Author: Wayne Offer

Put the questions, invite thoughts, respond truthfully.

The Great Banking Rip Off

I

It 

probably goes without saying everyone takes interest when the Reserve reviews interest rates as that effects just about 75-80% of any population..The rest are in too rich to care or in total poverty… 

Then ever wonder why Politicians either run for cover or praise themselves around that time depending on the political climate. Blame is important, in fact a priority depending on the call. 

While all this media focus is on the bank charge rate no one ever questions the rate the banks lend to each other, so whatever rate is decided the banks can and do manipulate rates so their profits are not only maintained but flourish unchecked until annual reporting to the shareholders.. 

Someone has to pay, and it’s not the big end of town.

Now you will notice the Bank Executives are paid by performance based salaries so the bigger the profits the more they bag.. And of course those numbers would not be slanted to suit them.. How cynical am I ?

The crux of the matter is we need a full open investigation into the banking sector, no boundaries, and only the political parties who have something to hide or mates to protect would not support such a Commission into Banking. 

 

 

When The Trickle Down Dries Up

 

Tired if the election yet?

Well I’m tired of the rot about how important this government has said the word business.
Apart from divorcing themselves from the Liberal Party and Logo this government has also divorced itself from the truth about how good they are to small business.
The simple fact is if people especially in the working sector of this nation has money in their pocket they will spend on small business, the treats of life, the nice to, not need to, items.
That’s the same small business retail sector that struggles with the rents, outgoings, as usually family businesses do, not the ones that can write off a $6k toaster.
The Spiel is they refer to Small Business but they really mean Big End Business, the ones that donate to the party, the ones that avoid tax, the ones that will get the tax cut, while all the time they are conning the Small Business owner that they are one of them.
Small business needs the little bloke to spend, not the trickle down from the Silver Tails of Turnbull, as they don’t frequent the food courts, they don’t live and work in the retail food and hospitality sector, that’s beyond their status, but every election you see them don the hi-vis, go to the coffee shops, sandwich bars, pretending they care.
As a former small business owner, I knew where my bread and butter came from and it wasn’t the elite, it was the pensioners, the workers, the ones on struggle street that gave their family a treat, the same that fills the car up, gets the car serviced, buys the paint, that new jumper, or go to a club or pub for a meal treat for the family, the simple things in life that are so important to a mum and dad and not taken for granted.
I agonise when is see Small Business people with stars in their eyes every time a Tory says “Your one of Us” without adding “Till after polling day”. Then it’s Market forces created by the their Elite that govern weather you go broke.

Bias Media

In regard to the editorial re Joanne Miller and the denial of bias of the Queensland Times, I as a reader and subscriber since about 1983 would like to express my views. To set the record straight from the start I am a member of the Alp and never have denied the fact in my letters to the editor unlike many who are members of political party’s and are active writers yet do not declare, howeverthat’s their option in a democracy.
The issue the Queensland Times started for me when Choat and Berry were kicked out along with the Government and within a week we had the paper openly lobbying for Choat to take over Maddens vacant position in Somerset while council worked through the process of replacement.
Then BBQ mate “Choaty” story left no doubt the alignment of editor with the LNP man and using The Famous Joh quote “Fly with the Crows, Be Shot as a Crow” badge was firmly pinned on.
Currently the paper has endorsed “Choaty” in his attempt to get his head back into the public trough in local government without any other candidate getting a run. Mates Rates come to mind immediately.
So when it comes to Miller, and she is not talking to the paper for some time, then why has it run stories on her retirement and other assumptions which have been proven baseless.
Yes she made mistakes as a Minister and paid accordingly, but ministerial failures are not just from the Alp, just ask our Prime Minister, and that has not made any editorials has it?
The fact is,Miller like her or not, she has performed better that many and survived elections where many have failed. Her electorate voted for her in darkest times of of the ALP existence, the people of Bundamba have spoken. That’s democracy and the QT’s denial of its vendetta fails the pub test miserably.
They say we all learn from our mistakes, and let’s hope the return of balanced reporting to the Ipswich people as we have had over many years from respected journalists who tear strips off both sides of politics when they deserve it.

My Australia Day

  
I suppose it’s age or just generation but as our national day approaches I do take the time to reflect on the little things that I remember made it so special then and how to remain calm now.We as kids were taught, drilled in fact nothing was more sacred than our national flag. We all had our turn as flag monitors in Primary school which entailed the presentation, unfurling, recovery, and security of the school flag at assembly time every morning on parade. 

Respect, and a sense of national pride came with those of us who were privileged to wear the emblem. Our military and our sporting representatives were the main recipients of that honour. 

It was a crime to deface, misrepresent, or damage the sacred emblem in any way and frowned upon those who attempted to use it as a political tool, and even more if it was used part of a advertising campaign. 

Well how far have we come from there in 2016??

