So much stuff, so little time

Am quite short of time this morning as I am working on a detailed work thing (yes, a spreadsheet Pete) that needs to be done by the end of today.  I worked on it all the way home and need to get into it this morning on the way in.  I hate that… means you literally are spending 13hrs of the day at work – 7am to 8pm.  No time, other than this little post, to do other stuff.

The interest rates went up yesterday.  For me, its probably close to another $100 a month that I have to scrounge around for.  Wont be too hard I suppose, but it is really annoying.  With petrol jumping to $1.34+ a litre and add in another interest rate hike, it just makes things harder.  I am sure for a lot of people it is getting close to the bone in terms of being able to afford to live comfortably.  I don’t know what this society is doing though.  Niki and I watched a program on Foxtel last night about American children that have been impacted by poverty and drugs and crime and violence and abuse of all kinds.  It painted a very grim picture of society in the US and having been there, it is a very real element to their society.  The number of poor people (and I mean dirt poor) is astounding and these people are having kids that they a) can’t raise properly and b) that are affected mentally and physically by drugs and violence.  This program last night was fascinating, but then you have to say “is that lifestyle coming to Australia?”

And I would say the answer is definitely yes.  Our gun crime is increasing, children are showing less empathy and they are struggling to get a decent education with more and more kids being placed on drugs like Ritalin and generally we’re witnessing the breakdown of society.

John Howard wants to paint the picture that Australia is a land of modest homes in suburbia with loving parents and children living modest but comfortable lives.  Unfortunately that is becoming less and less like reality as the country continues to horde a huge surplus, spend money on warmongering and leaving public utilities either underfunded (hospitals and education) or sold of for corporate profit (Telstra and CBA).

The end result is that living is becoming too expensive and that results in the value of a human life is being reduced, and for the US that value seems to have hit negligible worth.

I seem to have ranted a bit this morning, apologies if its rubbish…

Listening:  Gorillaz “Demon Days”

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