The facets of Australian fascism: the Abbott Government experiment (Part 46)
By Dr George Venturini*
Testing the thesis . . . Rampant cronyism and corruption (continued)
The late Chalmers Johnson, reviewing a book by the already mentioned Emeritus Professor Sheldon S. Wolin, who for well over two generations taught the history of political philosophy from Plato to the present to Berkeley and Princeton graduate students, made some observations of a general character which – mutatis mutandis – apply to Australia, too. “Our political system of checks and balances” wrote Wolin, “has been virtually destroyed by rampant cronyism and corruption in Washington, D.C., and by a two-term president who goes around crowing “I am the decider,” a concept fundamentally hostile to our constitutional system. We have allowed our elections, the one nonnegotiable institution in a democracy, to be debased and hijacked … ”
As already amply noted, Wolin’s new book Democracy incorporated: managed democracy and the specter of inverted totalitarianism is a devastating critique of the contemporary government of the United States – including what has happened to it in recent years and what must be done if it is not to disappear into history along with its classic totalitarian predecessors: Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, National-Catholic Spain and Soviet Russia. The hour is very late and the possibility that the American people might pay attention to what is wrong and take the difficult steps to avoid a national Götterdämmerung are remote, but Wolin’s is the best analysis of why even the presidential election of 2008 probably would have done nothing to mitigate America’s fate.
Wolin’s work is fully accessible and includes particular attention to the advanced levels of social democracy attained during the New Deal and the contemporary mythology that the United States, beginning during the second world war, wields unprecedented world power.
Wolin introduces three new concepts to help analyse what Americans have lost as a nation. His master idea is “inverted totalitarianism,” which is reinforced by two subordinate notions which accompany and promote it – “managed democracy” and “Superpower,” the latter always capitalised and used without a direct article. Until the reader becomes familiar with this particular literary tic, the term Superpower can be confusing. The author uses it as if it were an independent agent, comparable to Superman or Spiderman, and one which is inherently incompatible with constitutional government and democracy.
Many analysts would conclude that Wolin has made a close to airtight case that the American Republic’s days are numbered, but Wolin himself does not agree. Towards the end of his study he produces a wish list of things which should be done to ward off the disaster of inverted totalitarianism:
“rolling back the empire, rolling back the practices of managed democracy; returning to the idea and practices of international cooperation rather than the dogmas of globalization and preemptive strikes; restoring and strengthening environmental protections; reinvigorating populist politics; undoing the damage to our system of individual rights; restoring the institutions of an independent judiciary, separation of powers, and checks and balances; reinstating the integrity of the independent regulatory agencies and of scientific advisory processes; reviving representative systems responsive to popular needs for health care, education, guaranteed pensions, and an honorable minimum wage; restoring governmental regulatory authority over the economy; and rolling back the distortions of a tax code that toadies to the wealthy and corporate power.”
Unfortunately, this is more a guide to what has gone wrong than a statement of how to remedy it, particularly since Wolin believes that the American political system is “shot through with corruption and awash in contributions primarily from wealthy and corporate donors.”
Corruption as a way of operating has become so common – if not accepted – in Australia that it is possible to access a service on the subject from the Internet.
For the last ten days of April 2016, the set having been chosen pour chance while researching this topic, the World News Report, published daily by the EIN Newsdesk of the IPD Group. Inc., based in Washington, D.C. supplied the following entries on Australia Corruption News:
On 21 April 2016:
08:55 GMT
Civil trial set for AWB bribes
13:45 GMT
Former WA minister in $3.4m Firepower fraud, court finds
12:20 GMT
Former WA minister guilty of $3.4m Firepower fraud
12:22 GMT
