Thanks for nothing

October 12, 2014
Written by: Kaye Lee
58 Replies

I remember when the United States Congress gave our Prime Minister a standing ovation.

I remember when men and women around the world were touched by her passion in championing the rights of women.

I remember when our Treasurer was hailed as the best in the world for saving our country from the collapse felt around the globe.

I remember when the world was praising our leadership in action on climate change by introducing carbon pricing.

I remember when we reached agreement with the states to implement education funding reform.

I remember when we looked forward to every home being connected to world class NBN.

It wasn’t that long ago.

So how did we end up in our current position, represented by fools and vilified globally?

The people who are paid to inform us, whose job it is to hold politicians to account, failed us, that’s how.

On the eve of the election, every major newspaper in the country, with the exception of Melbourne’s Age, endorsed Tony Abbott to be Australia’s 28th prime minister.

Queensland’s Courier Mail ran a front page picture of a clown’s hat, emblazoned with the ALP logo, toppled in the centre of a circus ring under a headline ”The circus is over.”

”We believe Tony Abbott stands ready to seize the day,” read Melbourne’s Herald Sun editorial, beside a front page headline ”Tony’s Time”.

The Adelaide Advertiser told Australians that ”tomorrow [they] finally have an opportunity to set our nation on a new path”.

The Canberra Times also came out in favour of the Coalition telling us it was “Abbott’s time”.

On the first day of the election campaign the Daily Telegraph ran a front page photograph of a distressed-looking Kevin Rudd accompanied by the headline: ”Finally, you now have the chance to . . . Kick this mob out.”

And the Sunday Telegraph published a front page picture of a statesman-like Tony Abbott standing in front of a billowing national flag, with the headline: ”Australia needs Tony.”

The Sydney Morning Herald said ”Abbott does not so much deserve the chance to do what Labor could not do in the past six years. But the party he leads is untainted by scandal and infighting, and therefore has the best chance to unite a tired and despondent electorate.”

The AFR judged that ”Australia’s prosperity would be better served by a Coalition government”.

The Australian pushed for the Coalition to be given a majority government and for Mr Abbott to seek a ”mandate for reform”.

The newspaper praised the Opposition Leader, saying: ”Rarely in the modern era has there been a more grounded prime ministerial candidate than this volunteer firefighter, surf lifesaver, endurance athlete and charity cyclist.”

The Northern Territory News compared Labor’s reign to natural disasters afflicting the NT.

”Territorians cope with a lot compared to the rest of Australia. Searing heat, torrential downpours, cyclones and the tyranny of distance,” the NT News editorial read.

”One thing we cannot, and should not, have to cope with is when a government . . . goes troppo. The Labor Federal Government has gone troppo. And that’s being kind. It has lost the ability – and the right – to lead.”

But ”fortunately”, the newspaper concluded, “there is a candidate to bring the country to its senses”.

Melbourne’s Age was the only paper in the country to back Labor.

The Age judged that Labor’s policies – especially the national broadband network, better schools plan and commitment to a price of carbon – meant the government deserved to be returned, but they had already cruelled any chance of that when, in June their headline read “For the sake of the nation, Ms Gillard should stand aside.”

How can every single one of our journalists have got it so terribly wrong? These people are trained and paid to do a job. They have access to the inner workings of Parliament and they are fed briefs, press releases and leaks. Perhaps, rather than slavishly believing and printing what they are told, they would do better to stay in their jammies and do a little research for themselves.

We are owed an apology.

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john o'callaghanOctober 12, 2014 at 8:06 pm

We need to march against the MSM.

mark delmegeOctober 12, 2014 at 8:09 pm

the title works at least http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ank3ukfc60

kerrilmailOctober 12, 2014 at 8:19 pm

Thank you Kaye Lee. Less than setting us on a new path, Abbott has us on the highway to hell!!!!

stephentardrewOctober 12, 2014 at 8:31 pm

Paid for and bought off.
No investigation of facts just bleeding opinion.
They are leading us to tragedy across the world.
I love humor but sometimes its just too hard to laugh.

Rob031October 12, 2014 at 8:45 pm

@Kaye Lee. Many thanks for your efforts to let us know what so many publications were SHOUTING at us before the last election for Abbott. I suspected it was bad – but (goats and monkeys) wow.

I wonder what you see as the primary motivator for the average journalist as you know heaps more than me.

I once knew this guy that used to trot down to Sydney from the Hunter be a sub-editor on the Sydney Herald over the weekend. I asked him: what is the mentality of the average journalist?. Straight away he said: The average journo is basically a gossip! Alas we didn’t get into the editorial policies of various papers – ie. that which i ‘understood’. I wish I had.

stephentardrewOctober 12, 2014 at 8:48 pm

Albanese repositioning himself. Why? Could make a guess.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/anthony-albanese-breaks-ranks-on-labors-support-for-terror-laws-20141012-114wce.html

Kaye LeeOctober 12, 2014 at 8:54 pm

Rob,

I am just a middle-aged woman in jammies. I learn as much if not more from you guys as you learn from me.

I suspect journalists fall foul of the ennui that comes with meeting deadlines. They don’t have the luxury of waiting for inspiration so they run with what they are fed.

I think the gossip bit is very true though I am not sure if it is the journalist or the audience’s fault. Our biggest story here by far was Victoria’s story about the Frances Abbott scholarship thing. People seem to like reading about scandal.

Kaye LeeOctober 12, 2014 at 8:55 pm

I saw that Stephen. Perhaps he is just a decent man who is not prepared to blindly fall in step with Abbott.

Rob031October 12, 2014 at 9:03 pm

I must be nuts but I finally finished reading all of the the comments on the Guardian’s outline of this story It certainly stirred up a shirt load of opinions – many of them quite considered.

Personally, as a person who is in touch with his ‘inner yobbo’, I kinda like ‘Albo’. It’s funny that this stuff coincided with Faulkner’s plea of reform of the ALP. And then again with the Fairfax press’ (did I get the apostrophe correct?) seeming boost for Shorten’s ‘performance’ of late. Strange things seem to be afoot here. On top of this was Fairfax’s article about Hockey’s further attempt to link the ‘war’ with the ‘budget’ in terms of patriotism.

Are any of you clever AIMN readers out there aware of what the heck is going on at this point in time?

NickOctober 12, 2014 at 9:06 pm

Our democracy has been hijacked by Rupert Murdoch and the rest of the IPA!

stephentardrewOctober 12, 2014 at 9:16 pm

Could be Kaye I just don’t know, however I wouldn’t criticize his right to challenge.

Rob031October 12, 2014 at 9:35 pm

@Kaye Lee: “I think the gossip bit is very true though I am not sure if it is the journalist or the audience’s fault. Our biggest story here by far was Victoria’s story about the Frances Abbott scholarship thing. People seem to like reading about scandal.”

The observation interested me muchly. Scandal. Could it be that many nice folks out there have a vested interest in feeling ‘superiour’ without actually being so? As a bloke I feel superior that I’m not tempted to read or purchase “New Idea” (etc) when waiting at the checkout. And what about the people who do? What about those conspiracy people who (I presume) feel superior to the rest of us about complex issues? – fast track to the Truth without all that tedious effort. The MSM appears to pander to these folks.

Yonks ago I read Willhelm Reich’s book: “Listen, Little Man”; and though he became quite nuts later on (after his solid works, eg. “Character Analysis”) he did occasionally put his perceptive finger on some important aspects of ordinary wannabees and those hell-bent on being “instant experts”. (Nietzsche was pretty astute in this regard too. I only chuck that in to sound profound :))

It disturbs me that we have many such people supporting what we also support on many comment threads (such as The Guardian and the Fairfax press.) With friends like that who needs enemas. They make us look like fruitcakes and this is not helpful.

mars08October 12, 2014 at 9:35 pm

Kaye Lee:

How can every single one of our journalists have got it so terribly wrong? These people are trained and paid to do a job. They have access to the inner workings of Parliament and they are fed briefs, press releases and leaks…

Maybe it’s our fault. Maybe we are confused about the role of corporate journalism in the 21st Century…

Kaye LeeOctober 12, 2014 at 9:42 pm

Sometimes I feel like I’m on a merry-go-round, inevitably gliding back to the same things again.

“The cash for comment affair was an Australian scandal that broke in 1999, concerning paid advertising in radio that is presented to the audience in such a way as to sound like editorial commentary. John Laws, a shock jock radio presenter for Sydney talk back, was accused of misusing his authority as an announcer. This was widely considered a breach of journalistic integrity. While the initial publicity had died down by the end of the year, it sparked major changes in the way the radio industry is conducted in Australia. This resulted in a second scandal in 2004, leading to the resignation of Australian Broadcasting Authority head David Flint, after he had been found to have been less than impartial in his role in “cash for comment” investigations.

Some have pointed to the Broadcasting Services Act (1992), which has treated the media more as a business than a cultural institution, for a decline in the relevance of ethical standards in the media industry.

