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Richard Farmer

Crikey political commentator

The United States is a less violent nation today than it has been for 40 years.

The USA is actually less violent now

The United States is a less violent nation today than it has been for 40 years.

Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens might think that the economic glass is now a shade better than half full.

Do inflation numbers point to a half full glass?

Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens might think that the economic glass is now a shade better than half full.

I drew attention at the weekend to a new form of reporting political news whereby political correspondents quote their own paper's columnists as sources.

The Oz quotes its own

I drew attention at the weekend to a new form of reporting political news whereby political correspondents quote their own paper's columnists as sources.

Some sensible talk from Communications Minister Stephen Conroy in the wake of the weekend's Melbourne state byelection.

Conroy's common sense

Some sensible talk from Communications Minister Stephen Conroy in the wake of the weekend's Melbourne state byelection.

A new form of reporting political news - quote your own columnists

It gets a bit hard writing news stories about leadership challenges when the politicians involved don’t want to talk ab out it. But never fear, there is another way of filling the front page – quote your own columnists. The Sydney Morning Herald has introduced this innovative technique with its story this morning telling us that: […]

The dealings of Julia Gillard back in the 1990s with a former Australian Workers Union official accused of financial impropriety keeps bubbling along as an embarrassment for the government.

The Gillard story that won't go away

The dealings of Julia Gillard back in the 1990s with a former Australian Workers Union official accused of financial impropriety keeps bubbling along as an embarrassment for the government.

Triumph and pride. These are the universal gestures we will see as the Olympic games unfold. The two are not the same thing but here's a guide how to recognise them.

Differentiating triumph and pride

Triumph and pride. These are the universal gestures we will see as the Olympic games unfold. The two are not the same thing but here's a guide how to recognise them.

A new series of data from the ABS this morning -- a comparison of variations in Wage and Salary Income between Local Government Areas.

Where the rich and poor live

A new series of data from the ABS this morning -- a comparison of variations in Wage and Salary Income between Local Government Areas.

There is a price to be paid by political leaders when they reserve for themselves the power of patronage ...

Are the Labor natives getting restless?

There is a price to be paid by political leaders when they reserve for themselves the power of patronage ...

Our Crikey election specialist, the Poll Bludger, gives a sensibly reasoned case why not too much significance should be attached to a Greens victory in the coming weekend Melbourne state byelection.

A byelection campaign sucked into the vortex of national politics

Our Crikey election specialist, the Poll Bludger, gives a sensibly reasoned case why not too much significance should be attached to a Greens victory in the coming weekend Melbourne state byelection.