little things

[tielan]

So I did watch the Superbowl and as introductions to sports go, it was definitely an interesting one to watch.

Yeah, I was cheering for Atlanta to win, but you have to admire the way the Patriots pulled it up right at the end. And yes, I watched the half-time show, which was as amazing as you would fully expect a Lady Gaga show to be.

On the sobering side of things, human trafficking increases significantly in and around cities where the Superbowl is hosted in the two weeks before and behind the game.

Way to buzzkill, I know. But probably not as much buzzkill as those women (many of whom will look more like me than like you) are feeling right now.

Otherwise, today is easily 38C and in a house without a/c I have zero focus, which is proving fatal for my chocolateboxcomm. I'm melting! What a world...

I've signed up for a post Women's March 'Huddle' in my area, trying to work out how to keep things from going in the direction of the US. We're already there and past the US in some things - our refugee 'solution' has been chided by the UN repeatedly over the last few years, and our politicians have more or less ignored the matter. That's probably my big concern, although Adani mines and a focus on fossil fuels over renewables are also high in my sights, and income equality is, too - and I say this as a single who's been earning more than the average Australian household for the last five years.

I think part of it will involve getting people to contact our representatives about the issues that we're concerned, although how much that will affect the voting base is a different matter. The conservative candidate in my area won 57% of the vote before preferences, and that was a drop in support of 4.3%! AEC stats here. (Also, I suspect the downswing in his votes went partly to the Greens, but mostly to the Fred Nile Group, who are the Australian version of American Evangelicals.)

Still, it'll be interesting to go along and see what things they suggest, and maybe find out if there's interest in other women up this way. Or, get some ideas about how to start doing things up this way.

--

I took one of those 'political personality' tests for Australian politics and am apparently an activist egalitarian and a progressive cosmopolitan, with a squidge of ambitious saver which I probably could have told you if I'd had the language for it. :)

Activist Egalitarians have a strong social conscience and believe governments should intervene to make society more equitable. Strong believers in the redistribution of wealth and public investment, they are socially progressive, support climate action and want to protect Australian manufacturing.

This group is quite evenly split between city and regional, and across age groups.
Generally speaking, the less you earn the more likely you are to be an Egal.
Victorians are twice as likely to be an Active Egal as a Queenslander.
Nearly 21 per cent of women are Egals, but only 15.5 per cent of men.

Most likely to get on with: Progressive Cosmopolitans, particularly around social issues.
Least likely to get on with: Anti-Establishment Firebrands are not your friends.

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Internationalist in outlook, Progressive Cosmopolitans embrace multiculturalism and are politically engaged. They are very motivated by social issues such as climate action and the treatment of asylum seekers. While likely to be thought of as "left-wing", they differ from Activist Egalitarians by being less strongly concerned with the redistribution of wealth. They relish change and don't seek a return to the Australia of years gone by.

Capital city dwellers are nearly twice as likely to be a Cosmo as those in regional areas.
Those with a university education are twice as likely to be Cosmos.
Nearly a third of 18- to 24-year-olds are Cosmos, but that drops to 10 per cent by the 55-64 age bracket.
People earning more than $90,000 are twice as likely to be a Cosmo as those on less than $52,000.

Most likely to get on with: Activist Egalitarians, just avoid talking about tax/welfare.
Least likely to get on with: You'll likely find Prudent Traditionalists a bit vanilla for your tastes.

Does that mean I should avoid talking about tax to myself? :)

Details of the various types are here (Sydney Morning Herald)

--

I suspect I'm about to fall behind in the halfamoon prompts...

Comments

[monanotlisa]

On the sobering side of things, human trafficking increases significantly in and around cities where the Superbowl is hosted in the two weeks before and behind the game.

Oh, God. I'm not surprised (but also hadn't thought about it). What would one do about that, stay vigilant and look out for women being hurried around by dudes, then alert the police? (In the Bay Area the police are in on trafficking sometimes...)

[tielan]

They've been training flight attendants and airline agents to keep an eye out for people being trafficked, particularly around this time of year, so that's a start.

Probably the question would be best asked of women's groups who deal with the victims of trafficking, rather than the police. They'd be familiar with the process, sympathetic to the women (I presume), and have the best idea of what things work.

[heliopausa]

Well, Labor did manage an upswing in your electorate, even with a blatantly weak candidate. (I don't know him at all; I'm just going on his CV, as presented at the election.) The upswing was tiny, but still, it was there.

You could push for a stronger candidate - actually, no kidding, you yourself would be a good candidate. (Pick your party!)

[tielan]

Labor did manage an upswing. But the person (apart from the Liberal guy) who did the most canvassing in our area was the Greens member - lots of chatting to people at the station. It didn't result in that big a swing; disillusioned conservatives are more likely to go to another conservative candidate rather than the Greens who are seen as a little crazy up this way.

And LOL, I'm not sure I could imagine anything more horrific than going into politics! But thank you - I'll take that as a compliment. :D