TBH, there's not a lot of difference "on the ground" as it were between the previous (Conservative) and the new (vaguely Centre-left) governments. The problem is that most of the financial issues faced by Australia (and therefore the fault of the current Governments whoever they are) are in fact outside their control :)
However the rhetoric from the new Government is a lot more soothing and they are saying the right words. They have got multiple other governments back on their side, or at least are engaged in dialog with them. Their first budget, just released yesterday as I write, appears to be headed in the right direction; cancelling a lot of pork barreling, redirecting funding in infrastructure project, yet still supposedly reducing the deficit.
My concern is that it may end up like New Zealand
- a charismatic leader, making promises that aren't kept,
- lots of virtue signalling (whether on the international or local stage, but no real progress on things like income equality or welfare programs,
- all supported by a media that does take sides, and will support them no matter what. Of course, it doesn't help that most of Australia's local Conservative "opinion makers" have lost credibility over the last 6 years or so, due to their FOX news level of support of Trump ....
We had a similar situation with the previous "Right" or Conservative government in Australia. Apart from the dog-whistles to the racists, we had a similar incompetent and corrupt leadership.
Given what I see in the US, I'm starting to think that if basic ompetence in providing basic services is your requirement, then you need to vote Left or at least Left of centre.
Good piece from the heart, with zero filters applied.
It's been so depressing how the right-wing racist minority can fool the public to have so much power. Most people are moderates, either a bit left or right of centre - or at the centre. Their voice needs to be heard, not the extremist monitories who drown out the moderate majority. It's a similar issue in the US, where their whole society and culture was built on a "welcoming" immigration policy, which has recently been hijacked by the extremists in a similar way.
We just need to vote out these dreadful politicians. But we need inspiring leaders in the centre ground to educate and motivate us, not there lunatics who play on xenophobia and ignorance. PF
The difficulty I have is in finding those who have genuinely fresh ideas. Even assuming we get someone like Rishi - do I really want a PM who was a banker running the country? What does he know about public service provision? Or if it’s Penny then do I want someone who insisted that Turkey would join the EU as part of her Brexit pitch even though that was an outright lie?
Just some thoughts ...
TBH, there's not a lot of difference "on the ground" as it were between the previous (Conservative) and the new (vaguely Centre-left) governments. The problem is that most of the financial issues faced by Australia (and therefore the fault of the current Governments whoever they are) are in fact outside their control :)
However the rhetoric from the new Government is a lot more soothing and they are saying the right words. They have got multiple other governments back on their side, or at least are engaged in dialog with them. Their first budget, just released yesterday as I write, appears to be headed in the right direction; cancelling a lot of pork barreling, redirecting funding in infrastructure project, yet still supposedly reducing the deficit.
My concern is that it may end up like New Zealand
- a charismatic leader, making promises that aren't kept,
- lots of virtue signalling (whether on the international or local stage, but no real progress on things like income equality or welfare programs,
- all supported by a media that does take sides, and will support them no matter what. Of course, it doesn't help that most of Australia's local Conservative "opinion makers" have lost credibility over the last 6 years or so, due to their FOX news level of support of Trump ....
HTH
Ughh
We had a similar situation with the previous "Right" or Conservative government in Australia. Apart from the dog-whistles to the racists, we had a similar incompetent and corrupt leadership.
Given what I see in the US, I'm starting to think that if basic ompetence in providing basic services is your requirement, then you need to vote Left or at least Left of centre.
HTH
How is that working out now? Has life improved significantly?
Good piece from the heart, with zero filters applied.
It's been so depressing how the right-wing racist minority can fool the public to have so much power. Most people are moderates, either a bit left or right of centre - or at the centre. Their voice needs to be heard, not the extremist monitories who drown out the moderate majority. It's a similar issue in the US, where their whole society and culture was built on a "welcoming" immigration policy, which has recently been hijacked by the extremists in a similar way.
We just need to vote out these dreadful politicians. But we need inspiring leaders in the centre ground to educate and motivate us, not there lunatics who play on xenophobia and ignorance. PF
The difficulty I have is in finding those who have genuinely fresh ideas. Even assuming we get someone like Rishi - do I really want a PM who was a banker running the country? What does he know about public service provision? Or if it’s Penny then do I want someone who insisted that Turkey would join the EU as part of her Brexit pitch even though that was an outright lie?