Australis13

Now his attack on Columbia University makes sense.

It frustrates me a bit that all the coverage is negative. Yes, the government needs to do their homework and I fully agree that the costings need to be updated and the business case for SRL North and East split in order to carry out a proper assessment.

However, every article I've read on this almost completely ignores all the positive parts of the Infrastructure Australia report. On almost every one of the review themes in the IA report, the SRL is referred to in a positive manner. E.g.

The proposal demonstrates strong alignment to Victoria State policy documents, in particular Plan Melbourne 2017 – 2050, which states an intent to “maintain a permanent urban growth boundary around Melbourne to create a more consolidated, sustainable city”. However, as SRL East is expected to enhance accessibility for outer suburbs, it may encourage urban expansion as these outer areas become more liveable. The proposal also delivers strong alignment to the Australian Government’s Infrastructure Policy Statement, as it is demonstrated to deliver improvements in productivity, public transport network resilience, equity, connectivity and reduces ongoing transport emissions, which is also consistent with the National Electric Vehicle Strategy (2023) and the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan (2023).

Substantial stakeholder engagement has been and continues to be carried out for SRL East... The depth of stakeholder engagement indicates there is likely sufficient buy-in from stakeholders and the community and that the project responds to their needs.

SRL East is anticipated to directly improve quality of life of Melbournians, particularly in outer and middle suburbs. It is anticipated to deliver improved living affordability through reduced transport costs for households close to the SRL East corridor and along the connecting regional rail network, encourage increased active transport and reduce road network congestion. ... Analysis completed as part of the BIC demonstrated that approximately 20% of households located within SRL East precincts will be within the lowest income group (Income Quantile 1), demonstrating that investment in SRL East would benefit more vulnerable members of the community by providing greater housing choice and better access to public transport.

Full report available here: https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/projects/suburban-rail-loop-east

It should be blatantly obvious to anyone paying attention that the "Department of Government Efficiency" isn't really about efficiency.

It may not even be that rational. It could be as simple as him being petty.

The only fraud I see here is someone trying to avoid paying their debt for their home.

I wonder which "persona" - the fake "all caps" one or the "spiritual being" is the one granted the property title? I'd like to see them argue that one.

This is the approach I would suggest. I do not agree with forcing people to take vaccines, but if they want to be part of society then this is a reasonable requirement. It's simply an extension of the duty of care principle we already have for healthcare environments where vaccination and other measures are required for people to work in.

The children don't deserve to die because of their parents.

The most generous way I can look at this is to say she's in denial. Five unvaccinated children with one dead. Apparently a 20% fatality rate (in her family) is not enough of a reason to get the vaccine.

Ah, good catch. I'd forgotten about that. Apparently the 12th Amendment should narrow that loophole significantly:

But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

Honestly, the whole insurrection thing should disqualify him anyway, but again they'd probably argue that he's not ineligible for the office of President, he just can't be elected to it due to the 22nd Amendment.

no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once

Unfortunately, there's an obvious loophole right there that they will argue for. The 22nd Amendment doesn't say that Trump can't be VP and take over as President on Day One. It just restricts how many times he can be elected as the President. He could theoretically run as VP and have an enabler run as President an indefinite number of times - there are no limits to the number of times somebody can be elected as VP: https://www.factcheck.org/2008/04/vp-term-limits/

Ugh. I really hope my fellow Aussies don't vote this guy in. He's increasingly copying Trump.

I believe the term is "airship" (blimps have no frame/internal structure). Can we toss the Nazis out of them instead?