Bread and beer

[old man emu]

What a sad indictment of our Society was delivered on the 7 News broadcast on Sunday night.

 

The lead item was about the end of lockdown in New South Wales. So what did they concentrate on? The reopening of pubs and restaurants. They even showed the new Premier spearing a keg. And he stuffed up that simple job. Then it was all about restaurants opening. But don't bother trying to get into one. They are all booked out. The background video was worth paying attention to. In one sequence a publican was saying that people were dying to get back to beer from the tap, while the video was showing a bar-staffer pouring a glass from a bottle. In another shot behind the story of restaurants opening you could see  a kitchen worker making something likes balls of meat - bare handed, no gloves.

 

And then there was excitement over opening of retail stores. Shots of staff checking racks and shelves of goods. The excitement for retailers was so great that they were going to open at a minute after midnight. There were announcements for big price reductions in sales, and several retail industry representatives were hailing the reopening as the rolling back of the rock at the entrance to the cave of the Forty Thieves for retailers.

 

What does this say about our Society? I've said it before. Australia has become a Fool's Paradise.

[facthunter]

Anyone who wants to start going out at midnight has to be hyped up over calling someday FREEDOM Day. Humans are SO easy to manipulate , it's SCARY.

  The "fooled" ones also vote. There in lies the issue. Nev

[spacesailor]

BUT

Has the ' lock-down' ended ?.

We are in a "area of interest " that "LGA " . Were one infection means a million people get jailed, & that one came from a different "LGA ".

Bloody construction workers, still roaming the streets without that mask over their face. Young & invunrable.  No thought for the oldies they pass.

spacesailor

[Dax]

1 hour ago, old man emu said:

What does this say about our Society? I've said it before. Australia has become a Fool's Paradise.

Democracy/capitalism, is all about consumption and profit growth and nothing else. So it's logical they will concentrate on the area's of society that will drive consumerism, they never mention the many other aspects of life that would inspire people in other directions. Has anyone noticed the huge increase in gambling advertising this year, it permeates through every sport broadcast and now during prime time TV. Then we have the internet, luckily I don't get any adverts but hear the comments of lots of others saying they are bombarded by gambling spam. They may be people who gamble anyway, but it just shows what our governments think of the people, compared to the rip off industries.

[facthunter]

"Clubs Australia' Has to much political influence for OUR good. .When RSL's went political I stopped going near them. (and I used to go every town I went to.)  Gambling wrecks many families. It's a MUGS game. and sucks money out of towns making less financial activity in other local Businesses.  People don't LOVE gambling, they get ADDICTED to it. Nev

[red750]

It's no better in Victoria. What is the banner cry for easing restrictions? 10,000 at the Melbourne Cup! And two other days of the Cup carnival.

[Bruce Tuncks]

I agree about the gambling ads. We have arrived from SA and it is much worse here in Vic. Bloody wicked stuff, and false advertising too. The ads are designed to make you think you will win.

If I were in power, there would be educational ads saying how gambling was a disease where you lost your money to "prove" that life was against you, because  this is an easier path than working. Instead, we are assailed with heroic voices telling us how manly it is to bet.

Who do you guys suggest I complain to?

[facthunter]

They exert a bigger influence in Tasmania if that makes you feel any better. There'd be a list of government ministers or try the greens. I've petitioned the feds about the ads on SBS but I  think they care not. Nev

[old man emu]

4 hours ago, Bruce Tuncks said:

there would be educational ads saying how gambling was a disease

The ads have that little tag at the end about gambling responsibly. Like the small print in clause 357 of your mobile phone contract.

[red750]

They banned cigarette and tobacco advertising (remember the Marlboro Man). Go back and look at Brockie's Torana. Nothing like that today. Why not gambling?

[Old Koreelah]

42 minutes ago, red750 said:

They banned cigarette and tobacco advertising (remember the Marlboro Man). Go back and look at Brockie's Torana. Nothing like that today. Why not gambling?

Remember a few short years ago when an independant politician set out to rein in the power of the gambling lobby? 
Does anyone remember him? Is there any politician now who is not afraid of them?

[red750]

 

 

 

22 minutes ago, Old Koreelah said:

Does anyone remember him?

Andrew Wilkie.

[old man emu]

If nothing else, the lockdown has prevented a few lives from ending, and others from being permanently damaged. If the pubs and clubs are closed, then the irresponsible can't get drunk and aggressive. Therefore, no drunken violence. I'm not advocating closing down these places, but surely turning off the taps at midnight, or cancelling liquor licences of premises where they continue to serve obviously intoxicated people would make a difference.

