An insightful commentary on Australian political and social consciousness.

It takes a while before any populace gets up-to-speed with the manipulation techniques of their politicians and self interest groups. I have a sense that the 'free ride' for our PR savvy leaders and influential political agitators is coming to an end, for now.

I would agree with you James, it appears that many Politicians across Australia are getting rather nervous as of late.

It appears the Premier of Queensland was the first to jump ship...

Now Howard calls an election...Good timing Johnny, not that you had any choice on the matter.

The election was called to put a stop on the progress of UPMART and their successes in Noosa.

By calling the election now, Johnny knows the FEC will rule out any chance of the plebiscites, regarding council mergers, proceeding before the election.

This is not an article, but a wordy ineloquent spew. I have seen more balanced and informed writing in Mein Kampf.

Please don't post any more of this drivel.

Democritus, I didn't know this forum was just for you, my apologies.

Had I known that intelligent people stay away from your site, I would never have posted here.

Kick rocks...

I agree with Democritis.It is just self indulgent,biased rubbish.There is no intellectual rigor or unbiased analysis.

There are only 4 things that Western culture expects/demands of us.

1. Work Hard
2. Consume
3. Remain silent
4. Die

Basically, just do as you're told, don't ask questions and you will be rewarded with trinkets and a life of perpetual self-indulgence.

It's just an update of the old "bread-and-circuses" routine. We probably shouldn't expect or deserve any more than that.

Unfortunately, Haneef's case is not a single example of proceeding with criminal charges without sufficient evidence. In Queensland, Vincent Berg's and some other cases are not less alarming. It seems that the rule of law and respect to legal evidence and individual human rights are in danger of being replaced by "witch hunt" practices.

This is the sort of tedious, worn out drivel that I have come to expect from the cool britannia left.

I hope Howard loses but also hope that a Rudd victory doesn't mean that we will have an influx of the chattering classes from overseas looking for Arts Council grants ?

Another hate filled bit of drivel that contradicts a lot of the other hate filled drivel regarding Mr Howard. It was only a few weeks ago that Howard haters accused him of being under the thumb of Mrs Howard. This is the latest attempt to discredit his character by calling him 'the authoritarian father'. NO doubt Mr Howard's detractors will support both views as long as He is not re elected. No mention of course that Mr Rudd does not even allow any of his potential ministers to even say anything without his prior approval. This could not be an 'authoritarian father' approach could it?

Perhaps Im a bit thick Runner but I couldnt find any hate in this essay.
To me it was a well argued assessment of the state of the Oz body politic.
Just as valid an opinion as anything that those on the "right" might have.
The right being well known for their use of measured language and factual evidence---or is that public relations generated factoids?

Has anyone ever noticed how those on the right freely use the work hate?
In my opinion they are just describing themselves.
And of course Runner is well known for the well reasoned clarity and lucidity of his postings.

I couldn't help but notice that Runner's last post used the capitalised "He" when referring to John Howard.

Is this a formal acknowledgement of Howard's God-like status among his supporters?

Can't help but wonder if Julianne Shultz went through boxes of tissues will writing this nonsense. While there are some home truths, attacking Howard for being anti-multicultural is a weak arguement when Howard has made it easier to hire and fire an imported Asian than an Australian citizen.

Yes, Howard has effectively used the politics of paranioa and the ALP has jumped up down like an inattentive Bart Simpson screaming, "ME TOO! ME TOO!". When both sides look the same, why would you bother. That would be like upgrading from a 1996 Commodore over to a 1996 Commodore. Only the panel colour is different yet drives the same.

As for the leftist groups, all they have done is demonise the white Australian as evil doers while doing all they can to protect any Islamist that is found to be involved with terrorism. Not to forget other misdeeds of selling us out.

As of yet, the best option I see for my QLD Senate ticket is a vote for Pauline Hanson which just shows how much of a poor showing there is for any credible candidates that actually want to put Australia first.

