Identity politics is an invention of the left for a very good reason. The Left has always pretended to be the champions of the lower classes, meaning the disadvantaged and working classes, as that was where the numbers were. These two classes, the working class especially, represent the bulk of voters in the electorate.

But the left had a problem. Rising prosperity in the western world, caused mainly by free market capitalism, was making everybody richer. The disadvantaged class was perfectly happy living on the dole and not working, while working class people in the main, were doing very well indeed. Who needed a "Labor" Party anymore?

Enter Tammany Hall politics, which is another word for Identity Politics. In the USA, one clever Democrat Irish/American politician realised that spruiking to the electorate about how superior your policies were over Republicans, was pointless. He realised that the incoming waves of immigrants were blank cheques just waiting for somebody to claim to represent them. So he began the process of what we call today identity politics. That is, always sucking up to immigrant and minority groups, and claiming to be their representatives. Sneering at whites pays dividends too.

The social cohesion of Western societies everywhere have now been ruptured by incoming waves of non western immigrants, many of them with cultural values diametrically opposed to the host population. The left has now abandoned it's traditional lower class voters, and this has not gone unnoticed by these people. These mostly working class people are "Howard's battlers" who are now voting against the left and for Trump, Brexit, and Scott Morrison.

The left on the other hand has gone after the immigrants, and any other disaffected minority, in a big way. No matter how bizarre or stupid the cultural demands of immigrants, the left will support it. The best examples would be gender divided public swimming pools for Muslims, and the rule allowing Sikh boys to take daggers to school. The left unashamedly pork barrels the multicultural organisations it sponsors and supports with public money, to buy the ethnic and minority votes.

Phoney war indeed and from the pen of one of the, I believe, privileged absurdities?

Given these folk with their arrogance and almost to a generic man, massively overvalue their actual worth to an egalitarian society? And like the privileged, pompous popinjay, write for their class with absurd Authoritarian arrogance, only seen in in the born to rule, privileged elite?

I find nothing in this devil's advocate defence to commend it!

It argues for privilege as if it were a right? Much in the manner of a slave-owning, plantation owner arguing a case for his status quo.

Given the position of many of the underprivileged is little above that of a slave? None more so than many of our single mums!

The very first cultural warrior that argued against this arrogant absurdity was none other than Jesus Christ, who with a whip in hand drove the money men from his Father's house and with a rage not reported elsewhere in religious text, so opposed to the corrupt practice of the worship of money (mannon) for its own sake, was this man of peace and love.

Neither of which, I believe, this arrogant Author gets? Or, has ever genuinely experienced?
Alan B.

I guess it's difficult for someone who possibly
has not experienced racism to be angry and revert
to talking about "identity politics," as this
author does. And of course this can lead to
resentment which is understandable.

However the reality is as the Human Rights Organisation
in Australia points out - "Many people experience
racist behaviour." They've found that 20% of Australians
surveyed had experienced racial discrimination in the
form of race hate talk, and about 5% had been attacked
because of their race.

Then there are some groups who apparently experience
racism at higher rates. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peole, and those from culturally diverse backgrounds, often
have to deal with systemic forms of discrimination.

Such experiences limit the access that members of these
groups enjoy to the opportunities and resources offered
to many people from Anglo-Australian backgrounds.

Migrants and refugees also regularly experience racism,
in particular those who have recently arrived.
Media reports and commentary that uses negative
stereotypes about refugees and migrants can fuel prejudice
against these groups in the wider community.

Also let us not forget that it was government policy
that encouraged these attitudes (White Australia Policy),
so with our history - it is easy to see where the author's
thinking comes from. But in Modern Australia - he really
needs to realize that his thinking is outmoded and needs
to change.

OOOps - sorry I should have said in my opening
sentence - that it is easy not difficult for
someone who hasn't experienced racism ....

I identify as an elderly, left-handed, masculine-presenting, trans-gendered, BBW, lesbian of colour with special abilities in a wheelchair.

That should have all the bases covered now, so you can no longer discriminate against me anymore.

Hi LEGO, Spot on. It's also Cold War, KGB, cultural cancer.

Very cleverly designed by the ruling, leftist elites to strategically weaken capitalist democracies. While communist countries are strategically strengthened by us also exporting our manufacturing might or industrial power to Communist China.

Isn't treason supposed to be a crime?

Hi Alan B, Underprivileged Australian males are living in a Marxist Matriarchy & refer to marriage as "the plantation".

But of course you already knew that didn't you?

Hi Foxy, You are joking aren't you? NOBODY in the Land of OZ is more discriminated against than white males. But of course you already knew that, didn't you?

I don't hate anybody, you however hate white people, including yourself, but especially white males.

BTW:- What do you think life will be like after the Communist Chinese have successfully colonised Australia?