Our toilet paper has a flag, every thing they think they can get $$$ out of gets a flag. We dress in a flag made in China or wherever or use it as a tool to split our Australian way. 

Our Flag has been sold along with our heritage some of that I might add is nothing to be proud of, a fact well hidden in my childhood and still not recognised to its full extent today especially as far as our early settlement and treatment of our Aboriginals then and today. 

Yes my Australia Day will be a time for being thankful for just being Australian, I don’t need to be in a costume to prove my patriotism, I will cringe a lot, but my standard blue singlet will be worn with a little more pride tomorrow morning, and my Paul Kelly albums volume will be increased, but that’s only my view and that’s what makes us what we are. 

Happy Australia Day All. 

Masters Retail demise

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Masters Closing its Doors!!!
When are we going to realise what is really happening to Australia?
It all started with that budget emergency remember, the one that magically disappeared one the LNP took office. Then we lost our car industry, thousands of workers and feeder industries gone without any regard to the workers and families.
Then it was the Solar industries turn, targeted to keep the big coal executives cheques rolling in to party coffers, more jobs gone, then Wind energy demonised just to keep the ball rolling against renewables.
Then came the Health sector, the age care sector, education, mental health all slashed or priced out of Joe Citizens pocket.
See the trend yet?
Then we wonder why the Dick Smiths, Now Masters and other retail outlets are walking away simply because the average person is battling by the day and consequently more jobless hitting streets across the nation.
You will also notice these are all labour intensive industries, little people selling their labour to survive, while no massive changes in the top end, where tax avoidance is the underground culture practiced by the elite, while all the time the the government work to reduce penalty rates and other worker conditions.
Full time jobs are a dream to most, part time and several jobs to survive make it look like employment figures are fluid, while all the time the unemployed ranks are rising.
It’s nor rocket science that this government will lead this country into a recession, a planned recession, one that will allow it to starve the labour force, elderly, and disadvantaged into giving up its rights then ideologically restructuring it as per instruction by its corporate backers.
Australian culture is being redefined under our noses and where we were a nation together growing, achieving, we are being led down a path of division where the divide and rule culture is regarded as good business practice.

The Murdock job By The Queensland Times

So the Queensland Times has decided to do a Rupert Murdock job on Joanne Miller.Surprised? No reader who reads the paper today should be.

Think back to editorials pre poll when then pre LNP government was swept from power then paper went looking for a job for the LNP BBQ mate “Choaty” to get Maddens job in Somerset. That action signalled the real position of its opinion pieces so this action today is nothing new.

When a fake belt gets headlined, one has to ask the quality of what we are expected to consume as readers or has the QT sunk to the level of News Limited.

If Miller is not performing she should be replaced, no doubt, but we expect balanced views, and the sham of impartiality in today’s edition is a facade.

My confidence is with the local kid from Inala sorting it, and for the the spats between Goodna and Ipswich politicians, that’s no different to the local divisions between the Liberals and the Nationals interfactional bun fights that are never reported to the Ipswich readers.

Terror Termites

I don’t know about you but if you’ve ever had to deal with white ants or termites in you house it can become very nerve racking.I discovered them and I’ve had 2 guys have a go and I still got the little suckers.

I’ve avoided doing repairs until I am absolutely convinced they have gone or all you do in lock them up and away the go again… 

Entrapment they call it… 

It certainly tests your metal once you’ve had them as you are conscious of every bit of soft and hard wood in your house, looking for indicators..

Sleepless nights lying awake thinking where they might be now wears you down…

I can honestly say the Pest Controllers are good but the ants are better in survival.

Monday it infa-red technology unleashed and let’s hope it’s the last time and I can start working in repairs in confidence… 

And be aware nothing is off the menu if their hungry.. 

Truth after Defrocking 

So our ex Prime Minister is in England telling his like minded Christians to close borders and turn back refugees.That’s a real Christian thing to do isn’t it?

Preserve the race he said, don’t let your culture be contaminated with foreigners, fine words from a good Catholic ex priest. 

Whatever way you look at it it has the Arian Hitler undertones, Or is it they do not want other religions on their patch or both. 

The right to seek asylum is becoming non existent, in fact it’s becoming a crime, supported by a brotherhood of frightened old men around the world clinging to power that will do and say anything to keep the population dumb enough and scared enough to retain their pay packets.

In Australia we are a country of immigrants. We committed genocide on our Aboriginals as did the Americans on their Indians, in a latter day Holocaust, something our forefathers we’re proud of. Yes we civilised the savages, but it was their home , we invaded, raped and pillaged as did the Romans and Vikings, but ours was in the name of God. Our God, not theirs, so that justifies the end result. 

But we feel threatened when we see people fleeing oppression wanting sanctuary. Have we been led up the garden path so much we are now so insecure in our own country, a land born on multiculturalism and not to allow that multiculturalism to flourish and evolve would be tragic.

