The Aussie election
0 Comments Published by Tom Gara on Monday, October 11 at Monday, October 11, 2004.
Long, long reflection on the Aussie election ahead. Skip if you are not interested.
Although it was overshadowed for me by the explody'ness in Egypt, there federal election just held in Australia is interesting and somewhat depressing news. In short, for those who don't follow Australian politics, the conservative Australian coalition government was returned to power, with a considerable swing toward their candidates.
I'm not that depressed that the opposition party lost - it really makes little difference in Australia who is in government - we have had 30 years of pretty amazing national growth and development whether progressives or conservatives are in power. And on the big issues, both parties are fairly close to identical (the effect of Thomas Friedman's so called "golden straightjacket" I'd say).
I just think its healthy to change government once in a while. Especially when it comes to conservative governments who start to embrace more and more odious "allies" to stay in power - in the case of the Australian government, this election was the beginning of the presence of a political religious right in Australia - which is awful news for a country with fantastically secuar tradition that I am very proud of.
This election also saw the government catering to the "lets make money from destroying Australia" vote, through the crucial end of campaign decision (bloody terrible decision) by the opposition leader to seriously cut old growth logging in some of Australia's most amazing pristine wilderness areas. The opposition went about this policv so incredibly wrong that it is not funny. With literally just days to go in the election, the opposition leader announced an $800 million dollar bribe....I mean "package" designed to "compensate" the Tasmanian logging community for the fact that he was putting them all out of business.
Proving once and for all that they are asshole opportunists who should never be trusted, Australian trade unions disgracefully came out with only days before the election announcing they could no longer support the (traditonally worker supported) opposition. Because they were taking away jobs from logging workers. Assholes. A few thousand asshole redneck loggers who make their livingabo destroying some of the most beautiful places in Australia being priority over thinking about a truly long term concept - that maybe, ummm, a world heritage standard, completely unique and beautiful environment is worth more in the long term than a few million tons of woodchips. Fucking, fucking, assholes.
But the blame rests with the opposition in the end. It was a poorly planned, cynical vote getting excercise, that played right into the hands of the conservative government who wanted to show a good example of a progressive party planning to destroy the economy, obstruct business, harm honest workers, pander to left wing greenies, and gernerally do all the things that conservatives love to identify progressives with.
Its not that this was the only issue in the election. But its just a micro-example of many cases where a more politically skilled government party managed to outflank a second rate opposition who actually had some good ideas for the country. The opposition's "Iraq" policy - getting out of Iraq and focussing our efforts on terrorist activity in South-East Asia, you know, like, where Australia actually IS, and where we have the best intelligence and historical ties, was actually a far better idea than just offering ultimately marginal support to wherever the US is working. But of course, this was spun by the government as another example of lefties wanting to "cut and run", chicken out of the war against terrorism and appease the people who want to attack us. Disgraceful when it comes to honesty and morality, but excellent, excellent politics.
Which is, ultimately, what this comes down to. Whether you love him or hate him, you really have to acknowledge that John Howard, leader of the current government, is one of the best politicians in Australian history. Maybe not the most visionary, or the most inspirational, or even the most honest. But he just has buckets and buckets of skills where it ultimately matters - getting people to vote for him, and winning elections.
Look at the record - in the last ten years, he has stomped all over 4 opposition party leaders - the first being Paul Keating, one of the best Australian leaders of all time. Since then, he has seen his way through three more opposition leaders, none ever being able to seriously challenge him when it counts. He has held together his party so well that at an elderly age, and with plenty of major mistakes and controversies behind him, there has never been a serious leadership challenge from within his party. He goes into a fourth 3 year term as Prime Minister with a formidable deputy, Peter Costello, who is now very experienced in government, one of the most active politicians in the country, a clear, clear candidate as the next Prime Minister, and aged only 49, making him quite young by most countries standards.
All in all, in my opinion, John Howard is a morally dubious, lying, opportunistic little man. But I admire him above most politicians for raw political talent, endurance, and a clear determination to never, ever lose. Australia could have worse. But I wish we could have better.
