individual,
Dosen't really matter what you call them, it is about extremism or fundamentalism.
Our society and political system is stable and for that we should all be thankful. Our overall or average Aussie attitude has moved right if you like over the past 30 years quite a bit but this really only reflects the international trend. For many reasons this has been good for our societies with much larger wealth being held by the average Australian but i still can not help but feel we have also lost much of our compassion and understanding of each other and those we share this planet with. John Howard always made me cringe when he spoke of the Aussie way. He really didn't have a clue what that was. Since the Johnny clone(Kevin) and now Big Red took power the feeling hasn't changed. We are loosing our identity or rather it is changing and it has nothing to do with immigrants it is all based in our greed and selfishness. Bit like the family business, one generation builds it up( our founding fathers), the next exploits it(The post war dreamers) and the third destroys it(the baby boomers or the "ME" generation) We seem to be well into the third generation

nairbe,
fully agree !

nairbe,

'We love the stupid life we have, if we didn't there would be a revolution.'

As I alluded to earlier. Don't fear for the 'dumbed down', for they are truly happy.

I think Lennon was over rated. He's the 60s version of Michael Moore; Making a mint on the back of slamming the very system that made him rich. Nice work if you can get it. Rage Against the Machine have done pretty well out of that caper too.

Regardless Huxley pre-dated that lot and was much more on the money.

'Our overall or average Aussie attitude has moved right if you like over the past 30 years quite a bit but this really only reflects the international trend. For many reasons this has been good for our societies with much larger wealth being held by the average Australian'

Hahaha. You don't think people have moved to the right BECAUSE of much larger wealth being held by the average Australian do you? Duh.

More people in this society are out to protect what they have. We're worshipping at the church of Bunnings.

The point in all this of course is 'what are you gonna do'? You'll have to have a financial meltdown or a lot more bush fires to create community spirit or the necessary hardship for a revolution. Even then, I think you'll find the populace more interested in Grief Porn via Tracey Grimshaw.

As Billy Corgan once penned... Despite all your rage you are still just a rat in a cage.

Actually, I think The Rodent had the answer to all your questions MindlessCruelty...

'Relaxed and Comfortable.'

Who wouldn't want to be relaxed and comfortable. I only wish he could have added in Cosy somehow, then he could be considered a true genius. Though he was showing the way in that Australian tracksuit.

Nothing beats being cosy. And I'll fight to the death anyone who threatens my cosiness by trying to 'open my eyes' pft. Look at us both. I'm cosy, and you're cosy, and you want to mess with that?

There might be something to this ignorance-is-bliss perspective but only while one lives within that comfort zone. Or where dumbing down is still within the acceptable range in an opulent society.

Human beings are more than that though, and conditions can deteriorate not necessarily to the point of revolution but you only have to look at a different measure - the rise of cynicism - to know things are a bit askew.

The demise of democracy starts small and builds momentum - if you can identify some weaknesses early why not make a noise about it. The dumbing down process is part of it and we see it in our tertiary institutions where education has been replaced with corporatism.

I wonder if the North Koreans think their situation is normal with nothing to compare since access to external media is banned. My head and heart say probably not.

Ignorance is only bliss when essential human needs are met.

The old story about the Russian style of government where they promise nothing and give a bit as a juxtaposition to lower expectations, only makes the leadership appear better by comparison rather than competent in any other sense.

Houellebecq, As a matter of fact, not only am I cosy, but I'm snug and cosy. But that's only my physical disposition however, while my mind is tortured both by disparities and the tenuous nature of being snug and cosy, in a world decaying in ethical, moral and social values while actively seeking new lows of mediocrity.

Pelican, you're again, on the money! It could be said, our level of bliss only indicates our level of ignorance. A few years ago I was listening to some late night radio, and they were playing some bands that had no recording contracts as yet...home-grown budding talent. I don't remember the name of the song or the band, but there was one line..."If you're not angry at the world, then you're just not paying attention!" It sums-up my sentiments rather well.

Your example of Russian communism and it all being relative to what you are aware of, is poignant. It is precisely what I've been talking about with expectations.

It's awkward for us baby-boomers to watch what we fought for be dwindled away without a whimper, let alone die in a blaze of glory....such as free university. The relative implication for me, is our collective expectations have changed, from my generation of fighting for it, to this generation of accepting to pay to go.

We didn't buy the BS of the Vietnam War, and there were many, many protests to get the boys back home, and is how Whitlam won office. No-one speaks of getting our boys home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Just so long as it's only one or two that die, and only every couple of months, that's okay. It's not even an election issue. No Party has mentioned it, and no reporter asked about an exit timetable (and not just the use of the words "exit" and "timetable").

So, if I seem at odds with the world, it's only because I am. I used to live in a community that expected more.

Information technology has made us mute from the lack of quality information. We are bombarded with BS. Distractions.