What you see, is rarely what you get.

This is an oldy but a goody and worth remembering as we line up to vote:

"CHOICES........................

While walking down the street one day a "Member of Parliament" is
tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter.. 'Before you settle in, it seems
there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts,
you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is
have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose
where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the MP.

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,
down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle
of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in
front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked
with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him,
shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while
getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and
champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly & nice guy who
has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good
time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator
rises....

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St.
Peter is waiting for him.

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

So, 24 hours pass with the MP joining a group of contented souls moving
from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good
time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.
Peter returns.

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now
choose your eternity.'

The MP reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have
said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would
be better off in hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down
to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren
land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and
putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. 'I
don't understand,' stammers the MP. 'Yesterday I was here and there was
a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank
champagne, and danced and had a great time.. Now there's just a
wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.


What happened?'

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were
campaigning... ...


Today you voted.'

Money, Money, Money

Lately I have been having many a conversation with friends on the costs/benefits of the mining industry to Australia. It has been an interesting experience to see the different opinions that have emerged from a group who are normally quite like minded.

First I want to say that I understand the importance of the resource industry to Australia, I am in no way suggesting that we damage the industry. I just have a few concerns that I will raise over time.

After watching the ABC's 4 Corners  http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2010/s2867659.htm, I was having a conversation via email with a friend. At one point they said it sounded like I was flying the green flag on the issue.

Following is part of our conversation from that point:

"I’m not flying the green flag.

I’m flouting the flag of those that get ignored, those that try to make something of themselves, by themselves. The farmers whose kids are sick, the farmers whose produce gets rejected due to being tainted from the dust, those that were working their dream who have had to give it up because living it is becoming impossible because the mine is on their boundary and the dust blowing across their property, the fumes and the noise become unbearable. I’m waving the flag for a state that only gets one shot at doing this right, and letting the mines do it their way, is not always right. I am waving the flag of those that realise that coal is a natural resource owned by all, therefore the benefits from the mines should be managed in a way that will benefit the state into the future. Not simply used to plug a hole caused by shoddy management and politically motivated promises.

What I would like government to do about it is to sit down and take a breath. Stop approving new mines, do the research, get the answers. Once they have the answers you can hit go, don’t hit the go button then chase your tail throwing your hands in the air and complain you can’t work out a way to catch it.

The racing industry has flagged they are in trouble, they flagged it months ago. Coolmore stud has been loud on this front. 75% of this years thoroughbreds at the magic millions sales came from the Hunter. It is the second most densely populated stud region in the world outside of Kentucky. It is a huge industry with huge flow on. They have signaled they are in danger so let’s do the research and get the answers.

If pollution in the area keeps increasing, the quality of the grapes will be jeopardised, can you tell me that is not true? Probably not, because the research and planning hasn’t been done. Kill the quality of the wine, kill that industry, which kills tourism, which will result in what the mines want. Everyone to get out of their way, no competing industries, so a few shareholders can make short term profits.

I am not against the profits, I am not against the mines. But I am against the killing of other industries if the studies haven’t been done. I am against politicians that are afraid to seek those answers, I am against those that shrug their shoulders and say that Australia has no option but to send the coal as fast as we can to China. I am against us sitting here in 2030 thinking we really could have managed it better.

Have the cost vs benefit studies been done? What would be the net benefit/loss of the weakening of the thoroughbred breeding industry? Cost vs Benefit of ongoing health problems? Ways to manage the health risk?

It has been allowed to move too fast with governments simply concerned with the benefit to the short term budget.

Last night wasn’t a revelation, it was a consolidation of the complaints that have been getting ignored."