Welcome and an apology

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Welcome to one of the most neglected political Blogs in the history of blogging. (It's hyperbole I know, indulge me.)  Having been very busy attending to a family crisis that is now resolved, I'm back to work! What has been happening in the world of politics?

Middle East - human rights breaches and various kinds of war

UK -  Investigations into the media (the Leveson inquiry) and such serious

problems found that the role of media as 'the fourth estate' and/or the value of this is under serious question (while the media thinks of vital to democracy the rest of us don't know what it is or means.)

U.S - climate change and weather disaster along with political interest following a federal election

Europe - climate change and weather related disaster

Asia - apparently a joke naming the North Korean leader the 'sexiest man alive' was repeated as gospel by certain Chinese media

Australia - nothing... wait … my mistake … federal stoushes relating to claims the Prime Minister did bad things long ago or that the leader of the Australian Opposition is sexist and given to dishing 'sleaze' and … last year … in the state of Queensland the ruling party changed the law, so that MPs from it's ranks who quit and sought to join a small fringe party have lost the right to be considered a 'party' by the parliament, unless they have three elected members … seen as a blatant move to silence opposition and punish the 'unfaithful'.  Federal moves supposedly designed to cause single parents (most of these are female so single mothers) to 'get a job' resulting in increased impoverishment for an all ready powerless, impoverished group at least half of whom have been working anyway and their children, the internet providing a ready window into the lives of a group who now will go without food so that their kids can eat. Congratulations Australia.