adplus-dvertising
Connect with us

Politics

Readers Reflect on the State of Australian Politics – The New York Times

Published

2 years ago

 on


Some thoughts on a better politics — and some relief Australia isn’t America.

The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau.

In last week’s Australia Letter, Besha Rodell wrote about her frustrations with the current state of Australia’s politics. She invited readers to send in their own feelings on the matter. Here are some excerpts from the many responses we got:

300x250x1

How frequently have I lamented the lack of educated and experienced statesmen and stateswomen in this country with the knowledge, experience, and pragmatic sense of how to govern. I listen to and watch the U.S. news where elected officials get into policy, doctrine, matters of deep concern for the population, but there is none of that here in Oz. Where are the statespeople with law degrees? Where are the conversations on equality, racial justice, climate change and plans for the future. At the same time, Australians themselves, myself included, are so complacent, anyone putting his/her hat in the ring to govern can usually get elected since it means we are happy that we don’t have to worry ourselves about any of it. Let someone else do it. She’ll be right, no? — David Roche

I’m sure that if Australia were in such a mess as the U.S., politically and socially, the political debate here might be a bit more sober. Obviously, the conservatives here are happy enough with the status quo and certainly don’t want serious debate about the major issues for which they either deny or have no answers. But yes, why aren’t the opposition’s and independents’ views being hammered loudly, every day? Perhaps it has to do with the lack of extreme polarization in Australian society. Isn’t much of the debate in the US just noise, sniping, propaganda and the echoes of inflated egos? So, let’s have more serious debate about the important issues without all the extraneous song and dance of the American sideshows. — Barry Long

We do live in one of the best countries on the planet, mainly due to the resilience and efforts of its population. It is hindered by the existing government and can be even greater when they are assigned to the dustbin of history. We do need to act collectively; the responses to bush fires, floods, drought and pandemics has reinforced this. We need less partisan and more cooperative governments capable of progressive and decisive action. — Greg Clydesdale

Both major parties are paralyzed by the contradictions in their policies on resource extraction and trading, and climate change. As a result, they can’t speak clearly about the major issue of our time, which turns everything else they say into shadow play. This state of affairs was brought about by the right-wing parties and their resource extraction friends killing off the hope of a sensible carbon pricing policy back in 2014. The Labor Party found itself sitting on a very sharp fence because of the resource extraction unions siding with their owners. Things just ain’t been the same since, I’m afraid, and frankly, they’re not going to improve in a hurry. — Tom Mangan

As an old Labor voter I have nowhere to go. Labor’s traumatic loss at the last election seems to have given them a case of paralysis. Their problem then was Shorten, and their problem this time is Albo. But they just keep amortizing perfectly good policies and remaining in denial, thereby pursuing a course of policy stagnation and mistaken leadership choices. Both men are much-liked within the party but unsellable outside it. So Australia is a pariah overseas and an embarrassment at home. Lucky country no more. — Kate Maclaren

I too feel deep despair and sorrow for a so-called nation that has so many golden opportunities laid out before it. I am of a generation that benefited from the policies of post-World War II governments, educational scholarships and bursaries. Higher education was nearly free in my day, and well within the reach of the broader working population. My children have been burdened with having to pay for their higher education, a legacy of misguided meddling by the Labor Party in a confused search for fairer pathways to university. These policies were enthusiastically adopted by the Liberal Party, whose unquestioning belief in the free-market system to deliver a good life is, for me, unbelievable. Some of my children, now approaching middle age, will never own their own home; once this was a marker of the Australian success story. Reconciliation with the First Peoples and a unified civil society are a fantasy. My faith in authorities and the good sense of my peers has been replaced by a deep cynicism. — John Spain

I remember when we first migrated from California to Australia in the early 1990s. Australia was different then, and, of course, the news cycle wasn’t shrill like it is now, and the country had problems, but was less tired of its politicians. Scott Morrison and his mob are an embarrassment to most Australians that I talk with, but who will replace them and be any better? What country has decent pollies these days? But at least we don’t suffer the chaos of America, for which we are grateful. — Janet O’Toole

While I agree with much of your article, I am quite puzzled by statements like “Where is the opposition?” You get close to calling out the media, but I think underestimate the scale of the problem. A single family owns over half the newspapers, we have the highest media ownership concentration of any comparable country, and the ABC has had its budget cut by over $500 million since 2014 by the LNP. I think there are two reasons you don’t see Labor, and the Greens, and independents — the media does the absolute minimum to cover them, and mostly just in order to generate outrage. Secondly, these parties know from experience, in particular the last election, that policies will be distorted beyond recognition, used against them, and this will be reported uncritically by a cowered media. — Richard

Here are this week’s stories:

Saeed Khan/Agence France-Presse — Getty
Elizabeth Frantz for The New York Times

Are you enjoying our Australia bureau dispatches?
Tell us what you think at NYTAustralia@nytimes.com.

