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» VSU - Little Johnny plays the Field   2005-12-09 23:18 Strawman
Very Happy, John!

Of all the dreadful violations inflicted on populations by collectivism, few can be more morally bankrupt than compulsory unionism. The idea that people of a certain profession, employer, skin color, hat size or educational institution should be forced to give money to other people who share that profession, employer, skin color, hat size or education institution is quite bizarre.

That notion died a lingering, rotten, stinky death today in the nation's collectivist capital. What a blow for the parasitic Canberra mindset.

Of course compulsory unionism hasn't been a total loss. Watching the mental contortions that The Left has gone through to prolong the last bastion of compulsory unionism - Compulsory Student Unionism (CSU) has been a bit of giggle. The notion that students are poor, therefore they should be forced to steal off each other to make themselves a bit richer has been a good one. Likewise the notion that being forced to subsidize someone else's lifestyle choices (be it sporting clubs, WIMMIN!'s groups, gay 'social' clubs or the PLO) strengthens civil society.

CSU looked like it might survive another election term after Barnaby (Backdown) Joyce crossed the floor. Barnaby recognized that he had no obligation to subsidize WIMMIN!'s groups, or the gay lobby, but somehow still thought that WIMMIN! and gays had an obligation to subsidize his football team. Funny man. Just this morning he was beating his chest and saying.

"If you are playing sport on fields next year just remember that it's the National Party that protected them,"

Get real, Barnaby. The rednecks already vote for you. Exactly why the Liberals have formed a coalition with the Nationals has always been a bit of a mystery. A party which praises free markets and small government teamed up with a party formed to maximize rural subsidies is a bit strange, but politics always makes for strange bedfellows.

And in the end it didn't matter because Johnny (master of perception) Howard cut a secret deal with Family First senator Steve Fields. Johnny played the Field, and Steve's vote was enough to pass the legislation on the final parliamentary sitting day for the year.

As of July next year, students will have the choice of whether to join a student union or not.

Barnaby must be feeling a little lonely right now. Trying to force The Left to subsidize the university footy team hasn't made him any friends on that side of politics, the Liberals hate him and most of Australia just thinks he is nong.

And The Left are writhing about in agony. Your ABC reports

The president of the National Union of Students, Felix Eldridge, says VSU will create "haves" and "have-nots".

Yep - those evil capitalists who still have their $240, and those collectivists who have-not. And guess who's going to come out in front?

Of course if The Left are to be believed, Howard's 'extremist' policy agenda has alienated the voters, and the ALP are guaranteed of regaining government at the next election. So why are they so upset?

Well for two reasons. Firstly Joe and Joanne Average either agree with Howard's changes, or will forget about them about a month after they are introduced. Just like the GST was going to cause economic collapse and mass starvation, people will realize it was a storm in a teacup and move on.

Secondly, even if the ALP wins the next election, it will be extremely difficult to re-impose compulsory student union fees on so many people who will tell them to get stuffed. Students traditionally vote ALP, and telling an impoverished student 'support the ALP so you can be forced to pay an extra $240 per year' will do down like a Catholic schoolgirl. They will lose a lot of votes.

Student Unionism is voluntary or not. It's a little hard to 'rollback'.

And the ALP just lost a major recruiting ground.