Those poor carbon tax affected people: won’t somebody please think of the housewives

Alright. I am completely incapable of stopping myself from commenting on this:
http://m.news.com.au/TopStories/fi910935.htm;jsessionid=AD1415A4CDC035C34C4D4A3C514207B3#fia910935

Because I'm so enraged by this, I will keep my comments brief:
- Who exactly is the leader of the opposition in this country? Tony Abbott or the daily Telegraph?
- The guy earns $150,000.00 a year after 'working bloody hard’ and his wife stays at home. Here's a thought; get a job like my mum had to if it is that hard.
- The figure quoted is $700 per year. Err, what? That's crazy! He's really going to miss that $1.91 a day! Worst still, that equates to $13.46 per week. Seriously, get over yourself.

This is all Howard's fault. Australians have become used to his bloody middle class welfare and have become accustom to complaining about how hard they have it. This country makes me sick sometimes.

Occupy Brisbane

The other day on the bus, I was disturbed from my blank-eyed torpor by the radio station to which I was idly listening (if listening is the right word for the tired mindless state that commercial radio stations often induce in me) interviewing a man who spoke for the Occupy Brisbane protest.

I understand their view that some corporations are so greedy that they do not assess their decisions on the scale of right and wrong, but rather on the continuum of legal to illegal. However, the way in which this guy went on and on about equality for the masses and sharing 99% of the wealth amongst 99% of the population annoyed me. As a disabled dude, I am very much aware that equal opportunity does not equate to equal outcome; after all, many socioeconomic factors play a very important part in one’s ability to strive and achieve in life. ON the other hand, I believe that if you work hard, you should get the rewards for that. Those hippies who have the time to sleep out in Post Office Square for a few weeks, who would in all likelihood be unable to work during that time, should study the history of politics, work hard and try to change the world through hard work. That’s the only way they will achieve anything; camping out and making a public nuisance of themselves will make them no friends and change nothing.

Let’s talk about tax, baby

Yep, you guessed it, today I want to talk about the carbon tax.  Well, no, that’s not strictly true.  Today I want to talk about the divide between those who think the carbon tax is as good as a relaxing scratch of the balls and those who think it is the worst thing since Kit Kats changed their wrapping.

I’ll start by admitting that I find the denial of climate change or the view that the bottom line figure is the most important indicator of a well-functioning society to be beyond stupid (woops, I give a lot away by using the word ‘society’, rather than ‘economy’ to describe the country in which we live).  Nevertheless, I’m not convinced the carbon tax is the best way of bringing about the change in societal behaviours that I consider necessary to reduce emissions.  In my view, and I admit I am no economist, you need a stick to force people to change, but a carrot to reward them once they do.  With the carbon tax, the perception is that the average little guy gets bashed with the stick again and again and again.  I don’t think this is necessarily an accurate way of thinking, but that seems to be the prevailing societal view.

I can’t help but to place the blame on the News Ltd papers for this.  Just today, an article begins with the following:

“BIG banks, accountants and lawyers are among the big winners to cash in on the carbon plan, as companies wrestle with reporting requirements arising from the tax."

As we can see, those pesky lawyers, accountants and big banks get all the damned money… Typical.   And this one:

"PRIME Minister Julia Gillard's carbon pricing sales pitch has been dealt a fresh blow after one of the country's top retailers declared the policy was partly to blame for a dramatic collapse in consumer confidence."

It wouldn't be at all related to scandals surrounding one of the country's top retailers would it, or the fact that they're so expensive that people have had enough and are buying similar products online?  No.  Definitely not.

Have you also noticed how people have begun using the slogans that Tony Abbott comes out with?  For example that Julia Gillard does not have a mandate to introduce a carbon tax.  Huh?  Since when!  She won the election.  Ok, she only formed government with the help of the greens and the independents, but that’s normal!  For goodness sake, the Liberal and National parties have had a similar arrangement for ages (yes, I realise that this is more formalised, but the end result is the same). 

Lastly, it has been settled law for decades that promises made on the campaign trial are not binding in contract.  So, even though Julia Gillard may have promised not to introduce a carbon tax, she is not bound to that promise.  Additionally, she made it clear that she thought action on climate change was important. 

