You have taken these thoughts tight out of my head. I came to Australia in 1959 the child of £10 Poms. I was 8 and for the last 60 years I was totally in love with this country. The lurch into neo-liberalism and the rise of a feckless labor party has destroyed any belief in a fair and just society; we have become a commodification nation of self interested monsters afraid of change, compassion and taking risks to become a better society. I fear for the future of my children and grandchildren and the disadvantaged and marginalised. Fuck the politicians, the media, fossil fuel companies and AUKUS and the Religious ne'er do wells.
Ditto. And arrived the same year. From my enormous pride at getting Aussie citizenship on my own at 16, to now it’s a huge downward spiral. I’m disheartened and disappointed by this country and its leaders who refuse to listen to those who put them there. At 70 all I can do now is interact with others if like minded and support genuine community minded candidates. And bleat endlessly at my local MP about the failings of the government.
Read some Tim Dunlop. He is clearly of the view that the two party system is on its last legs and we need independents like Monique Ryan and David Pocock in the parliament to bring about enlightened programs for the people and not the lobbyists
My local member, Zoe Daniel, is another independent who has raised the level of debate in the House of Reps, and varied the range of issues addressed. It would be hard to find a starker contrast than that between Zoe and her predecessor, the IPA drone Tim whatshisname, yet the Libs are determined to try to use him to reclaim ‘their’ seat! LOL
Howard has a lot to answer for. That said, so does Keating. Yes, Keating adhered to the social contract but he did so by bedding down the neo liberal economic policies that Howard would grasp with both hands whilst ignoring the social contract.
Damn I’ve been feeling so unmoored this Christmas break and you’ve put it all in words here. You’re right they have broken the social contract and it worries me that we’re heading somewhere dangerous because of it, if we can’t make those grassroots connections.
That’s the very reason communities right around Australia are banding together and creating movements to find and elect community independents. It will take time but when we have a parliament full of MPs connected and answerable to their communities, change will happen.
Outstanding analysis and brilliant writing Joel. Having raged about neoliberalism for 30+ years and reeled in despair at Gaza and the West's criminal complicity, I am more than ready for my consignment of Redheads.
Thank you for expressing so potently what so many of us feel and think.
If my social media comments for the past few years were audited, the recurring theme would be that the current political class are not fit for purpose, for office, or the future. We can be a world leading nation in so many areas, we can seize the opportunities that are flowing past us each week, we can be the best place to live - but only if we start with new people and a new political paradigm of representation and commonsense policies. It's not that hard in reality to make the current system obviously obsolete by offering a superior alternative. Vision, leadership and courage are missing from politics today. Only outsiders - true patriots and people who want to serve their country - will bring about the changes we sorely, desperately need.
Ensure you understand where the demise of our “lucky” country started - with the signing of the Lima Agreement by the Whitlam labor government. Every nation-destroying action by government started from there. We lost our entire manufacturing industry because of it. We went from being a clever, innovative country to one which makes nothing, but consumes cheap imported junk. The fault must lie firmly at labor’s door and should never, ever be forgiven
There's plenty of material here for a Michael Moore type documentary movie or three. I'm sure there are plenty of people willing to tip in to make sure it happens and break the two party stranglehold. What about it Joel?
You have taken these thoughts tight out of my head. I came to Australia in 1959 the child of £10 Poms. I was 8 and for the last 60 years I was totally in love with this country. The lurch into neo-liberalism and the rise of a feckless labor party has destroyed any belief in a fair and just society; we have become a commodification nation of self interested monsters afraid of change, compassion and taking risks to become a better society. I fear for the future of my children and grandchildren and the disadvantaged and marginalised. Fuck the politicians, the media, fossil fuel companies and AUKUS and the Religious ne'er do wells.
Ditto. And arrived the same year. From my enormous pride at getting Aussie citizenship on my own at 16, to now it’s a huge downward spiral. I’m disheartened and disappointed by this country and its leaders who refuse to listen to those who put them there. At 70 all I can do now is interact with others if like minded and support genuine community minded candidates. And bleat endlessly at my local MP about the failings of the government.
Read some Tim Dunlop. He is clearly of the view that the two party system is on its last legs and we need independents like Monique Ryan and David Pocock in the parliament to bring about enlightened programs for the people and not the lobbyists
Tim is one of my faves.
My local member, Zoe Daniel, is another independent who has raised the level of debate in the House of Reps, and varied the range of issues addressed. It would be hard to find a starker contrast than that between Zoe and her predecessor, the IPA drone Tim whatshisname, yet the Libs are determined to try to use him to reclaim ‘their’ seat! LOL
Howard has a lot to answer for. That said, so does Keating. Yes, Keating adhered to the social contract but he did so by bedding down the neo liberal economic policies that Howard would grasp with both hands whilst ignoring the social contract.
Damn I’ve been feeling so unmoored this Christmas break and you’ve put it all in words here. You’re right they have broken the social contract and it worries me that we’re heading somewhere dangerous because of it, if we can’t make those grassroots connections.
That’s the very reason communities right around Australia are banding together and creating movements to find and elect community independents. It will take time but when we have a parliament full of MPs connected and answerable to their communities, change will happen.
Outstanding analysis and brilliant writing Joel. Having raged about neoliberalism for 30+ years and reeled in despair at Gaza and the West's criminal complicity, I am more than ready for my consignment of Redheads.
Thank you for expressing so potently what so many of us feel and think.
If my social media comments for the past few years were audited, the recurring theme would be that the current political class are not fit for purpose, for office, or the future. We can be a world leading nation in so many areas, we can seize the opportunities that are flowing past us each week, we can be the best place to live - but only if we start with new people and a new political paradigm of representation and commonsense policies. It's not that hard in reality to make the current system obviously obsolete by offering a superior alternative. Vision, leadership and courage are missing from politics today. Only outsiders - true patriots and people who want to serve their country - will bring about the changes we sorely, desperately need.
Ensure you understand where the demise of our “lucky” country started - with the signing of the Lima Agreement by the Whitlam labor government. Every nation-destroying action by government started from there. We lost our entire manufacturing industry because of it. We went from being a clever, innovative country to one which makes nothing, but consumes cheap imported junk. The fault must lie firmly at labor’s door and should never, ever be forgiven
Very good piece of writing Joel. We have become less like Australia and more like America . I miss Australia .
The gobsmacking thing is, that we've allowed it all these years. Hopefully, we're coming to our senses now.
There's plenty of material here for a Michael Moore type documentary movie or three. I'm sure there are plenty of people willing to tip in to make sure it happens and break the two party stranglehold. What about it Joel?
Thanks for all your excellent work this year too.