[JK]
I think perhaps you could spell out for me exactly what are the racist
policies of One Nation. I have yet been unable to define any?
[AL]
1. Hostility to Aboriginals as enjoying "privileges" denied to the
rest of us - despite everyone knowing that as a group they are worse off
than average.
2. Hostility to "Asians" as an alien influence linked to
crime/unemployment/drugs rather than a welcome part of our society.
[JK]
Aren't the main issues in Australia today - crime/unemployment/drugs
(CUD
or DUC)?
[AL]
People with different political views inevitably see different
issues as the main issues. For example the ALP and the Coalition just
won 80% of the votes while claiming that the GST was the most important
issue. Personally I think unemployment is a major issue but drugs and
crime are relatively minor issues along with many others(though still
important).
In addition people with different political views support different
policies with respect to the same issues.
For example on drugs and crime and the link between the two,
you might see them and unemployment as the most important issues,
without following One Nation in claiming some connection with "Asians".
One (popular) view on drugs and crime supports heavier penalties and
more policing. Another (less popular) supports legalization of dangerous
drugs to break the link between drugs and crime and reduce the
attraction of drugs to people who think that killing themselves slowly
is "rebellious".
That could be an interesting discussion in a separate thread.
[JK]
The sale of Telstra completely should proceed, but with controls similar
to
media/TV. The important thing about the GST, is that it will collect
some
taxation from profit shifters...for example, Hong Kong company owns
Hotel
in Australia. Australian net profit is reduced by management charges
payable to Hong Kong Company. Result is that the management charges are
taxed in HK at 15%. No income tax is payable in Australia. With a
GST,
10% taxation will be collected in Australia.
On immigration, I am yet to see the arguments for and against, that
demonstrate the effect on unemployment. At first glance, it would seem
that immigration would add to unemployment?
Both Liberal and ALP have zero tariff protection policies. The results
of
this are the decimation of manufacturing industries and the accompanying
unemployment of low skilled workers.
...........John
[AL] On Telstra your views seem closer to the ALP and Coalition than
to One Nation, the Democrats or the Greens who strongly oppose
proceeding with the sale. (I regard the ALP's "opposition" as complete
bullshit since they initiated the process).
On the GST your views seem closer to the Coalition than to One Nation,
and the Greens who strongly oppose the GST, or the Democrats who are
hostile to it while willing to accept it except on food, and the ALP who
would also introduce it but have chosen to oppose it to distinguish
themselves from the Coalition.
On immigration your view that "at first glance" immigration would lead
to unemployment is shared by the ALP, Coalition, One Nation, Democrats
and Greens who all advocate sharply reduced immigration rather than face
up to the difficulty of explaining why that first impression might not
be correct.
On tariffs your view about the ALP and Coalition policies is shared by
One Nation, the Democrats and the Greens. (I am closer to the ALP and
and Coalition on that issue and will argue it in the "MAI" subject
thread when Brian Jenkins responds as promised).
These are all important issues which should be the subject of vigorous
discussion within Neither (in separate subject threads).
But there is one thing we ought to be able to agree on. Such vigorous
discussion should be taking place throughout Australian society and it
is currently paralysed by having an unrepresentative legislature
dominated by two parties who exclude all other views.
The sheer confusion evident in the positions taken by the various
parties and their supporters is a consequence of there being no serious
national debate about politics.
The emergence of One Nation is not primarily due to their racist
policies, or the policies they share with the Greens and Democrats,
but to their opposition to the ALP and the Coalition, and the extreme
confusion in Australian politics at the moment.
