Point perfect Amy. The only problem is that the only people who'll read this is the choir. Deepcut, Crikey, New Daily....they're all telling it like it is, but the subscribers to the centre-is-best notion will never hear anything different. They digest the news like they do their Corn Flakes - uncritically. People, for the most part, just want their preconceived prejudices confirmed by a media only too willing to assist.
There will always be some people who are unreachable but if we actually believe that most people can't be swayed then all of this analysis is just dopamine for smug moralists while the world burns. Even people who read The Australian are not irredeemable!
Sadly Guy, most people are unreachable when it comes to the concepts and issues about which Amy writes. In a way, it is dopamine for analysts like her and we, her readers ("smug moralists" was unnecessary). People largely don't change their votes on the basis of these principles. Self interest is what drives voters in the middle. We reformers have to find a way to change the language and the presentation if we are ever to make a dent in the preferences of the unreachable - and ves, Australian readers too.
Another great article from Amy that helps you answer the question "I can't be the only one who sees how bullshit this all is, right?". It's so refreshing, thank you!
I agree completely with everything Amy says. The one bright ray of light in the current political landscape is that the two party system is diminishing with the last election showing one third of voters chose minor parties or independents as their first choice. Yes the ALP won a landslide but the votes were shallow in many seats.
People are becoming disillusioned with the major parties. And I think it's a good thing we are likely to see a continuing trend away from them where our own parliament might soon resemble some European democracies with much greater minor party representation and where coalitions are formed to govern.
Point perfect Amy. The only problem is that the only people who'll read this is the choir. Deepcut, Crikey, New Daily....they're all telling it like it is, but the subscribers to the centre-is-best notion will never hear anything different. They digest the news like they do their Corn Flakes - uncritically. People, for the most part, just want their preconceived prejudices confirmed by a media only too willing to assist.
There will always be some people who are unreachable but if we actually believe that most people can't be swayed then all of this analysis is just dopamine for smug moralists while the world burns. Even people who read The Australian are not irredeemable!
Sadly Guy, most people are unreachable when it comes to the concepts and issues about which Amy writes. In a way, it is dopamine for analysts like her and we, her readers ("smug moralists" was unnecessary). People largely don't change their votes on the basis of these principles. Self interest is what drives voters in the middle. We reformers have to find a way to change the language and the presentation if we are ever to make a dent in the preferences of the unreachable - and ves, Australian readers too.
Another great article from Amy that helps you answer the question "I can't be the only one who sees how bullshit this all is, right?". It's so refreshing, thank you!
Without mass participation, politics degenerates into a self-serving spectacle for an already entrenched social elite.
That's what parliament is sadly - a spectacle of stunts.
Happy Pauline Hanson being Islamophobic week to all who celebrate.
Was just beginning to wonder where you were Amy as you haven’t written for a while . Then you post this article today - brilliant , just brilliant .
I agree completely with everything Amy says. The one bright ray of light in the current political landscape is that the two party system is diminishing with the last election showing one third of voters chose minor parties or independents as their first choice. Yes the ALP won a landslide but the votes were shallow in many seats.
People are becoming disillusioned with the major parties. And I think it's a good thing we are likely to see a continuing trend away from them where our own parliament might soon resemble some European democracies with much greater minor party representation and where coalitions are formed to govern.