Like this email?
Forward it to your friends (they could use a little fresh perspective, right?) and let them know they can sign up here.

Adblock test (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Politics

Trump faces political risks as trial begins – NBC News

Published

7 hours ago

 on

April 17, 2024

By


IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

April 15, 202400:53

300x250x1

  • More than 20 tornadoes reported as tens of millions face severe weather threat

    00:57

  • Shoe cobbler becomes unlikely TikTok star

    01:48

  • First jurors selected to serve in Trump hush money trial

    03:07

  • Israel’s military vows response to Iranian attack

    01:31

  • DOJ reportedly set to sue Live Nation in antitrust challenge

    00:52

  • Boeing whistleblower says 787 Dreamliner has production flaw

    03:25

  • USC cancels commencement speech by class valedictorian

    01:36

  • House delivers articles of impeachment against Mayorkas to Senate

    01:49

  • Boeing engineer says worldwide 787 fleet ‘needs attention’

    00:20

  • Two bodies found in Oklahoma are believed to be missing Kansas women

    01:42

  • Video shows men damaging ancient rocks in national park

    01:46

  • White House tries to prevent a wider war in the Mideast

    02:01

  • Israel’s military vows military response after Iran attack

    02:59

  • Caitlin Clark talks about her WNBA dream

    01:52

  • Now Playing

    Trump faces political risks as trial begins

    00:53

  • UP NEXT

    Jury selection begins in Trump’s hush money trial

    02:54

  • Arrests made in connection to disappearance of two Kansas moms

    01:30

  • President Biden urges restraint after Iran’s attack on Israel

    03:19

As Donald Trump the candidate overlaps with Donald Trump the defendant, new polling finds that many crucial independent voters consider his trial to be a serious issue. NBC News’ Hallie Jackson reports.April 15, 2024

Get more newsLiveon

  • UP NEXT

    More than 20 tornadoes reported as tens of millions face severe weather threat

    00:57

  • Shoe cobbler becomes unlikely TikTok star

    01:48

  • First jurors selected to serve in Trump hush money trial

    03:07

  • Israel’s military vows response to Iranian attack

    01:31

  • DOJ reportedly set to sue Live Nation in antitrust challenge

    00:52

  • Boeing whistleblower says 787 Dreamliner has production flaw

    03:25

Get more newsLiveon

Adblock test (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Continue Reading

Politics

Florida's Bob Graham dead at 87: A leader who looked beyond politics, served ordinary folks – Toronto Star

Published

9 hours ago

 on

April 17, 2024

By


/* OOVVUU Targeting */
const path = ‘/news/world/united-states’;
const siteName = ‘thestar.com’;
let domain = ‘thestar.com’;
if (siteName === ‘thestar.com’)
domain = ‘thestar.com’;
else if (siteName === ‘niagarafallsreview.ca’)
domain = ‘niagara_falls_review’;
else if (siteName === ‘stcatharinesstandard.ca’)
domain = ‘st_catharines_standard’;
else if (siteName === ‘thepeterboroughexaminer.com’)
domain = ‘the_peterborough_examiner’;
else if (siteName === ‘therecord.com’)
domain = ‘the_record’;
else if (siteName === ‘thespec.com’)
domain = ‘the_spec’;
else if (siteName === ‘wellandtribune.ca’)
domain = ‘welland_tribune’;
else if (siteName === ‘bramptonguardian.com’)
domain = ‘brampton_guardian’;
else if (siteName === ‘caledonenterprise.com’)
domain = ‘caledon_enterprise’;
else if (siteName === ‘cambridgetimes.ca’)
domain = ‘cambridge_times’;
else if (siteName === ‘durhamregion.com’)
domain = ‘durham_region’;
else if (siteName === ‘guelphmercury.com’)
domain = ‘guelph_mercury’;
else if (siteName === ‘insidehalton.com’)
domain = ‘inside_halton’;
else if (siteName === ‘insideottawavalley.com’)
domain = ‘inside_ottawa_valley’;
else if (siteName === ‘mississauga.com’)
domain = ‘mississauga’;
else if (siteName === ‘muskokaregion.com’)
domain = ‘muskoka_region’;
else if (siteName === ‘newhamburgindependent.ca’)
domain = ‘new_hamburg_independent’;
else if (siteName === ‘niagarathisweek.com’)
domain = ‘niagara_this_week’;
else if (siteName === ‘northbaynipissing.com’)
domain = ‘north_bay_nipissing’;
else if (siteName === ‘northumberlandnews.com’)
domain = ‘northumberland_news’;
else if (siteName === ‘orangeville.com’)
domain = ‘orangeville’;
else if (siteName === ‘ourwindsor.ca’)
domain = ‘our_windsor’;
else if (siteName === ‘parrysound.com’)
domain = ‘parrysound’;
else if (siteName === ‘simcoe.com’)
domain = ‘simcoe’;
else if (siteName === ‘theifp.ca’)
domain = ‘the_ifp’;
else if (siteName === ‘waterloochronicle.ca’)
domain = ‘waterloo_chronicle’;
else if (siteName === ‘yorkregion.com’)
domain = ‘york_region’;

let sectionTag = ”;
try
if (domain === ‘thestar.com’ && path.indexOf(‘wires/’) = 0)
sectionTag = ‘/business’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/autos’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/autos’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/entertainment’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/entertainment’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/life’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/life’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/news’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/news’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/politics’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/politics’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/sports’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/sports’;
else if (path.indexOf(‘/opinion’) >= 0)
sectionTag = ‘/opinion’;

