The factor likely the most important in the US election result is also the most unlikely to be discussed – because it suits neither major party nor powerful interests to highlight it.
You see when I talked about the West led by America moving towards fascism in “Reset” I was not only talking about (far) right major parties.
The dragging to the right of politics means that most major parties are to the right of centre by the standards of 50 years ago.
It was, after all, a progressive right wing (Republican) President in Nixon that put a great deal of political effort into introducing the equivalent of a universal basic income (UBI) which just fell short!
Now there is essentially no progressive right wing Government anywhere, and most major parties of the former progressive left are not very progressive and not actually left.
How has this happened?
Very simply. The wealthy elite have bought both sides of politics. And our permissive systems of governance just allowed it to happen.
So no matter who wins Government, the same people have ultimate influence over decisions made.
Recall ‘Trump 1’ was built on the motto “draining the swamp”, his argument being that he is so wealthy (and virile) that all the vested interests and hangers on will be stripped of their influence.
That did occur to an extent, but then again he has lived his entire life among that group of people – the wealthy elite – and his narcissistic nature meant that winners and losers were based on his transactional viewpoint with the main aim to advance Trump himself, and certainly not the people who elected him.
This election he was surrounded much more closely by wealthy elites indicating they have learned how to play him like Putin and Kim Jong Un. But standing up to powerful interests is now deeply embedded in the personal brand that Trump’s fanatical supporters accept without question.
Note also that JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon was widely discussed as potentially being offered a high level position with ‘Trump 2 (infinity)’ even though he is a Democrat, supporting what I am saying herein and have said previously that this is how all major major parties are all influenced by wealthy elites. Bill Ackman who was instrumental in having Claudine Gay sacked as President of Harvard, and who has spoken harshly against DEI, also has been a significant Democrat donor.
Clearly there is little significant ideological differentiation, not in the eyes of wealthy elites who donate to so-called left political parties as well as to their historical allies on the right, nor in the eyes of the electorate.
That’s why Trump 1’s message “draining the swamp” was so very powerful and important to his election win. This time around the ‘anti-politician’ factor was very strong again, even if it went largely undiscussed.
This is not, however, only about America.
With a looming Australian federal election it would be a miscalculation to see it only or even mainly in terms of a weigh-off between the negative of incumbency in a cost of living squeeze Vs our historic reluctance to vote out a first term Government.
Albo’s re-election chances must also be seen through the lens of how differentiated Labor is from Liberal/Nationals, and he from other politicians.
The more Albanese’s Labor Government:
– grants approvals to fossil fuel extractors while trying to paint themselves as climate crisis proponents;
– fails to seriously address 2 decades of Government inaction on housing while the PM straddles the line of appearing empathetic because he grew up in housing commission while having just bought a multi-million dollar home, and while most politicians own investment properties; and
– pesky journos like Joe Aston highlight the perks which self-interestedly selfish politicians avail themselves of from businesses …
the more they show themselves to be just like any other selfish, self-interested Government to which we have been subjected for decades now.
Obviously it’s a bit late on that front and that is really why Albo is in trouble.
While the Queensland election gave Labor some hope they can repel the Greens surge from the left, and that might be enhanced by the warning to genuine left voters concerned at our drift towards ‘Trump 2 (infinity)’, the signs are more ominous than comforting given the loss of support in the regions including coal mining regions (mirrored in the US election).
The best strategy, perhaps the only viable strategy, for an incumbent one term Government in a cost of living squeeze to differentiate itself and win re-election comes down to one word:
AUTHENTICITY
The truth is it is impossible to remain authentic when you are so conflicted by self-interest and the continual demands of vested interests. There is only one real solution …
Drain the billabong!
Fess up. Politics has been corrupted by the wealth of the elites, and that can only be addressed by severing the link between wealth and influence.
Introduce fair dinkum donations and sponsorship laws that go well beyond political donations but to advertising and the myriad ways wealth buys influence.
And set out a program of review followed by reform to incentivise politicians to act in the long term interests of the people not themselves, their parties and their donors.
From gambling/fossil fuel advertising, to Qantas lounge and fare upgrades, to a Royal Commission into misconduct in the banking and finance industry conveniently forgotten, there is so much to work with that it will grab the narrative immediately, leaving the conservatives completely flat-footed, and …
most importantly, it will actually leave the people and the nation better off in the long run!
Addendum: Since posting this on LinkedIn last week Labor’s hasty attempt to change donation laws have been introduced to parliament which will do nothing to address these concerns, in fact they will deepen the billabong by entrenching the power of the two major parties. Even the progressive left-leaning Australia Institute is opposed – that should tell you how far off course are Albanese and Labor … as I said, they long ago became not very progressive and not at all left … head to Australia Institute to sign their petition to force a parliamentary inquiry to these proposed changes …
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© Copyright Brett Edgerton 2024
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