In 1999, reporters Richard Ackland, Deborah Richards and Ann Connelly from the public broadcaster’s Media Watch TV program revealed that 2UE talk radio hosts John Laws and Alan Jones had been paid to give favourable comment to companies including Qantas, Optus, Foxtel, Mirvac and major Australian banks, without disclosing this arrangement to listeners. Prior to giving favourable commentary to a group of banks, Laws had repeatedly criticised them for imposing unjustified fees on customers while cutting back on services.

Though both initially vehemently denied any wrongdoing, when the controversy gained sufficient momentum, they defended the practice by claiming that they were not employed as journalists, but as “entertainers” and thus had no duty of disclosure or of journalistic integrity.”

kerrilmailOctober 12, 2014 at 9:44 pm

The “gossip” part of journalism is dead right! It’s what killed Diana (I know cliched) and it is what sells Murdoch’s papers. It’s his main trade in the UK. (Phone hacking etc) we are fools to fall for it and give the msm oxygen by falling for the headlines but by far the most damaging part is that it is also the LNP’s stock in trade. Union inquiry? Pink Batts? Shorten on rape? Gillard on Wilson????
Is it just me or is it time for the glass house to get some of it’s stones back?

light487October 12, 2014 at 9:46 pm

Can’t really blame just the media though. There were PLENTY of warning signs available in the lead up to the election. Even for someone like me who usually isn’t interested in politics, I saw the very obvious warning signs but those people around me, people I thought of as intelligent and with the ability to see obvious warning signs; just couldn’t see it. I spoke out about it but they instead clung to very minor issues, very small things that in the scheme of things wouldn’t have mattered one little bit one way or the other.

They chose to ignore the warning signs despite the obvious nature of them. So yes, the media is to blame in one part.. that’s for sure.. but the people too are to blame for not just not being vigilant but ignoring the signs that were thrust in their faces.

Kaye LeeOctober 12, 2014 at 9:54 pm

Greed and xenophobia, wrapped up in ignorance, given credibility by the media, and encouraged by the Abbott crew of misfits.

You stir this up and then tell people no, no….we didn’t mean you should hate ALL muslims. No, no…you have to stop being negative about the economy because it is hurting confidence.

Who let the dogs out?

Rob031October 12, 2014 at 9:55 pm

Legend has it that someone phoned into John Laws and said: In the words of reverend Spooner you, sir, are a shining wit and Laws didn’t get it and it got past the seven-second delay. But more seriously, my sister likes John Laws (as she likes Pickering cartoons – yuck). He, she told me has such a nice confident voice.

I think that pretty well sums it up for many in our society. Perhaps many in our society are not inherently thick; perhaps many are simply lacking in confidence and merely feel dumb; and people like Laws and Bolt and Jones et. al. are popular because they exude the confidence that they lack but wish to have.

fran mcmichaelOctober 12, 2014 at 9:56 pm

WHO LET THE DOGS IN

Rob031October 12, 2014 at 10:12 pm

Just saw this on the SBS news site: Australia’s poverty problem ‘insidious’: Governor-General. Governor-General Peter Cosgrove has called on his fellow country men and women to help Australians plagued by the “insidious and all encompassing” problem of poverty.

So, the GG has come out with this stuff (Source: AAP)

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/10/12/australias-poverty-problem-insidious-governor-general

I wonder what, if anything, this means about the current political and media machinations?

Kaye LeeOctober 12, 2014 at 10:18 pm

Yes ACOSS released a report today called “Poverty in Australia”

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/one-in-seven-australians-living-in-poverty-according-to-new-report-20141011-114o1b.html

stephentardrewOctober 12, 2014 at 10:19 pm

An interesting new study on the implications of violence in the media increasing aggression. For interested parents.

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-10-broad-consensus-violent-media-child.html

robert macklinOctober 12, 2014 at 11:32 pm

Very nicely put.

JohnBOctober 12, 2014 at 10:37 pm

The ABC deserve the most blame.
Their journalists failed their duty to Australian citizens – they are not beholden to media moguls for their jobs or careers.
They failed to properly examine Abbott’s policies – they joined in the MSM groupthink, copied thoughtless tabloid headline mantras such as ‘dysfunctional government’, ‘shambolic government’ – a government that passed a record 600 + bills;
‘bungled home insulation scheme’ when there were less home fires and deaths than other comparable government projects;
‘overpriced school halls’, where none were identified as overpriced during subsequent audits when the efficiency of the scheme was confirmed.

It is why we have the ABC – to be independent and apolitical, yet the “Murdoch’ sponsored IPA are virtually resident on most current affairs panels.

It is their job to broadcast truth and facts – not unsubstantiated gossip and groupthink intrigue as they did for the years preceding the 2013 election.
ALP politicians were almost always available for in depth interview – but Abbott and his LNP cohorts were absent from scrutiny, their lack of and paucity of policy detail was ignored by ‘OUR’ ABC.

That’s why I now think it’s THEIR ABC.

Anne ByamOctober 12, 2014 at 11:48 pm

@Rob031. …… Could this be a tiny light at the end of the tunnel ……. the GG coming out in his speech, about poverty. He didn’t mince words either. Poverty, in fact is a very broad spectrum, and I cannot help but think that the GG – very diplomatically of course – made a wide swipe at the Government. Simply because their proposals / policy making is aimed at making even MORE people live well below the poverty line.

Poverty spreads its tentacles far and wide …. as far as it can reach. Just one example. The unutterably cruel concept of having people looking for work for 6 months without any monetary support whatsoever, which leaves caring families looking after them, feeding them, clothing them – and often in a situation which they can only just maintain for themselves ( and younger family ) – which makes their wages ( if they are fortunate enough to have a secure job ) having to stretch further – for utilities, food, medical expenses – chemist etc, and heaven knows what else. It is a trickle down effect – but not in the way that is often referred to.

While I doubt the Senate would pass such a vile excuse for legislation – it none-the-less worries many …. which leads to cost cutting ( just in case ) in the lower and middle class wage brackets – which in turn leads to despondency at not living as comfortably as they once did, which leads to …… ….

You get my drift.

So perhaps – at long last Sir Peter Cosgrove has opened his mouth ……. and not before time. Was thinking he’d have been best kept at his former day job …. but it wasn’t to be.

Remains to be seen how much the GG can say, and how far he is prepared to go…… He has to be cautious …. he is the representative of the Monarchy, and as such cannot indulge in political comment.

But where there’s a will there’s a way……… and there’s many ways of delivering a message without it being against protocol.

Wonder how the Abbott feels about THOSE remarks. …….probably not a lot – gotta have a brain and heart to feel anything. But he WOULD hate to have shadows cast across his self elevated position in life …. that being ( I think ) …. of some superior deity – – – – and his treasured prime-ministership ?

mark delmegeOctober 13, 2014 at 1:21 am

(breaking his rule to keep it short…) Rob031 I too read and liked Reich’s Listen… What almost disturbs me is that I find the UKIP, the US libertarian right including some of the teaparty mob and especially PCRoberts have a better grasp on global affairs than either the Libs or Labs and many who (in my opinion wrongly) consider themselves progressive.

BTW the US gave the PM of Israel more standing ovations than anyone ever in the history of the universe.
I remember lots of stuff too and how the Lab stuffed up so many times to the point where I didn’t think they deserved government thats not to say of course I welcome the Libs – they are the pits – actually far worse. But thats no excuse for backing a rotten government – and thats how most people saw it. If Labor wants office it needs to get its own house in order and know where it is heading and explain to the rest of us without the lies and crap we have all had before. Actually I don’t think they are capable of being anything other than quisling neo liberals and they wont get my vote no matter how much better than they are than the other mob on most issues. To me they are heading in the wrong direction.
The media individuals seem to hunt in packs and most don’t have the nous, inclination or liberty to stand out from the crowd and tell it like it really is. Like most individuals in society they go with the flow…. and (anyone) if you are still reading thanks for bothering.

trevorOctober 13, 2014 at 1:59 am

There was a time before carefully coiffured forests became toilet paper and newspapers served their true purpose, wiping arses.

humanista8October 13, 2014 at 5:48 am

Another great article, Kaye. Perhaps, to round it off:

. I cannot ever remember when a sitting PM (Rudd) was sacked without being told of the grievances the Party had against him.

. I cannot ever remember when a sitting PM (Gillard), one of Australia’s best in terms of the landmark policies she was able to get through both Houses of Parliament in spite of leading a minority Government, was sacked on the grounds of perceived electoral unpopularity (your article explains why),

. And I cannot ever remember when a cabal of 4 self-seeking, factional apparatchiks within the ALP could wield such power as to achieve those two outcomes.

It was never in their interests to give Rudd an opportunity to change his ways nor for Gillard to raise her electoral stocks through a concerted campaign of support against the misogynistic campaign of denigration by Abbott supported by the Murdoch press and the likes of the LNP Fulminater-in-Chief, Alan Jones. It would have thwarted their ambitions for THEIR leader, Shorten, to be ALP leader were either Rudd or Gillard to remain leader and eventually succeed.

June M Bullivant OAMOctober 13, 2014 at 6:04 am

I am afraid that a lot of people fell for the hype, they forgot that the leaders now if they tell a lie, they confess so they can begin again, I have not seen this in my lifetime, I hope I do not see it again.

