In Foreign News
The BBC reports that Venezuela seizes toilet paper factory to avoid shortage.
Apparently the country has been experiencing shortages that have required the importation of toilet paper and the government is suspicious about the reasons for the shortages. [BTW – did you know that the Koch brothers make toilet paper?]
I hope they can unclog the distribution system.
In Australia they are still counting votes. The ABC reports that Clive Palmer wins Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax by 36 votes, triggering recount:
Businessman Clive Palmer has finished just 36 votes ahead in the race for the federal seat of Fairfax, a result which will trigger an automatic recount.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) will conduct a recount because the margin is less than 100 votes.
…Mr Palmer told the ABC’s PM program earlier this week that he had other concerns about the electoral process, particularly about ex-military officers involved in the process of counting votes.
“You’ve seen what’s happened in Egypt with a coup over,” he said.
“In a free democracy we don’t want military personnel in control of our election process. We are civilians and it should be a civilian election.
“It’s just too much of a coincidence you’ve got so many ex-military people acting as divisional directors in House of Representative seats.”
I don’t really see how denying former members of the military the right to participate in the process makes the system more democratic, but then I’m not obscenely wealthy like Mr. Palmer.
September 21, 2013 7 Comments
