Labor the New Liberal?

[Justtristo]

Originally Posted by Seamus

Yup,bourgeois center right.Appealing to the now-complacent geriatric hippies and other dills who once though Peter I'm-a-cop-out-cunt Garret was deep.

Socialism is dead for all intense purposes, also the trade union movement has been in decline for three decades now. Those developments along with the dismantling of fortress Australia have radically changed the political landscape in Australia.

I would argue that the Labor party needs to become more a progressive social democratic party (much like the Greens are now). The Liberal Party under Tony Abbott is adapting a lot better to the current political environment, by becoming a socially conservative, slightly populist party. That approach will help it gain Socially Conservative Labor voters at the next federal election.

However if the Labor party were to go the way I describe, it would lose the of socially conservative working class voter. Although it would gain a lot of socially progressive Green and Liberal votes.

[c2105026]

Indeed; I was at an equal marriage rights rally and was asked by someone manning a brochure/petition table if I was a marxist; I replied that I was kinda neo marxist; I argued that Australia has no need for pure socialism but some parts of the developing world could do with a socialist type movement due to pure exploitation of the masses.

Due to various factors including the past trade union movement, trickle down economics and globalisation we have a classless society where how your life pans out (somewhat) depends on your choices and actions, as well as a bit of luck. Yes we do have some workers being exploited, and yes we do have poverty, but its nowhere near what it was like 100 years ago.....that being said the top 1% or so does still ultimately control Australia/the world via irresponsible business practices and buying governance. This may be circumvented by a people's movement that focuses on social democracy, transparent government and ethical and sustainable policy making.

Which Party, out of all of them could do this? Well both ALP and LNP were the ones that got us into this mess. I would prefer ALP over LNP anyday but there is much ALP policy that makes me unhappy (eg. NAPLAN, chaplains in schools, refusal on gay marriage, dilly-dallying around issues such as smoking and pokies) May as well give the Greens a go....see what happens.

[bigbowlowrong]

I'm a Labor Party member. As a fairly socially and economically progressive kind of person I find it has a lot of room for me.

I definitely believe that advocating for a more progressive direction from within the structure the ALP offers is the best way to go, probably better than hoping the Greens will suddenly become attractive to a quite conservative electorate (although I have very few things against the Greens or their members). DEFINITELY better than pointlessly agitating for a revolution. One step at a time is all we have, however frustrating or downright maddening it is sometimes.

I came to where I am now from the Trotskyist left in my more naive days. A fairly common path this side of the political spectrum!

[atuanui]

The ALP = Alternative liberal party.

[c2009]

Originally Posted by Justtristo

Socialism is dead for all intense purposes,

Intents and purposes ferchrissakes. Sorry, it's one of my pet peeves.

Originally Posted by Justtristo

also the trade union movement has been in decline for three decades now. Those developments along with the dismantling of fortress Australia have radically changed the political landscape in Australia.

I would argue that the Labor party needs to become more a progressive social democratic party (much like the Greens are now). The Liberal Party under Tony Abbott is adapting a lot better to the current political environment, by becoming a socially conservative, slightly populist party. That approach will help it gain Socially Conservative Labor voters at the next federal election.

However if the Labor party were to go the way I describe, it would lose the of socially conservative working class voter. Although it would gain a lot of socially progressive Green and Liberal votes.

I've been following politics for years now, since before I was able to vote, even.

I've noticed a shift right globally. The language has changed; Everything has been depersonalised; It's all about "the economy" and "consumers", not everyday people (except in glib soundbites designed to reassure people). Unions these days are pretty much membership organisations centred around power and profit these days, or worse, they're shell unions run by the corporates themselves.

The only solid unions left are in the public sector, and they're getting smashed by the Liberal governments that have been elected at state level.

I'm no statist - I don't support Labor either (I count myself as an anarcho-communist, actually) but federally at least Labor has a small bit of vision in terms of infrastructure. The Libs are just cut, cut, cut... Unless it's vote buying tax breaks, and especially if they're for their rich mates, sell what you can to your mates in the corporates (though Labor is just as guilty of this, especially at state level)...

I have lost basically all confidence in the concept of government that is not self-government (aka people deciding things for themselves) at this point. Power begets waste and lust for more power.

[Mr.PinkEyes]

I despise ALP and their bedmates the Tories. In fact, I don't trust respect or believe political parties. I'm somewhere beyond disillusioned with global politix.