GillyOctober 13, 2014 at 6:31 am

Brilliant as always Kaye Lee. I enjoy reading your articles. No-one says it better than you!
Phoney Tony is a puppet – strings pulled by Rupert Murdoch and Peta Credlin

Terry2October 13, 2014 at 6:39 am

Kaye, I saw Hockey on INSIDERS yesterday and note that, even from Washington, he couldn’t resist attributing all Australia’s problems to the Labor ‘Debt and Deficit Disaster’ – they just love those slogans.

I have tried to find a definitive list of G20 countries and from what I am seeing Australia has the lowest public debt and deficit in the G20 grouping: how long can he continue with this fiction – presumably he will have to bury the rhetoric during the Brisbane G20 meeting as it could embarrass our guests.

Kaye LeeOctober 13, 2014 at 6:51 am

Every time I see Tory Shepherd giving her oh so clever commentary on Insiders I am reminded of the article she wrote about the March in March where she said, amongst a lot of other sanctimonious abuse, that “the Marchers in the end threatened to disappear up their own proverbials in a puff of BO and bong smoke.”

Well Tory, I would suggest it is you and your ilk that are more likely to disappear up your own proverbial. Your failure to provide any form of investigative journalism has made you irrelevant.

To Tory Shepherd

Kaye LeeOctober 13, 2014 at 6:53 am

Terry, I saw that interview too. I choked on my coffee as Joe appealed for us all to be “more positive” about the state of our economy because the negativity was hurting confidence. And whose fault would that be you cigar smoking arrogant turkey?

mars08October 13, 2014 at 7:20 am

What this article CANNOT capture is the shrill hatred and hysteria dished out, day after day, by some sections of the media. You couldn’t get away from it… It was as disgusting as it was relentless.

Also… this article cannot possibly describe the constant, sustained negativity of Abbott and his sleazy mob. For years they stayed “on message” never missed an opportunity to trash Australia’s reputation, downplay the economy and demoralise the electorate.

Think back to those days… can you remember the grim, ruthless, incessant, soul-breaking campaign of fear and negativity spread by the Coalition opposition in the MSM? Who could have believed these people were capable of anything even slightly constructive?

Kaye LeeOctober 13, 2014 at 7:44 am

The danger is that government regulation is our only protection against corporate greed and that is being wound back at an astonishingly brazen rate. The common wealth is being sold off again so a conservative government can say “look no debt”. NO business or household sells all their assets to achieve this goal. People still believe that conservatives are better money managers and I despair that Labor is not putting more effort into dispelling the “$123 billion in deficits and $667 billion in debt” lie. it’s like they are standing on the tracks with a train hurtling towards them and they are too awestruck to throw the switch and save themselves.

donwrefordOctober 13, 2014 at 7:45 am

Is it surprising politicians have and are demoralizing the people with negativity? considering we are now in the Me generation? as described by Margaret Thatcher, their is no society! only individuals, in contrast we now look at Ebola, as a example of a transmission of a disease, that may well be all part of lack of finance for hospitals and health resources, this disease generated in a third world country, having a impact on the first world, the idea that we are as isolated individuals, shows the lack of insight that we are not connected, is a dangerous path, as shown with the potential spread of this disease, whilst it seems advantageous to the West, to have exploitation of resources of the third world, the lack of money for a countries to develop infrastructure, becomes a problem also for the first world.

stephentardrewOctober 13, 2014 at 7:56 am

I think it is obvious what is wrong with the media and a substantial percentage of the general gullible public. There is a disconnect between what they feel emotionally, driven by appeals to fear and retribution, as opposed to rational thought and formulation of the facts. Emotions are lazy, habitual and easily triggered whereas rational thought demands effort and application to a broad swathe of knowledge that each individual must tie together into a coherent whole. Judgment, blame and retribution, founded upon religious conformity, allows people to avoid actually thinking about issues and like sheep follow the trail of immature emotional reactivity regardless of obvious facts. Appropriation by elites of emotional dependency fulfills the need of oligarchs, royalty, priests and rulers to keep the general populace in control as their primary gaol is accumulation of wealth, privilege and power through any means available. The countervailing forces of justice and equity are pummeled by lies and appeals to Gods and damnation simply to retain power and control. Power inexorably attacks justice and democratic rights from any direction available to avoid the evolution of personal responsibility based upon kinship, reciprocity, compassion, empathy, communitarian values, altruism and the promotion of positive values of goodness and Love. They use the fear of old age and death as a weapon of power and control while doing everything they can to undermine logic and rational thinking. After all these people own the media, and now they are coming for the ABC because any critique of their greed and self-interest cannot be tolerated.

These are primitive throw backs to a time when tooth and claw was the primary driver of survival and are unable to adjust to a more just and equitable society triggered by rational thinking and a coherent understanding of the causal contingencies that lead to poverty and inequality. Religion provides a cover for irrational greed and exploitation because anything can be justified if you are the representative of God. Unfortunately if progressives fail to see that people need some sense of metaphysical purpose they will not bring across those who could be convinced of the inhumanity of their beliefs and actions. Nature sets out the framework for evolutionary survival and if we ignore evidence for personal prejudice we too are guilty of projection of absolutes onto the general populace. For progressives it is a fine balancing act between logic, rationality and the promotion of justice equity and goodness and the visceral need by many to have a metaphysical sense of mystery awe, wonder and purpose. As some bright spark said life ain’t meant to be easy yet here we are, given positive attitudes towards justice and the alleviation of poverty, we can make life easier for many who suffer through no fault of their own.

In any epoch the new is going to threaten the old and in an era of accelerated change we must learn to change rapidly or fail to survive. So progressives need a positive message of hope and kindness while allowing people to have some “feeling” that the universe is not a nihilistic journey to emptiness and irrelevancy because that is the hell so effectively exploited by ideology. Fear or resentment of metaphysical purpose and a sense of mystery awe and wonder by progressives is not helping the transition between magical and mythical hope and the demand for a revisionary perspective of our place in existence free from deterministic nihilism and impending self-destruction. We do not manufacture this urge to survive and live in hope of deeper meaning it is embedded in our psyches and to deal with these dilemmas we must find a way to promote hope and metaphysical meaning or we will not turn people from religious ideology. Ergo my appeal to the mysteries and paradoxes of physics, cosmology, deep time and mathematical and conceptual infinity. The universe is not going o do what we want it to do so we must adapt to fit our needs at threats at this particular time. Though the drive to wealthy, power and greed can be described in terms of emotional exploitation of primitive drives we must realize that, for most people, we need to change the direction of emotional dependency and habituation by offering a meaningful alternative. The universe places demands upon us we do not place demands upon the universe.

Chris RowenOctober 13, 2014 at 8:06 am

Isn’t a lot of what MSM does is bag the current government – no matter who is in power? Don’t get me wrong, I really do think the Abbott Gov is the worst in my personal experience. I think their policies on asylum seekers, climate change, science funding, taxation are appalling. I was telling people before the last election it didn’t so matter which political party was in power they couldn’t do much to destroy the nation. Boy was I wrong. But at the end of the day Labor killed itself. It made the mistake of putting a populist newbie into power and the saying, “oh crap we’ve got a megalomaniac to contend with.” They should have known that all along. And then Gillard was ineffective in dealing with Rudd for her term so the whole lot ended in a constant shameful situation of in fighting and backstabbing, and it still goes on with every new book release. Labour also had an opportunity over six years to lead the narrative on things like climate change and failed utterly. That’s what I’m most angry about – the waisted opportunity.

I think the issue at the core, however, for the MSM (and even the ABC) is that they jump at the chance to show how politicians are flawed personalities and highlight these flaws. The discourse is far less about the policies than it should be. Headlines are about one gaff after the next, or whether something is a broken promise or not, or whether a pollie is smoking a cigar, or wearing speedos, or a suit that makes someone’s bum too big.

We need a leader who can manage the discourse and take the opportunity to inform and lead public opinion. Who can take Australia with them on a path that we can be proud of and we need MSM to stick to discourse of the pros and cons on policy and to take their responsibility to lift the average Australian from their ignorance, seriously.

stephentardrewOctober 13, 2014 at 8:31 am

Chris:

I get a funny feeling that we must be the leaders. An appeal to another hero is just not going to succeed. Those of us who see the necessity for change we must be the leaders regardless of our social impact. It is naive living in hope that some great savior is going to come along and relieve us of our responsibility to be that change. I mean this in the nicest way because your critique is what is needed therefore you are the change.

Truth SeekerOctober 13, 2014 at 8:40 am

Thanks Kaye, and we are definitely owed an apology From Murdoch, the journos and anchors of the MSM and the Lying Nut-job party to name but a few 😯

But it’ll be ok… cos we now have… “Team Australia!”

Said the Abbott to the Bishop… Team Australia.”

Said the Abbott to the Bishop

Team Australia’s, such good fun

I think I’ll be a captain coach

Australia’s number one

And everyone is welcome

To join with the rabid right

Muslim, Christian, black or tan

We’ll make them feel all white

😯

Said the Abbott to the Bishop… Team Australia!

Cheers 😉

Jennifer Meyer-SmithOctober 13, 2014 at 9:02 am

Tory Shepherd’s denigration of the marchers at the March in March is damning for her reputation as a ‘serious’ journalist. I will take her alleged ‘considered’ comments with a grain of salt from now on. I didn’t march in the March in March, but I was there in spirit all around Australia.

