Smart Cities
Last night I watched an Aussie comedy sitcom on ABC tv but suffering a senior moment can't for the life of me remember the name of the show. It was about our government needing to deliver a "good news" story to the people so they came up with the idea of developing "Super Schools". They relayed through the media how great this was going to be for children and the public got all excited, especially parents but nobody knew what sort of policy was going to make schools "super schools". Not to matter, the media brainwashing was so entrancing that all believed "super schools" was a good thing that their government was going to deliver, even though they didn't know what it meant.
Today our government delivered something similar via the media. We are going to be given "Smart Cities". Does anyone know what this means???? Apparently it will cost us $50 million to work out how to develop these "Smart Cities" to make city people feel happy and grateful. The $50 million will go to a think tank to work out the details. Surely I have that wrong? Surely it wouldn't cost $50 million to work out how to improve cities? But I feel fairly certain that is what I heard. I am open to correction if I am wrong.
Anyway, when I heard the news the parallel between the sitcom and real life struck me with the sort of ironic mirth that produces tears of laughing desperation.
What say ye on this gentle and not so gentle folk? Is improving our cities (whatever that means) the best our government can give us to be re-elected? Is the money they are going to spend on working out the yet unknown details worth it when health and education are starving for funds? Are they conning us yet again as depicted in the sitcom?
Robi
Excellent topic..... it is taking taxpayers money and puting it into PRIVATE pockets.
I have a topic in 'hot topics' which talks about the extention of that, a form of gobbledigook double speak, whereby PRIVATISATION which the public won't accept anymore is now called "Investment Bank-Style".
Not only is the $50m being spent of a think tank, they have decided that all the new Cities will be upgraded by PRIVATE big boy megacorps, rather than state govts.
I may as well repeat the topic here:
We all know these days that PRIVATISATION is not good for the community and that govts do a better and cheaper job of providing essential services to Australia.
Three reasons are logically evident without further need for discussion:
1. Private corporations NEED to make a PROFIT... State govts. do NOT!
2. Private corporations will use CHEAP materials and CHEAP labour (imported visa holders) and CUT CORNERS, in order to make BIGGER PROFITS!
3. State Govts. employ Australian WORKERS and use proper MATERIALS and do the job properly!
TURNBULL is calling his PRIVATISATION of road works in Australia "investment-banking style". What a con job is that..... people don't like privatisation because it has proven to NOT work... so we will call it something high-faluting and tell everyone it is good for them!
He is STOPPING Loans and Grants to the STATES to do their own road works which they consider essential in their OWN state and Financing PRIVATE Corporations (Big End of Town and possibly FOREIGN big end of town). Mostly controlled by the Federal Govt.
Taking MONEY, EMPLOYMENT and DECISION making about roads away from the STATES and putting our taxpayers money in BIG BOY (foreign???) pockets!
Don't care WHAT party Turnbull belongs to THIS IS SELLING OUT to Megacorporations and PRIVATISING State works BY STEALTH and DECEIT and giving it a high-faluting name.
LINK to some BLURB put up to FOOL US