 21, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Chaos, and not particular well organised, all looking for a messiah. And I'm here for it! 🤣
Half of Australia would have to prefer them. Good luck with that!
January 21, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Half of Australia would have to prefer them. Good luck with that!
For anyone that wants a heads about how you can't beat the data system but you can play it - go to your financial provider and get a completely isolated credit card with a $500 limit. Use that for your rando online purchases and verification services. Your data becomes meaningless that way.
January 21, 2026 at 11:17 AM
For anyone that wants a heads about how you can't beat the data system but you can play it - go to your financial provider and get a completely isolated credit card with a $500 limit. Use that for your rando online purchases and verification services. Your data becomes meaningless that way.
And like all dodgy governments, they got a term too long because you only get one Bill Shorten in your political life.
January 21, 2026 at 11:10 AM
And like all dodgy governments, they got a term too long because you only get one Bill Shorten in your political life.
The funny part about that is that I said it just before they chucked a tanty and resigned en masse. The spewin' was a brewin'
January 21, 2026 at 11:03 AM
The funny part about that is that I said it just before they chucked a tanty and resigned en masse. The spewin' was a brewin'
Me too. So saying, tonight, the Australian equivalent of the Republicans just split themselves into at least 4 separate parties. The Liberal Party, the National Party, the Liberal National Party, and One Nation hanging around like vultures. These clowns aren't organised enough to bring the bins in.
January 21, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Me too. So saying, tonight, the Australian equivalent of the Republicans just split themselves into at least 4 separate parties. The Liberal Party, the National Party, the Liberal National Party, and One Nation hanging around like vultures. These clowns aren't organised enough to bring the bins in.
Some might. When these clowns get cranky it's all pretty unpredictable
January 21, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Some might. When these clowns get cranky it's all pretty unpredictable