I did however, march in the Climate Change march in Melbourne and shared flyers to as many people as possible about the Earthworker Cooperative’s ground-breaking initiative to transform an existing solar hot water unit manufacturing business in Dandenong to a vibrant and viable replacement to the dirty coal industry of Morwell, the Latrobe Valley, Victoria.

The beauty about Earthworker is it ticks all the boxes of social justice, solar clean energy, environment protection, employment advocacy and promotion for the disadvantaged people of Morwell, and grassroots people’s central autonomy and involvement. What could be better than these values?

Earthworker and grassroots people’s initiatives that have positive values of social inclusion, social improvement, inclusive economic equity, environmental respect, respect for the living standards of the people of the present and the future and any other honest grassroot people centred values that aim to improve people’s lives and protect our environment, these initiatives and movements are what goes bubbling along healthily DESPITE the arrogant MSM and its lackey journalists.

Motivated grassroot people do make a difference, so it’s not all doom and gloom.

So if you’re interested in taking part in this fabulous, awe-inspiring movement and even become Earthworker partners, see http://earthworkercooperative.com.au/

Terry2October 13, 2014 at 9:03 am

I’m waiting for our mainstream journalists to clear up for me what a Free Trade Agreement actually is by asking Abbott some questions about the China FTA he intends to announce during the G20.

I had always naively understood a Free Trade Agreement to be an arrangement where one or more countries agree to drop all trade restrictions and barriers and allow the free flow of goods and services between the respective countries.

So, when China last week announced the imposition of tariffs on imports of our coking coal (3%) and thermal coal (6%) I assumed that this would be a barrier to us announcing an FTA. Well evidently, I was wrong as both Andrew Robb and Tony Abbott only see this as a ‘bump in the road’ and the FTA is still expected to be announced in November.

Over to you our revered mainstream media.

Kaye MakovecOctober 13, 2014 at 9:23 am

Stephentardrew wrote – “Judgment, blame and retribution, founded upon religious conformity, allows people to avoid actually thinking about issues and like sheep follow the trail of immature emotional reactivity regardless of obvious facts.”

Yep and it applies to many who only get their information from the MSM and always have because they trust them.
Just about everybody I knew in the Rudd / Gillard days was on the side of Abbott and Co and most of them buy The Australian as it is ‘our paper’. Many are self funded retirees who actually believe Labor were the cause of them losing so much of their money during the GFC yet these were the same people I had warned of the upcoming financial crisis and told me I was stupid when I suggested they move to a ‘cash fund’ to avoid losing money. They all lost tens of thousands of dollars.
When I pointed out how a senior earning $55,000 received tax cuts of $750 I was howled down as not understanding as they didn’t get free travel everywhere, free doctors, free everything, and how even the asylum seekers were better off than them with their free houses, free cars and $2000 a week. I tried to point out the truth to no avail as the ‘the journalists wouldn’t lie’.
When I pointed out if they were earning at least $55,000 a year in interest they had no need of a government pension which was less than half of that, I was told that they had earned it by paying taxes. The fact that I had paid taxes too and how the aged pension is supposed to be for those who have no other income escaped them.
When I told one to give away her million dollar investments that provided her with her income so she could get the full aged pension I thought she was going to hit me 🙂
And many of the ones who are on a state pension actually thought the pension increases by Labor came from the Victorian LNP government. When I tried to tell them a state pension was just the aged pension it was again to no avail.

So I found out then that the theory that people choose to be poor is an inbred thought with many well to do Australians. And many people with secure jobs really do believe that people without a job are lazy and don’t want to work. Just as many people with a free university education really think those without are just dumb bogans who couldn’t do it.

My Facebook Friend list dropped dramatically when I started questioning politicians on their pages 🙂 and the sad thing is, only a few have changed their minds since and many still believe we have a deficit because of the ‘Muslim boat people’. The fact that they are not all Muslims is totally ignored too.

Kaye Lee wrote “The Adelaide Advertiser told Australians that ”tomorrow [they] finally have an opportunity to set our nation on a new path”.”
Pretty much said it all. And it was right. The fact Kaye shows and has done all along, that it is the wrong path will never be considered by many and in 10 years time it will still be ‘Labor’s fault’.

RossOctober 13, 2014 at 9:45 am

Politicians and journalists need and feed off each other and both rate at the very bottom of the social scale by one recent “poll”. Few believe anything either say or write with justifiable reason. An article on today’s UK Guardian by Owen Jones paints a similar picture in Britain.
A black ban on all things Murdoch and Fairfax gone tabloid, i.e. articles that begin with “Could” and “one day”,
so called “celebs”, government press releases etc, etc, the blog list grows ever longer. If you want the facts on anything the Australian MSM is not the place to look.
A side effect of this is the surprising amount of excellent English edition overseas newspapers to be found on line. A lot of which is what Fairfax once was before young Wazza began his ill fated campaign and Fred Hilmer destroyed what was left.
What you are seeing these days is public discussion via the comments sections of blogs and media. It can get tedious but here are some seriously irreverent funny and deeply thought out comments to be enjoyed. You normally have to skip over the LNP trollsters, but as they are usually in the few comments it’s not hard to ignore them.

Francis BorgOctober 13, 2014 at 11:53 am

It’s not a matter of the media getting it wrong, it’s about the media pushing an agenda, rather than reporting the facts. I just wonder why Rupert Murdoch hates Australia so much that he put Abbott in power.

Kaye LeeOctober 13, 2014 at 11:03 am

Thanks for the vote of confidence re me going into politics but I don’t have the wardrobe for it. I would also have to get a grownup haircut rather than the long plait. At night time, after a glass or two of wine, I think I should be elected benevolent despot. In the morning, over coffee, I realise I have too much to do to waste my time shaking hands and having my photo taken. I still have to make a living and look after my family. Mind you, I could save the nation a squillion by just typing my instructions from here 😉

Terry2October 13, 2014 at 12:04 pm

Before the 2013 election Tony Abbott pointed to our spiraling debt under Labor: shock horror he said that we were paying $7 billion a year interest on our public debt or $140 million a week.The scare tactic worked and the media ran with it , the rest is history.

Treasury estimates for the 2014/2015 year estimate interest on our public debt at $14.7 billion or $283 million a week – how can this be, the adults are in charge aren’t they ?

The mainstream media are staying right away from this : why so ?

Source:

http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/thats-not-a-debt-disaster–this-is-a-debt-disaster-joe–tonys-big-con,6984

lunalavaOctober 13, 2014 at 12:08 pm

I just loved the cartoon of Rudd walking out of the fire carrying a bust of himself saying “I saved the furniture”. Well at least the cartoonists got it right.

Note to current Leader of the Opposition you don’t have to slavishly fall into line with whatever daily rubbish the media serves up, and please look a bit less bored and disinterested (I know you can fake sincerity if you try a bit harder).

LeeOctober 13, 2014 at 12:38 pm

“The Adelaide Advertiser told Australians that ”tomorrow [they] finally have an opportunity to set our nation on a new path”.”

Well that wasn’t a lie. People interpreted the headline to mean what they wanted it to mean.

FrancescoOctober 13, 2014 at 12:43 pm

Perhaps our journalists were actually foretelling the future and got all the headlines right but got the names, dates, and parties mixed-up!!

stephentardrewOctober 13, 2014 at 12:47 pm

I have cunning plan.

Like you Kaye the idea of entering the political fray has little appeal however I really think there is an alternative. This is just a suggestion and I would not presume to tell you Micheal or the administrators what to do. I just re-read a whole lot of articles and commentary on this sight and was actually blown away by the content and excellent contributions by many bloggers. This site is unique in its breadth, depth and content. There are many consistent themes running through these articles. In a way this work could be the foundation for a progressive think tank in which facts and possible solutions are coalesced into a foundational document that is not beholden to any political party. At first I was thinking about a book but then I wondered about a set of proposed policies based upon critical analysis of information on this site. It would be an ideal project for post graduate work for students. Necessary links and references are already posted and could be added too with further supporting material. AIMN could then become a legitimate independent advisor to political parties and independents providing the essential supporting material and well reasoned solutions based upon progressive ideals of justice and equity. It would be a shame not to take AMIN to another level of political activism while avoiding party political participation. Contributors to policy critique would need to be screened for content and relevancy however I see no overarching problem here.

Just a thought.

Regardless my journey through past contributions to this site was really impressive and made me want to see this material more widely disseminated.

I know I regularly wax lyrical about AIMN however I do it because I am so profoundly thankful for its content and to Micheal for his generosity.

LeeOctober 13, 2014 at 12:55 pm

“Every time I see Tory Shepherd giving her oh so clever commentary on Insiders I am reminded of the article she wrote about the March in March where she said, amongst a lot of other sanctimonious abuse, that “the Marchers in the end threatened to disappear up their own proverbials in a puff of BO and bong smoke.””

Tory who?

