Trump

[Brookie1973]

I expect One Nation and Clive Palmer to push the Libs further towards an openly right wing populist position, which has proved a successful strategy in a number of countries.

All you have to do is persuade battling workers that their problems aren't because of the increasing concentration of wealth among a billionaire class, rather its the fault of migrants and the climate change hoax. Gina agrees!

Gina Rinehart urges Liberals to stick with Trump-like policies in the wake of election loss

Billionaire tells Daily Mail ‘left media’ frightened party away from ‘anything Trump’ and calls on Liberals to adopt ‘commonsense and truth’ principles

www.theguardian.com

It always amuses me how the left use the term “populist” as a denigrating insult, whilst simultaneously crying that the right is destroying democracy. In a democracy, being popular is a good thing. It means most of the people agree with you. I guess we will have to start calling albo a left wing populist.

As for battling workers, I think you would have a hard time convincing those battling workers trying to buy a home in any major city in Australia that the reason for high house prices is Gina Rinehart, and not massive levels of over immigration.

 

[manly al]

Looks like the Teals will essentially keep their same numbers in the next parliament .
Previously did lose a member when that seat of Nth Sydney was abolished for this election and will probably lose their 2 Melbourne seats on current indications but look like gaining a seat in Nth West Sydney and one in W A .
There was even a prominent Teal in Peter Dutton :s seat who probably played no small part in that result
Bandt looks like he is probably gone in his Melbourne electorate but Greens looks like hanging on in that leafy Brisbane seat to still have one house of reps member .
Looks like there are some election funding controls or restrictions coming in which could prove interesting .
Apparently there is a requirement for a party or entity to receive 4 % of the vote before they can receive an individual vote allocation of $ 3 .25 from the Commonwealth .
Looks like that is being a bit exploited with at least one party running some candidates who actually live or are based far away from their allocated seat to seek election .
Really do not think that elections in Australia or many other Western countries can simply be defined in a , Left - Right paradigm analysis ,
Plenty of middle ground in there as well .
Anyway just some observations in an election outcome that i don :t think anyone saw coming

 

[BOZO]

. After watching his concession speech I would have loved to see more of that side of him

No excuses for the uncharismatic unpopular failed Liberal leader who could not sell plastic surgery to Miachel Jackson .

He had Years to show that side of him that could inspire a Nation and he failed to do that

The Nation warmed up more to the A Liar who broke his 275 dollar cheaper electricity bill promise Than to a the Liberal leader who had no personality and ability to persuade .

 

[Brookie1973]

It will be interesting to see how environmental politics evolves in Australia over the coming 10 years also. The transition to renewables will come at a cost. One cost that appears not properly understood by the average citizen is the conversion of infrastructure required to deliver it. Energy costs will likely further increase as this infrastructure upgrade occurs which will further drive up inflation. Once the average citizen understands this….. the political climate ( no pun intended) will shift. In my mind there are 3 types of people that vote with the environment in mind. 1. Younger people without a mortgage or family. 2. 30 plus Australians with a mortgage and family. 3. Older affluent Financially secure Australians.
The biggest portion of the voting population is number 2 ( 30 plus Australians with a mortgage and family) who I believe vote in favour of supporting zero emissions policy with the understanding that someone else other than themselves will pay!! once they realise this is not the case their voting decision will significantly change. To some degree this has happened in the US.🇺🇸. If the standard of living continues to decline in Australia which is likely the case… large portions of segment 2 of the population will be chasing Albo with a pitchfork….interesting times ahead.

It continually dumbfounds me how people in this country are happy to pay higher and higher energy prices, whilst we continue to ship our coal to China and India to burn into the atmosphere, with China opening 2 new coal fired power stations a week. Given Australia makes practically zero difference to worldwide carbon emissions, it makes no logical sense, unless you are only preoccupied with feeling good about yourself. If albo was serious about climate change, coal exports to China and India should be banned. The fact they haven’t been suggests the climate “emergency” may not be as imminent as we are told to believe.

 

[Uber Eagle 72]

It continually dumbfounds me how people in this country are happy to pay higher and higher energy prices, whilst we continue to ship our coal to China and India to burn into the atmosphere, with China opening 2 new coal fired power stations a week. Given Australia makes practically zero difference to worldwide carbon emissions, it makes no logical sense, unless you are only preoccupied with feeling good about yourself. If albo was serious about climate change, coal exports to China and India should be banned. The fact they haven’t been suggests the climate
“emergency” may not be as imminent as we are told to believe.

Couldn’t agree more! If we want China and India to transition to clean energy we need to lead by example and look to invest in finding the right solution ( understanding this may not be nuclear) transitioning to renewable energy based upon current technology is a form a martyrdom and will not help the environment in the long term and will likely make. things worse. It is outright blind stupidity imo.

 

[Brookie1973]

Couldn’t agree more! If we want China and India to transition to clean energy we need to lead by example and look to invest in finding the right solution ( understanding this may not be nuclear) transitioning to renewable energy based upon current technology is a form a martyrdom and will not help the environment in the long term and will likely make. things worse. It is outright blind stupidity imo.

It is increasingly obvious there are many blindly stupid people in the world, who vote more on feelings than logic. The uproar against Trump trying to address the tariff imbalances with China is a case in point. Surely from a climate change perspective the higher the tariffs on China the better, given their manufacturing is so coal intensive? Its hypocrisy writ large.

 

[The '47ers]

Couldn’t agree more! If we want China and India to transition to clean energy we need to lead by example and look to invest in finding the right solution ( understanding this may not be nuclear) transitioning to renewable energy based upon current technology is a form a martyrdom and will not help the environment in the long term and will likely make. things worse. It is outright blind stupidity imo.

1161 coal fired power stations in China apparently!
We have 19.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

It's arrogant to say there are many stupid people in the world. There's a difference between stupid and ignorant.
As there's also a difference between popular and populist. A stupid or ignorant person may not know the difference, but an intelligent one pushing an agenda certainly does.

 

[Brookie1973]

It's arrogant to say there are many stupid people in the world. There's a difference between stupid and ignorant.
As there's also a difference between popular and populist. A stupid or ignorant person may not know the difference, but an intelligent one pushing an agenda certainly does.

If someone says there are many stupid people in the world, and also many smart people, is that arrogant?

I agree there is a difference between stupid and ignorant - an ignorant person is someone not in possession of the relevant facts, whereas a stupid person is someone who is in possession of relevant facts, but still acts in a contrary manner. If you believe there is a climate emergency, exporting our coal to China and India to burn in thousands of coal fired power stations is a stupid act. Do you not agree?

As for popular vs populist, a populist in the political context is someone who looks to appeal to the masses, usually over the establishment/elites. Those who truly champion democracy should embrace populism as it is truly representative of the will of the people. Hence its name. Of course, the rise of populism has created problems for those in society who are less interested in true democracy and more interested in centralised power and control to better pursue a globalist agenda. Hence its increasingly negative connotations in mass media.

As for pushing agendas, is it not slightly arrogant to suggest that someone expressing different views to yourself must be pushing an agenda?

 

[lsz]

Re the potential shift right.

I will say it till I am blue in the face. Left or right with compulsory voting it is very difficult to be an extreme on either side - sure you can win seats here and there but to form a government it just will not work.

Why do you think Albo was not as "left" as he could have been / may have wanted (which I know might be tough to see). He knew that in Australia it is about winning the centre not appealing to the fringes unless you want to end up with a couple of seats in the senate.

It is pretty lazy for commentators to say that is what the libs need to do....but then again much like NRL "journos" there is far too much click bait from all political commentators