Thread: Mans Intelligence

I agree that one dodgy government does not a dodgy country make. But sometimes it can be difficult to either (1) Get that Govt. out of power in a system like Australia's (two - term limit in the US?) and/or (2) Realise the govt. is dodgy.

I'm going to come right out and say that I LOATHE the Howard govt. in Australia. They've proven difficult to get out of power (11-12 years now, I think). One reason is an ineffective opposition party; the other is that this govt. has a knack of playing on the fears of Australians (interest rates, immigration, refugees etc.)

They've also, IMHO, whittled away at our civil liberites and social systems slowly and unobtrusively, to the point where I believe we are no longer the "lucky country", at least not in the sense we once were. The public, as a general mass, have not seemed to notice

It's lead me to think that, given the "right" (or should that be "wrong") circumstances, a democratic system can break down and allow insidious erosion of freedoms and rights. Social commentators can point these things out, but if you're more worried about your mortgage, who are you going to listen to: the guy that says "freedom of speach is being seriously threatened with this new legislation" or the guy that says "under my government interest rates will stay low"? Australia, at least, has already given its answer, several times, at the polls

Here endeth the rant.

James.