Loose Cannons

Reject an Iraq run by...

"The enemy in Iraq is a combination of rejectionists, Saddamists and terrorists. The rejectionists are by far the largest group. These are ordinary Iraqis, mostly Sunni Arabs, who ... reject an Iraq in which they are no longer the dominant group." — Emperor George Bush II, November 30.

Santa's 'humble life lifts humanity's sights'

"Welcome to the Christmas Pageant of Peace. Laura and I are so honoured to join you all. The lighting of the National Christmas tree is one of the great traditions in our nation's capital. Each year, we gather here to celebrate the season of hope and joy — and to remember the story of one humble life that lifted the sights of humanity. Santa, thanks for coming." — Emperor Bush, December 1.

Comfortable for some

"Health care lies uncomfortably at the intersection of market capitalism and social care. Much dissatisfaction stems from this tension. A product promising relief from pain and long, if not eternal, life can extract a premium price. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies have always done well." — From the December 2 Australian.

Whose envy?

"The public hospital system is one of the last socialist enterprises and it is very large ... As a politically run enterprise the state health system is full of inequity. The large city hospitals are a comfort to the 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the population within easy access ... Envy is strong in a system where no one knows what they have paid for so assumes they have paid for everything medically possible ... The two basic requirements of a health system in Australia are safety and universal coverage. Ensuring these is the rightful place of government. Provision of health services perhaps is not." — From the December 2 Australian.

From Green Left Weekly, December 7, 2005.

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

From GLW issue 652