Look, we all do it. We hurl about terms like psychopath and narcissist with reckless abandon and almost always without fully understanding the nature of the terms and the subtlety and nuance that goes into a clinical diagnosis.
Former PM Kevin Rudd was labelled “a psychopath” by former MP Steve Gibbons, and “a psychopathic narcissist” by former NSW premier Kristina Keneally. Peter Garrett ratcheted it up a notch by calling Rudd “a megalomaniac”. And that’s just the diagnoses from within Rudd’s own party. Why, the man must be a veritable walking copy of the psychiatric bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
It is arguably true that Canberra is a magnet for narcissists of various stripes. In fact, anyone who wants to get into the caper knows that getting elected to parliament involves a bevy of posters featuring their name and smiling face being nailed to lampposts and wedged in front gardens all over their home suburb. It has to be more satisfying than looking in the mirror for hours.
The trouble is, once these narcissists get to Canberra, they find themselves outgunned by bigger, badder, more vain, more hollow, more manipulative narcissists. Interacting with narcissists more narcissistic than they are must be a real blow to their bloated egos.
Full column here.
I’ve only now had a chance to read the full column. Sociopath or psychopath? They are labels that academics impose on their discipline and hope the unwashed don’t argue too much. The world is changing and the definitions can’t be taken too seriously.
Let’s forget the academic terms, “sociopath and psychopath” and replace it with “NUTTER”; a much better descriptor that most people will feel more comfortable with.
Kevin Rudd – nutter
Tony Abbott – nutter
George Christensen – serious nutter
Malcolm Turnbull – nutter who doesn’t realise he’s a nutter
Corey Bernardi – nutter of nutters
Bill Shorten – like Turnbull, doesn’t realise he’s a nutter
Pauline – nutter, nutter, nutter (but scary in her reincarnation)
Oldfield – saw him for a few minutes on TV and (slap myself!) he made some sense
Mac – steady on Mac, old mate Abbott is the Mad Monk. He’s not a nutter, he’s the progressive the progressives are so behind the times to embrace. Think of him as Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon”. Whilst the hypocrites on the left are talking established values like penalty rates (discriminatory if you ask me) they have the nerve to go volte-face and demand same-sex marriage, whilst denying a referendum! No wonder One Nation are getting a boost. With delusional, dismayed, populists like Wee Willy and Truffles leading (?) their respective parties i’m half tempted to start my own party.
On the matter of penalty rates I would suspect that a lot of people that get them do just enough to avoid paying tax. I’m not knocking them for doing that, most people, myself included would do the same. The reality is that tourists ( a good source of revenue) that visit our country have good reason to be miffed that there is nothing open on public holidays and if they are open they are ridiculously expensive. There are enough frequent flyers on this blog to confirm that Good Friday and Xmas day are valid reasons to shut down business,, let alone Sunday’s. Except for London, I’ve had no problem eating on the day’s mentioned in Rome or Venice or Istanbul. The progressives are so far behind the times they will soon demand compulsory circumcision. (so all our nobs can look like shortens bonce!)
How many public holidays are there for Christ sake? The tourists can plan around or pay a bit extra. Bugger ’em the spoilt brats, top five percenters who can afford to swan around the world. Diddums to the Princesses.
At least be consistent, why should Christmas and Good Friday be the exception?
Thing is JB, they don’t expect to be confronted with closed shops! They’ve probably come from cosmopolitan Sydney, New York or somewhere where the shops are open all year. it’s got nothing to do with snobbery.
Double diddums. What’s the point in being a tourist if everything is the same as at home? We only have a handful of public holidays, and the precious petals will have to cope. Whatever doesn’t kill you will make you stronger and a better forward planner.
Perhaps the airlines should issue warnings and a complimentary survival pack to travellers when a public holiday is in the offing. ” WARNING. Although not as deadly as the box jellyfish or the crocodile, the Australian public holiday has been known to cause distress and lifelong trauma to those unaccustomed to not getting what they want exactly when they want it. Emergency counselling is available through our offices.”
I don’t think Christmas and Good Friday should be special either. But we have to acknowledge that this country was founded on Christian principles which are ongoing.
