Change is in the air

The winter was long and quite dreary 

But now spring is arriving so cheery 

The cold winds now cease 

Warmer days increase 

As winter makes way for spring weary

Yes. Things are changing. Mostly for good. But not always. It sometimes feels like time just flows. And sometimes feels like Groundhog Year. I once liked the fact that the newspapers in this new adopted country of mine is a little more civil , with regards to reporting the news. But even that is now going down the drain. The elections might be over in the former United States, but the coverage, and its aftereffects is on the other side.

First , lets get this out of the way: the pandemic is over. The COVID-19 pandemic first reached Australia in early 2020. The government implemented increasingly restrictive measures like bans on public gatherings and travel to slow the spread of the virus. This had significant economic and social impacts on Australia. By April/May 2021, Australia had experienced over a year of the pandemic. Some of the key responses included closing schools which affected vulnerable children's education outcomes. The Reserve Bank of Australia also implemented unconventional monetary policies to support the economy. Throughout the pandemic, there were acute impacts on Australians' mental health as well as challenges for the healthcare system in treating patients and accessing personal protective equipment.

Inflation in Australia likely peaked in late 2022 and is projected to continue declining in 2023 and 2024 . But costs of things continue to stay high. The borders are now open, and temporary and permanent migration is not only high, but some say are higher than it has ever been.

But the biggest topic that has caught people's mind is the phenomenal , almost overnight rise of AI and the jobs it will reduce. And the repeated complaints of employers asking employees to return to office. Although these might look like two unrelated issues, they are more closely related than it seems.

I can still recall about 5 years ago, when Rising incomes, low public debt, affordable welfare state and immigration were discussed as things Australia was doing well. There was a general air of hope and confidence; this was the place to be, the model country for others to admire.

Maybe that spring isn't far away.

There once was a group full of hope Who said their investment would cope With schedules each day They planned things that way But optimism can lead us off scope