Exploding a fair few wordy myths

July 9, 2007


AFTER recent comments from Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, debate is raging over whether America and Australia went to war in Iraq because of oil.

This is absurd. Nobody was more surprised to discover that Iraq had oil than the Allies. Goodness, with all that fuel around, it was just as well that those weapons of mass destruction were only prevented from exploding by the fact that they didn't exist. Otherwise, the whole country could have gone up in flames. Oh, wait a minute … Anyway, here are some ideas that should probably be blown up.

Carbon trading. If a tree falls in the forest and no one gets a tax credit, did it really fall? An important philosophical question.

Coles sale. As Coles senior executives and directors prepare to accept their payouts, we should all feel reassured that you don't necessarily have to be marvellously good at your job to become wealthy. A comfort to us all. Well, maybe not Coles staff.

Credit card brand. Something that must look good in bankruptcy court.

Foreign policy. Many say that Australian foreign policy is little more than empty posturing. They could not be more wrong. Most Australian foreign policy is full of it.

Leader. A person who, when faced with daunting challenges, knows exactly what to do. Blame his predecessor.

Minimum wage rises. Something that is appallingly inflationary because workers insist on spending it all. Unlike increases to executive salaries, which are not inflationary because, cleverly, they are so big nobody can spend it all.

Peak oil. The allegation that oil production has reached its peak, and will start to decline. Impossible to confirm, because we are only allowed a peek.

David James is Leadership editor of BRW magazine and author of The Business Devil's Dictionary.


The Age 9-7-7

http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/exploding-a-fair-few-wordy-myths/2007/07/08/1183833344246.html

.       .        .        .        .        .

" I am opposed to millionaires... but it would be dangerous to offer me the position. -Mark Twain "


http://www.ebearweb.net


Stephen's Snaps
http://photo.ebearweb.net/

This week Truk photos.

Simply nice photos, Landscape, Seascape, Underwater, The Northern Beaches Sydney.