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| For your protection | |
Philosophers say that every cloud has a silver lining, capitalists acknowledge
opportunity in every changing circumstance, and socialists see every government
failure as evidence of a need for larger and more powerful government. All three will be claiming to have been proven correct after Little Johnny's
latest position on ID cards. Honest John of course, being the master
politician, doesn't take positions on any new policy straight away. His initial
position is always that 'we need a serious debate on the issue', then he
gradually hardens his view as he sees political opportunity coming out of the
debate. If it becomes a wedge issue (ie if the left are split on the issue),
then he normally adopts it - because it demonstrates the chaotic state of the
opposition. Kim (Fatboy) Beasley is left to waffle desperately and endlessly,
saying nothing, in order to try to unify opposing factions on the left while
the swinging voters quietly vote for the man they believe shows some principle:
Little Johnny. After the horrific London bombings by home-grown Islamic psychopaths,
the English are expected to be more likely to come over to the pro-ID card camp. Johnny was
critical of the ALP trying to introduce ID cards in Australia in 1987 because he was in
opposition. But now that he is firmly entrenched in government, something that
gives the government greater control doesn't seem at all bad. Exactly how issuing ID cards will stop Australian-born psychotics from boarding
subway trains with explosive back-packs is not clear, but democratic
populations are fickle things. Just like confused Muslim teenagers, they may be
easily persuaded - especially when they are groomed into a state of 'alert but
not alarm'. Who knows which way John and Jane Doe will jump on this one? Some of us remember with embarrassment going to anti-ID card demonstrations and
rubbing shoulders with lefties and those dirty looking people selling the
Socialist Worker, but a brisk walk to parliament house might be a good way
battle the mid-life spread. If only producing a thinner government were that easy.
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