Chris Kenny on the Voice; Kingdomcity; origins of wokeness; nuclear energy

Published: Sun, 09/24/23

RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Monday, September 25, 2023

Rationale, the magazine of the Rationalist Society of Australia

Good morning ,

A while ago, I attached an article from The Australian's National Affairs editor, Chris Kenny, on the Voice. Now he's written another, which I also attach. Surprisingly, Kenny's article is titled, A No vote would confirm us as a frightened, insular nation, and he writes that the No campaign "represents a shrivelled view of this nation's history and future .. an even uglier aspect [is] the campaign's morphing into an opportunity to vent grievances against any aspect of Indigenous people's place in our society ... a harsh, resentful and divisive element .. voting No will not make anything go away, except a voice .. if it is successful, the No campaigners would have done nothing but preserve a situation that the entire nation knows is grossly unsatisfactory."

Lead stories

Pentecostalism: New, old and unchanging - Rationale Magazine

Is "Kingdomcity" just an attempt to take over the "troubled Hillsong franchise and its followers under new leadership, promoting the same ideas and employing the same strategies of persuasion based on mass hysteria whipped up by amplified pop music. There remains the repetitious rhetoric of preachers skilled in the marketing and show-biz arts of drawing emotional responses from needy and suggestible audiences, and the extraction of large financial donations from them."

Where Does 'Wokeness' Come From?

The author of a new book called Where does 'Wokeness' come from? explains why he wrote the book and what to do about it. This apparently involves explaining how (American) civil rights law led to wokeness; how those laws have influenced institutional culture (including private corporations); how to change those laws; and the political prospects of doing so. One of the comments under the article says, "Australia, Texas, Ireland, Michigan, and many more places still have a chance. But the West Coast [California] is gone for good." Anyone want to write a review?

Nuclear energy is too slow and expensive according to report

I've always thought the extreme opposition to nuclear energy in Australia is irrational and I remain open to advances in its technology that would make it a viable part of a future energy mix.

Other stories of interest

Scott Morrison's New Book Reeks of Hypocrisy · Caldron Pool

Even his putative friends are not impressed with our worst prime minister trying to rationalise his reign: "Scott Morrison is literally preaching the “God over Government” message he refused to support when protestors gathered in Canberra in the name of freedom."

Five years. A thousand messages. How a top public servant tried to influence governments

Haven't had time to read all this yet but looks fascinating: "Michael Pezzullo spent years using a political back channel to two Liberal prime ministers to undermine political and public service enemies, promote the careers of conservative politicians he considered allies and lobby to muzzle the press"

Tax agents to lose secrecy rights under proposed laws

Sounds fair.

With the Orinoco you might get some Oporto - but not in a dojo on the Congo using a bongo in this quizzo

For a challenge and a bit of fun ...

Got a comment on any of these stories?

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au