Election '07 - Two Days To Go
In all the discussion of Work Choices, interest rates, working families and the economy, no one seems to have talked about the real issues of the campaign. Not the things which will define the nature of the nation long after any current economic conditions have changed.
There's something deeper here - what sort of tone, even morality, we want for the nation. I'm not speaking of hypocritical "Christian" morality used by politicians whenever it suits their purposes, but just the ideas of helping out those worse off than ourselves, tolerance, and a fair go for everyone, including giving extra assistance to those who started from behind. Those finer ideals that Howard has done so much to destroy in the past eleven years.
No one seems to be mentioning the things that the Coalition has done over their years in office - from mandatory detention to work for the dole - that have created a national attitude which disdains help for those less fortunate (unless they happen to be truly tragic, and pretty).
Tuesday's post (below) lamented the unlikelihood of a new, "caring and sharing" Australia arising from a change in government. But it can't possibly be worse than what we've had during Howard's reign, as outlined by Paul Keating in today's SMH - one of the few voices of conscience in this election (and you think you know someone...)
Anyway, it really wouldn't suprise me if senior Liberal party figures really are responsible for, or at least were aware of, the fake flier. That's how desperate they are. That's how little any of us can trust them.
It's taken me this long, but I feel safe enough to call the election now. Sorry Libs, it's all over. You shan't be missed.
Who do you think will win the seat of Bennelong?
ReplyDeleteAs much as I'd love to see Howard get beaten by a female former ABC journo, I still have my doubts about it actually happening.
Firstly, the seat of Bennelong has provided one of the most unintentionally hilarious pieces of punditry I've ever seen, courtesy of that right windbag, Pier Akermonster:
ReplyDelete"Labor’s candidate, the former ABC star Maxine McKew, has assembled a team of purple-shirted Chinese volunteers known as MSG (Maxine Support Group), who carry placards supporting the woman they call Mai Jiao which, according to The Age, means “pretty”.
MSG, a cheap food additive, was popularised during the famines induced in China under the murderous dictatorship of Mao Zedong.
Serious chefs avoid it, just as serious voters should avoid McKew’s policy-lite candidacy."
Yes, that makes a tonne of sense.
I'm not sure who will win Bennelong, I might actually go looking now for some poll figures for the seat. I'll be watching it with particular interest tomorrow night. (I've always lived in safe Labor seats, so I have to get my election night excitement vicariously).