SandraOctober 13, 2014 at 1:14 pm

Kaye Lee thank you for your excellent articles. I was unhappy when Abbott and his crew were elected (did not win, people voted Labor out) …. and I find myself in increasing despair at the restriction of i) human rights ,ii) freedom of association, iii) freedom of speech, to name just a few of the hundreds of atrosities being visited on this country by the Liberal government. Thank you for your wonderful articles, I am encouraged to see that there are still people out there with decent minds and hearts. People who put people first …. how did we as a country move away from the compassionate and genuine Australian values…..

Pingback: How can every single one of our journalists have got it so terribly wrong? The Melbourne’s Age was the only paper in the country to back Labor. | olddogthoughts

Kaye MakovecOctober 13, 2014 at 3:41 pm

Stephentardrew wrote – “Regardless my journey through past contributions to this site was really impressive and made me want to see this material more widely disseminated.”

You could always post excerpts and links on the politician’s Facebook pages 🙂 May only be read by non LNP members though.

Plus the myriad of Anti Abbott and Co ones. They will be read by many more people there 🙂

Anne ByamOctober 14, 2014 at 12:41 am

@ stephentardrew …. ( October 13, 2014 at 12:47 pm comment ).

You said … “Just a thought”

May I say ” and a bloody good thought at that …… ”

It must’ve taken you a mighty effort to get through most all the comments on many articles on the AIM.

Well done.

XsyOctober 14, 2014 at 7:51 am

Pandering to minorities which includes supporters of the labor party is why this rag is going broke. The sooner the better and take the ABC with you.

Kaye LeeOctober 14, 2014 at 7:57 am

We are going broke? I will sell my shares immediately (Chuckles to self)

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john o'callaghanOctober 12, 2014 at 8:06 pm

We need to march against the MSM.
mark delmegeOctober 12, 2014 at 8:09 pm

the title works at least http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ank3ukfc60
kerrilmailOctober 12, 2014 at 8:19 pm

Thank you Kaye Lee. Less than setting us on a new path, Abbott has us on the highway to hell!!!!
stephentardrewOctober 12, 2014 at 8:31 pm

Paid for and bought off.
No investigation of facts just bleeding opinion.
They are leading us to tragedy across the world.
I love humor but sometimes its just too hard to laugh.
Rob031October 12, 2014 at 8:45 pm

@Kaye Lee. Many thanks for your efforts to let us know what so many publications were SHOUTING at us before the last election for Abbott. I suspected it was bad – but (goats and monkeys) wow.

I wonder what you see as the primary motivator for the average journalist as you know heaps more than me.

I once knew this guy that used to trot down to Sydney from the Hunter be a sub-editor on the Sydney Herald over the weekend. I asked him: what is the mentality of the average journalist?. Straight away he said: The average journo is basically a gossip! Alas we didn’t get into the editorial policies of various papers – ie. that which i ‘understood’. I wish I had.
stephentardrewOctober 12, 2014 at 8:48 pm

Albanese repositioning himself. Why? Could make a guess.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/anthony-albanese-breaks-ranks-on-labors-support-for-terror-laws-20141012-114wce.html
Kaye LeeOctober 12, 2014 at 8:54 pm

Rob,

I am just a middle-aged woman in jammies. I learn as much if not more from you guys as you learn from me.

I suspect journalists fall foul of the ennui that comes with meeting deadlines. They don’t have the luxury of waiting for inspiration so they run with what they are fed.

I think the gossip bit is very true though I am not sure if it is the journalist or the audience’s fault. Our biggest story here by far was Victoria’s story about the Frances Abbott scholarship thing. People seem to like reading about scandal.
Kaye LeeOctober 12, 2014 at 8:55 pm

I saw that Stephen. Perhaps he is just a decent man who is not prepared to blindly fall in step with Abbott.
Rob031October 12, 2014 at 9:03 pm

I must be nuts but I finally finished reading all of the the comments on the Guardian’s outline of this story It certainly stirred up a shirt load of opinions – many of them quite considered.

Personally, as a person who is in touch with his ‘inner yobbo’, I kinda like ‘Albo’. It’s funny that this stuff coincided with Faulkner’s plea of reform of the ALP. And then again with the Fairfax press’ (did I get the apostrophe correct?) seeming boost for Shorten’s ‘performance’ of late. Strange things seem to be afoot here. On top of this was Fairfax’s article about Hockey’s further attempt to link the ‘war’ with the ‘budget’ in terms of patriotism.

Are any of you clever AIMN readers out there aware of what the heck is going on at this point in time?
NickOctober 12, 2014 at 9:06 pm

Our democracy has been hijacked by Rupert Murdoch and the rest of the IPA!
stephentardrewOctober 12, 2014 at 9:16 pm

Could be Kaye I just don’t know, however I wouldn’t criticize his right to challenge.
Rob031October 12, 2014 at 9:35 pm

@Kaye Lee: “I think the gossip bit is very true though I am not sure if it is the journalist or the audience’s fault. Our biggest story here by far was Victoria’s story about the Frances Abbott scholarship thing. People seem to like reading about scandal.”

The observation interested me muchly. Scandal. Could it be that many nice folks out there have a vested interest in feeling ‘superiour’ without actually being so? As a bloke I feel superior that I’m not tempted to read or purchase “New Idea” (etc) when waiting at the checkout. And what about the people who do? What about those conspiracy people who (I presume) feel superior to the rest of us about complex issues? – fast track to the Truth without all that tedious effort. The MSM appears to pander to these folks.

Yonks ago I read Willhelm Reich’s book: “Listen, Little Man”; and though he became quite nuts later on (after his solid works, eg. “Character Analysis”) he did occasionally put his perceptive finger on some important aspects of ordinary wannabees and those hell-bent on being “instant experts”. (Nietzsche was pretty astute in this regard too. I only chuck that in to sound profound :))

It disturbs me that we have many such people supporting what we also support on many comment threads (such as The Guardian and the Fairfax press.) With friends like that who needs enemas. They make us look like fruitcakes and this is not helpful.
mars08October 12, 2014 at 9:35 pm

Kaye Lee:

How can every single one of our journalists have got it so terribly wrong? These people are trained and paid to do a job. They have access to the inner workings of Parliament and they are fed briefs, press releases and leaks…

Maybe it’s our fault. Maybe we are confused about the role of corporate journalism in the 21st Century…
Kaye LeeOctober 12, 2014 at 9:42 pm

Sometimes I feel like I’m on a merry-go-round, inevitably gliding back to the same things again.

“The cash for comment affair was an Australian scandal that broke in 1999, concerning paid advertising in radio that is presented to the audience in such a way as to sound like editorial commentary. John Laws, a shock jock radio presenter for Sydney talk back, was accused of misusing his authority as an announcer. This was widely considered a breach of journalistic integrity. While the initial publicity had died down by the end of the year, it sparked major changes in the way the radio industry is conducted in Australia. This resulted in a second scandal in 2004, leading to the resignation of Australian Broadcasting Authority head David Flint, after he had been found to have been less than impartial in his role in “cash for comment” investigations.

Some have pointed to the Broadcasting Services Act (1992), which has treated the media more as a business than a cultural institution, for a decline in the relevance of ethical standards in the media industry.

In 1999, reporters Richard Ackland, Deborah Richards and Ann Connelly from the public broadcaster’s Media Watch TV program revealed that 2UE talk radio hosts John Laws and Alan Jones had been paid to give favourable comment to companies including Qantas, Optus, Foxtel, Mirvac and major Australian banks, without disclosing this arrangement to listeners. Prior to giving favourable commentary to a group of banks, Laws had repeatedly criticised them for imposing unjustified fees on customers while cutting back on services.

Though both initially vehemently denied any wrongdoing, when the controversy gained sufficient momentum, they defended the practice by claiming that they were not employed as journalists, but as “entertainers” and thus had no duty of disclosure or of journalistic integrity.”
kerrilmailOctober 12, 2014 at 9:44 pm

The “gossip” part of journalism is dead right! It’s what killed Diana (I know cliched) and it is what sells Murdoch’s papers. It’s his main trade in the UK. (Phone hacking etc) we are fools to fall for it and give the msm oxygen by falling for the headlines but by far the most damaging part is that it is also the LNP’s stock in trade. Union inquiry? Pink Batts? Shorten on rape? Gillard on Wilson????
Is it just me or is it time for the glass house to get some of it’s stones back?
light487October 12, 2014 at 9:46 pm

Can’t really blame just the media though. There were PLENTY of warning signs available in the lead up to the election. Even for someone like me who usually isn’t interested in politics, I saw the very obvious warning signs but those people around me, people I thought of as intelligent and with the ability to see obvious warning signs; just couldn’t see it. I spoke out about it but they instead clung to very minor issues, very small things that in the scheme of things wouldn’t have mattered one little bit one way or the other.

They chose to ignore the warning signs despite the obvious nature of them. So yes, the media is to blame in one part.. that’s for sure.. but the people too are to blame for not just not being vigilant but ignoring the signs that were thrust in their faces.
Kaye LeeOctober 12, 2014 at 9:54 pm

Greed and xenophobia, wrapped up in ignorance, given credibility by the media, and encouraged by the Abbott crew of misfits.

You stir this up and then tell people no, no….we didn’t mean you should hate ALL muslims. No, no…you have to stop being negative about the economy because it is hurting confidence.

