Oh, truly Tristan. Spare me the I'm more progressive than you stuff mate - it ain't all that dark and miserable. The place might not be as YOU would WISH it to be. And I'm sorry for you, but really is it worth the energy you throw at it? Must you look for darkness everywhere? Must you be, so, well, bleak?

I look around and most of the people I know, and let me tell you, they wouldn't be anywhere else. And were not talking doctor, barristers or those in the cultural industries here. Were talking soccer mums and dads -train drivers, plumbers, sales reps, bank clerks, insurance assessors, renderers, sales assistants etc.


Sure, maybe there not battling, but they're moving on. And you know what? They quite like their lives - nothing special, nothing flash, but happy enough. Relaxed and comfortable. Maybe. But who am I to tell them otherwise. I wouldn't dare.

You can't fashion a progressive politic on what something isn't. And you certainly can't fashion a progressive politic on why something isn't as YOU would prefer it to be. It is, as it is. Getting crosser and crosser just doesn't help anyone - let alone Federal Labor.

Alex Sanchez