I have discovered a whole new level of gullible, previously unknown to the scientific community. It involves convincing people to not only believe a lie, but become champions for a lie, without ever uttering the lie yourself, or even indirectly implying it. It is a particularly handy trick for politicians and unions, who can use it to unleash an army of liars while keeping their hands clean. Here are some recent examples:

1)

The Victorian government has proven that the BLM protestors did not spread COVID. They apparently did this by proving that the strain involved in the second wave was brought into the country several weeks before the protest, just in time for a few protestors to catch it and spread it on the day.

This lie caught out many forum members here, and perhaps even several ABC journalists, who appear to either be in on it or fooled by it.

This is the moment where Gandalf realises 20 pages in that he has been fooled, and tries to backpedal by insisting that when he said "spread" he did not mean "spread":

http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1592208694/297#297

Here is a new thread Gandalf started for everyone to congratulate him for being so gullible:

http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1597791358/4#4

2)

Over 50% of farmers are violating fair work laws.

Again, Gandalf was late to the charge on this lie, but ended up leading it. The logic behind it is analogous to claiming that over 50% of Muslims are terrorists, on the grounds that over 50% of Muslims who are charged with terrorism related offences get convicted. Yet for some reason presenting this analogy to Gandalf only reinforced his delusion.

This lie was used to justify union attempts to kill off the backpacker fruit picking industry, and the backpacker lifestyle. Unions did this out of the kindness of their hearts, for the backpackers' own good, and not because the workers in the industry refuse to unionise.

This may be the point where Gandalf realises he has been fooled, and decides to make it an article of faith rather than fact:

http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1597278222/286#286

To be fair to Gandalf, many other forum members fell for it also. He just became the most vocal champion of this lie.

3)

Gandalf has found evidence that unions do not increase wage inequality.

This one is entirely Gandalf's, though again he was late to the charge and follows many forum members who stated their undying belief in this claim, without any evidence or any attempt to explain their reasoning.

I am still not entirely sure of the source of Gandalf's confusion on this one. He started by producing evidence that was completely irrelevant. He then presented evidence that is actually entirely consistent with the view that unions do indeed increase wage inequality, but that reaches the opposite conclusion by (clearly and transparently) only considering a small subset of wages.

Gnads is currently trying to derail the thread with the list of people he would jail on behalf of the unions, because they are to blame for macroeconomic cycles:

http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1601598243/120#120

I'll just address one:-

Under a system of minimum requirements in wages and conditions, there is no 'wages inequality' wrought by applying those standards... there may be small differences in final negotiated overall package (see politician salaries/package and ceo/tv presenter etc packages) - but as long as the minimums are met, there is no entrenched 'wages inequality' - same as there is no 'wage gap' for women working in the same jobs.

It is, rather - the attempts (puerile) of 'management' these days to take advantage of what they perceive as the open door that Howard seemed to offer them with his WorkChoices nonsense, and their willingness to cut corners on wages and conditions at every chance, given that they fear no regulatory body, that creates 'wage inequality'. 

Look at the recent nonsense about warehouse workers being paid different rates in different warehouses - a clear sign that attacking the Union movement causes wages inequality.

Unions do NOT control the jobs market..... they ensure the rules of that market are abided by.

There is NO workplace in this nation where 'wage inequality' is caused by Unions - it is caused by managers seeking to cut labour costs by skirting the edges of the rules and of signed and approved by government body agreements, and to alter those agreements without proper negotiation.

Look at the current 'wharf dispute' engineered by 'management (again), with the clear aim of seeking a dual end - destruction of Unions along with paying less than were the agreed rates and conditions.  The Unions did not start that one.....   

Finally - freed - have you yet worked out how bizarre your reasoning is that non-Union scabs are 'strong independents able to negotiate alone' etc, given that in the current 'wharf dispute, these scabs are signing on at far LOWER rates and conditions?  That PROVES that individuals 'negotiating' with the all-powerful are nowhere near 'strong, independent and able to negotiate alone'.   

You need to crack a macroeconomic textbook or two.

The tax cut is stupid but we have a government of neoliberals so is to be expected. Three neoliberal Parties in this country: Libs/Nats/Greens.

aquascoot wrote on Oct 15^th, 2020 at 9:54am:


80% of Australians are not in favour of tax cuts.

They are not the high income earners that Morriscums tax cuts are aimed at.

Most are struggling to hold onto permanent full time jobs or are being under employed through casualisation & part time .....

they are fighting to maintain their current wage rates & conditions that are under attack by employers & the current govt at every turn.

Quote:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/22/top-1-per-cent-of-austral...


Freediver should work for the LNP he has the same blinkered attitude.

He can do all that.

But can’t change the name of my board to Critters and Gardens.

Looks to me like FD is cracking under the pressure.

Tsk, tsk....... I've been giving you chapter and verse since forever - not my fault you have not the ears to learn...

The biggest con job and doctored results was the

SSM

There is no way on earth that this would have gotten through had it been done honestly or legally.

This is why the grubberment introduced a "NEW" way to hoodwink the population.

I forsee that this technique will be used again to get crooked and illegal policies past the honest hard working NORMAL human beings.