Although it was overshadowed for me by the explody'ness in Egypt, there federal election just held in Australia is interesting and somewhat depressing news. In short, for those who don't follow Australian politics, the conservative Australian coalition government was returned to power, with a considerable swing toward their candidates.
I'm not that depressed that the opposition party lost - it really makes little difference in Australia who is in government - we have had 30 years of pretty amazing national growth and development whether progressives or conservatives are in power. And on the big issues, both parties are fairly close to identical (the effect of Thomas Friedman's so called "golden straightjacket" I'd say).
I just think its healthy to change government once in a while. Especially when it comes to conservative governments who start to embrace more and more odious "allies" to stay in power - in the case of the Australian government, this election was the beginning of the presence of a political religious right in Australia - which is awful news for a country with fantastically secuar tradition that I am very proud of.
This election also saw the government catering to the "lets make money from destroying Australia" vote, through the crucial end of campaign decision (bloody terrible decision) by the opposition leader to seriously cut old growth logging in some of Australia's most amazing pristine wilderness areas. The opposition went about this policv so incredibly wrong that it is not funny. With literally just days to go in the election, the opposition leader announced an $800 million dollar bribe....I mean "package" designed to "compensate" the Tasmanian logging community for the fact that he was putting them all out of business.
Proving once and for all that they are asshole opportunists who should never be trusted, Australian trade unions disgracefully came out with only days before the election announcing they could no longer support the (traditonally worker supported) opposition. Because they were taking away jobs from logging workers. Assholes. A few thousand asshole redneck loggers who make their livingabo destroying some of the most beautiful places in Australia being priority over thinking about a truly long term concept - that maybe, ummm, a world heritage standard, completely unique and beautiful environment is worth more in the long term than a few million tons of woodchips. Fucking, fucking, assholes.
But the blame rests with the opposition in the end. It was a poorly planned, cynical vote getting excercise, that played right into the hands of the conservative government who wanted to show a good example of a progressive party planning to destroy the economy, obstruct business, harm honest workers, pander to left wing greenies, and gernerally do all the things that conservatives love to identify progressives with.
Its not that this was the only issue in the election. But its just a micro-example of many cases where a more politically skilled government party managed to outflank a second rate opposition who actually had some good ideas for the country. The opposition's "Iraq" policy - getting out of Iraq and focussing our efforts on terrorist activity in South-East Asia, you know, like, where Australia actually IS, and where we have the best intelligence and historical ties, was actually a far better idea than just offering ultimately marginal support to wherever the US is working. But of course, this was spun by the government as another example of lefties wanting to "cut and run", chicken out of the war against terrorism and appease the people who want to attack us. Disgraceful when it comes to honesty and morality, but excellent, excellent politics.
Which is, ultimately, what this comes down to. Whether you love him or hate him, you really have to acknowledge that John Howard, leader of the current government, is one of the best politicians in Australian history. Maybe not the most visionary, or the most inspirational, or even the most honest. But he just has buckets and buckets of skills where it ultimately matters - getting people to vote for him, and winning elections.
Look at the record - in the last ten years, he has stomped all over 4 opposition party leaders - the first being Paul Keating, one of the best Australian leaders of all time. Since then, he has seen his way through three more opposition leaders, none ever being able to seriously challenge him when it counts. He has held together his party so well that at an elderly age, and with plenty of major mistakes and controversies behind him, there has never been a serious leadership challenge from within his party. He goes into a fourth 3 year term as Prime Minister with a formidable deputy, Peter Costello, who is now very experienced in government, one of the most active politicians in the country, a clear, clear candidate as the next Prime Minister, and aged only 49, making him quite young by most countries standards.
All in all, in my opinion, John Howard is a morally dubious, lying, opportunistic little man. But I admire him above most politicians for raw political talent, endurance, and a clear determination to never, ever lose. Australia could have worse. But I wish we could have better.
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