tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post7293895612446487310..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Ethnicity, the European migrant case and the Australian model - Musings on the European experience 2 Jim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-8706993495160438482015-11-02T21:41:01.069+11:002015-11-02T21:41:01.069+11:00I am less pessimistic than you 2t!I am less pessimistic than you 2t!Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-23676130921138281642015-11-02T18:18:01.413+11:002015-11-02T18:18:01.413+11:00Jim,
I am, without evidence, feeling more saddene...Jim,<br /><br />I am, without evidence, feeling more saddened and cynical than ever. for instance, I don't think most Australians are, in their minds, singing "Step inside, love" to the refugees. They are singing "What about me?" to the Government. It's not about mateship and it's not about compassion. <br /><br />Abbott stupidly kicked the bulk of Australian's in their most electorally sensitive body part, the hip pocket nerve. His failure to be able to backtrack convincingly on anything - for him it really was a backflip, not a reasoned evaluation of evidence - ensured his enduring unpopularity. And his government's complete inability to negotiate with the crossbenches meant that he could never pass 'signature' legislation without Labor's consent.2 tannersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-12844798884282742662015-11-02T07:27:10.627+11:002015-11-02T07:27:10.627+11:00Hi 2t. The survey results suggest that all the rhe...Hi 2t. The survey results suggest that all the rhetoric has tightened attitudes on refugees and boat people. However, that tightening has not affected broader attitudes about the importance of an inclusive society. The results also suggest that Australians believe that Australia has become less inclusive, more unfair. The net effect is to open a gap between Mr Abbott's position and the pattern of community opinion. <br /><br />It may be Wednesday before I get the post up. Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-35036252834328058302015-11-01T22:22:28.165+11:002015-11-01T22:22:28.165+11:00I'll look forward to your argument, Jim, but I...I'll look forward to your argument, Jim, but I think there are some massive issues that need addressing to make such a case. <br /><br />Labor put in place a policy of not allowing themselves to be wedged by not permitting a paper's width distance in policy between them and LNP. Shorten did very nicely out of it, pointing to Abbott's broken promises. Turnbull has inherited the broken promises but because ALP knew Abbott was hated they linked the promises to Abbott rather than to the LNP. Shorten ran on the "I'm not Tony Abbott" platform, emphasising through the Captain Call decisions that it really was Abbott.<br /><br />Now Turnbull has most of the benefits of the broken promises intact (eg funds from cuts to SBS and ALP) but "it's not his fault". Because he's not Tony Abbott, and for any with any memory, had important decisions made about his portfolio without being involved or even informed. <br /><br />So we have Labor running on the LNP platform and Liberal (not LNP) tiptoeing a little to the left to try and mop up some of the jointly unrepresented (e.g. climate worriers) but very wary of the continuing dog whistlers. The last thing that the movements in the polls seem to represent though, is movement in policy.<br /><br />Otherwise we'd be seeing the Greens shake off some of their past, well deserved unpopularity.<br /><br />But let me not be seen dissing an article that I haven't read because it hasn't yet been written :)<br /><br />2 tannersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-24128413316647513332015-11-01T17:28:42.176+11:002015-11-01T17:28:42.176+11:00Hi 2t. I have a long post part completed that bear...Hi 2t. I have a long post part completed that bears upon Australian attitudes. In very simple terms, dogwhistles can affect attitudes on particular issues but does not necessarily affect broader beliefs. That is in part where Mr Abbott went wrong. We can call it the bridge too far syndrome.<br /><br />Thanks, Ramana. Saw that piece.<br /> Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-16737761714316417332015-10-31T02:41:08.023+11:002015-10-31T02:41:08.023+11:00http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-28/tony-abbott-...http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-28/tony-abbott-urges-european-leaders-to-turn-back-asylum-seekers/6890886Rummuserhttp://www.rummuser.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-28311371896520773142015-10-30T19:11:29.330+11:002015-10-30T19:11:29.330+11:00Waleed Aly's opinion piece is rather sharp and...<a href="http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/wellrehearsed-rhetoric-still-falling-on-deaf-ears-as-tonys-seek-to-touch-new-audiences-20151028-gklcmh.html" rel="nofollow">Waleed Aly's opinion piece</a> is rather sharp and to the point. (Covers Blair's'apology' as well as Abbott's speech).<br /><br />For me, it very much illustrates your point about being able to believe in politicians, but there are still a lot of Australians responding to the dog whistle.2 tannersnoreply@blogger.com