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miriam_eOur societies have big, big problems if large groups of people can be either swept under the carpet or casually spurned as degenerate for no reason other than prejudice.
I was talking to my brother Peter yesterday about the Labour Party's apparent discrimination against gay people and their jumping on the anti-terrorism propaganda bandwagon. It looks like a shallow ploy by Labour to obtain the vote of the largest part of society possible, in the belief that most people are homophobic and easily frightened to hysteria. Peter felt that this was a reasonable thing to do as they (Labour) are far less evil than the terribly antisocial government we are currently lumbered with. I am very uneasy with this logic. If they can't stand up for minority groups in their pre-election lying campaign, what chance do we have of them behaving morally when they actually gain power? Granted they are not likely to be quite as corrupt as the current government, but recommending someone on the basis that they wouldn't hurt me as much as someone else would doesn't fill me with joy at the prospect of nevertheless being hurt.
Excuse me if I get this uneasy impression that the wicked powers that clasped John Howard to their bosom have dropped him now (note how he flounders lately), have slithered over to Mark Latham and are curling themselves about him. Sadly it looks to me like he is bargaining with the slimy beasts, thinking he can keep control. Poor fool. These scum never relinquish control, and if he gives up his morals this early in the fight then he is doomed. He will probably win the election, but he has already lost the only thing that matters.
It is difficult for me to believe sometimes that here we are in the 21st century where we have information about so much of the structure of the brain; we have sent robots out to many of the planets of our solar system; we can create virtual worlds inside immensely powerful computers; we can carry low cost computers in our pockets that are more powerful than machines that took up entire floors of skyscrapers a bare few decades ago; we are finally starting to uncover the basis of consciousness. And yet... and yet many people don't understand what a simple light switch does; vast numbers of people routinely believe in the most whacked-out, insane superstitions; it is common to consider arbitrary groups of people as subhuman in some way because of skin color, or religion, or sexuality, or lack of money.
I mean, gees!! I am an optimist, and I know things are getting better slowly, but oh how slow it feels. It really seems sometimes that it all balances on a knifedge, at the whim of superstitious cavemen.
I was talking to my brother Peter yesterday about the Labour Party's apparent discrimination against gay people and their jumping on the anti-terrorism propaganda bandwagon. It looks like a shallow ploy by Labour to obtain the vote of the largest part of society possible, in the belief that most people are homophobic and easily frightened to hysteria. Peter felt that this was a reasonable thing to do as they (Labour) are far less evil than the terribly antisocial government we are currently lumbered with. I am very uneasy with this logic. If they can't stand up for minority groups in their pre-election lying campaign, what chance do we have of them behaving morally when they actually gain power? Granted they are not likely to be quite as corrupt as the current government, but recommending someone on the basis that they wouldn't hurt me as much as someone else would doesn't fill me with joy at the prospect of nevertheless being hurt.
Excuse me if I get this uneasy impression that the wicked powers that clasped John Howard to their bosom have dropped him now (note how he flounders lately), have slithered over to Mark Latham and are curling themselves about him. Sadly it looks to me like he is bargaining with the slimy beasts, thinking he can keep control. Poor fool. These scum never relinquish control, and if he gives up his morals this early in the fight then he is doomed. He will probably win the election, but he has already lost the only thing that matters.
It is difficult for me to believe sometimes that here we are in the 21st century where we have information about so much of the structure of the brain; we have sent robots out to many of the planets of our solar system; we can create virtual worlds inside immensely powerful computers; we can carry low cost computers in our pockets that are more powerful than machines that took up entire floors of skyscrapers a bare few decades ago; we are finally starting to uncover the basis of consciousness. And yet... and yet many people don't understand what a simple light switch does; vast numbers of people routinely believe in the most whacked-out, insane superstitions; it is common to consider arbitrary groups of people as subhuman in some way because of skin color, or religion, or sexuality, or lack of money.
I mean, gees!! I am an optimist, and I know things are getting better slowly, but oh how slow it feels. It really seems sometimes that it all balances on a knifedge, at the whim of superstitious cavemen.
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Date: 2004-09-15 05:07 pm (UTC)For the Australian election, it will probably mean voting Greens first, Democrats second and Liberals last. Labor is probably next-to-last, depending on the various independent parties (Salt Shakers, for example, may just beat Libs into last place, although their website is distressingly well-constructed).
I don't really have any illusions about the overall ethics of politicians; it seems to be an entry requirement that they start compromising whatever morals or ethics they had or they never get anywhere. I'm also very much aware of the whole spin phenomenon and how it can turn someone who thinks people ought to be brainwashed or otherwise de-programmed on the basis of an unpopular or controversial religion, sexuality, gender, etc into seeming like a wonderful person who is all about hugs, puppies and milk for children. Cause what's bad with hugs, puppies and milk for children? Well, nothing, except all the other stuff you're going to bring with it...
I'm hoping we'll figure out a way of revamping the political system so that it isn't quite as much of an exercise in lip-service (at best) and a maze of corrupt, unaccountable deal-making (at not-so best). But at the moment, the most sensible thing seems to be to minimise the damage done, to vote against rather than for. And from that perspective, yes, there's not much to choose from between our two Prime Ministerial candidates. *sigh*
Better luck next time!
no subject
Date: 2004-09-15 06:24 pm (UTC)I'll be voting Greens followed by Democrat, then assorted crap artists down to probably Liberal last of all. Not sure where Labour go in all this... whether above the various nut-bag groups like the gun lobby and Family First or below them. I'm just expecting preferences to carry Labour past Liberal, but I want them to get the message that we voters are not happy with them. It would be nice to do what we did last time where the Greens doubled their vote! Nobody ever doubles their vote. But they were the only group with any morality and people realised it.
I think on that occasion the Greens were so disgusted by Labour that they didn't give them their preferences so they lost any chance at power and little Johnny Asshole got in again. I may be wrong there though.