} catch (ex)
const descriptionUrl = ‘window.location.href’;
const vid = ‘mediainfo.reference_id’;
const cmsId = ‘2665777’;
let url = `https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=/58580620/$domain/video/oovvuu$sectionTag&description_url=$descriptionUrl&vid=$vid&cmsid=$cmsId&tfcd=0&npa=0&sz=640×480&ad_rule=0&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&env=vp&impl=s&correlator=`;
url = url.split(‘ ‘).join(”);
window.oovvuuReplacementAdServerURL = url;

300x250x1

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A leader like Bob Graham would be a unicorn in the hyper-partisan politics of today.

The former Florida governor and U.S. senator wasn’t a slick, slogan-spouting politician. He didn’t have an us-against-them mentality. Sometimes, he even came across as more of a kind-hearted professor just trying to make the world a better place.

console.log(‘=====> bRemoveLastParagraph: ‘,0);

Adblock test (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Continue Reading

Politics

The Earthquake Shaking BC Politics

Published

11 hours ago

 on

April 17, 2024

By

Six months from now Kevin Falcon is going to be staggering toward a catastrophic defeat for the remnants of the BC Liberals.

But what that will mean for the province’s political future is still up in the air, with the uncertainty increased by two shocking polls that show the Conservatives far ahead of BC United and only a few percentage points behind the NDP.

BC United is already toast, done in by self-inflicted wounds and the arrival of John Rustad and the Conservative Party of BC.

Falcon’s party has stumbled since the decision to abandon the BC Liberal brand in favour of BC United. The change, promoted by Falcon and approved by party members, took place a year ago this week. It was an immediate disaster.

That was made much worse when Rustad relaunched the B.C. Conservatives after Falcon kicked him out of caucus for doubting the basic science of climate change.

Falcon’s party had fallen from 33 per cent support to 19 per cent, trailing the Conservatives at 25 per cent. (The NDP has 42 per cent support.) That’s despite his repeated assurances that voters would quickly become familiar with the BC United brand.

BC United is left with almost no safe seats in this election based on the current polling.

Take Abbotsford West, where Mike de Jong is quitting after 30 years in the legislature to seek a federal Conservative nomination. It’s been a BC Liberal/United stronghold. In 2020 de Jong captured 46 per cent of the votes to the New Democrats’ 37 per cent and the Conservatives’ nine per cent.

But that was when the Conservatives were at about eight per cent in the polls, not 25 per cent.

Double their vote in this October’s election at the expense of the Liberals — a cautious estimate — and the NDP wins.

United’s prospects are even worse in ridings that were close in the 2020 election, like Skeena. Ellis Ross took it for the BC Liberals in 2020 with 52 per cent of the vote to the NDP’s 45 per cent.

But there was no Conservative candidate. Rustad has committed to running a candidate in every riding and the NDP can count on an easy win in Skeena.

It’s the same story across the province. The Conservatives and BC United will split the centre-right vote, handing the NDP easy wins and a big majority. And BC United will be fighting to avoid being beaten by the Conservatives in the ridings that are in play.

United’s situation became even more dire last week. A Liaison Strategies poll found the NDP at 38 per cent support, Conservatives at 34 per cent, United at 16 per cent and Greens at 11 per cent. That’s similar to a March poll from Mainstreet Research.

If those polls are accurate, BC United could end up with no seats. Voters who don’t want an NDP government will consider strategic voting based on which party has a chance of winning in their ridings.
Based on the Liaison poll, that would be the Conservatives. That’s especially true outside Vancouver and Vancouver Island, where the poll shows the Conservatives at 39 per cent, the NDP at 30 per cent and United lagging at 19 per cent. (The caveat about the polls’ accuracy is important. Curtis Fric and Philippe J. Fournier offer a useful analysis of possible factors affecting the results on Substack.)

And contributors will also be making some hard choices about which party gets their money. Until now BC United was far ahead of the Conservatives, thanks to its strong fundraising structure and the perception that it was the front-runner on the right. That’s under threat.

The polls also mark a big change in the NDP’s situation. This election looked like a cakewalk, with a divided centre-right splitting the vote and a big majority almost guaranteed. Most polls this year gave the New Democrats at least a 17 per cent lead over the Conservatives.

728x90x4

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending