JD,

I pointed you to the laughingly called Productivity Summit that was limited to Big Business, Big Unions and Big Government. Increasingly the elites are concentrating power in their hands and ignoring the other parts of the society.

We saw another example today. While the wider community is looking for housing relief and population relief, via lower immigration, the government quietly announced an increase in international student numbers. What the elites want, they get, irrespective of what the mere plebs want.

But wanting proof of what things will be like in the future is inane. Although we did see in another thread that the concept of prediction seemed alien to you.

Paul,

"About a half a million Americans have been thrown on the unemployment scrap heap in the past 3 months, something you can't deny."

Well I can deny it because its completely untrue. Jobs continue to be added in the US market, not lost. The only thing that is lost is your ability to understand simple statistics.

Hilariously you then give us a long quote from Trump, which is entirely fabricated by who knows who.

mhaze,

You’ve shifted from arguing Australia is becoming a centrally planned, authoritarian economy to saying elites are “concentrating power” because of a summit and immigration settings. That’s not evidence of Peronism or authoritarian drift, it’s standard policymaking that both parties have done for decades.

And you’re proving my point about prophecy: when asked for evidence of actual central planning now, you fall back on future predictions and tangents. That’s not foresight, it’s hedging.

If you want to argue elites have influence in politics, fine - no one disagrees with that. But that’s a far cry from your original claim that we’re sliding into Peronism or authoritarian central control.

Your argument started big and bold, but now it’s just “elites have power” - something everyone already knows. That’s not a revelation - it’s a retreat.

//Although we did see in another thread that the concept of prediction seemed alien to you.//

You mean the one where you had to cut and run after I laid it all out for you?

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=10628#371162

It seems we can add "prediction" as well as "implication" to list of concepts you struggle with...

"You’ve shifted from arguing Australia is becoming a centrally planned, authoritarian economy to saying elites are “concentrating power” because of a summit and immigration settings. "

I never talked about central planning. You're confusing me with ttbn. Do try to keep up.

mhaze,

You’ve spent the entire thread warning about elites consolidating power, capturing markets, and ignoring democratic input - now you’re backpedalling to say you never suggested anything resembling central planning?

That’s fine, but it raises a simple question:
What exactly were you warning about this whole time?

Because if your argument isn’t that we’re sliding toward authoritarianism or centralised control, then all you’ve said amounts to “powerful groups have influence,” which… well, yes. That’s been true in every democracy since the dawn of representative government.

If you’ve got a clear position to defend, by all means - lay it out plainly.

But you can’t keep hiding behind implication when challenged, then crying “I never said that” when your own implications get exposed.

Kudos ttbn and mhaze

From AssistAI-

Peronism / Justicialism, Argentine political movement founded by Juan Perón emphasizing social justice, economic independence, and political sovereignty. It has been a significant force in Argentine politics since 1946, often associated with labor rights and populist policies.

Overview of Peronism

Key Principles
The Three Flags of Peronism

Social Justice/ Economic Independence/ Political Sovereignty

Historical Context

Founding: Juan Perón rose to prominence after a military coup in 1943, becoming Minister of Labor and later President in 1946.
Evolution: Over the years, Peronism has evolved, incorporating various factions, including left-wing and right-wing elements.

Political Impact

Elections: Peronists have won 10 out of 14 presidential elections in which they participated.
Legacy: Peronism continues to influence contemporary political discourse in Argentina.