Who let the dogs out?
Rob031October 12, 2014 at 9:55 pm

Legend has it that someone phoned into John Laws and said: In the words of reverend Spooner you, sir, are a shining wit and Laws didn’t get it and it got past the seven-second delay. But more seriously, my sister likes John Laws (as she likes Pickering cartoons – yuck). He, she told me has such a nice confident voice.

I think that pretty well sums it up for many in our society. Perhaps many in our society are not inherently thick; perhaps many are simply lacking in confidence and merely feel dumb; and people like Laws and Bolt and Jones et. al. are popular because they exude the confidence that they lack but wish to have.
fran mcmichaelOctober 12, 2014 at 9:56 pm

WHO LET THE DOGS IN
Rob031October 12, 2014 at 10:12 pm

Just saw this on the SBS news site: Australia’s poverty problem ‘insidious’: Governor-General. Governor-General Peter Cosgrove has called on his fellow country men and women to help Australians plagued by the “insidious and all encompassing” problem of poverty.

So, the GG has come out with this stuff (Source: AAP)

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/10/12/australias-poverty-problem-insidious-governor-general

I wonder what, if anything, this means about the current political and media machinations?
Kaye LeeOctober 12, 2014 at 10:18 pm

Yes ACOSS released a report today called “Poverty in Australia”

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/one-in-seven-australians-living-in-poverty-according-to-new-report-20141011-114o1b.html
stephentardrewOctober 12, 2014 at 10:19 pm

An interesting new study on the implications of violence in the media increasing aggression. For interested parents.

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-10-broad-consensus-violent-media-child.html
robert macklinOctober 12, 2014 at 11:32 pm

Very nicely put.
JohnBOctober 12, 2014 at 10:37 pm

The ABC deserve the most blame.
Their journalists failed their duty to Australian citizens – they are not beholden to media moguls for their jobs or careers.
They failed to properly examine Abbott’s policies – they joined in the MSM groupthink, copied thoughtless tabloid headline mantras such as ‘dysfunctional government’, ‘shambolic government’ – a government that passed a record 600 + bills;
‘bungled home insulation scheme’ when there were less home fires and deaths than other comparable government projects;
‘overpriced school halls’, where none were identified as overpriced during subsequent audits when the efficiency of the scheme was confirmed.

It is why we have the ABC – to be independent and apolitical, yet the “Murdoch’ sponsored IPA are virtually resident on most current affairs panels.

It is their job to broadcast truth and facts – not unsubstantiated gossip and groupthink intrigue as they did for the years preceding the 2013 election.
ALP politicians were almost always available for in depth interview – but Abbott and his LNP cohorts were absent from scrutiny, their lack of and paucity of policy detail was ignored by ‘OUR’ ABC.

That’s why I now think it’s THEIR ABC.
Anne ByamOctober 12, 2014 at 11:48 pm

@Rob031. …… Could this be a tiny light at the end of the tunnel ……. the GG coming out in his speech, about poverty. He didn’t mince words either. Poverty, in fact is a very broad spectrum, and I cannot help but think that the GG – very diplomatically of course – made a wide swipe at the Government. Simply because their proposals / policy making is aimed at making even MORE people live well below the poverty line.

Poverty spreads its tentacles far and wide …. as far as it can reach. Just one example. The unutterably cruel concept of having people looking for work for 6 months without any monetary support whatsoever, which leaves caring families looking after them, feeding them, clothing them – and often in a situation which they can only just maintain for themselves ( and younger family ) – which makes their wages ( if they are fortunate enough to have a secure job ) having to stretch further – for utilities, food, medical expenses – chemist etc, and heaven knows what else. It is a trickle down effect – but not in the way that is often referred to.

While I doubt the Senate would pass such a vile excuse for legislation – it none-the-less worries many …. which leads to cost cutting ( just in case ) in the lower and middle class wage brackets – which in turn leads to despondency at not living as comfortably as they once did, which leads to …… ….

You get my drift.

So perhaps – at long last Sir Peter Cosgrove has opened his mouth ……. and not before time. Was thinking he’d have been best kept at his former day job …. but it wasn’t to be.

Remains to be seen how much the GG can say, and how far he is prepared to go…… He has to be cautious …. he is the representative of the Monarchy, and as such cannot indulge in political comment.

But where there’s a will there’s a way……… and there’s many ways of delivering a message without it being against protocol.

Wonder how the Abbott feels about THOSE remarks. …….probably not a lot – gotta have a brain and heart to feel anything. But he WOULD hate to have shadows cast across his self elevated position in life …. that being ( I think ) …. of some superior deity – – – – and his treasured prime-ministership ?
mark delmegeOctober 13, 2014 at 1:21 am

(breaking his rule to keep it short…) Rob031 I too read and liked Reich’s Listen… What almost disturbs me is that I find the UKIP, the US libertarian right including some of the teaparty mob and especially PCRoberts have a better grasp on global affairs than either the Libs or Labs and many who (in my opinion wrongly) consider themselves progressive.

BTW the US gave the PM of Israel more standing ovations than anyone ever in the history of the universe.
I remember lots of stuff too and how the Lab stuffed up so many times to the point where I didn’t think they deserved government thats not to say of course I welcome the Libs – they are the pits – actually far worse. But thats no excuse for backing a rotten government – and thats how most people saw it. If Labor wants office it needs to get its own house in order and know where it is heading and explain to the rest of us without the lies and crap we have all had before. Actually I don’t think they are capable of being anything other than quisling neo liberals and they wont get my vote no matter how much better than they are than the other mob on most issues. To me they are heading in the wrong direction.
The media individuals seem to hunt in packs and most don’t have the nous, inclination or liberty to stand out from the crowd and tell it like it really is. Like most individuals in society they go with the flow…. and (anyone) if you are still reading thanks for bothering.
trevorOctober 13, 2014 at 1:59 am

There was a time before carefully coiffured forests became toilet paper and newspapers served their true purpose, wiping arses.
humanista8October 13, 2014 at 5:48 am

Another great article, Kaye. Perhaps, to round it off:

. I cannot ever remember when a sitting PM (Rudd) was sacked without being told of the grievances the Party had against him.

. I cannot ever remember when a sitting PM (Gillard), one of Australia’s best in terms of the landmark policies she was able to get through both Houses of Parliament in spite of leading a minority Government, was sacked on the grounds of perceived electoral unpopularity (your article explains why),

. And I cannot ever remember when a cabal of 4 self-seeking, factional apparatchiks within the ALP could wield such power as to achieve those two outcomes.

It was never in their interests to give Rudd an opportunity to change his ways nor for Gillard to raise her electoral stocks through a concerted campaign of support against the misogynistic campaign of denigration by Abbott supported by the Murdoch press and the likes of the LNP Fulminater-in-Chief, Alan Jones. It would have thwarted their ambitions for THEIR leader, Shorten, to be ALP leader were either Rudd or Gillard to remain leader and eventually succeed.
June M Bullivant OAMOctober 13, 2014 at 6:04 am

I am afraid that a lot of people fell for the hype, they forgot that the leaders now if they tell a lie, they confess so they can begin again, I have not seen this in my lifetime, I hope I do not see it again.
GillyOctober 13, 2014 at 6:31 am

Brilliant as always Kaye Lee. I enjoy reading your articles. No-one says it better than you!
Phoney Tony is a puppet – strings pulled by Rupert Murdoch and Peta Credlin
Terry2October 13, 2014 at 6:39 am

Kaye, I saw Hockey on INSIDERS yesterday and note that, even from Washington, he couldn’t resist attributing all Australia’s problems to the Labor ‘Debt and Deficit Disaster’ – they just love those slogans.

I have tried to find a definitive list of G20 countries and from what I am seeing Australia has the lowest public debt and deficit in the G20 grouping: how long can he continue with this fiction – presumably he will have to bury the rhetoric during the Brisbane G20 meeting as it could embarrass our guests.
Kaye LeeOctober 13, 2014 at 6:51 am

Every time I see Tory Shepherd giving her oh so clever commentary on Insiders I am reminded of the article she wrote about the March in March where she said, amongst a lot of other sanctimonious abuse, that “the Marchers in the end threatened to disappear up their own proverbials in a puff of BO and bong smoke.”

Well Tory, I would suggest it is you and your ilk that are more likely to disappear up your own proverbial. Your failure to provide any form of investigative journalism has made you irrelevant.

To Tory Shepherd
Kaye LeeOctober 13, 2014 at 6:53 am

Terry, I saw that interview too. I choked on my coffee as Joe appealed for us all to be “more positive” about the state of our economy because the negativity was hurting confidence. And whose fault would that be you cigar smoking arrogant turkey?
mars08October 13, 2014 at 7:20 am

What this article CANNOT capture is the shrill hatred and hysteria dished out, day after day, by some sections of the media. You couldn’t get away from it… It was as disgusting as it was relentless.

Also… this article cannot possibly describe the constant, sustained negativity of Abbott and his sleazy mob. For years they stayed “on message” never missed an opportunity to trash Australia’s reputation, downplay the economy and demoralise the electorate.