Crikey! How did the inhabitants know about Jesus 60,000 years ago!
Or are you talking about the Christian principles of stealing the land, spreading deadly diseases and otherwise murdering the inhabitants?
No they shouldn’t be the exception, I left out a not.
0.44 USD for my morning iced coffee and unfortunately that includes the plastic cup, plastic straw and the plastic bag it comes in. Free delivery. Price valid all day, everyday.
Do you think it fair to charge non-Christians extra on a day that has little or nothing to do with their beliefs or non-beliefs?
Milton. Absolutely fair! Don’t get me started on what is fair and not fair on the worlds privileged overgrown brats living off the labour of the world’s poorest workers and swanning about and sipping lattes while some poor sod is getting $2.00 per long hard day to pick and carry the stuff for them.
If you want a cheap cuppa, go to a “developing” nation. Last time I bought a round of four cups at a roadside caff, the damage was 51 cents.
How would that suit you Princess?
It is funny here Milton.
We have had an invasion of cruiseships call in this summer (Today we have the Queen Mary 2 – much pomp and circumstance with that one!) Thousands of tourists milling around.
On a Public Holiday practically all the shops and cafes down at the tourist hub of Hobart, and indeed Tasmania, are closed – and the tourists wander around wondering if there has been a nuclear scare or something.
Something needed to be done.
We are world leaders in disincentive, Boadicea.
On the principle of scarcity, there must be some bright single headed Tasmanian willing to open on a public holiday and flog coffee for 20 bucks a cup. I would promote the legendary Devil Coffee, the beans having allegedly passed through the date of a Tassie Devil imparting the most exquisite taste thereunto. Make a bloody fortune. Make that 50 bucks a cup.
That’s what tourists are for!
Obviously Tasmania needs you, JB. You may have to apply for a visa though
Along the same lines JB (we’ll sort of) Argan oil is produced after some nimble goats climb up the argan tree and eat the berries, it then passes through the goat to be gathered up by poor Moroccan women. It’s then processed and sold to France, Spain etc who then resell at exorbitant prices for cooking and cosmetic additives.
Tourists buy it by the boatload for $80.00 a bottle, when it actually only costs 10 Moroccan Dirham (about $1.00) to produce. I need a stronger entrepreneurial drive….
Mmmm. Trump should bottle the light that shines out of his arse and sell it.
But seriously it is surprising how much people will pay for something that has passed through a bum
I read somewhere of the industry in Egypt, I think, where the poor spend all day collecting nappies and scraping the poo off them, to be used in the most exquisite perfumes.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/dec/06/perfume-ingredients
Shall we ponder for a moment the meaning of the term “public holiday”? That’s not a trick question, it means a day on which you generally don’t have to go to work. If you can be required to work under exactly the same conditions as any other day, it’s not really a public holiday, is it? And if it’s a day off for those reaping the benefits of a century of union activity as they lounge around in cafes, but not for those who have the privilege of bringing them their coffees, it’s not really a _public_ holiday, is it? It’s more of a private affair.
I know it’s frightfully inconvenient when one’s craving for elevenses is denied, but in the interests of fairness, either everyone should get public holidays — or be compensated for working — or no-one should. In the latter case, it won’t matter that you can’t find find a cafe open, because you’ll be at work anyway.
On Sunday rates, I can see a case for rationalising them, but without a compensatory increase in the base rate, it amounts to a pay cut. Cutting the pay of the lowest-paid workers, in the current environment of wage stagnation and soaring living costs and profits, is simply obscene. It also makes no economic sense: low wages don’t create jobs, demand does, and cutting wages reduces demand.
ahh, we could go back to the Melbourne Sundays of old.
You mean when everything was shut. Yep, it was dead boring, but that only supports my point, because we now have quite lively Sundays, _with_ penalty rates still in place. What has changed since those days is demand.
Yeah, picnics, footy, sailing on the bay, fishing, museums, mad parties, hiking, reading a good book. Not a patch on sitting around listening to some boring twat of a coffee hound or boutique beer jerk spouting the same old drivel every week.
