There's an interesting piece in Catallaxy Files today about journalistic “frothing at the mouth” about preferences. According to the writer, the mouth-foamers can't tell the difference between “endorsement and political tactics” in a preferential voting system.

For the cranks in the press gallery, the focus is only ever on Coalition preferences. E.g preferencing One Nation is 'endorsing “far right” bigotry, while Labor preferencing the communistic Greens is “simply election tactics”.

What these Red Press scribblers are really doing is gobbling on about their own preferences, when they should be encouraging voters to wake from their comas and do their own preferencing.

Dear Paul,

Mr Shorten has made it quite clear that the Labor
Party has always worked very well with the
National Security Agencies. The Agencies know that
and his Party knows that and that of course they will
continue to do that. It's a shame that this election
campaign has become so nasty, especially the recent Daily
Telegraph's attacks on Mr Shorten's mother. Which was
disgraceful.

I'm sure that if Labor is elected they will put Australian
interests first and foremost in their foreign policy.
And as far as US President Trump is concerned - I'm
sure that the dealings will be completely professional,
as they should be. Keeping our interests in mind.

"...illegal proxy wars in Korea..."

UN mandated after the North Koreans invaded the South.

Paul, get your facts straight.

Issy, we have discussed the Korean police action several times. When you say "UN mandated" that is entirely true. But do not forget the US obtained that "mandate" when the Soviet Union was absent from the UN Security Council, and China was not as yet a member. As was the case in Vietnam, if the US had allowed for free elections in Korea as a whole there would have been no need for war. As it was the US was happy to install a puppet government made up of Koreans who had supported Japanese imperialism. The Americans were extremely aggressive in Korea, General Macarthur went as far as wanting to "nuk" Pyongyang, to kill thousands of innocent men, women and children.

You will say look at the great success South Korea is, and the pathetic state of the North. Agree, however given 60 years of putative action against the people of the North, what else can we expect.

Paul,

Pure BS.

"You will say look at the great success South Korea is, and the pathetic state of the North. Agree, however given 60 years of putative action against the people of the North, what else can we expect"

Indeed I'll say that; free enterprise made South Korea what it is today and it was backed by the USA.

North Korea was backed by China and the Soviet Union; have a look at Google Earth Night View, North Korea cannot even provide enough electricity to light its towns. (Green heaven!!).

Thank you Issy, flattery will get you everywhere.

BS = Brilliant Summation!

I know you were a combatant in that war, even though I am a pacifist, I hold no animosity towards any poor fella, including you, who was forced to do terrible things in the name of whatever in any war. I do believe like all wars, the Korean War could have been avoided. Unfortunately there were those, on both sides, who were hell bent on war. Shameful as it was, with a huge numbers killed, the majority being non combatants.