Former WA minister Gordon Hill guilty of $3.4m Firepower fraud, court finds
02:26 GMT
Australia launches new cyber security strategy
02:21 GMT
Morrison won’t comment on Nine bribe claim
Apr 20, 2016
More Australians falling victim to scams, ABS data reveals
Apr 20, 2016
Silence on wage fraud won’t wash
Apr 20, 2016
Silence on wage fraud won’t wash in election campaign
Apr 20, 2016
Tech support becomes Australia’s number one scam
On 22 April 2016:
14:18 GMT
AFP given $15 million boost to tackle corporate foreign bribery
14:25 GMT
Source: Gardaí believe fraudster and farmer boyfriend died from monoxide poisoning
14:21 GMT
Treasure Island: How New Zealand sees Australia’s car industry
06:56 GMT
Former Leighton Holdings executive alleges corruption over $15m payment
07:05 GMT
Whistleblower lists alleged Leighton International corruption
07:05 GMT
Leighton slammed for mishandling corruption allegations
07:26 GMT
Pankaj, Radhika Oswal told not to leave Australia over tax claims: Report
07:01 GMT
Former PNG politician Dame Carol Kidu wins injunction against Australian documentary
03:31 GMT
Unaoil: Leighton Holdings former executive Stephen Sasse alleges corruption
02:52 GMT
Unaoil: Leighton Holdings former executive Stephen Sasse alleges corruption
On 23 April 2016:
14:18 GMT
Corruption and Chaos in Papua New Guinea
09:38 GMT
Australian PM vows to to track graft funds at home and abroad
08:59 GMT
Australia aims to track graft funds at home and abroad
09:27 GMT
Australia aims to track graft funds
Apr 22, 2016
Andy Murray is right to be concerned over levels of corruption in tennis
00:02 GMT
Five tips to help prevent credit card fraud
00:19 GMT
Tasmanian over-represented as victims of credit card fraud
Apr 22, 2016
What a Federal corruption watchdog could look like
Apr 22, 2016
Source: Gardaí believe fraudster and farmer boyfriend died from monoxide poisoning
Apr 22, 2016
AFP given $15 million boost to tackle corporate foreign bribery
On 24 April 2016:
01:43 GMT
The key ‘pillars’ of world corruption
Apr 23, 2016
Fairfax Media : AFP given $15 million boost to tackle corporate foreign bribery
Apr 23, 2016
Golf: Scott draws bile from ugly Australians
Apr 23, 2016
Scott draws bile from ugly Australians
Apr 23, 2016
Corruption and Chaos in Papua New Guinea
Apr 22, 2016
Andy Murray is right to be concerned over levels of corruption in tennis
Apr 23, 2016
Australian PM vows to to track graft funds at home and abroad
Apr 23, 2016
Australia aims to track graft funds
Apr 23, 2016
Australia aims to track graft funds at home and abroad
Apr 23, 2016
Five tips to help prevent credit card fraud
On 25 April 2016:
10:06 GMT
Tragic details of fraudster granny and Irish beekeeper partner to be disclosed at inquest
06:53 GMT
Australian resident returns to face Fox Hunt and clear name
10:12 GMT
Australian resident returns to face Fox Hunt
Apr 24, 2016
NZ car companies see Australia as ‘Treasure Island’ ripe for plundering
Apr 24, 2016
The key ‘pillars’ of world corruption
Apr 22, 2016
Andy Murray is right to be concerned over levels of corruption in tennis
Apr 23, 2016
Fairfax Media : AFP given $15 million boost to tackle corporate foreign bribery
Apr 23, 2016
Golf: Scott draws bile from ugly Australians
Apr 23, 2016
Scott draws bile from ugly Australians
On 26 April 2016:
14:21 GMT
Tennis-Wimbledon to beef up measures against doping, corruption
14:15 GMT
Wimbledon to beef up measures against doping, corruption
09:06 GMT
Corruption in Afghanistan All but Cripples Women’s Team Sports
02:09 GMT
Charges dropped against pair accused of links to ‘boiler-room’ fraud
Apr 25, 2016
Tragic details of fraudster granny and Irish beekeeper partner to be disclosed at inquest
Apr 25, 2016
Leighton testimony puts spotlight on boards to investigate alleged corruption
Apr 25, 2016
Australian resident returns to face Fox Hunt
Apr 25, 2016
Australian resident returns to face Fox Hunt and clear name
Apr 24, 2016
NZ car companies see Australia as ‘Treasure Island’ ripe for plundering
Apr 22, 2016
Andy Murray is right to be concerned over levels of corruption in tennis
On 27 April 2016:
10:24 GMT
Inquiry asked to probe Leighton over WestConnex after corruption evidence
11:17 GMT
Shark patrol charity under investigation over alleged fraud
05:49 GMT
Australian election: Labor pulls further ahead of Coalition in new poll
00:59 GMT
Drum: Are the submarines protecting Australia or federal seats?
Apr 26, 2016
Tennis-Wimbledon to beef up measures against doping, corruption
Apr 26, 2016
Wimbledon to beef up measures against doping, corruption
Apr 26, 2016
What are the submarines really protecting: Australia or federal seats?