Brilliant observations Mac you Sir are a genius! Yes plenty of “Nuts” on our political tree for sure.
What all of the nuts need are a few more Bolts.
Good one JS!
Previous topic. Should be more of this,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=718bxd8ojBY&list=RD718bxd8ojBY#t=100
Those of you who have promoted Corman as treasurer forget that he is in the Senate. treasurers don’t reside in the upper house. The only reason he’s a powerbroker is that when he had a choice of running for office it was agreed in the Liberal party that his name and accent would preclude him from getting the HOR’s vote. He’s another wannabe who lucked out on the Liberal Party Senate ticket.
Easy for him to find a spot ‘down there’
no narcissism here, just a great tribute to the mighty Eagles.
enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIzB4CcMoLA&feature=youtu.be
They forgot Judd & Cousins
there are some notable similarities.
Sad about Don Felder, Randy Meisner….although I hear randy has been quite ill for some time. Felder should have been there. They were playing all his solos he invented! A must read is Felders Book:- Heaven and Hell:my life in the Eagles. Because of bans, Eagles suing each other, I had to get it imported from UK.
Last Sat nite the bride and I went to this Eagles covers band across the road at The Bowlo…they were bloody HOT…take a look:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsLnjBeyT-s
http://reneweconomy.com.au/anu-wind-solar-hydro-grid-cheapest-option-australia-87796/
Excuse me Mr Dismayed, if I may. I have read your excellent link and I did note that the contributing authors stated that legacy coal and or gas fired generation would be needed to kickfire (sic) the system on occassions. Would these have to be government owned? I imagine they would have to be as there would be no money to be made by those thieves in the private sector. How much would they cost to buy?
They also advocated compensation to consumers for the inevitable loss of power ‘for a couple of days’ every few years. I admit to not being the smartest of blokes, with Alzheimer’s probably close, but don’t those comments go toward the issue of reliability of supply? Or perhaps this old bloke is reading it wrong. Can industry lose power for a couple of days every few years? Perhaps they can but they do seem to carry on about it on the occassions during which they have lost supply recently. Looking forward to you correcting my humble observations.
Yes you are “reading it wrong”. Industry loses power now even in coal powered states. Industry does NOT want to invest in coal. It is only the COALition that wants to continue subsidising it mates at the Minerals Council to save enough seats in Queensland to retain government. The only sides of politics that states No coal is the COALition and the greens. Labor has consistently said coal will remain part of the mix while the coal fired plants run their lifespan. Gas is a separate issue and WILL be the transition fuel until less carbon intensive sources are increased. Note the drop in Gas exploration expenditure since the removal of the ETS. Note the big increase in Emissions from the electricity sector also in that same time frame. Where is the cost reduction the coalition promised due to the removal of the ETS??? where is my $550 the coalition promised.? Renewables are cheaper more agile and innovative and along with battery storage will be used in coming decades. Weak effort again. Try comprehending the facts rather than trying to attack me.
Excuse me Mr Dismayed but I have in no way attacked you. I simply asked a reasonable question. I cannot help noticing though you avoided the conclusions of the authors with regard to the need to keep coal or gas around and the statement regarding the inevitable loss of power and thus compensation after the transition. I believe in AGW and a sensible well mapped out long term plan to solve the problem. Short term solutions which render any government liable to compensation do not seem to make sense. The authors clearly know their topic and have arrived at these conclusions.
Hope you have a good day,
Ken Oath
You obviously missed this bit. or decided to ignore it.
“Labor has consistently said coal will remain part of the mix while the coal fired plants run their lifespan”
I am again confused what happens after their lifespan ends? Also you must have missed the comments regarding inevitable compensation due to blackouts caused by the reliance on renewables. Wouldn’t we be better off doing these things slowly Mr Dismayed?
It seems the wealth inequality gap in Australia really is getting bigger.
New figures show the economy picking up, but ordinary workers still getting a raw deal with wages growth the lowest in 15yrs.
The latest official figures show the country may well avoid experiencing the feared technical recession.
Company profits in the three months to December had their biggest rise since 2001.
