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The Forum > Article Comments > John Lang-like Shorten is betraying the workers > Comments

John Lang-like Shorten is betraying the workers : Comments

By Gary Johns, published 29/12/2016

Labor has reverted to the dark days of Jack Lang. Early in 1931, in the depths of the Depression, Lang, the Labor premier of NSW, wanted to default on government borrowings.

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100% Paul.
I've been an admirer of Jack Lang, the politician, since my teen years and my father knew him well and was an ardent supporter.
Jack's last really public appearance was when he gave a farewell speech from the steps of his old office in Auburn, NSW.
The local police sent two constables to control the expected small crowd, they had to call for more men as the crowd was so big that Auburn Road had to be closed to traffic.

I also knew JT Lang personally, but only as a somewhat distant old man, I went to school with his grandson, Jim, and we used to play tennis on JT's backyard court and he'd often come down to watch but never said much.
Posted by Is Mise, Friday, 30 December 2016 8:37:24 PM
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Hi Is Mise, something else we have in common, my father also knew Jack Lang, and was a great supporter, even through the dark years when he was expelled from the Labor Party.
People today would not understand the tough times many Australians endured during the 'Great Depression'. To give you an example, my mother who attended a country school in the Orange/Wellington district, told me of children begging her for the peel of her orange, children who went to school without shoes or a worm coat in winter. My Grandfather (mothers father) who was a cow cocky and Country Party man through and through, only ever had kinds words to say about Lang.

p/s I think the title of this tread is wrong like the author its somewhat ass about.
Posted by Paul1405, Saturday, 31 December 2016 3:50:07 AM
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The usual neo-liberal tosh from superannuated ex minister Gary Johns. Chasing cheers at The Australian is one thing, writing a decent analytical piece is another. Given his praise of workers, one might have thought his primary concern would be the 1.8 million people who are currently un/underemployed. This is the most pressing economic problem in Australia, which if addressed would resolve the government's budget problems. But the neo-liberal mindset of John's and the government means that they are unable to properly define the problem, let alone propose a workable solution.
Posted by ralph, Saturday, 31 December 2016 12:40:29 PM
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Paul,

There's a chance that your dad and mine knew each other, it wasn't all that big a movement in Sydney.
Posted by Is Mise, Saturday, 31 December 2016 2:45:38 PM
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Is Mise,

The irony of all this is Jack Lang was considered a political moderate within the labour movement, certainly mo firebrand in the mold of an Eddie Ward, who incidentally supported Lang's depression busting policies. Lang spent a lot of time battling the left faction within the Labor Party, and make no mistake the communists were a significant faction within Labor during the 1930's.
By today's standards Jack Lang would be seen to lack the political sophistication necessary for success. There is no doubt in my mine that Lang was a genuine man who only had the interests of the ordinary (suffering) people at heart, it is a pity there are not a few more Lang types in Aussie politics today. Jack Lang will still be remembered long after this what-his-name, Gary Jones is long forgotten.
Posted by Paul1405, Monday, 2 January 2017 6:45:59 AM
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The two major political factions are merely just the two wings of the same bird of prey. We might select the pilot but we sure as christ dont select the fight plan.

What these people will not tell you is that this country can afford comfortable living standards and incomes for all people not in the work force. This is because govt, supposedly being the highest authority in the land, can create money out of thin air just like banks do.

Don't believe me? read this: The Remarkable Model Of The Commonwealth Bank Of Australia by Ellen Brown,

The drivers for moving the welfare system away from individuals and on to corporations is ideological based, it nothing to do with affordability.

Make no mistake, both major factions are deeply committed to the welfare system - for the corporate sector.
Posted by Referundemdrivensocienty, Monday, 2 January 2017 4:22:15 PM
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