http://leftfocus.blogspot.com/

"As supporters of this Program we endorse the incorporation of the following into the ALP Platform for 2018:

c) Reform Tax to Extend Social Investment and Expenditure: We have as a medium term objective the goal of meeting the OECD average regarding our Tax to GDP Ratio. That means an increase in the Tax to GDP ratio by 5% ideally over as long as three terms of Labor Government. Specifically this translates to an increase of $80 billion/year in today’s terms."

No-one wants their tax increased to pay for more of your weird progressive bs.
Political Correctness is cancer, and the 'cultural left' can't debate, because none of their arguments actually hold any merit.

Politics tends to be class-Oriented. The traditional Left claimed to champion the working class and other exploited, oppressed and/or subordinated groupings, even though the major Left organisations, even the Communist Party, tended not to be workers or the oppressed - but of course, they were people, mostly professionals, who purported to speak for them. Sooner or later though, their own class interests had to come to the fore.

The Greens now, for instance, are not working-class or all that oppressed: maybe $ 22 for smashed avocado is a bit exploitative, but the professionals who form the backbone of the Greens have the forbearance not to mount demonstrations about it.

But clearly the Greens are a class, of professionals, relatively well-paid, mainly in public employment, divorced from actual physical work on the whole - perhaps some generations away from their forefathers' and foremothers' hard, physical slog to make ends meet in a harsh and very exploitative world. As well, and in accordance with that social-evolutionary trend, they tend to be Anglo-Australian and perhaps carry over the perception of that group's right to rule. But of course, many non-Anglo Australians are now catching up socially and professionally, and so are moving into the Greens. Class matters :)

As suburbs in the major cities become gentrified, lo and behold, the Greens' vote increases there. But conversely, those classes in Australian society which do not rely on professional skills, but on commerce, production, entrepreneurship, and plain physical labour, tend not to support Greens' policies. Very likely, they see such policies as at least slightly irrelevant to human existence, and the policies of the affluent, secure self-indulgent.

So perhaps there is a class-oriented limit to the growth in Greens' numbers: 10 - 11 % in Victoria, and much less in some other states. So how can they increase their numbers ? Perhaps by demanding increases in the numbers of publicly-funded positions such as bureaucrats, teachers, social workers and nurses. Conversely,

[TBC]

[continued]

Conversely, by demanding the extinction of some occupations such as those in mining, and the diminution of employment in manufacturing and farming. There would not be many votes from those 'classes' for the Greens, so they are superfluous in the political game, so their concerns are irrelevant or downright reactionary - 'hard Right'.

Perhaps we all do live in a class society, after all, as Marx would have observed.

Joe

Off Topic *NEWSFLASH*

In a last minute (morning December 6, 2018) political move which will have OLO's

Legions of Latte Loony Leftist Leaning commenters go Loopy, Labor

the Greens and Independent Crossbenchers in Parliament

have moved a motion:

"...to pressure Government to remove refugee children from Nauru and Manus Island"

"The Prime Minister has ramped up his attack on Labor, as he faces the prospect of DEFEAT on a bill to get more refugees off Nauru and Manus Island.

The Government is strongly opposed to it but there is a chance the bill has enough support to pass the Lower House.

"This is about Australia's safety," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

"And Bill Shorten is a clear and present threat to Australia's safety. Because he is so obsessed with politics, that he cannot see the national interest."

MORE AT THE ABC THAT ALL IN OLO LOVE http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-06/crossbench-mps-push-federal-government-refugees-on-nauru/10588374

ENJOY

Real people, not OLO avatars, the ABC etc. don't believe in PC. They don't say anything because they don't realise that most people agree with them. They wait for the chance to vote. These days, however, they need to ignore both major parties an look for someone different. There are good opportunities for candidates who want to cut through the bulldust. Australian Conservatives are the best bet in the Senate. In SA, we have the chance to get rid of SHY by voting for Rikki Lambert.

Armchair Critic ; As you recognise that $80 billion would be in the context of $1.6 trillion economy - or 5% or the Australian economy. The fact of the matter is that certain kinds of 'collective consumption' - in this instance through tax - deliver a better deal to citizens as taxpayers than as isolated consumers. Take the example of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. So despite paying more in tax ; taxpayers would have more free cash at the end of the day. A fair degree of redistribution is acceptable also ; as 'supply and demand in the labour market' don't necessarily deliver justice. And certain social goods - eg: Health and Education - should be non-negotiable - part and package of an enlightened and caring civilisation.

On Education, the whole 'PC Debate' is damaging ; preventing the realisation of a curriculum that promotes critical thinking and active citizenship - and hence a stronger democracy. That does not equal 'brainwashing' as Kevin Donnelly would argue for instance. It should mean a curriculum whose topic matter is both critical AND pluralistic.