It feels strange to have Caretaker government for this long. It's just weird. And election night was terribly anticlimatic after 2007, which was a night of major wins and much happy drunkeness. This election night saw me on ABC online until the early hours, stunned at the swing against the ALP and the hung parliament. There were some good things of course - the demise of Steve Fielding being particularly sweet, but it was the success of the Greens that everyone is rightly talking about.
I'm a Labor voter, but the results for the Greens made me really happy. As a left leaning kind of gal, I've been troubled by the ALP's pandering to conservative Australian elements, but perhaps most worrying is the conservatism within the ALP itself. The Right faction is seemingly happy to support a Left Prime Minister with Rudd on the electoral nose, but as far as embracing Left policy - that's a different matter.
Gay marriage is perhaps the most pertinent example. The Australian right broadly has been loathe to amend the Marriage Act to recognise gay couples, and the ALP has continued to fall into line with this ridiculous and outdated view (though I remain unconvinced that the general Australian populace actually really feel that this is the right thing to do). Now we've seen huge gains for the Greens, and today, a deal between the ALP and the Greens.
Do I wish that Gillard was already Prime Minister? Sure. The thought that Abbott could be running the country makes me terrified. But I hope that if the ALP can form a minority government with the help of the Greens, they learn this lesson - you can't take left leaning voters for granted. They will be loyal, but they will eventually, as we've just seen, protest by voting for a Party who will be socially progressive, who will remember the ideals and values that made us Lefties in the first place.
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6 comments:
I agree with your sentiments 100%! The thought of Abbott as PM horrifies me too, even if it will be a position with little power. I don't agree with every policy of Labor, as I don't agree with every policy of any party. No political party can totally please everyone, even it's own members. But the Labor party have at least some humanity left, some element of compassion, rather than the cold money men and ignorant rednecks of the coalition.
I nearly voted Greens this time, as I have in the Senate a few times before. But I wanted to back Labor as best I could because the alternative, to me, is just unthinkable. There was too much at stake. I believe lots of people want to vote governments out without fully considering the alternative. I think that might happen in the November Victorian state election. Some people may want to punish Brumby, but does that mean they're happy to have Ballieu and the Libs close schools, hospitals and pull funding from public transport and other important social services for at least the next four years? Be careful of what you wish for, a case of out of the fryingpan and into the fire.
I also believe the phrase "the people get the government they deserve". I guess that means, at the moment, that we don't really deserve a government, which is probably about right :)
They have indeed lost their way; their core identity. I feel that Gillard, if left to her own devices, could bring that back but not sure such a mission will be made any easier with some conservative leaning independents to keep happy. A tricky position. I want Gillard not Abbott, but there's some concern that if (as seems most likely now) Labor is in government under such conditions it could actually weaken their Labor-ness. Guess we'll just have to wait (some more) and see!
It's great to hear from you guys. Insightful and interesting comments as always.
Hey, I've made my blog invitation only and I'd like to invite you but don't have an email addy for you - want to email me rebekka dot power at gmail dot com and I'll add you (if you want :-))
You blog more often, Lilith. Not just because I agree with what you have to say, but because it should be said! And you always say it with so much conviction. Keep up the rage and posts!
Good blog.
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