If we have the old men have won. The old adages of divide and conquer, dumb them down, information is power, we will tell you only what you need to know, trust us we know more about… Be aware be scared, it’s the migrants fault.. All spin to keep the brotherhood in tact regardless of what side of centralised political spectrum is in power. 

In our case Abbott the ex PM run the case “stop the boats” stating he was providing to put the people smugglers out of business, but today the true case was to stop immigrants from our cultural contamination, which strangely while in power denied their was any racial undertones by only giving Christians minority’s visas.

Amazing how the truth appears when going abroad, without the spin doctors, but be aware we probably are witnessing the new career of Tony Abbott supported by Murdock on the Right Wing Nutters Circuit coming to a town near you. 

The Back Nine.

Take the time and enjoy the story from a caretaker at Lake Dyer and a client.

Two of my favourite customers whom can’t visit anymore, because they aren’t physically able to tow their caravan any more sent this. It is fantastic advice!! 
THE BACK NINE HOLES
 I FIRST STARTED READING THIS EMAIL & WAS READING FAST UNTIL I REACHED THE THIRD SENTENCE. I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER READING SLOWER AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY WORD. THIS EMAIL IS VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING. MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK. READ SLOWLY! 
 AND THEN IT IS WINTER 
 You know … time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. 
 

But, here it is… the back nine of my life and it catches me by surprise…How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? 
I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first hole and the back nine was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like. 
 But, here it is…my friends are retired and getting grey…they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me…but, I see the great change…Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant…but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d become. 
 

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore… it’s mandatory! Cause if I don’t on my own free will… I just fall asleep where I sit! 
 And so…now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though I’m on the back nine, and I’m not sure how long it will last…this I know, that when it’s over on this earth…it’s over. A new adventure will begin! Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done…things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I’m happy to have done. It’s all in a lifetime. 
 

So, if you’re not on the back nine yet…let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don’t put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you’re on the back nine or not! 
You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life…so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember…and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!! 
 

“Life” is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one. LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY ! HAVE A GREAT DAY Remember “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver. LIVE HAPPY IN 2015! 
 LASTLY, CONSIDER THIS:

~Your kids are becoming you……but your grandchildren are perfect!

~Going out is good.. Coming home is better!

~You forget names…. But it’s OK because some people forgot they even knew you!!!

~You realize you’re never going to be really good at anything like golf.

~The things you used to care to do, you aren’t as interested in anymore, but you really do care that you aren’t as interested.

~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV ‘ON’ than in bed. It’s called “pre-sleep”.

~You miss the days when everything worked with just an “ON” and “OFF” switch..

~You tend to use more 4 letter words … “what?”…”when?”… ???

~You notice everything they sell in stores is “sleeveless”?!!!

~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.

~Everybody whispers.

~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet…. 2 of which you will never wear. 
 ~~~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!! 
Stay well, “OLD FRIEND!” Send this on to other “Old Friends!” and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!! It’s Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived. 
TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.

Old Age is Great… 

You know what. I’m stuffed.After 2 days of golf last week, a day going to Mothers 86th, a day down just vegging out now today with a little shower this morning thought the atmosphere might improve. 

It hasn’t.. Lungs are still heavy..

This asbestosis shits me off no end, but it’s not going to beat me..

Battling tiredness and breathlessness daily takes it toll but I will survive. I have jobs to do on my house and that will get done. That’s what drives me and even though some days it’s sit down and rest,no choice, I will win….

What really gets me is the mind. It wants to go and the body says piss off.. And I hate starting something and not finishing it but I have learnt listening to your body helps as the recovery level takes much longer if you don’t.

Today the lungs say air better than yesterday, the body is responding, be it slowly, the mind says lest go you pair of fuck wits and get these jobs done. 

Experience says let’s see how the morning pans out… 

Anyway mother called and she no longer has a clot, or pneumonia. 

Yep, that was the diagnosis after the party, a night in hospital and both were dismissed.. 

Some times a little knowledge causes a trauma, and worst case scenarios fester. That’s why my doctor dismissed a colenoscomy as a reaction rarely needed and trauma causing at my age. Every 5 years max. Good decision I feel…. 

Yes old age is great, bits falling off and body slowly closing down, that’s nature, so it’s here for a good time not a long time. 

That’s why my golf is so important. Good friends and comradeship, playing in a buggy on flat courses, keeps me younger, playing in company of youth keeps me younger, listening to youth and keeping abreast of their technology keeps me younger.. Staying competitive via handicap keeps me younger. 

Yes recovery time is required but it’s worth every cent… And having a wife that understands sport, played sport, and still follows more sport than I do, knows that sport has never left us from the day we met at the football club where we both were playing back in about 1964. 

Anyway after watching Australia qualify for the 2015 World Cup Rugby Final against the All Blacks we are really looking forward to getting up at midnight On Monday morning for the final.. 

I am split as I love both teams, and as I have blood in both camps apparently I’ll enjoy the spectacle…. 

TBC.  

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