At the same time, workers’ wages, on average, actually went backwards. Does anybody REALLY think big business is gonna share that $50billion with workers…nuh….what employers ARE interested in is reducing wages as much as they can via the Unfair Work Tribunal.
JTI,
The latest ICC cricket ratings are out, with Steve Smith sitting at number one and ahead of opposing captain Kohli.
You commented earlier in this blog that Smith was scary good. His 939 points on the ICC rankings puts him behind all time greats Bradman, Hutton, Hobbs, Ponting and May. Phew!
I saw that but don’t care much for the rankings. Smith is the most extraordinary batsman I’ve seen in a long time. Ignores the coaching manual that says one should be stationery at the crease. He moves around a lot but his head is always still no matter how much or far he moves to the off. Sit back and enjoy his career. He is a once in a generation cricketer.
Yes, he is a freak and I hope he goes on to greatness, And I wish our young aussie pom, Renshaw all the bloody best, I love the lad. And the team!
When I first saw him both the Mrs and I chimed in unison Derek Randell!!
drongo…..defrock ’em, excommunicate ’em
https://www.rt.com/news/378682-popes-clemency-for-pedophile-priests/
I was under the assumption that the Fair Work Commission is an independent body?!
Only when they bring down decisions that suit Labor and the Unions
Quite amusing really. Shorten sets up the enquiry, says sanctimoniously he will abide by the decision of the board which is packed with his mates – and then, surprise, surprise – they rule against his expectations! Now he doesn’t accept their decision.
Where do we find these guys?
Hang on The Looters interfere with decisions THEY did not like with “independent” bodies. And on more occasions than Labor has. Also Labor has never campaigned AGAINST penalty rates and cuts to wages like The Looters have.
3 years of political appointments by the coalition. Just as they are doing with the ABC, SBS and every other board they appoint No Surprises.
Yeah! And Labor appointments were not political – give us all a break Dismayed.
JS Oh so it is fine an dandy when the coalition continues to make political appointments? To answer your question. No the Labor appointments were not political. Every time the coalition is elected they go ona major purge and appoint all their right whinge fruitcake mates to positions Labor do not go nearly as far as you right whingers. Look at the volume of appointments before the last election. Unprecedented in their volume and ideological nature. The break you need is the break from your sovcit prepping. I see you man Malcom Roberts was shut down and made to look the clown he is in Senate estimates. Just once would you be able to provide an ounce of evidence to refute my facts. No I thought not all you have is weak personal attacks. No wonder you need to a bunker to feel safe.
Labor appointments not political – c’mon Dismayed – you are better than that or you just think that by saying something often enough it becomes an accepted fact.
The IR scene is a closed shop staffed by many ex unionists.
The day that Labor appoints anybody who has right wing tendencies to any of the rent seeking semi-government bodies is the day hell will freeze over.
I can never reconcile a centrally controlled Labor Market with a wide open economy.
But there again, the unions have never cared about the survival of a company – only the lining of the union executive pockets.
I have never see the Looters give jobs to Labor people like Labor did to the Looters…Rudd gave all these Looters huge paying jobsongrowth:-
Tim Fischer, Bruce Baird, Brendan Nelson, Alexander Downer,Peter Costello Amanda Vanson, Robert Hill, Peter Reith , Allston, Ian Mcphee(Auditor general of The Commonwealth),John Fahey….Labor appointed former Liberal Leader Brendan Nelson as the Ambassador to Belgium after he was deposed by Malcolm Turnbull in 2008. But the Coalition did not return the favour when it came into government. It replaced former Labor Premier Mike Rann in London with the former Liberal Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. It also recalled home Steve Bracks, who was set to begin his term as Consul-General in New York and replaced him with former Liberal Senator Nick Minchin, who was Abbott’s chief numbers man in the party’s 2009 leadership spill.
i don’t know who else was on the panel, but the decision was handed down by iain ross, who has impeccable labor and union credentials.
If they ever make a movie on Malcolm Turnbull’s life (and why would they?) they need look no further than Dave Lamb, who does the voice overs on Come Dine with me (v funny show).