I understand some may think terms like 'right-populist monopoly media' may be a turn off. Some may think it's just a 'slogan'. But at the same time I think it expresses a truth about the state of much of Australia's media right now. I think 'trivialisation' *is* a big problem - and popular cynicism with regards this can be seen as translating in the atrophy of the major party's membership bases.

And I think the 'big players' who invest in popular media don't do it just for the profits - I think they do it for the cultural power that flows from this. Somehow stating this seems 'taboo' because it throws the substance and quality of our democracy into question - with a manipulated and limited public sphere. But real press freedom means pluralism and participation - best achieved with diversification.

But also I'm trying to convince elements in the government, and the government's independent and Green supporters - with regards pension reform. (especially Newstart) I think I've made a reasonable effort there. Though I understand there are those who think I should be less combative - to appeal to more conservative elements.

Could some aspects of pension reform be achieved separately? Perhaps. Whatever is the best strategy and gets the job done, while helping secure another term for Labor. (for instance few would object to a separate increase in the Aged Pension - as these don't face the vilification and stigma faced by the unemployed...) But the position of the unemployed is so dire now we should not just evade the issue... Especially with the new 'work for the dole' provisions I think a strong case could be put for reform here.

I also think there's another core point which needs to be recognised; and it's not just 'propaganda': Any kind of action on climate change will have a cost. As much so if not more for real 'direct action', as with an ETS or carbon tax. So yes I think Abbott is obfuscating the issues here, and I think that needs to be made clear.

Tristan,

here you go,

'On our side, it is university, union, ministerial or MP's office, and then stand for an election.'
'If you've been in that cloistered world, how can you expect to know what the real world is like, what issues the real people face and the aims and aspirations of those real people'

Neville Wran
The Weekend Australian
Sat. 4th June 2011

Mate he sees how blokes like you and your views have wrecked the great Australian Labor Party. Why don't you just leave them alone, pee off and join the CPA , if that deluded organisation still exists.

BTW within 4 weeks, Julia and Wayne will be knifed, replaced by Combet and/or Shorten. Once that happens Kevvy will resign, Abbott will support Jenkins as speaker and will have a majority of one even if Oakshott continues with his current form and continues to not vote, then it's all, over for you red bovers, and your greenie weenees pretty well for ever in Australia. Four PM's in one year. Get on at centrebet now! Can you now see the game Tony's been in, with his 'workers friend' attitude. He's got the whole Labor party in a tizz and it's getting worse for them while they play the conventional labor thought game of attack Tony, play to the 'leftie elites', push for new taxes and waste our money. He's not undermining Labor in the marginals ... they are doing well enough by themselves, he's been underming them in their safest seats. And it's working. But that won't show in the polls but it will in seat loses at the next election ... when he calls one.

Watch this space.

Why aren't your mates in the leftie Canberra media reporting on this coup... and this self-evident senario. Oh well they missed Julia's coup and didn't report on it, so I supposed they are performing true to their leftie denial form eh?

Tristan, you've got to be kidding. Come on, tell us it was a joke.

The press did not report climate gate in Oz to any extent. They let the cheats & rorters off without a mention.

They have not reported that any country that got into alternate energy in a big way, apart from the twits in the UK, have been backing out of it just as fast as their little legs can carry them.

They never report any of the findings, happening so often now, that disprove the connection between CO2 & dangerous global warming.

They never question the garbage coming out of particularly the ANU, other universities, & government established committees, staffed by government funded stooges.

Just how much do you expect to get away with, without being asked to justify at least some of it.

So - you seem to think caring for vulnerable pensioners is an idea which has "wrecked the great Australian Labor Party"?

Or maybe you think it's support for a National Disability Insurance Scheme that the problem? (which incidentally is supported by Shorten)

Or is the idea of a mixed economy somehow 'extreme' - when you see banks profiteering, and insurance companies ripping off families whose lives were destroyed by the floods?

If you want to know what's destabilising the ALP it's the kind of speculation you're running with here; If there's any specific proposal I've made you have a problem with why don't you elaborate?

BTW - the CPA in Australia was one of the first to oppose the Soviet invasion of Czechslovakia, and adopted a position which could be said to have been Eurocommunist - A kind of reproachment between socialism and liberal democracy. Personally I consider myself a liberal democratic socialist, or left social democrat - But I don't see a sense of connection and continuity with the democratic left has being anything to be ashamed of.

BTW I've never had a job in the labour movement, and I've never even looked for one. My position has always been one of being a grassroots activist. Your quote from Wran may epitomise some; But my path in the Labor Party has not been one of careerism. In fact I think remobilising and empowering the grassroots is the only way to save the party....

Tristan, you’re going off topic.

You whole case was that the limited ownership base of Australian media was “restricting” diversity of views. You have failed to show any correlation between the range and diversity of views available in Australia, on any topic, and the number of media owners.

Your tactic now is to ignore the cases presented to you. Conveniently forget the topic of your own thread and drift off into a political diatribe.

You ask if “we” want to know what’s destabilizing the ALP. You are kidding of course. Why should we care?

We could suggest that the ideological babble you are presenting is the primary cause. You are incapable of engaging with OLO contributors, no acknowledgement of counter argument, trivialization of the views you see as non compliant and diversions from the case you have failed to make.

If you feel “trivialized” there is a very simple reason, you are being trivial.

If you want to make political speeches, go find an appropriate audience of like minded people. If you want to “empower the grassroots”, please do your gardening somewhere else, this is NOT the place.

Get back to your original argument, acknowledge defeat or buzz off.