I know I have rambled, but the point I am trying to make is that the divide is a false one, perpetrated by those with a specific agenda.  It is ok to be against the carbon tax, but don’t spout this rubbish about not having a mandate, or that the Prime Minister cannot be trusted or that it is the little guy that takes it in the neck.  That makes the issue about personality and fear, rather than about policy, which is unhelpful and irritating to those of us who want a science-based discussion on climactic change.

What is it like to play for Australia in Goalball?

Since I’m gut-wrenchingly bored at work today, I may as well kick this blog off properly.  Today I want to talk about Goalball, in particular playing for the Australian Men’s team. 

Goalball, just in case you don’t know (of which there is a good chance), is a team sport played on an in-door volleyball court.  It consists of two teams of three who are trying to peg a ball past the opposing team and trying to stop the other team from scoring through them.  The ball weighs 1.25 KG and it has bells in it, which is pretty important given that everyone on court is blindfolded.  Still confused?  No worries – here is a link to some highlights of a game played at the Beijing Paralympics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X492Z01-Gk8

Alright, so that done, this is what has been going on.  The Men’s team has been trying to get to the London Paralympics.  We failed in our bid to qualify at the World Championships in Sheffield in 2010, as well as coming nowhere near where we needed to in order to qualify at the IBSA Blind Games in Turkey this year.  That, frankly, sucked.  Nevertheless, we have one more shot; we have the Africa/Oceania regional qualifying tournament in November this year.  The last we heard it was being played in Australia, where we’ll be coming up against such teams as New Zealand, Algeria and whoever else wants to come.

The one awesome thing about playing for Australia in a sport that no one knows about is that (1) I can play at that level (look at all the poor suckers who play cricket in Australia and who will never wear the baggy green) and (2) the media doesn’t care (so my bad performances won’t be analysed and writ large on the front pages of newspapers).  The downside is that I’m the only one who cares if I get up at 5 in the morning to go to gym, or eat dinner after 9pm due to finishing training late.  My team are the only people who appreciate the pain in my right hip at every jarring step in my run up and my physiotherapist is the only person who knows how stiff and scarred my right ankle is from tearing ligaments in it last year.  Lastly, very few people realise what a strain training at the requisite level is having on my marriage. 

But, here’s the thing.  Despite all the downsides, I love it.  I love playing with my team-mates for Australia.  It is such a wonderful experience to sing your national anthem whilst wearing the green and gold.  Although the Men’s team hasn’t had much success lately, any game we do win feels so sweet, because you know the shit you’ve all put yourselves through to get there.  The adrenalin that I feel when I first set up in my defensive position against an international opponent, waiting for the game to begin, is only comparable in my mind to that which I felt when about to skydive for the first time.  Even describing that feeling makes my heart flutter and my hands shake to a slight degree with nervous excitement. 

I want so badly to succeed.  I want to get to the Paralympic games in London in 2012.  I’m turning 27 in august and I feel that this could be my last shot at the Paralympics.  So much is dependent on how the Men’s team performs in November.  Am I scared?  Absolutely.  Every training session, every training camp, each session in the gym is bringing me inevitably closer to my own personal judgment day.  Am I going to be good enough?  Is my team going to be good enough?  Are the coaches going to be tactically ready?  These are the questions that resound in my head from day to day.  I guess the old ‘wait and see’ approach is in order, but it is easier said than done.  

That’s probably enough for one day.  I have some work to do before I go to gym.

Welcome to the first, and definitely not last (no, seriously), blog!

Ok, so, I’ve decided to write a blog.  And why not?  I mean, all sorts of people have them.  Indeed, I’ve had one before, which, for a couple of months or so, housed some of the short stories I have written.  So what has provoked me into starting another blog you may ask?  Well, that’s an interesting question and one which deserves its own paragraph.

I’ve recently worked out that not many people think the way I do or have any concept of the way in which I live.  And why should they?  I’m a blind dude with a guide dog and a wife that can’t drive.  I don’t own a car, I don’t want or have kids, I play for Australia in an obscure sport that no one has heard of and I play music in a band whose music has never been heard outside of our bedroom based studio.  What’s more, I write weird and dark stories with a sci-fi fantasy leaning that are only read and enjoyed by me.  

My idea is to write about my experiences as a married 26 year old blind guy living in suburban Australia.  I will also write about how it is to play for one’s country without accolades.  I will discuss any interesting books that I might have read, or music that I may have heard.  Knowing me, I’ll probably rant about politics, religion and whatever else annoys me from time to time.  I will attempt to make it as interesting as possible.  I hope you come back.