Tuesday 30th March in the PIS

This Tuesday the PIS will meet at 1pm in Alice Hoy Rm 330 to discuss our usual assortment of politicking and global issues, whilst munching on our wealthy capitalist sweet biscuits. Please note this is a room change for this week only, as our usual room is unavailable.

Just for a change and partly for kicks, Madame President Megan will be taking a break from chairing the meeting this week, to be substituted for by myself, your not-so-erstwhile and otherwise overbearing Secretary. So, to the topics:

The Great Health Debate

Last week Messrs Rudd and Abbott stood in the National Press Club and had a political slanging match that almost rivaled the PIS's livelier moments. What did we think of this debate? Was there a policy point to it or was it a clever political trap from Rudd/Abbott?

Google's withdrawal from China

Early last week Google announced it's withdrawal from China as an internet search provider, citing it's refusal to continue to acquiesce to Chinese Government demands to censor its search results. There's a number of issues here – from the generic internet censorship angle, to the specifics of companies being required to follow such governmental directives, and whether Google is right to withdraw from China, or whether it would have been more useful for them to work from within.

Abbott the Exercise Addict

Yesterday Tony Abbott successfully completed an Ironman event (basically a swim/cycle/run lasting 14 odd hours). He becomes only the second federal politician to complete such an event, after Independent Rob Oakeshott. Is this sort of dedication to exercise a praiseworthy attribute for an alternative PM, or a dangerous distraction for an Opposition Leader?

Benedict and the predator priests

Yes I know that's a combative title, but seriously, here we go again with a flood of controversy over sexual abuse within clergy, this time focused on Ireland and the USA, and with the spotlight very much on Pope Benedict as to his actions (or inactions) as the Cardinal in charge of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the church body responsible for sexual misconduct of the clergy. What do we think? Should Benedict take responsibility/is he actually responsible for the cover-ups etc? Where does the buck stop in this issue?

Following the meeting we shall wander down to PA's to finish the bikkies and eat chips and wedges, and, given as I'm chairing the meeting, I imagine I will be supplying a jug or so also, maybe Pimm's.

As always, if there's a topic you would like to discuss, either tell Megan or myself, or send us an email and we'll pop it on the roster.

Toodles til Tuesday,

ChriSec

The Blog

The PIS has a blog!! Yes that's right, we are with the times and this interweb crazy thing!

Heritage members may actively recall the blog has been in existence for some time, but it has fallen a little silent recently, but now back it comes.

All info on PIS events and general happenings will be published on the blog.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to encourage all members, new and old, to feel free to post on the blog anything in particular you fancy about politics, just ask Megan or myself to add you to the contributors list. This way if you just can't wait til the next tuesday to say your piece, you can do it immediately, and hopefully we can facilitate discussion even over those periods where (shock horror) the PIS doesn't meet, a la holidays :)

Whether you wish to pose a question, or have your say on a particular event, or what have you, you are welcome to do so.

So pop http://mupis.blogspot.com on your favourites list and keep your eyes peeled for everything new and interesting :)

Chris

Election Party #1 of 2010!!

South Australia and Tasmania go to the polls this Saturday 20th March, and the PIS will be there to see them. No this is not some dark magic, but rather through the miracle of the interwebs.

PIS will be following the results, laptops in hand, from 6.30pm on Saturday, at the Dan O'Connell Hotel, 225 Canning St, Carlton (Off Princes St, North-East of Melb Uni, between Rathdowne and Nicholson Sts.)

Come along for politics, drinks and dinner, and IF YOU HAVE A LAPTOP, BRING IT, the more we have, the more stats we can watch at once :)

Chris

Tuesday 16th March in the PIS

The Political Interest Society meet this week at 1pm Tuesday in Alice Hoy 102 for our usual biscuits and arguments, then hang out at the Prince Alfred Hotel on Grattan St from 2pm onwards.

On Saturday night we will also be getting together to watch the vote counts for the South Australian and Tasmanian state elections. We’ll have more information for you tomorrow on the time and venue, so keep an eye out!

As always, if there are any topics you particularly want to see on the agenda to be discussed at the official club meeting, email polintsoc@gmail.com or just mention it to me on Tuesday and I’ll try to remember.

This week, the PIS will discuss:

Protest in Thailand

Will the massive anti-government protests in Bangkok this weekend result in any positive change for Thailand?

Paid parental leave

We now have Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott shouting at each other over the issue of parental leave. Do we support parental leave? Does Abbott’s proposed scheme, of paying parents on parental leave at their usual rate of pay, seem fair or equitable?

Anti-whaling activism

It’s hard to find people in Australia who aren’t opposed to Japan’s ‘scientific’ whaling practices – although nothing in this club would surprise me any more – so we’re probably all inclined to support the actions of groups like the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, aggressively interfering with whaling boats. But given that they are often quite simply breaking the law, can we justify defending them when they get caught?

Upcoming state elections

The polls are dead close in South Australia and Tasmania could end up with a hung Parliament. This is going to be an interesting Saturday night. Who do we want to win, and who’s going to win?

Tuesday 9th March in the PIS

This week, the Political Interest Society will meet again at
1pm Tuesday in Alice Hoy 102 for biscuits and arguments. After
2pm we will then wander down to the Prince Alfred Hotel on Grattan
Street.

English as the national language
Should we make English the national language of Australia? Should
non-English speaking migrants be expected to meet a minimum
standard of fluency in English? Should bilingual education be
allowed? If we get bored with this, we can talk about the national
curriculum instead.

Do we need state government?
If the federal government can step in and take over the running of
hospitals, traditionally the territory of state governments, what
will be next? Are state governments necessary, or do we just hold
onto them for sentimental reasons of state identity? Might we be
better off with a two-level system of government?

Israel: should we scrap it and start over?
I think that's pretty self-explanatory.

Things we think might be bullshit: Marriage
For years there's been ongoing noise about giving same-sex couples
equal marriage rights with heterosexual couples. But really, what
use is marriage? Might equality be achieved more easily by
scrapping marriage altogether?


If you think the above topics are absurd and I must be losing my
mind, good news! In two months or so we will have the club's Annual
General Meeting, where you will have the chance to replace me with a
less ridiculous President. You could even run for a position yourself
and help the club to be more spectacular.

Even if you can't make the meeting at 1, feel free to join us at
PA's any time after that - you can tell which table is us because
of the Centenary of Federation Commemorative Biscuit Tin on the
table. Unless someone runs away with it. Then you'll be able to
tell which table is the PIS because there'll be a short girl
drinking beer and shouting at everyone. (That's me.) I may also
be drinking beer and shouting anyway, but please don't let that
put you off. I'm very friendly.

By the way, a note for all our members: if there's a topic you
really want to talk about in a meeting, feel free to email me and
ask me to put it on the agenda. I may not put it on the next week,
but I try to include all topics that are requested by members as
long as they're sensible. And sometimes even silly ones. For
example, the first topic this week was requested by Simon.
(It helps if you give me a question, though, and not just "I think
we should talk about Israel." That's how we end up with topics like
"Israel: should we scrap it and start over?")

Madame President