farmdoc's blog post number 167

Of the previous 166 Farmdoc’s Blog posts, the eight [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8] about politicians demonstrate that they aren’t my favourite people. One of Tasmania’s 12 senators is the ALP’s Kerry O’Brien (no, not the TV personality) who sends newsletters (scintillatingly titled Senate News) on glossy, non-recycled paper to his constituents of whom I’m, of course. one. I’ve just received the August 2008 issue – a folded A3 sheet, giving four A4 sized pages. On the back page is an article about ‘Preventing Falls for Older Farmers’ which I eagerly read. On the centrefold two pages is a lengthy item titled ‘What is the Government’s Green paper on Climate Change all about?’ Climate change has been called by Sir David King, until 2007 the UK’s Chief Scientific Advisor, ‘the most severe problem we are facing today’. I agree with Sir David, and I expect you do too. So what, let’s wonder, is page 1 of Senator O’Brien’s August Senate News devoted to. That is, what does he think is more important than climate change. Folks, his lead article is ‘An AFL team for Tasmania?’ With our nation’s myriad social, environmental and economic problems, the Senator’s focus is on football. And he’s referred the issue to a Senate Committee. Oh joy. Oh rapture. Do we get the politicians we deserve? You betcha.