(This article is an expanded version of an article which appeared in ‘The Age’ on 2 October 2014). The idea that the Islamic State (IS) does not represent “real Islam” might be well intentioned. It is also nonsense. The IS denounces moderate Islam as not representing “real Islam”. This equally, is nonsense. There is no such […]
‘The Undivided Past’- Book Review
Summary: David Cannadine says that people have defined themselves (and others) by applying the identities of religion, nation, class, race, gender or civilisation. But he argues these categories lead to over simplifications of the human condition and human history, because most people have multiple identities. He also argues that rather than history being made up of endless conflicts within these identities, human […]
Thomas Piketty- Some Observations
Piketty’s Importance and Basic Theory Thomas Piketty’s book ‘Capital in the 21st Century’ has spurred vigorous public discussion in developed countries about the growth in inequality and what to do about it. Others have previously raised the issue of inequality. But Piketty has been hard to ignore because his book relies upon painstaking analysis of taxation and other data […]
USA: One in four young working men now earn below poverty lines wages
An Economic Policy Institute report has found that: More than one in four full time employed males between the ages of 25-34 in the USA is now living below the poverty line. This means that they are employed full time on a wage of less than $11.49 US an hour. Between 1979 and 2013 the percentage […]
WAR WITH IRAQ-The case against
WAR WITH IRAQ-The case against (First published in ‘Overland Magazine’ in Autumn 2003 before the intervention in Iraq) What matters could have been raised in federal parliament if Howard’s promised parliamentary debate on Australia’s participation in a war on Iraq had been allowed to take place? A starting point in the debate should be […]