Yep!

JameH

That is the most insightful comment ever

Chris Lewis is right to point out that the Howard government had support on many of its policies. In fact, many of them were supported by the Labour Party (or not directly opposed).

Lewis omits to mention two things which might affect academics' views.

First is that some of the electoral support was achieved dishonestly - think 'non-core promises', the Tampa affair, the flirting with Hansonism while claiming to dismiss it. Even his own party president said he was seen as 'mean and tricky'. We can't know how he would have gone if Labour had had even minimally effective leadership. It's hard to avoid the conclusion that people finally woke up to this and tossed out not only his government but him as well.

The second point more directly affects academics. During his tenure, Howard oversaw an appalling failure to fund university education. It is likely that some of this was ideological. If academics were less than sympathetic, what else would you expect?

Howard was correct on morals and family small 'c' social conservative issues. He was however completely wrong on social and economic issues just like the ALP who not only ape him but who joined the Liberal Party neo economic policy agenda from the 1980s era onwards.

The media too are THE problem in that they support the destruction of the family unit, support the privatisations and takeovers of our companies and the sell offs of all our public assets. The media do all of these things and support the big political parties in all of this. The media pose as a social conscience yet just belwo the surgace they support unnatural unions, abortion, are against the superiority of protectionism and all that working class Australians rightly cherish.

There is a way out of this mess. It is to support the DLP.
Visit us today and make a difference.
http://www.dlpnsw.com/

You seem to be saying that since there is an underworld of racism, meanness and bigotry in Australian society, a leader that exploits it shouldnt be condemned as a divisive, dog whistling scumbag.
Beg to differ there mate.

OZYMANDIAS