nomadpete

OME, don't expect an answer to your post. There isn't one. I don't hold much hope for a true leader to materialise in our lifetime.

That Politico link disturbingly confirms my suspicions about arms length cashed up influencers. I'd call that whole system the 'Deep State' that MAGA complains about.

The details of Australian Self Managed Administration have been pretty much done to death in the Flying forum. What caught my eye, was the fact that a (ex) member of the board of RAAUS has publicly said that CASA should cancel the exemtions under which we fly recreational aircraft (I assume he means ALL Self Managed organisations inc gliding, etc) and take on the admin, licencing, registration, training & liability for everyone in the air. Regardless of what they fly. At least that might result in investigation of all aviation fatalities. Is he just stirring up an argument? Was he perhaps disenchanted by his experience at the board of RAAUS Incorporated?

Further, he reportedly said.... "CASA needs to take back under their umbrella all aspects of aviation that involve aircraft and pilots being licensed," Mr Middleton said. "[Aircraft and pilots] will then fly in the CASA system … in what would be the public road system for our airways across Australia."

Comment by Middleton, in an ABC article about ATSB scope of investigations.... "Swan Hill chief flying instructor and former RAAus board member Alan Middleton said ..... the two systems were unnecessary and no longer justified and called on CASA to regain control of pilot and aircraft registration." Food for thought.

Well, I believe Dan was close enough to CCP to sign a Belt-n-Road agreemant. BTW, did Victoria actually get out of it? Did it cost us? Not sure why he needs to be close to that mob now he's no longer premier. Has the revolving door of politics spun him to a comfy career path?

Tanks for warning me!

Nev, we already know..... All electric cars are created equal. But some are more equal than others.

Putin probably will do that..... If he hasn't already done it.

Gripes.... My relevant gripe is that the "Working With Vulnerables" blue card has become as cumbersome and ineffective as a ASIC card. I am required to hold a Blue Card to be a volunteer fire fighter. Next thing, they will want every human to have one, just in case they encounter a person who is under the age of consent..

Octave, Thank you for sharing your experience. It highlights a major ongoing dilemma that, even though it only directly involves 5% of housose, also indirectly causes harm to larger communities.

Methinks the man protesteth a little much....... A 2021 is on special @ Dan Murphy's etc, for $37

Bring in BFR's........ Oh, sorry. If we are going to have to suffer a bit of inconvenience, lets not bother saving lives on the road. Besides, if it costs me, I'm not going to do it. Saving Lives shouldn't have a price.

I'd never heard of the carrot & the stick. Where I worked, all we had was the pineapple and the stick. It all depended on how deep in shyte we were.

I really haven't anything against particular brands of bike (or car). Except maybe those Russian things from 1970. I simply stated my personal experience, and that of a trusted friend. As such I didn’t welcome being called BS by a fellow forumite. Going out for a regular ride has been a liberating experience, whatever the machine. I can't gripe about that.

Well, Nev I am not making it up. My Harley mate loved his Harleys. I worked with him for 15yrs. That was 20 years ago - they might well have improved. But he only had big miles up on the Honda, and his Harleys were always giving him costly problems. In fact, he mentioned once that the Honda logbook only had one failure outside regular maintenance + tyres and battery in 90,000k. And that was for failed instrument lamps. And when I sold my Virago, it had 129,000k on it. It is not a GP copy. It has a soft ride, on a wide low seat, in a posture that enabled me to ride when my bad back prevented me riding a conventional road bike. The logbook had nil failures that would have you walking home. It's previous owner rode it across from Perth. Don't get me wrong - it was no performance beast. But it was a very reliable, comfortable cruiser. As for resale value, I didn't buy it as an investment. And I sold it for $500 more than I paid for it. No, not BS.

A plastic harley probably outperforms a 'real' Harley. My 1100cc Yamaha Virago had Over 100,000k on the clock. But my pro Harley friends always had sad stories about Harley reliability. One even admitted that although he had 3 HD's, (loved em), for any interstate trips, he used the Honda Gold Wing because it never gave him any trouble. Harley love is a bit like Alfa Romero lovers. They love their brand, but wouldn't choose it for a comfortable successful trip.

No, Nev. Our local yokels aren't gazillionaires.

I showed that to my wife. All I got was a blank, nonplussed stare. Suddenly I decided not to explain.....

They are just copying the capitalism that USA taught them.

Quicker, Except for some of those floating, gentle bounce, wheeler landings.... But remember, most of the pilots were young, and had just stepped out of their Tiger moth with maybe ten hours pic time.

At which point, I sense a wry smile cross Nev's lips. So glad he got out of grapes when he did.

You must have been there when my BIL was stuck in Armidale. He said he had a hard time getting up Moonbi. Then he gave up and slept in the car. I told him it was about time he got out of the house and had some adventures.... But he didn't see the lighter side of it.

I've got an answer. I just rediscovered Rocky & Bullwinkle. (A Youtoob revisit to my childhood). I realise that 60 years ago the children of America were sitting in front of TV devouring Rocky & Billwinkle cartoons. And I realise that when viewed through the cynical lens of Rocky & Bullwinkle, watching the present American circus play out, no longer feels surprising. That old cartoon series was teaching nine year olds of the day (now the voters who put an orange clown into the top seat) about cynical politics, human nature, and philosophy! If you don't believe me, watch a couple of the clips.

At first terrump two was worrying. Then it got crazy. Now its just getting ridiculous. If it was the script for a B grade comedy, nobody would bother to watch it. Why do we?