Copyright © 2007, Maurie Gee
Mr Howard's attack on the unions was "the most disastrously unfair and baseless accusation and propaganda that has ever been used by any leader in the history of Australian politics. I say that deliberately, that's not exaggeration. Every single Australian is indebted to the Australian trade union movement. How dare this man attack the trade union movement. There is no institution in Australia which has done more to flesh out the concept of a fair go, to give it reality, than the Australian trade union movement." -- Bob Hawke, Hawke queries record of man who 'buggered' the economy.
"[I want] to redress the wilful, despicable, reduction of trade unionists and trade unionism by the Government in the eyes of the Australian people. In some respects this is what this election is becoming all about, what the Government is trying to make it about, running as if trade unionists were some sort of economic wreckers. I can think of no more noble thing to do than to serve working people. We have a lot to thank the trade unions for. The ideological pleasure the current prime minister takes in demonizing them is an offence given daily to two million people. -- Paul Keating, Greg Combet launch
Democracy can not function without trade unions, which is why the Corporate-owned Illiberal Party hates them. Before Howard the elimination of democracy was something Illiberals mostly just had wet dreams about. But with the establishment of the John Howard Reich, democracy has been shown the door in almost every respect with a spit-shined jackboot.
While Kevin Rudd sings "Don't wedge me in," as he deflects the Coalition's cunning attempts to force him to accept their hatred of the fair go, it's good to see Hawke and Keating verbally shepherding the bastards to give Kev a free run.
"Though the cowards flinch and the traitiors sneer." Never was this quotation so apposite. It seems almost unbelievable that the Howard mob can insult the marginal intelligence of the Australian voters to pursue the anti-union line so confidently. It amazes me that so many should lack the basic wit to recognise the side on which their bread is buttered.
This applies to Howard himself. He and his role model Margaret Thatcher were reared small business people who can be presumed to have made their way by practising the virtues of thrift and industry, and (commendably) succeeding. To blindly aid the empowerment of the huge and growing monopolies which are crushing small businesses every day has to be suicidal. The man and his cronies are either mad or or totally corrupt. The mystery is what is in it for them?
Posted by maurice_fairfield on October 26, 2007
Crikey, we thought you'd carked it. Glad to see your penetrating prose once again.
Posted by Horrible Horck on October 26, 2007
Never in my near on sixty years on this spinning ball, have I experienced a hatred for a coterie of shit bags that have the unmitigated gall to call themselves a government. What has driven the Australian public to keep voting for some of these bastards defies description. The attack on the union movement should leave no person with a half an ounce of gray matter, what it is these fuckers are really about.
For mine, I really do believe this unprecedented attack on the workers of this country, goes deeper than, for want of a better word, homegrown influences. This is being driven by Howard's extreme right wing mates in the White House, who want to bring their partners in the alliance, economically as far as production is concerned, in line with their own Dickensian model. I truly believe the paper shredders in Canberra must be in full speed operation 24/7 to hide what has really been going on.
I can't remember an incumbent government in my life time that has been so vociferous, negative, and bloody minded to get re-elected. Even during the shameful days of the dismissal, the propaganda did not reach such heights. As we all know the Yanks were involved then, and no doubt are involved now.
With the next round of mortgage interest rate rises and more scheduled, it is obvious the economy is going to tank> My question is this: Is the Howard government trying to hide the monumental cock up that is about to be discovered? Or are they happy to let Rudd carry the can. Interesting weeks ahead.
Posted by Phill on October 26, 2007
Phill, even if you were six hundred years old I doubt you would have experienced "a coterie of shit bags" like the Howard Government. I'm no doubt mistaken, but, putting aside genocidal, baby-eating dictators down the eons, I believe that John Howard is the most reprehensible, the most repugnant, the most depraved, the most unprincipled, the most dishonourable, the most morally corrupt politician the world has ever known. He especially deserves these epithets, not just because he is the prime example of each, but because, as the Pied Piper from Hell, he has sucked the souls of his parliamentary colleagues -- men and women who, under normal circumstances, would have been just ordinary ratbags -- and brought them shamelessly down to his level.
Maybe it's an Australian thing. That this country could have fallen under the spell of someone so devoid of charisma or panache, so mealy-mouthed and mean of spirit, is all the more embarrassing. I don't think that has ever happened before.
Posted by Horrible Horck on October 27, 2007
"Maybe it's an Australian thing. That this country could have fallen under the spell of someone so devoid of charisma or panache, so mealy-mouthed and mean of spirit, is all the more embarrassing. I don't think that has ever happened before."
Yes indeed, Horrible, yes indeed. You know a true story for you, I wont say who the fuck it was, but my wife and I went out for lunch today at a local market near us, as is our want usually on a Saturday or Sunday. The local Liberal member was there handing out pamphlets, you know the usual propaganda, on how they have built one million new flats for the aged, and found a cure for cancer. Anyway he waives one under my nose, and with out flinching, I told him to "Fuck Off". And I might add, I could have easily been arrested for smacking him in the chops.
To say I nearly lost the plot is an under statement of huge proportions. It put me off eating my lunch, I was that angry at this fucking man. This is what politics has come to in Australia, when a man nearly sixty years old could lash out at another man on the strength of the other mans politics only. I must confess I was some what ashamed of myself, and if not for my wife it could have really turned nasty.
Like most men I have had my share of punch ups, that goes with the territory of being born with a dick. But I have never felt so angry at some one, even after being kicked in the bollocks in a brawl twenty years ago.This is what these people have done to us, WorkChoices, and all the other stunts they have pulled are really a nothing. But what they have achieved is to actually change the character of people, and divide us into units of ideology. I have indeed lost friends over the current political climate,and you know what? I couldn't give a flying fuck.
Posted by Phill on October 27, 2007
Phill, I lost most of my friends, and nearly all the rellies, during the last election. You are correct to point out that one of John Howard's lasting legacies is to have polarised the nation. Political discussions these days almost always end in violence, verbal or physical. Parliament question time is the mirror.
The last heated discussion I had in public ended with me advising the bastard to commit suicide. By then, security had been called. Fortunately, they just told us to go our separate ways.
The anger at having to live under such a conniving, utterly stupid government has severely fucked with my well-being. To partially repair this, I am seriously considering buying a bicycle, because driving behind these creepy-crawly John Howard Supporters of all ages in a 50 kph speed zone where they never get above 40 between speed bumps, inevitably finds my bonnet half way up their boot. Sooner or later there could be a major confrontation. With a bicycle I can zip past them with the greatest of ease.
Regardless of who wins the election, but especially if Labor does, this blog's political days will be over, full bloody stop.
Posted by Horrible Horck on October 28, 2007