Think back to those days… can you remember the grim, ruthless, incessant, soul-breaking campaign of fear and negativity spread by the Coalition opposition in the MSM? Who could have believed these people were capable of anything even slightly constructive?
Kaye LeeOctober 13, 2014 at 7:44 am

The danger is that government regulation is our only protection against corporate greed and that is being wound back at an astonishingly brazen rate. The common wealth is being sold off again so a conservative government can say “look no debt”. NO business or household sells all their assets to achieve this goal. People still believe that conservatives are better money managers and I despair that Labor is not putting more effort into dispelling the “$123 billion in deficits and $667 billion in debt” lie. it’s like they are standing on the tracks with a train hurtling towards them and they are too awestruck to throw the switch and save themselves.
donwrefordOctober 13, 2014 at 7:45 am

Is it surprising politicians have and are demoralizing the people with negativity? considering we are now in the Me generation? as described by Margaret Thatcher, their is no society! only individuals, in contrast we now look at Ebola, as a example of a transmission of a disease, that may well be all part of lack of finance for hospitals and health resources, this disease generated in a third world country, having a impact on the first world, the idea that we are as isolated individuals, shows the lack of insight that we are not connected, is a dangerous path, as shown with the potential spread of this disease, whilst it seems advantageous to the West, to have exploitation of resources of the third world, the lack of money for a countries to develop infrastructure, becomes a problem also for the first world.
stephentardrewOctober 13, 2014 at 7:56 am

I think it is obvious what is wrong with the media and a substantial percentage of the general gullible public. There is a disconnect between what they feel emotionally, driven by appeals to fear and retribution, as opposed to rational thought and formulation of the facts. Emotions are lazy, habitual and easily triggered whereas rational thought demands effort and application to a broad swathe of knowledge that each individual must tie together into a coherent whole. Judgment, blame and retribution, founded upon religious conformity, allows people to avoid actually thinking about issues and like sheep follow the trail of immature emotional reactivity regardless of obvious facts. Appropriation by elites of emotional dependency fulfills the need of oligarchs, royalty, priests and rulers to keep the general populace in control as their primary gaol is accumulation of wealth, privilege and power through any means available. The countervailing forces of justice and equity are pummeled by lies and appeals to Gods and damnation simply to retain power and control. Power inexorably attacks justice and democratic rights from any direction available to avoid the evolution of personal responsibility based upon kinship, reciprocity, compassion, empathy, communitarian values, altruism and the promotion of positive values of goodness and Love. They use the fear of old age and death as a weapon of power and control while doing everything they can to undermine logic and rational thinking. After all these people own the media, and now they are coming for the ABC because any critique of their greed and self-interest cannot be tolerated.

These are primitive throw backs to a time when tooth and claw was the primary driver of survival and are unable to adjust to a more just and equitable society triggered by rational thinking and a coherent understanding of the causal contingencies that lead to poverty and inequality. Religion provides a cover for irrational greed and exploitation because anything can be justified if you are the representative of God. Unfortunately if progressives fail to see that people need some sense of metaphysical purpose they will not bring across those who could be convinced of the inhumanity of their beliefs and actions. Nature sets out the framework for evolutionary survival and if we ignore evidence for personal prejudice we too are guilty of projection of absolutes onto the general populace. For progressives it is a fine balancing act between logic, rationality and the promotion of justice equity and goodness and the visceral need by many to have a metaphysical sense of mystery awe, wonder and purpose. As some bright spark said life ain’t meant to be easy yet here we are, given positive attitudes towards justice and the alleviation of poverty, we can make life easier for many who suffer through no fault of their own.

In any epoch the new is going to threaten the old and in an era of accelerated change we must learn to change rapidly or fail to survive. So progressives need a positive message of hope and kindness while allowing people to have some “feeling” that the universe is not a nihilistic journey to emptiness and irrelevancy because that is the hell so effectively exploited by ideology. Fear or resentment of metaphysical purpose and a sense of mystery awe and wonder by progressives is not helping the transition between magical and mythical hope and the demand for a revisionary perspective of our place in existence free from deterministic nihilism and impending self-destruction. We do not manufacture this urge to survive and live in hope of deeper meaning it is embedded in our psyches and to deal with these dilemmas we must find a way to promote hope and metaphysical meaning or we will not turn people from religious ideology. Ergo my appeal to the mysteries and paradoxes of physics, cosmology, deep time and mathematical and conceptual infinity. The universe is not going o do what we want it to do so we must adapt to fit our needs at threats at this particular time. Though the drive to wealthy, power and greed can be described in terms of emotional exploitation of primitive drives we must realize that, for most people, we need to change the direction of emotional dependency and habituation by offering a meaningful alternative. The universe places demands upon us we do not place demands upon the universe.
Chris RowenOctober 13, 2014 at 8:06 am

Isn’t a lot of what MSM does is bag the current government – no matter who is in power? Don’t get me wrong, I really do think the Abbott Gov is the worst in my personal experience. I think their policies on asylum seekers, climate change, science funding, taxation are appalling. I was telling people before the last election it didn’t so matter which political party was in power they couldn’t do much to destroy the nation. Boy was I wrong. But at the end of the day Labor killed itself. It made the mistake of putting a populist newbie into power and the saying, “oh crap we’ve got a megalomaniac to contend with.” They should have known that all along. And then Gillard was ineffective in dealing with Rudd for her term so the whole lot ended in a constant shameful situation of in fighting and backstabbing, and it still goes on with every new book release. Labour also had an opportunity over six years to lead the narrative on things like climate change and failed utterly. That’s what I’m most angry about – the waisted opportunity.

I think the issue at the core, however, for the MSM (and even the ABC) is that they jump at the chance to show how politicians are flawed personalities and highlight these flaws. The discourse is far less about the policies than it should be. Headlines are about one gaff after the next, or whether something is a broken promise or not, or whether a pollie is smoking a cigar, or wearing speedos, or a suit that makes someone’s bum too big.

We need a leader who can manage the discourse and take the opportunity to inform and lead public opinion. Who can take Australia with them on a path that we can be proud of and we need MSM to stick to discourse of the pros and cons on policy and to take their responsibility to lift the average Australian from their ignorance, seriously.
stephentardrewOctober 13, 2014 at 8:31 am

Chris:

I get a funny feeling that we must be the leaders. An appeal to another hero is just not going to succeed. Those of us who see the necessity for change we must be the leaders regardless of our social impact. It is naive living in hope that some great savior is going to come along and relieve us of our responsibility to be that change. I mean this in the nicest way because your critique is what is needed therefore you are the change.
Truth SeekerOctober 13, 2014 at 8:40 am

Thanks Kaye, and we are definitely owed an apology From Murdoch, the journos and anchors of the MSM and the Lying Nut-job party to name but a few 😯

But it’ll be ok… cos we now have… “Team Australia!”

Said the Abbott to the Bishop… Team Australia.”

Said the Abbott to the Bishop

Team Australia’s, such good fun

I think I’ll be a captain coach

Australia’s number one

And everyone is welcome

To join with the rabid right

Muslim, Christian, black or tan

We’ll make them feel all white

😯

Said the Abbott to the Bishop… Team Australia!

Cheers 😉
Jennifer Meyer-SmithOctober 13, 2014 at 9:02 am

Tory Shepherd’s denigration of the marchers at the March in March is damning for her reputation as a ‘serious’ journalist. I will take her alleged ‘considered’ comments with a grain of salt from now on. I didn’t march in the March in March, but I was there in spirit all around Australia.

I did however, march in the Climate Change march in Melbourne and shared flyers to as many people as possible about the Earthworker Cooperative’s ground-breaking initiative to transform an existing solar hot water unit manufacturing business in Dandenong to a vibrant and viable replacement to the dirty coal industry of Morwell, the Latrobe Valley, Victoria.

The beauty about Earthworker is it ticks all the boxes of social justice, solar clean energy, environment protection, employment advocacy and promotion for the disadvantaged people of Morwell, and grassroots people’s central autonomy and involvement. What could be better than these values?

Earthworker and grassroots people’s initiatives that have positive values of social inclusion, social improvement, inclusive economic equity, environmental respect, respect for the living standards of the people of the present and the future and any other honest grassroot people centred values that aim to improve people’s lives and protect our environment, these initiatives and movements are what goes bubbling along healthily DESPITE the arrogant MSM and its lackey journalists.

Motivated grassroot people do make a difference, so it’s not all doom and gloom.

So if you’re interested in taking part in this fabulous, awe-inspiring movement and even become Earthworker partners, see http://earthworkercooperative.com.au/
Terry2October 13, 2014 at 9:03 am

I’m waiting for our mainstream journalists to clear up for me what a Free Trade Agreement actually is by asking Abbott some questions about the China FTA he intends to announce during the G20.

I had always naively understood a Free Trade Agreement to be an arrangement where one or more countries agree to drop all trade restrictions and barriers and allow the free flow of goods and services between the respective countries.

So, when China last week announced the imposition of tariffs on imports of our coking coal (3%) and thermal coal (6%) I assumed that this would be a barrier to us announcing an FTA. Well evidently, I was wrong as both Andrew Robb and Tony Abbott only see this as a ‘bump in the road’ and the FTA is still expected to be announced in November.

