I thought it was a blow for the Labor Party to have re-elected Beazley as their leader. Australia is bleeding with some huge issues being debated; but where is Beazley? Meanwhile John Howard has been able to continue to divide and conquer; though there appears to be cracks forming (Telstra, Immigration,Iraq,leadership and IR legislation).

The factional nature of Labor would seem to not necessarily foster the best talent in the Party. Simon Crean I think had been right in trying to reduce the influence of Unions. While the move to the right and stranglehold tactics used to ensure Coalition Parliamentary members vote the "right way" ultimately leaves the Liberals vulnerable. I think we Australians still support the view of giving people a fair go, or has that now been legislated against?

While those with strong religious seem to be mainly support the Coalition on account of moral views, there are issues where the Coalition has been very ordinary in relation too. Economic advantage appears to be a driving force underlying many areas; people are alienated to the extent of being work units, even education is seen a mechanism to produce fodder for industry. A current frightening trend is that pure and seeming abstract science is not accorded value.

So while Labor may not be traveling well, there are potential difficulties for the Liberals. In my State the tables are turned in that we have a seemingly strong but arrogant Labor Party and a weak Liberal Opposition.

Dear Michael

Thank you for an interesting and thought provoking article.

Rainier - what a spot on post! I wish I had written it.

I was reared to be a Labor voter. And I was OK with that until I finally realised that since the Hawke-Keating era, Labor no longer stands for the philosophies and principles that I had learned as a youngster.

Labor is not in an identity crisis because it has no identity. Without a clear philosophy, grounded principles, and pragmatic strategies Labor is likely to spend the next 10 years or so searching for an identity. Then the sheep might return to the fold.

Cheers
Kay

Aaaaamen Kay ! and I'm also beginning to think I've had some kind of nervous collapse because am totally at one with Raniers post for a change.

Your point is very important though Kay "It HAS no identity".... my biggest fear, is that in order to get one, it will just look for some other position like 'union support' its traditional base to resurrect one. That would be more suicidal than a jar full of sleeping pills.

So, 'where' do they go ? I would repaat and emphasise THE MIDDLE GROUND stupid (them not u :)..... and I say the same to the Coalition...

I am totally against xxx rated porn being available from ACT by mail order when the STATES have ALLL outlawed it. I thought that a Coalition with full power might do something about it but a reply from Phillip Ruddock confirms that either those in the industry have deep pockets supporting the libs or the libs are just plain ignorant of how people (conservative, specially evangelical) feel about the availability of it. They may as well SPIT in the faces of the state governments.

Needless to say, Mr Ruddocks reply will be going to a 'large number' of people in the eastern suburbs, and also to Family First as 'ammo'.

I've had an ongoing dialogue by email with Robbie Swan of EROS about this, and he offered to show me some stuff which mocked religion to test the RRT, nothing has showed yet.

Have a peek at what Aslan says about that Altman character. The mind boggles, I guess if he isn't a member of NAMBLA he would be soon.

When you see this moral relativism'"make-it-up-as-you-go'ism and a leading professor describes Man boy sex as 'nothing more than.." the alarm bells ring at double time.

So, LABOR -there is a good place to start, have some MORALITY in your platform.

Boaz and Kay and others,

Even if you don't vote Labor but preference them - you are Labor by default.

Chasing a higher primary vote from the Left is oblivion.

Labor can afford to take the Left for granted - its the centre of economics that matters and the conservative "blue collar" voters that matter.

However it takes a better program than Howard's to win.

Corin

Kalweb,

I like your sheep analogy, but didn't know why beyond the usual connections - and then it dawned on me this afternoon.

It reminds me of (and this is not an original thought at all) Orwell's Animal Farm.

See the online and searchable version here http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/animalfarm/

The control of the senate ?

"Upon the expulsion of Snowball, Napoleon’s first decision was to eradicate the Sunday Morning Meetings. “They were unnecessary, he said, and wasted time. In the future all questions relating to the work of the farm would be settled by a special committee of the pigs and, presided over by himself.” Immediately the conditions of Animal farm are not controlled by the animals but by Napoleon."

Rainier - good analogy and thanks for the link to that website - always interested in literature.

Agreed Labor started losing their way with Hawke/Keating - how ironic is that the economy we have today couldn't have existed with out them and here's Johnny riding in on their shirt tails.

I don't get the reappointment of Beazley either - so many opportunities offered by the coalition for beazley to create a solid platform on and so many opportunities lost.

So, one way to get back the electorate would be to dump Beazley - but with whom do we replace him? Must be able to stand up to Howard, definitely must have the 'ticker' - only point of agreement with Howard.

BD - I absolutely loath XXX porn too - suggest you do what I do. Don't watch it. :-)