 

But then I forgot. The hand of the Booze 'n' Bet lobby is firmly on the tiller of the ship of Government.

[Dax]

1 hour ago, old man emu said:

But then I forgot. The hand of the Booze 'n' Bet lobby is firmly on the tiller of the ship of Government

That's true, one of our hospitality venues is not far from another which has pokies, card machines, keno and racing. They have lots of trouble during nights, the police are constantly called even during the day they get a visit a couple of times a week, but they still continue trading and the cops never go inside, they always deal with situations outside. Our venue has no gambling, is quiet and has good custom, but the cops do a walk through of our place almost daily now. Since the management approached the cops to find out why we had the cops coming through our venue when nothing untoward ever happened there, the walk through became almost daily and some days a couple of times a day. Yet the place down the road which has a fight outside most weekend nights and even during some days, never gets walked through I'm told.

[Marty_d]

9 hours ago, red750 said:

 

 

 

Andrew Wilkie.

Who's STILL the independent member for Clark, seems to be a man of integrity.  Unless he dies or gets caught in a compromising position I reckon he'll be voted back as long as he wants to be there.

His office is close to my work, quite often see him out walking.

[Yenn]

Dax. The police and politicians would argue that their walk through is what is stopping anything bad happening thereThat is what is happening with medicals or pilots and also the Asic card.

[facthunter]

The police presence keeps customers away IF you pay, the police will go away.  ASIC You can carry so little on an ultralight and can take off from any paddock or road if you intend to do bad things,  so it only deters good people from flying . Nev

[Old Koreelah]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-14/how-the-gambling-industry-cashed-in-on-political-donations/100509026

[spacesailor]

Yippee 

Bread if GOOD for the heart !.

Jam butties are back. LoL

spacesailor

[onetrack]

That's just one of the reasons why I like living in W.A. The stranglehold grip of Tattersalls and other hungry, ruthless, gambling entities has not reached W.A., and never will. We do not have pokies in W.A. - except for one place, the Burswood Casino.

 

The W.A. lottery is owned by the W.A. Govt via LotteryWest, and all profits (after operating expenses) from LotteryWest go back into community, local govt, and not-for-profit groups and projects - which handouts cover playgrounds, the RFDS, artworks, sports facilities, community centres and facilities, and 100 other useful areas of upgrades. The RFDS alone gets multiple millions from LotteryWest to buy new aircraft, new hangars, and airstrip upgrades.

 

You can even apply as an individual for a LotteryWest grant, if you think your project is worthy of community support. Last year, LotteryWest returned nearly $865M into the community from gambling proceeds.

That is money that didn't go into super-wealthy investors, and other sleazy grubs, pockets. I love it, and so do over 2M West Australians.

 

https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2021/07/Lotterywest-records-highest-ever-return-to-WA-community.aspx

[facthunter]

WA has done well. Plenty of people will make $'s from things that do a lot of harm if you relax and allow them. Addiction is applicable to many things. Nev

[Jerry_Atrick]

Over 'ere, there is a lottery run in the UK and one in Europe (which still is available in the UK). Tonight's is.. £183M (well about EUR220M).. They have had a few of £100m+ in the past where there has been one winner and taken the lot. When I do play, it is to contribute to someone else's prize.

 

However, although they are privately run and the operator, Camelot, makes a tidy sum, the vast majority goes to a government run fund, where individuals and various community organisations/clubs/societies can request grants. Remember, not too long ago, Britain was a basket case at the Olympics, then suddenly, they are near the top.. you can thank lottery money for that.

[Marty_d]

On 15/10/2021 at 7:32 PM, Jerry_Atrick said:

Remember, not too long ago, Britain was a basket case at the Olympics, then suddenly, they are near the top.. you can thank lottery money for that.

Maybe you could get them to donate to musicians too - you could get out of the bottom 3 in Eurovision!  😁

[Jerry_Atrick]

Getting back to topic (somewhat), I am in London 2 days week, usually Monday?Tuesday or Tuesday/Wednesday. Most people who work in the city are back about the same frequency... So, the evening that people are in the city is the vening they go to the pub afterwards. There is nothing quite like having a pint or two after work in a London pub... it is a very social and amicable thing to do, especially in the more historic ones...

 

But, one does run the risk of contracting COVID (as well as a cold, which I did contract - thankfully only a cold).

 

 

[facthunter]

Warm beer? No thanks. Nev