She just turned ninety, her body withering along with her mind. She dithers and smiles, walks slowly among the isles, she is never alone when outside, she remains lonely. She has always been a pensioner, never worked. Her husband died thirty years ago, now with three adult kids. She is without want, despite wishing she had her youth back. Her middle son, in his fifties, has never worked. Now, full time carer, paid to look after his own mother. He has no kids, never married. He boasts about his pokie wins, and treats himself to a massage twice a month, each ending happy. He takes pride in his...

This is an older allegory thing that I wrote back in early 2022   The Mountain of Ambition   Imagine if you will that upon the horizon sits an impressive mountain. It is the distant fixture that confronts you every day. So far away and yet, it stands as it has since before history. A thought popped into your mind, ‘I would love to climb to the top of that mountain some day’. It is at first a seed of an idea, until you declare it to others. The declaration becomes a mandate, one that mutates into an obsession. You do not need a reason why that you want to accomplish this feat, only...

He walked nearly twelve kilometres, barefoot, hungry. Most children like him, if they are lucky eat a single meal every second or third day. When he arrived to where the wheat was being distributed, he smiled. He was happy. Grateful. He kissed the hand of the American contractor who took the above photos. Then IDF snipers shot him. Killed him along with others. The world saw it. Soon, in places like Australia, it will be harder to see such things. Aussies love government, love laws banning things. Speech, what we can see, hear, say. But, do the governments need censorship? Did the Wikileaks...

Recently Patrick Macfarlane, my fellow, fellow at this dear Institute discussed on his Vital Dissent podcast the Kazuo Ishiguro novel, Never Let Me Go. In his books Ishiguro frequently covers memories, relationships and the human condition. Never Let Me Go, is a dystopian book on the meaning of individual life and how systems, hierarchies and society itself can value and categories people based on collective and ideological needs. I suggest listening to Patrick’s podcast for an in depth break down. I will not reveal any spoilers. Only, care to elaborate and expand on certain themes. I read...

In 1988 authorities began their investigations into the allegations that important people from business and government were involved in child sex trafficking. It turned into a scandal. The investigations ended in 1990 when it was concluded that the allegations were unfounded. The ‘Franklin Scandal’ was mostly isolated to Nebraska. Despite victims coming forward, and witnesses confirming that businessman Lawrence E King held parties that featured the abuse of minors, it was a political hot potato. Many claimed it was a cover up. Prominent conservative politicians attended the sex parties,...

There was a study in April, 2024 that showed the IDF attacks between 7th October and 22nd November of 2023 on hospitals, schools and water infrastructure in Gaza were not “random.” The IDF response to the 7th October terrorist attack was absolute. Revenge on a people. Sympathy for the Israeli government concluded, “there needed to be a response.” The Palestinians, most of them youth, were decided as guilty. It had been stated on numerous occasions, because decades earlier they had elected Hamas. There had been no elections since. The Hamas regime needed to go, if the people won’t do it. They...