The Boomerthrocene Era hailed Coal as the Saviour of Humanity!
Next to the Anthropocene, the “Boommerthrocene”, is a singular period of human evolution. Time shall be marked, BB or AB hereafter.
It is identified by a rise in smugness from the over 55’s and the :trickle down effect”. Not a loss of bladder control? you may ask, but an identifiable phenomenon whereby faith is placed in charity and largesse to avert social destruction. Conservatives quite like it. And you cant blame them. Faced with the horrific existential threat of socialism and the destruction of the very structures that keep this society intact, (such as prudential franking credits and adjusting the marginal tax rate), they rallied and sent a vision of a fairer Australia DOWN! The Boomers. The inheritors of free tertiary education, Commonwealth Scholarships, cheap housing and a more liberal era, closed the door on the very same entitlements that gave them something more important than vision. A comfy life.
The Boomerthrocene Era liked to think about the environment, but could be swayed by bigger issues.
Though Rupert and Clive have done their very best to ensure they got the right result, it’s encouraging to know that our kiddies will not be able to afford a house. There’s some good heritage housing stock going cheap in Broken Hill. And the Wimmera looks good, not many ocean views but plenty of sand. The further good news is that the slide in property may have stalled, the upward trajectory points to a stronger future in which equity, fairness and the environment are non ISSUES!..
The BIG ISSUES stretch way beyond a sensitive raft of policies aimed at social equity.
Aged care Is HUGE
Universities as Visa Factories and vocational training facilities are HUGE
Tax Concessions are HUGE
Negative gearing is HUGE
COAL is COLLOSSAL!
And Indigenous incarceration is just getting BIGGER And BIGGER!
Growing the economy and employing THOUSANDS!
We have a forward looking government that looks backwards. Whose policies on everything are focused on those who ARE ABOUT TO DIE, rather than those who are yet to LIVE!
Trevor St Barker, an older Australian who is the personification of the Boomerthrocene ERA.
And for this kiddies the irony is exquisite. Dead end jobs with a hundred thousand plus HECS debt are LOCKED OUT! Their optimism is quashed so that we may better view the benefits of the “Trickle Down Effect”. To wait till we‘ve karked it before they can climb the ladder of social opportunity.
We can expect a bright future in school chaplaincy, and with bit of luck attendants in the newly augmented SUPER SIZED Australian War Memorial will get bright new uniforms. We might even add further wings to that ossary of lost souls when we join the yanks in our next foray into the Middle East. Once daddy and mummy have finished with tax cuts they may gift one of their investment properties as a leg up. Everyone needs a leg up. And if you aint got wealthy parents you just lucked out. So GET OVER IT! A big tick for REALLY REALLY FUCKING HUGE road projects and the shareholders, and new French submarines WILL be built, and Adani is a CERT!
Joe Hockey, closed down the Car industry, put thousands out of work. A legend of the Boomerthrocene Era.
Some generations are just borne lucky. Not for them the mud and barbed wire of Flanders, nor the bubonic plague. Not for them the sacrifice for the glory of Empire as a tail gunner in a Lancaster being sprayed by 30 mm cannon. Not for them the ignominy of contracting smallpox, malaria, and berri berri…on a jungle track somewhere behind the bamboo curtain of deepest darkest Burma or even in the existential sense to die ingloriously as a pike man at Agincourt. To die nobly for ones cause. Just the certainty of a depleted planet and an environmental catastrophe!
In their youth when they were quick limbed, lithe and carefree, they indulged in natures bounty, so that the gift of opportunity was singularly theirs.
But now with the special accomodation home beckoning, the knee, hip and joint replacement pending, they graciously closed the door on such opportunities for those who must follow.
Who, sadly would do exactly the same if they were in their position.
In the end self interest triumphs the environment.
But, don’t despair, we’re working on a treaty, and with a bit of luck our white paper will be due for the next election.
Or the one after that,
Or the next one after that.
Can’t have too much change in a generation or two
A big vision, yep its called television.
The Boomerthrocene Era is famous for public figures pretending to CARE about POOR and NEGLECTED SOULS, to make themselves quietly superior, (and secure their AO nomination for Philanthropy).
Or…. Facebook?
Twitter anyone?