The main Party Conference was conducted just like a corporate AGM while anything resembling participatory democracy was shunted to the fringe, like letting the toddlers play in the office crèche while the adults get to do business.
The flimsy pretence of a people’s party focused on the interests of working class Australians is attempted with the cynical use of traditional ALP imagery and language, but it’s more or less back to Santamaria’s DLP with a slick corporate makeover, toned down religious rhetoric and media-friendly talking points.
So glad you pointed out the authoritarianism of the ALP and Albonese. His interview on Insiders made clear that there was no point debating issues because, as you say, the Gang of Four are all powerful and make the decisions.
That is, not for the first time, a really really excellent piece of writing
You have totally captured the horrible, anti-human state of things in words that the robotic enemies of everything that matters will not be capable of challenging
What if Ed Husic's role is to be the voice of hope, keeping Labor voters hoping the Party will change, despite the evidence to the contrary? Labor voters who hate Labor's (and the LNP's, and the ONP's) position on Palestine, AUKUS, fossil fuel sales (until 2070!), Carbon offsets/Indulgences (stalling the transition to renewables), police violence, internet bans, disability cruelty, etc still vote for Labor for some reason. Perhaps its as simple as the ALP main organizers keep foolish hope of ALP change to decency alive, to keep voters from straying (to The Greens, or Indies, or Socialists).
The main Party Conference was conducted just like a corporate AGM while anything resembling participatory democracy was shunted to the fringe, like letting the toddlers play in the office crèche while the adults get to do business.
The flimsy pretence of a people’s party focused on the interests of working class Australians is attempted with the cynical use of traditional ALP imagery and language, but it’s more or less back to Santamaria’s DLP with a slick corporate makeover, toned down religious rhetoric and media-friendly talking points.
So glad you pointed out the authoritarianism of the ALP and Albonese. His interview on Insiders made clear that there was no point debating issues because, as you say, the Gang of Four are all powerful and make the decisions.
That is, not for the first time, a really really excellent piece of writing
You have totally captured the horrible, anti-human state of things in words that the robotic enemies of everything that matters will not be capable of challenging
What if Ed Husic's role is to be the voice of hope, keeping Labor voters hoping the Party will change, despite the evidence to the contrary? Labor voters who hate Labor's (and the LNP's, and the ONP's) position on Palestine, AUKUS, fossil fuel sales (until 2070!), Carbon offsets/Indulgences (stalling the transition to renewables), police violence, internet bans, disability cruelty, etc still vote for Labor for some reason. Perhaps its as simple as the ALP main organizers keep foolish hope of ALP change to decency alive, to keep voters from straying (to The Greens, or Indies, or Socialists).
Thanks Joel. https://seqldiww.org/the-flowering-of-silence-at-labors-national-conference/