All of which are good examples.
Any group that is in opposition of the major LNP donors could be labelled as ‘far left.’
“These guys here, fighting for fair working conditions or a livable planet are just as bad as Nazis, and you’d want us to beat up Nazis, wouldn’t you?”
over christmas i was pleased to learn that my eldest nephew and niece (10 and 9 respectively) have moved on from whataboutism as a complaint format, which means they’re lost to the lnp as potential voters forever
i can’t even get mad over “b-b-b-b-but teh left”, it’s so pathetically childish
Taxing large business, free health care, and increased minimum wage…
PETA.
Far left extremism looks like PETA.
Of course there are union thugs (and people who have…graduated) that threaten violence.
And there are left wing loonies who believe working for any sort of corporation or public organisation means you’re complicit in everything from being mean to genocide, and basically beyond salvation as a human.
There’s the more common and slightly blander types who will ascribe things like hatred and intolerance to you because you say the wrong word.
The look of utter terror on Jimmy Fallon’s face…
And of course there’s more, this is just off the top of my head.
Is it Nazism?
No.
But it is repressive and kind of evil.
Not as evil, but still evil.
It’s one thing to say it’s not the same thing. That’s fair and reasonable.
It’s completely another to say it doesn’t exist at all in any form.
Nah, I was one of those and we were pacifists.
The nutjobs were around, and offered “training” to student groups.
Human rights, social justice or environmental concerns of the vaguest variety…
My reactions Perce, are along the lines that it is an interesting theoretical rant by an academic.
It starts with the old question between the left and the right over principles versus pragmatism. As Bill Landeryou told me in 1971, “it is great to have your socialist principles but they are not going to win elections, and that is all that matters”
I would argue that most of Birchalls ten points are part of any Labor election strategy, but putting many into practice are external to Party control. The ones that are in our control like quality of candidates assumes better people are available and prepared to follow the Party line and while Birchall downplays the Leadership question, as many on Blitz claims, it is all about the bloke or blokette at the top.
His message on progressive policy is mixed, as on one hand he wants bold policy initiatives but he want them simple, which is clearly very difficult.
His thoughts on scare campaigns assume some media fairness or truth in advertising which we know does not exist.
I think you and others assume that Labor is just incompetent, unorganised and not true to itself. The facts are that the ALP is widely diverse organisation trying to cover a wide range of views on most issues and often disappointing supporters by being not progressive enough or not combative against the Government. It is a social democrat grouping of unions and workers and others that is not socialist and not radical, and supports capitalism. Labor finds itself in the middle, trying to win popular support in an capitalist and economic conservative nation. Majority of voters do believe in social justice, supporting minorities, women’s rights and the environment, but vote in the majority for economics over values.
Dan Andrews is popular because his program is about action, and demonstrates progress in roads, transport and infrastructure. He has also been progressive in many areas of law and regulation, important but not vote winners like bridges and new trains. His reorganisation of fire services caused angst and won few friends, but has been successful with CFA being in a much better place than ever before, but I bet it won few votes.
I have been a Labor member since 1969; and there is much to criticise over this time about many things it has done or not done, but I can show many progressive initiatives in our Nation over the past 50 years and 90% are Labor driven.
At the end of the day Comrade, Bill Landeryou was correct, as it you don’t get elected, you cannot change anything.
Jim Henson couldn’t have created a bigger pair of muppets. 
If Albo wants to get in he should be distancing himself from that scumbag
Interested to learn what Rudd might have done for you to label him a scumbag.
Did you realise, Aceman, that that emoji 
of which you seem particularly fond means “joy” and not laughter?
I think Morrison is a scumbag too so it’s not just a party thing.
Albo seems like a half decent bloke so I really don’t have anything against him except he needs to choose better friends
Nah, I normally post off my mobile and just pick the common emojis. I’ll have to find the laughter one. There are dozens of the little buggers that all look similar to me
Rudd is popular in QLD so a photo with Rudd and wearing an Akubra, it’s pretty obvious what he’s trying to do there.
I’m not a Rudd fan, but do not think he is a scumbag, just curious about your definition of a scumbag
I don’t like Rudd either but happy to support his anti-Murdoch push. I don’t think any of his “crimes” even rate in comparison with this government’s.
Move to NZ, they have a PM who seems to have it together. Shows us up no end.
