lee wrote on Jun 23
rd, 2026 at 12:58pm:
thegreatdivide wrote on Jun 22
nd, 2026 at 8:35pm:
Crippled brain lee: fossil energy includes coal.
I mentioned the Arab oil embargo as the reason for the triumph of neoliberalism over Keynesianism, in the 70s.
Yes and that was oil, so nothing to do with coal.
1. Crippled brain lee: SA Premier Playford nationalized the coal industry because
(google)
The private utility company refused to extend electricity networks into rural and regional areas, prioritizing only profitable urban markets. Nationalization allowed the state to build the required infrastructure to foster statewide agricultural and industrial growth2. The Arab oid embargo in the 7O's crashed the 1946-1970's Keynesian 'deficit-spending' economic system (under which Playford was governing) in favour of Neoliberalism, which requires low taxes and "small government" (low spending) - which has led to the current political malaise around the globe, because governments can't fund the services the 'battlers' want.
That's why ON - the "Populist Right" (as opposed to the 'centre' Coaltion) now has c.30% of the primary vote.
3. The only way coal would reduce prices in Oz now would be under nationalization, as in Playford's time, because private companies need profits, whereas the state doesn't need profits, it needs to promote economic development (Playford's goal in SA).
4. Oz has gas reserves, not oil.
Quote:And now Adelaide has one of the more expensive electricity rate, not on coal.
Crippled brain lee:
"The Electricity Trust of South Australia (ETSA), the state-owned monopoly provider, was privatized in 1999 by the Liberal state government under Premier John Olsen".
And today governments everywhere need to renationalize the power industry, to fund the needed smart grid and storage to utilize renewables - provided for free by the sun and wind.
Quote:The only policies we need are honest politicians, that will overcome the "political malaise". You are confusing politics and economics, they may be intertwined, they are not the same.
1. You are still refusing to identify what the policies of "honest" polticians should be, in order to serve the electorate
including the 'battlers' who polls show are very angry with mainstream politicians - whether honest or dishonest.
ie how can pollies do their job without raising taxes - thereby avoiding the current global political malaise?