It's true that the danger of martyrdom is sadly present in the present situation. So maybe a better prayer is for thwarting at every turn?
And to be honest, our federal government also devolved a lot of responsibility to the states. But the states held the line - particularly the 'big three' of the east coast - NSW, Victoria, and Queensland. Lots of people in, lots of people out, lots of movement between the states. Two Labor (centrist) state governments, one Liberals/National Party - LNP - (right wing) state government; but they all held the line - and one of the Labor premiers even held onto and secured her governments for another four years in an election less than a month ago.
Alas, our LNP in NSW has been rocked by scandals: more corruption in politics, including the Premier turning out to have known her boy-toy (also a politician) was involved in some questionable shit and turning a blind eye. She's held her job for the moment, but...man.
The difference is that the Federal Gove did shell out money for unemployed Australians - and grumbled a LOT about it - but not for overseas visa holders, temporary workers, or refugees. And all the recovery focus from the federal government has been "building, trades, fossil fuel industries" with almost nothing on arts, sciences, social work, or education. Now, tell me what the difference between the majority makeup of the workers in those two groups is, and you'll see that our LNP is pretty much GOP-lite: and trying to drag us to the American model all the way.
Sorry. That got long and I have Feelings about our present government(s). They've managed the situation well, but that's mostly because of the management of the states, not the feds. The only thing the feds have provided is the money for the unemployed - I think the equivalent is your HEROES act that the US Senate won't pass? On the other hand, that unemployment (and rent freezes, etc.) went quite a way to giving people the leeway to stay home and not have to risk themselves and others.
But the idea of Scott Morrison (PM) taking credit for the work of Dan Andrews (Victoria's premier) - who he and the Murdoch Media and the Victorian state LNP battered at like it was all out war? Boils my blood.
no subject
And to be honest, our federal government also devolved a lot of responsibility to the states. But the states held the line - particularly the 'big three' of the east coast - NSW, Victoria, and Queensland. Lots of people in, lots of people out, lots of movement between the states. Two Labor (centrist) state governments, one Liberals/National Party - LNP - (right wing) state government; but they all held the line - and one of the Labor premiers even held onto and secured her governments for another four years in an election less than a month ago.
Alas, our LNP in NSW has been rocked by scandals: more corruption in politics, including the Premier turning out to have known her boy-toy (also a politician) was involved in some questionable shit and turning a blind eye. She's held her job for the moment, but...man.
The difference is that the Federal Gove did shell out money for unemployed Australians - and grumbled a LOT about it - but not for overseas visa holders, temporary workers, or refugees. And all the recovery focus from the federal government has been "building, trades, fossil fuel industries" with almost nothing on arts, sciences, social work, or education. Now, tell me what the difference between the majority makeup of the workers in those two groups is, and you'll see that our LNP is pretty much GOP-lite: and trying to drag us to the American model all the way.
Sorry. That got long and I have Feelings about our present government(s). They've managed the situation well, but that's mostly because of the management of the states, not the feds. The only thing the feds have provided is the money for the unemployed - I think the equivalent is your HEROES act that the US Senate won't pass? On the other hand, that unemployment (and rent freezes, etc.) went quite a way to giving people the leeway to stay home and not have to risk themselves and others.
But the idea of Scott Morrison (PM) taking credit for the work of Dan Andrews (Victoria's premier) - who he and the Murdoch Media and the Victorian state LNP battered at like it was all out war? Boils my blood.