VERY odd.

Loudmouth, to say "Socialist Alliance, who push issues that they think serve as a handy stick up the @rse of the Status-Quo mob" implies such people are crass opportunists lacking in any sort of moral conviction. I see them as people with strong political views with rather clear objectives. Socialist Alliance members can be rather strident when it comes to articulating their message. I may not always agree with their tactics, or their politics, but in no way have I ever considered the members of SA to be nothing more than political opportunists, if nothing else they are passionate about what they believe.

Thank you, Paul, yes, I assume that many of the SA camp-followers are young and naïve, but on the whole, I'll stick with my analysis above.

BTT: there does seem to be a silence across the so-called left - I don't give a rat's freckle for the 'Right', I take it for granted that they are what they are - but very little comment seems to be coming from the so-called Left about women's rights, about the facts of that brutal terrorism which happens to be associated with Islamist fundamentalism (almost as bad as that brutality of another of the 'Left''s secret heroes, Bashar al-Assad: how do they square those opposites, I wonder).

When the 'Left' condemns Boko Haram, or al-Nusra, or the Taliban, without going off at a tangent about Abbott's winks, or blue ties, or US banks, I'll begin to take notice of them. Otherwise life's just too short.

Joe

Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

Left/Right/Left ... And the beat goes on!

Goodness me. Most voters I know know don't vote
as a bloc on issues. I know both conservative voters
and so called "progressive" voters who vote differently
from what's expected when it comes to many issues.
That's why I don't think that sweeping generalisations
of any particular group
is a good way to argue. There are always individual
differences within each group. As for the Left not
speaking out for women's rights? Perhaps you need to
broaden your reading? Just a thought.

Loudmouth, in order to know what the so called "left" is saying about issues, you need to reject "Fortress Australia" by stop listening *SOLELY* to Andrew Bolt, Alan Jones, the Daily Telegraph and the Australian.

If you don't *LOOK* elsewhere for comment, you won't find it.

Australia risks seriously damaging its international reputation and being isolated in the global debate on climate change unless it rethinks its inaction on greenhouse gases, international experts have warned.

And a top adviser to the Obama administration on climate change said Australia could jeopardise its relationship with the United States if the Abbott government fails to fall into line on climate policy.

''I think everyone except the climate deniers is deeply concerned with the direction [Australia] is going,'' Heather Zichal, the White House's chief climate adviser until last November, told Fairfax Media.

A new report released ahead of a meeting between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Tony Abbott next Friday found Australia's commitment to addressing climate change had slipped behind other countries, including China and Indonesia.