Kevin,

I noticed that you are still using the old Critical Theory. The first of your supporters went for it hook line and sinker, agreeing that Howard is leading us to "facism".

For those who don't know, this theory goes back to the Moscow Committee of 1943. You call people things like facist, racist and so on and keep it up until non-thinkers accept that these tags must fit. Kevin and those of his ilk still get a lot of mileage from those dumb enough to fall for it.

Kevin is far from dumb, though, and is using the dummies to further his cause of global socialism.

I agree with Kevin in part, but I can't help but think that this process started under the Hawke/Keating Government(s). The sale of QANTAS, Commonwealth Bank and other government assets, the Button Plan that virtually destroyed what was once Australia's self sufficency by eleminating protection from cheap labour.

What's worse - I can't see any future governments reversing this trend.

Don't know about the "facism" aspect, but otherwise I have to agree with Mr. Kevin. I also concur with Narcissist in that the rot that's slowly destroying our old Australian way of life most definately started back in the Hawke/Keating years. They actually laid the foundations that supports the framework of the Howard Government. As an Australian, I'm forced to sit back in dismay as our rights and privileges aren't eroded, but smashed by a Federal Government more interested in the welfare of big business than looking after the average Australian. Back in the 70's, life was mostly carefree as I travelled on the back of a Harley, attended parties with rightous people and mingled with 1 percenters. God, how I wish for those old days. I never then thought I'd see our way of life go down the toilet as it has done during the last two decades. Wildcat.

This all sounds a bit like leftie paranoia. Mr Kevin is all up in arms because the federal government is picking up all the train wrecks the ALP state governments have left laying around.

The people are demanding the federal government do something about the hospital mess, unsafe roads, mental health. Who has responsibility for these? The states are floundering in their own messes trying to cover up what hasn't worked and ignoring the fact they have no plans or strategies to address the real issues.

Education in our country is not real swift because all the states have different requirements - none of which seem particularily challanging for our youth to be able to compete on a world stage. So, in steps the federal government to try to make some sense out of it all.

As Mr Kevin admits, the Howard government is doing what the people want government to do. And many times it is because the poeple can't get local or state government to take responsibility.

I agree that many of the seeds of the present crisis were sown under the Hawke/Keating regime. But then there was a fundamental sense of fairness in government and a vision of a more just society. That has disappeared in the 10 grim years under Howard. His government has made Australia something it had never been before- an unjust society. And there are no checks and balances. The legislature and judiciary dance to the tune of the executive. The press faithfully trots out government propaganda. There is no community funding unless you toe the government line. And the union movement has been destroyed deliberately to entrench the government politically and to neuter potential critics. An unjust society where the middle class pay for the rich and the poor. While people have been misled as the concept of truth has been redefined by government(Children Overboard, Oil for Food and any number of ministerial conflicts of interest, we should see through this and not stand for it any longer. I see fascism as people existing for the sake of the corporate state and not the state serving them. It seems a pretty fair description of the Howard years.

Tony Kevin,
We on OLO are used to Leigh poo pooing anyone who threatens to hold an alternate view to his hero Johnny Bonsai. Leigh rarely adds anything to a discussion, don't pay any attention, we don't!

Interesting piece, where is Winston Smith, it must be a communist plot, a bible quote for Leigh "There are none so blind as those who will not see."