Dingo
It will no longer be legal for transnational pharmaceutical
corporations to bribe doctors with fancy caviar dinners and
nightclub entertainment at swank holiday resorts. The Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission has introduced trial
restrictions on doctor bribing, allowing only quiches and salad
rolls and banning strip clubs and yacht cruises where
traditionally "medical instruction" has taken place to ensure
doctors purchase the "right" brand of drug for their practices.
The Commission will conduct random checks ("Is that a lobster or
a garter in your salad?") to see that these monstrously heavy
regulations are being adhered to by the good and honest folk at
Pfizer and Monsanto.
* * *
Did you know that the word "dole" has a strong association with
the term "dole bludger"? A report from the Centre for Applied
Economic Research at the University of NSW suggests that the
Government change the name of its Work for the Dole Scheme
because "it stigmatises participants by reinforcing negative
stereotypes of the unemployed". Sure, that's what's wrong. It
doesn't have a snappy enough title. How about "Cheap Labour
Pride" or "subsidisedslavery.com".
* * *
If there was a Hypocrite of the Year award it would have to go to
PM Howard. If we need reminding, Howard committed Australia to
the criminal bombing, invasion and occupation of Iraq. His
Government's immigration policy locks up asylum seekers, men
women and children, including many Iraqis. Last week Howard paid
"tribute" to the visiting Iraqi soccer team prior to its first
game, in Perth. "I know this match will touch the hearts of
sports supporters around the globe." And he didn't even bother to
go to the game: his puerile platitudes were delivered in a
recorded message.
* * *
On the other hand, Howard would have shown up if the military
were at the Perth match. Since the UN force entered East Timor in
1999 he has presided over no less than 30 farewell and welcome
home ceremonies for the defence forces, each time personally
addressing the troops (in the presence of a gaggles of media, of
course). And almost in the same breath he denies promoting
militarism. The endless parades and speechmaking has also been an
attempt by the Government to shift public attention away from the
lies about weapons of mass destruction on which the war was
based.
* * *
CAPITALIST HOG OF THE WEEK: is Federal Industry Minister, Ian
Macfarlane. Responsible for eliminating tariff protection for
Australia's clothing, textile, footwear and car industries (a
more accurate title would be Minister for Destroying Industry).
One of Macfarlane's favourite people is Colin Powell, who he
says, "has a number of good rules" including, "Don't let adverse
facts get in the way of a good decision".