Christian
radical reflections September
16, 2004
Earlier
this week, the PM was scathing in his criticism of a Labor candidate in WA who,
on talk-back radio, had tried to show some compassion to a worried caller. The
caller thought that she and her family would be worse off with the proposed
Labor tax-package. John Howard seized on this "mistake" and gave it
national coverage - it was little more than a well-intentioned comment
indicating the candidate's commitment to a party that would listen to people
and adjust its policies to real-life situations which people confront. But
Howard proceeded to mercilessly belittle her in his "tough" way via
the nation's media.
It
should not be forgotten however that this same man, in recent time, as Prime
Minister, made a most significant diplomatic blunder on talk-back
radio when he proceeded to outline how the Australian Government
might send an SAS unit to flush out a terror cell located in a neighbouring
country. Presumably he is quite capable of condemning the mistakes others make
"on the run" but when he does it himself we are supposed to shrug it
off and realise that he is "just human like everyone else" - the
weight of office is so very great after all.
When
John Howard was elected in 1996 he challenged the Australian people to closely
monitor him and his government and to throw them out of office if they ever
became arrogant. Now, when a spirit of deceit and meanness prevails it is clear
that the tone has been set by the Howard Government. Well might Australia be
worried. Everyone knows that John Howard's arrogance has broken all bounds. But
are we capable of doing what he challenged us to do back in 1996 and throw him and
his arrogant government out of office?
Consider
the Government's violation of the rules for the conduct of Government affairs
during an election campaign. Howard and Downer failed to consult with the
Opposition on the deployment of an SAS unit to Baghdad. Labor correctly
observed that this was a serious failure because it put the Liberal Party's
electoral interests ahead of the national interest. Many well-respected
journalists failed to realise the seriousness of the issue. They merely saw the
Leader of the Opposition express his frustration, and commented that this anger
might count against him in the polls. They simply contrast this complaint with
the cessation of politicking last weekend in the wake of the Jakarta terrorist
bombing. Now the gloves are off, they say.
What is at stake here?
Why has this election become so confusing to so many? Why is the country, as a
whole, so worried?
The Howard-led Government
acts in an Australian context like that the USA acts on a global scale. In
Australia, Howard couches his appeal as the nation's CEO - the entire operation
of the Federal Government is recast in corporate terms. Citizens are
shareholders who are to make judgments in terms of "the economy".
This is supposed to prove he is a reliable national leader and deserves
re-election as CEO when the share-holders cast their votes in a few week's
time. We are told over and over again that our economy is in good shape. But
basic to that party's platform is the principle that Government should stay out
of the economy. Now, during the election campaign, the economy is doing so well
because of what the Government has done. Strange that. This is a political
vision which is not just blind to its own ambiguities and contradictions; it
has, in fact, lost sight of the fact that the State's "core business"
is not business. The task of Government is to ensure justice and justice
requires law-makers to be subject to the laws and rules that they make.
Election campaigns should encourage public debate about the laws we need to
ensure the justice our nation requires. But how can we be at ease in an
election when elected government officials do not abide scrupulously by the
highest standards of conduct? We now see that these disciplines have been set
aside by John Howard's Government at the same time that he has committed this
country to support the might is right ideology of US foreign policy.
Even if there was only
one instance of a PM's hypocritical flailing of an unelected opponent to gain
electoral advantage, we would have good reason to be worried. But there is
more, much more. And the (so-called) war on terrorism has become a massive
justification for deceit and duplicity by Government in this country. We are
deeply worried. We should be. Our own standards for the conduct of national
political life have been eroded at a time when we sorely need courage to
maintain a principled stand. We are no longer confident about the principles
that govern our conduct. We wonder if our own national identity has been traded
away in the process?
September 2004 © Christian
Radical Reflections, is written by Bruce C Wearne (PhD), 29 Lawrence
Rd., Point Lonsdale Vic 3225 AUSTRALIA, 61-3-5258-3913. Each edition
may be photocopied or retransmitted in its entirety but not otherwise
reprinted or transmitted without permission. This personal project
aims to encourage positive Christian citizenship, the development of
policies and political attitudes that better express our love for God and our
neighbour. Your comments are welcome. Email can be sent to bcwearne@ozemail.com.au
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bcwearne/index.html