tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post467139882195226991..comments2023-12-06T00:23:28.790+11:00Comments on Press gallery reform: Things to do in opposition when you're deadAndrew Elderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-1919058997463299482011-07-30T20:24:39.817+10:002011-07-30T20:24:39.817+10:00Johnny Rotten, Andrew and all,
A good explanation...Johnny Rotten, Andrew and all,<br /><br />A good explanation of where policy intersects with politics, how this has changed in recent history and the role played by ignorance is provided in <a href="http://www.lrb.co.uk/v33/n08/david-runciman/didnt-they-notice" rel="nofollow">this review by David Runciman at the London Review of books: http://www.lrb.co.uk/v33/n08/david-runciman/didnt-they-notice</a>Lachlan Ridgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-17345412867039307092011-07-29T09:02:24.797+10:002011-07-29T09:02:24.797+10:00Andrew the media ie the tabloids and the shock joc...Andrew the media ie the tabloids and the shock jocks help run agendas and they are effective. Just ask Christine Nixon. <br /><br />Abbott with his journo background is playing the media like a fiddle. His latest soundbite refers to the invisibility, weightlessness and odourless nature of CO 2 in an effort to discredit the use of carbon price auditing. He conveniently forgets that technology for this purpose exists and he will have to rely on it for his own direct action policy.Johnny Rotten (formerly Anon)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-29349044917327597842011-07-29T07:13:50.302+10:002011-07-29T07:13:50.302+10:00Thanks Bill and Lachlan.Thanks Bill and Lachlan.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-90308751525061562402011-07-29T07:13:31.135+10:002011-07-29T07:13:31.135+10:00Sure, Anon, but that assumes people believe what t...Sure, Anon, but that assumes people believe what the media puts out. For discredited politicians to use a discredited media can't bring credit on either.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-33501064419248443232011-07-29T01:50:06.421+10:002011-07-29T01:50:06.421+10:00"That's what you shouldn't do, if you..."That's what you shouldn't do, if you ever find yourself in Opposition: make yourself a tool of the press gallery. Make them do their own bloody research."<br /><br />Um yeah? I have read elsewhere a fellow bemoaning the pathetic coverage of the so-called cracking of the NBN. He as an IT industry insider was appalled that the media generally, and the ABC in particular, had got the story so wrong. (And continued to do so despite expert feedback.)<br /><br />He said this was a clear warning to him on how a lack of specialization and research capabability in the media could distort coverage on almost every contentious topic.<br /><br />I would say wonder not my friend. As a senior policy bureaucrat serving both Labor and Liberal State Governments over an extended the lack of intellectual rigour in media coverage in the area of my expertise also appalled me.<br /><br />Little wonder then that the pollies see the media as little more than a tool with which to pursue their own agendas.<br /><br />They are the users not the used and are generally too stupid to realise this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-47541705714542226772011-07-28T19:07:26.485+10:002011-07-28T19:07:26.485+10:00Oh dear. It's out.
"suburban mums and da...Oh dear. It's out.<br /><br />"suburban mums and dads" is the new Working Families. I've watched this emerge in the States in the context off their health care reform debate, where, of course, it's "suburban <i>moms</i> and dads". Nothing new under the sun in Australian politics today. And to think that a century ago we were the political laboratory for liberal democracy, now we are a C/D demographic dumping ground for a product that's outlived it's snob appeal in the metropolis:<br /><br /> <i>"Wankers once used mobile phones, but now that sort are changing</i><br /><br /> <i>Yobboes lived in cottage homes, ain't social change amazing"</i><br /><br /> - <i>What are ya? TISM</i><br /><br />There's a certain media company close to the ALP in Victoria that loves to import this sort of astroturfing pfaff from the States. They all think they're Dick Morris, when the better analogy would be <a href="http://revolvis.com/revolvis/people/jason-roe/" rel="nofollow">Jason Cabel Roe</a>.<br /><br />If Doug Cameron ever gets his anti-dumping laws up then the ACCC should go after people insulting us with second hand IP from US political campaigns.<br /><br />Brands are consumable and suit retail politics. The problem is, retail politics doesn't fix social problems, it just gets you elected. In fact retail politics is simply electionism, which is an endgame for democracy.<br /><br />Unless the "suburban mums and dads" organised their own political representation, independent of the major parties?<br /><br />Wasn't it good to see Captain Stroganoff let fly again! If Murphy wants people who support progressive ideals to join the Greens then no doubt he agrees that people who support market based economics mixed with social conservativism should join the Liberal Party. <br /><br />This all stems from the political "genius" of Greame Richardson who, aided by a few acolytes in the St George area in Sydney from the early seventies, turned a once marginal area into safe ALP territory - for a little while. His strategy? Emulate the Liberal Party - hence the suits, expensive suits, embracing the big end of town, etc. It was simply an exercise in out-porkbarelling the Liberal Party to the big end of town. (This strategy left the NSW Branch of the Liberal Party so broke that they were forced to accept a large donation from Larry Adler, not really the GPS type - not that it had anything to do with Treasurer John Howard granting Adler senior a license to become FAI Insurance, which proved such a successful acquisition to the HIH organisation, but I digress).<br /><br />This Richardsonesque conservative party lite is electable for a while, but when the economic heat is on voters return to the party that meets the needs of that mix of bloody minded self-interest and outsourcing of process that is at the heart of Australia's political consciousness.<br /><br />Howard lost 2007 because enough Australians were worried about what AWAs would do to their, or their kids, ability to service a mortgage. Rudd was popular because he'd been on morning telly, but as we got to know him better th relationship soured. And he was their best! On the other hand electionism has thrown up a failed priest who wants a big government solution to an economic problem that would make even Blackjack McEwen blush. Ain't social change amazin' indeed.<br /><br />No doubt our vibrant and engaging media will identify this dearth of political rectitude and inform the suburban moms and dads as to what the political process means for their housing equity, retirement savings, household budgets and community infrastructure which we so soundly and safely enjoy and expect our children to enjoy.Lachlan Ridgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-66300463318488788152011-07-28T18:53:21.484+10:002011-07-28T18:53:21.484+10:00Andrew, your columns are always fascinating to rea...Andrew, your columns are always fascinating to read, entertaining and ultra thought-provoking.<br /><br />If you don't mind my saying so, you are one of the best, if not THE best, political commentators in Australia today.<br /><br />In fact: world class.<br /><br />May you prosper and keep writing this great stuff you write. Compulsory reading for me.Bushfire Billnoreply@blogger.com