20-07-2013, 12:58 AM
Anthony Thorne Wrote:Rudd may well have a progressive streak in him but the toxic legacy of John Howard's lengthy span in government still lingers. Howard shamelessly used cruel and racist tactics to wedge the opposition, and encouraged national fear-mongering against refugees for the late 2001 election. (The best book on this incident remains Mungo MacCallum's entry in the Quarterly Essay series, GIRT BY SEA: AUSTRALIA, THE REFUGEES AND THE POLITICS OF FEAR.) Labor foolishly capitulated at the time, giving credence to Howard's shaping of the public narrative, then (pathetically) did little of note to reverse things for years later. Howard even stacked the board of the government funded national ABC TV network with conservatives, all of whom gradually dragged the tone of the station to the right and demanded 'equal time' for conservative perspectives on issues such as refugees. Labor also acquiesced to the various radio shock jocks (mostly from Sydney) who Howard courted during his time in Government, rather than shunning them as the domestic equivalent of Fox News mouthpieces. Opposition Leader (conservative) Tony Abbott has spent the last few years proclaiming he'd 'stop the boats', and Gillard stupidly did little to encourage a more humane viewpoint. Without supporting it at all, I read Rudd's latest actions as an attempt to neutralise Abbott prior to the imminent election - Rudd has seemingly been running through a list in the last couple of weeks addressing each of Abbott's cudgels against the government, and this is the latest. (I'm sure Rudd expects few Labor voters to depart over the issue, and the ones that do will vote Green, which preferences the Labor party anyway). If Rudd regains office, I wouldn't be surprised if he works to reframe the narrative again and gradually encourages a more humane perspective, but at this point Rudd is determined to do 'whatever it takes' to hang on to office.Totally agree with every thing you say Anthony.
"The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it." Karl Marx
"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.
"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.