A Different Drummer

The new law requiring internet filtering in Australia is as bad as anything done by John Howard's government, and mocks the idea that the new Rudd government is genuinely progressive or visionary:

Australians will be unable to opt-out of the government's pending Internet content filtering scheme, and will instead be placed on a watered-down blacklist, experts say. (Computerworld)

Yes, John Howard had warships tow boats full of refugees to random deserted islands for offshore "processing". But censoring the internet is absolutely fucking disastrous in the long run. Sure, in the beginning it will be some kind of benign cutting of gory death videos and how-to guides to making your own crystal meth - and even censoring this is wrong.

But just watch - the moment a government body makes decisions about what can't be shown on the internet, the government effectively assumes responsibility for everything else online. All of a sudden everything that isn't censored has kind of government stamp of approval. And then every little interest group and whining gang of righteous victims will begin calling for whatever ails them to also get the chop.

Promoting ideas somebody feels is racist? Bye bye. Saying something someone else thinks defames their religion? Gone. Saying anything that shouldn't be said in front of the children - remember, always think of the children - good night.

Combined with the retarded new attitude towards soft drugs in once-tolerant South Australia - also gleefully championed by a so-called progressive Labour government - this makes me seriously wonder if I could ever vote Labour.