Over to you our revered mainstream media.
Kaye MakovecOctober 13, 2014 at 9:23 am

Stephentardrew wrote – “Judgment, blame and retribution, founded upon religious conformity, allows people to avoid actually thinking about issues and like sheep follow the trail of immature emotional reactivity regardless of obvious facts.”

Yep and it applies to many who only get their information from the MSM and always have because they trust them.
Just about everybody I knew in the Rudd / Gillard days was on the side of Abbott and Co and most of them buy The Australian as it is ‘our paper’. Many are self funded retirees who actually believe Labor were the cause of them losing so much of their money during the GFC yet these were the same people I had warned of the upcoming financial crisis and told me I was stupid when I suggested they move to a ‘cash fund’ to avoid losing money. They all lost tens of thousands of dollars.
When I pointed out how a senior earning $55,000 received tax cuts of $750 I was howled down as not understanding as they didn’t get free travel everywhere, free doctors, free everything, and how even the asylum seekers were better off than them with their free houses, free cars and $2000 a week. I tried to point out the truth to no avail as the ‘the journalists wouldn’t lie’.
When I pointed out if they were earning at least $55,000 a year in interest they had no need of a government pension which was less than half of that, I was told that they had earned it by paying taxes. The fact that I had paid taxes too and how the aged pension is supposed to be for those who have no other income escaped them.
When I told one to give away her million dollar investments that provided her with her income so she could get the full aged pension I thought she was going to hit me 🙂
And many of the ones who are on a state pension actually thought the pension increases by Labor came from the Victorian LNP government. When I tried to tell them a state pension was just the aged pension it was again to no avail.

So I found out then that the theory that people choose to be poor is an inbred thought with many well to do Australians. And many people with secure jobs really do believe that people without a job are lazy and don’t want to work. Just as many people with a free university education really think those without are just dumb bogans who couldn’t do it.

My Facebook Friend list dropped dramatically when I started questioning politicians on their pages 🙂 and the sad thing is, only a few have changed their minds since and many still believe we have a deficit because of the ‘Muslim boat people’. The fact that they are not all Muslims is totally ignored too.

Kaye Lee wrote “The Adelaide Advertiser told Australians that ”tomorrow [they] finally have an opportunity to set our nation on a new path”.”
Pretty much said it all. And it was right. The fact Kaye shows and has done all along, that it is the wrong path will never be considered by many and in 10 years time it will still be ‘Labor’s fault’.
RossOctober 13, 2014 at 9:45 am

Politicians and journalists need and feed off each other and both rate at the very bottom of the social scale by one recent “poll”. Few believe anything either say or write with justifiable reason. An article on today’s UK Guardian by Owen Jones paints a similar picture in Britain.
A black ban on all things Murdoch and Fairfax gone tabloid, i.e. articles that begin with “Could” and “one day”,
so called “celebs”, government press releases etc, etc, the blog list grows ever longer. If you want the facts on anything the Australian MSM is not the place to look.
A side effect of this is the surprising amount of excellent English edition overseas newspapers to be found on line. A lot of which is what Fairfax once was before young Wazza began his ill fated campaign and Fred Hilmer destroyed what was left.
What you are seeing these days is public discussion via the comments sections of blogs and media. It can get tedious but here are some seriously irreverent funny and deeply thought out comments to be enjoyed. You normally have to skip over the LNP trollsters, but as they are usually in the few comments it’s not hard to ignore them.
Francis BorgOctober 13, 2014 at 11:53 am

It’s not a matter of the media getting it wrong, it’s about the media pushing an agenda, rather than reporting the facts. I just wonder why Rupert Murdoch hates Australia so much that he put Abbott in power.
Kaye LeeOctober 13, 2014 at 11:03 am

Thanks for the vote of confidence re me going into politics but I don’t have the wardrobe for it. I would also have to get a grownup haircut rather than the long plait. At night time, after a glass or two of wine, I think I should be elected benevolent despot. In the morning, over coffee, I realise I have too much to do to waste my time shaking hands and having my photo taken. I still have to make a living and look after my family. Mind you, I could save the nation a squillion by just typing my instructions from here 😉
Terry2October 13, 2014 at 12:04 pm

Before the 2013 election Tony Abbott pointed to our spiraling debt under Labor: shock horror he said that we were paying $7 billion a year interest on our public debt or $140 million a week.The scare tactic worked and the media ran with it , the rest is history.

Treasury estimates for the 2014/2015 year estimate interest on our public debt at $14.7 billion or $283 million a week – how can this be, the adults are in charge aren’t they ?

The mainstream media are staying right away from this : why so ?

Source:

http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/thats-not-a-debt-disaster–this-is-a-debt-disaster-joe–tonys-big-con,6984
lunalavaOctober 13, 2014 at 12:08 pm

I just loved the cartoon of Rudd walking out of the fire carrying a bust of himself saying “I saved the furniture”. Well at least the cartoonists got it right.

Note to current Leader of the Opposition you don’t have to slavishly fall into line with whatever daily rubbish the media serves up, and please look a bit less bored and disinterested (I know you can fake sincerity if you try a bit harder).
LeeOctober 13, 2014 at 12:38 pm

“The Adelaide Advertiser told Australians that ”tomorrow [they] finally have an opportunity to set our nation on a new path”.”

Well that wasn’t a lie. People interpreted the headline to mean what they wanted it to mean.
FrancescoOctober 13, 2014 at 12:43 pm

Perhaps our journalists were actually foretelling the future and got all the headlines right but got the names, dates, and parties mixed-up!!
stephentardrewOctober 13, 2014 at 12:47 pm

I have cunning plan.

Like you Kaye the idea of entering the political fray has little appeal however I really think there is an alternative. This is just a suggestion and I would not presume to tell you Micheal or the administrators what to do. I just re-read a whole lot of articles and commentary on this sight and was actually blown away by the content and excellent contributions by many bloggers. This site is unique in its breadth, depth and content. There are many consistent themes running through these articles. In a way this work could be the foundation for a progressive think tank in which facts and possible solutions are coalesced into a foundational document that is not beholden to any political party. At first I was thinking about a book but then I wondered about a set of proposed policies based upon critical analysis of information on this site. It would be an ideal project for post graduate work for students. Necessary links and references are already posted and could be added too with further supporting material. AIMN could then become a legitimate independent advisor to political parties and independents providing the essential supporting material and well reasoned solutions based upon progressive ideals of justice and equity. It would be a shame not to take AMIN to another level of political activism while avoiding party political participation. Contributors to policy critique would need to be screened for content and relevancy however I see no overarching problem here.

Just a thought.

Regardless my journey through past contributions to this site was really impressive and made me want to see this material more widely disseminated.

I know I regularly wax lyrical about AIMN however I do it because I am so profoundly thankful for its content and to Micheal for his generosity.
LeeOctober 13, 2014 at 12:55 pm

“Every time I see Tory Shepherd giving her oh so clever commentary on Insiders I am reminded of the article she wrote about the March in March where she said, amongst a lot of other sanctimonious abuse, that “the Marchers in the end threatened to disappear up their own proverbials in a puff of BO and bong smoke.””

Tory who?
SandraOctober 13, 2014 at 1:14 pm

Kaye Lee thank you for your excellent articles. I was unhappy when Abbott and his crew were elected (did not win, people voted Labor out) …. and I find myself in increasing despair at the restriction of i) human rights ,ii) freedom of association, iii) freedom of speech, to name just a few of the hundreds of atrosities being visited on this country by the Liberal government. Thank you for your wonderful articles, I am encouraged to see that there are still people out there with decent minds and hearts. People who put people first …. how did we as a country move away from the compassionate and genuine Australian values…..
Pingback: How can every single one of our journalists have got it so terribly wrong? The Melbourne’s Age was the only paper in the country to back Labor. | olddogthoughts
Kaye MakovecOctober 13, 2014 at 3:41 pm

Stephentardrew wrote – “Regardless my journey through past contributions to this site was really impressive and made me want to see this material more widely disseminated.”

You could always post excerpts and links on the politician’s Facebook pages 🙂 May only be read by non LNP members though.

Plus the myriad of Anti Abbott and Co ones. They will be read by many more people there 🙂
Anne ByamOctober 14, 2014 at 12:41 am

@ stephentardrew …. ( October 13, 2014 at 12:47 pm comment ).

You said … “Just a thought”

May I say ” and a bloody good thought at that …… ”

It must’ve taken you a mighty effort to get through most all the comments on many articles on the AIM.

Well done.
XsyOctober 14, 2014 at 7:51 am

Pandering to minorities which includes supporters of the labor party is why this rag is going broke. The sooner the better and take the ABC with you.
Kaye LeeOctober 14, 2014 at 7:57 am

We are going broke? I will sell my shares immediately (Chuckles to self)

Australian Energy Regulator: Australian homes leading switch to…

The Price of Eggs: Why Harris lost to…

Clean energy progress won’t be Trumped

Australian experts lead global push in Lancet Commission…

How Bad (or Good) is it Today?

To Putin or not to Putin

Unleashing the potential of the rural and remote…

Aged Pension in Australia Makes Life a Struggle

Thanks for nothing

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