Apr 26, 2016
Common Tourist Visas with Australia Unlikely
Apr 26, 2016
Tennis’s fight against gambling corruption, even at the lowest levels, can’t be waged in secret
Apr 26, 2016
Wimbledon to Ramp up Measures Against Doping, Corruption
On 28 April 2016:
15:01 GMT
Inquiry asked to probe Leighton over WestConnex after corruption evidence
11:04 GMT
Shark patrol charity Australian Aerial Patrol under investigation over alleged fraud
11:17 GMT
Shark patrol charity under investigation over alleged fraud
12:21 GMT
Wimbledon to beef up measures against doping, corruption this year
05:49 GMT
Australian election: Labor pulls further ahead of Coalition in new poll
00:59 GMT
Drum: Are the submarines protecting Australia or federal seats?
Apr 26, 2016
Tennis-Wimbledon to beef up measures against doping, corruption
Apr 26, 2016
Wimbledon to beef up measures against doping, corruption
Apr 26, 2016
What are the submarines really protecting: Australia or federal seats?
Apr 26, 2016
Common Tourist Visas with Australia Unlikely
On 29 April 2016:
06:19
Journalists argue for national corruption body and whistleblower protections
05:42
Jailed CV faker facing charges in Australia
04:45
Australia’s rights record problematic for the Pacific
02:34
Filipino firebrand Rodrigo Duterte jokes about penis, lashes Australia again
01:33
CV faker jailed for $250k fraud
Apr 27, 2016
FMA fraudster analyst sent to jail
Apr 27, 2016
Papua New Guinea Supreme Court: Australian Aslyum Detentions Are Illegal
Apr 27, 2016
Inquiry asked to probe Leighton over WestConnex after corruption evidence
Apr 27, 2016
Wimbledon to beef up measures against doping, corruption this year
Apr 27, 2016
Shark patrol charity under investigation over alleged fraud
Apr 29, 2016
Case study: Athona recruits Mimecast to halt CEO fraud attacks
Apr 29, 2016
Fraudsters dupe elderly man with fictitious sob story
Apr 28, 2016
Journalists argue for national corruption body and whistleblower protections
Apr 29, 2016
Australian tourist visas: Surprising countries you don’t need a visa for
Apr 26, 2016
Tennis-Wimbledon to beef up measures against doping, corruption
Apr 26, 2016
Wimbledon to beef up measures against doping, corruption
Apr 28, 2016
Jailed CV faker facing charges in Australia
Apr 28, 2016
Australia’s rights record problematic for the Pacific
Apr 28, 2016
Filipino firebrand Rodrigo Duterte jokes about penis, lashes Australia again
Apr 28, 2016
CV faker jailed for $250k fraud
Not a single word has been omitted, or added – for transparency as well as effect !
One could not miss the very first item on the 21 April 2016 list, which deals with: Civil trial set for AWB bribes.
Tomorrow: Testing the thesis . . . Rampant cronyism and corruption (continued)
* In memory of my friends, Professor Bertram Gross and Justice Lionel Murphy.
Dr. Venturino Giorgio Venturini devoted some sixty years to study, practice, teach, write and administer law at different places in four continents. In 1975 he left a law chair in Chicago to join the Trade Practices Commission in Canberra. He may be reached at George.Venturini@bigpond.com.au.
6 comments
Login here Register here-
John Lord -
Michael Taylor -
Michael Taylor -
helvityni -
Freethinker -
king1394
Return to home pageThis is truly a remarkable series. Dr. Venturino Giorgio Venturini and THE AIMN are to be congratulated on presenting it. There is not a day that passes that I don’t take something profound from it. The quote today from Wolin’s work is but one example. I know it will but I hope this series never ends.
Thank you, John. Dr Venturini would be delighted to hear your praise, as am I. Sadly, there are only a handful of episodes to go though I’m sure that the good doctor is already working on a new project. He is truly a remarkable gentleman.
PS: from the reactions to these articles on Facebook there are many who think like you. The series is widely well-received.
If I were Dr Venturini I’d be writing a book.
Breaking news in Oz: Former Victorian Liberal director Damien Mantach is sentenced to five years’ jail for stealing $1.5m…
Dr Venturini’s articles are also nicely written; they are about serious issues but never boring.
Superb series and the reality and truth on it make wonder if I will be not better off retreating to the wilderness.
There will be dark times ahead of our children and grand children if things do not change.
I am following with interest the current problems in Brasil and does not look good.
Just wonder if it is a trend world wide……….
I too particularly admire Wolin’s words quoted in this episode. These words need to be spread widely.
Dr Venturini has shown that there are many differences between the ‘right’ and the ‘left’ (or even the ‘centre’)
I hope to never hear again that it doesn’t matter which side of politics is elected, they’re all the same. Even when Government decisions appear identical, the basis for decision-making is very different.