Where has the author of this plagiarised, regurgiated parody been all these years ? Me thinks, he should have stayed with expatriate Germaine Greer - quintessent godmother of sybaritic goths; bogus anglophile who derides everything Oz, and despite her grass-roots, takes every opportunity to sledge her country of origin.

JS anti-howard invectives betrays his quasi-politico-academic stance. Outwardly professing a liberal bourgeois tongue-in-cheek persona, it's manifestly clear he's another red-necked Union pawn. Unlike Julia Gillard, JS preamble is parroting an awful stench of Labor dichonomy and marxist ideology.

Citing the late Charles Manning Clark as an authority on cultural attitudes, one would question why anybody would resurrect ghost's of yesterday's communist enigma ? Imminent historian : 6 volumes of the History of Australia, prolific subscriber to the National Archives. His legacy pales beside Dymphna Clark. Loyal, long suffering spouse who put up with his egotistical tantrums, pantomines and blusterings. No slouch, she was a fluent linguist in 7 languages, cogerent in 5. She often bore the brunt of his colic petulance and turpitude.

Interestingly, Prof Clark was awarded the ex Soviet Union's highest award, the Order of Lenin. It remains a conundrum why an unlikely Academic from Keating's euphemistic ' anus of the antipodes ' should merit such a prodigious award ? The fact he was lavishly feted in Moscow, and the Canberra Embassy sprouting his gong intensified speculation only the ' spooks/spies ' can conjure up ?

Paradoxically, his personal views often overlapped tenous research. His grand themes, ideas, frustrations interwoven into his monumental work. Govt grants notwithstanding.

Like Bradman, Horne and Packer, he never served in the Military, even though there was a War threatening Aust's shores.

In another flight of fancy, JS recalls Donald Horne's ' lucky country ' which still resonates on many dinky-di's. Quote: ' life is good, but the spark of creativity, imagination and flair has not burned brightly for a long time : gone is the sense of crafting a unique enviornment characterised bu cultural diversity, openess, inclusiveness ".

What pray can JWH do. Hold your hand. Lead you by the nose ? Would

Madarin spruiking Rudd and his backroom Union organised cabal lead you to the marijuana dreams of an Utopian Disneyland ?

The savvy electorate are quite capable of dodging Labor's hustlenomics, despite baby-boomers who contribute little Nationally, venture abroad - presumably to seek ' enlightenment ', and whinge on their return, Oz is on the slippery road to Damascus ?

Fittingly, we have grown of age. We are not the cowering, introverted culturalist of the 60-90's. Like the ugly duckling, we have emerged a dazzling cygnet - cygnus atratus. Bereft of all that superfluous baggage. NBT.

In hind-sight the LC was a satirical lampooning of our history and lay-back lifestyle. Describing the nation's good fortune, from gold rushes to economic booms; demography; cultural cringe etc, resolutely shackled to the past.

Whilst US, Germany and Japan etc were reaping the benefits of technological, economic, social and political innovations being ' clever '. Oz was simply lucky. Pure and simple.

Quixotically, most of the indulgent public were blissfully unaware of the nuanced biting wit. Horne, decry's : " I had to sit through the moast appalling rubbish as successive generations misapplied this phrase" His argument, as a nation, we were indeed lucky to develop at a time when we weren't being particularly clever.

There needed to be more innovation and proactive input. Making decisions in our national interest.These are issues (sic) debated by politicians and intellectuals today under the banner of a ' clever country '.

Prof Ian Lowe succintly adds : Aust has two options. Either we could continue our current economic strategies; this could be called ' steady-as-she-sinks ' approach, or " we could try seriously to become the clever country by investing in our future.

DH's words were meant as a ' wake up call 'but were widely interpreted as an affirmation of Oz way of life. Provocatively instead, it produced a greater relaxed approach and a ' she'll be right ' mentality.

Serendipity

Horne : ' after all, the alternative to being a clever country is to be a stupid country '. Has anything morphed in 40 years ?