The following was sent as a comment to my posting, Reflections on the inanity of existence. I thought it was too good (and too long) to leave there. It's written by Nahum Ayliffe, a good and thoughtful man whose website is a must. -- Olney Garkle

Hi Olney,

I noticed your comments regarding Howard. Howard and henchmen's/women's colossal ignorance is symptomatic of decisions and priorities that they have predetermined. I think this is also another way of writing the philosophical example from Schopenhauer.

For example, my church work is funded at the local level by a generous donor, who just happens to be a high ranking member of a certain successful business entity. It's an entity with which I have some serious ethical concerns, particularly with their business model and ruthless profit taking and fee structures. But I've got to pay my rent, so I've decided to temper my public criticism of his corporate entity, whilst still challenging him personally from time to time.

Howard knows where his bread is buttered. Thus decisions are made in the 'national interest.' But this is code for Conservative political interest, and the interests of BIG banks and BIG business. He's moved aside on climate change, and has started talking in the right direction, because there's votes there. Maybe the Aussie of the Year was a cynical move, appointing vocal climate change expert and Howard critic, Tim Flannery. See I'm serious, but I'm a "realist." What Howard is saying is, "Tim Flannery and his contemporaries are not realists, but I am. Trust me."

On your comments regarding the apathy of the masses, perhaps you should read Canadian philosopher/economist John Ralston Saul, if you haven't already. He talks about the political class of technocrats, who are consumed with making politics so boring and uninteresting for the common man that apathy is the favoured option. The days of Don Chipp's enormous town hall rallies are over. Today, it's all buying votes, it's not a dialogue anymore. There are no checks and balances.

Howard pork barrels through appeasing his loyal local members, and throwing some scraps to the consumers with cash grabs and baby bonuses etc. Menzies was the one to highlight the value of the consumeristic forgotten people and we've never looked back. Reread that speech (it's on the net). It's all about individualism, and if we're all consumed by our individualistic goals, providing for retirement, getting kids to 'that' school and buying the latest consumable for conspicuous consumption among peers, who gives a shit about the country!

I work in Brighton and on a quiet, safe street, and there's a wall of walls. Barricades and brick walls. It's not just a Kasey Chambers album. It's on every street. Still I think it's not too late to turn on, tune in and drop out. Maybe the Ruddite has a chance. Maybe he will be a little more moderate than Howard's chronic opportunistism.

Still I don't believe we'll ever see radical change embraced by the centre. It's at the edges where these ideas take root, and community changes slowly with such ideas. Just looking at the David Hicks case is evident. Perhaps in the next few months, Hicks will need to be brought home. If he is not home by the election, I'm pretty sure it will be an election issue.

(I think it was Irfan Yusuf who wrote something interesting in Crikey on the fact that Hicks joined another team, so he is the great unwashed among Conservatives. Why would he leave us - traitor to our ideas and 'our religion'? and I think the blue rinse set still believe this shit, so that's why Howards intractible on Hicks.)

Still I believe Howard's stubbornness will be his undoing. I'm counting on it, or I might be looking to become a fugitive from my own country. Go join the Muslims or something. Keep Hicksey company in that hellhole Guantanamo.