Comments on: Mungo: 2020 offers catharsis, but little actual achievement

By: Venise Alstergren

Venise Alstergren — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

As I wrote under Bernard Keane’s comments on ‘Rudd’s 2020 thingo.’ Another pleasing side effect was the revelation that Australians have come to care passionately about our country. Under the dead hand of John Howard and his merry bunch of thugs the land of Oz was encouraged to crumble. From ballet dancers to farmers, Anzacs to immigrants, everyone was encouraged to form separate splinter groups to throw bombs at each other. The politics of ‘divide and rule’, so assiduously applied by the vomitous John Howard and his merry band of thugs was played to the hilt. Doesn’t anyone remember how Tony Abbott, Alexander Downer, Joe Hockey, Phillip Ruddock, Peter Costello and others, by their bullying they drew flack away from the issues that mattered? Leaving a populous sea of voters drained and beyond thought., falling always back to that great “opiate of the masses”; sport. Last weekend we actually thought of “us”, as a nation. Olé, olé.

By: The Kid From Bondi

The Kid From Bondi — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I was going to post what I felt was an unbiased, non hysterical, coherent comment on both this article and the 2020 Summit, but having re read the article and the attached comments I think I will only say that the Chinese saying of “be careful what you wish for” will make any cognisant person to accept, albeit most reluctantly, in my case, that we get the government that we deserve. I was hoping for so much more.

By: Dr Harvey M Tarvydas

Dr Harvey M Tarvydas — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Cathartic. Yep, now you’re talking says I nicknamed Harvey (psychology, psychology, psychology is everything) Tarvydas. The summit was a fabulous way to engage everyone in all the things the participants and onlookers have called it, described it as etc AND only good can come of all that and the whatever ideas. But the powerful ‘good’ in the process benefiting both the instigator (the new government) and the targets (the governed) the most important entity in the equation constituting the ‘nation’ is psychological. What better way to give recognition to the latter, that most important entity, while drawing a spectacular line in the sand to let us know it and to feel it, the end of the past, and now the future is new and yours so be inspired to don a new attitude and march forward on together in (summit) action, a behaviour experience needed to cement a new national psychology. I don’t think the sceptics were insightful enough to know what really inspired their attitude.

By: Madcat

Madcat — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

If the 2020 did nothing more than encourage Ausralians to spend just a weekend thinking about issues - well, thats an achievement. So Rudd made sure this would score him some political points - would he only earn forgiveness if he set it up to lose points? Actually there was real risk involved - when this was a glimmer in his eye surely he realised it carried huge risk - that he managed the media in the leadup minimised that risk. Could anyone imagining Howard even at the height of his reign pulling off anything remotely like this. A summit of military leaders maybe.
The real test of the 2020 will not be whether the Govt takes up any of the ideas - it will be whether Australians actually adopt the habit of discussing issues and developing ideas. Be still my beating heart.

By: Tom McLoughlin

Tom McLoughlin — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Be still oh beating thesaurus too. Fair point Venise. The public brainies really did want to do their patriotic service which I say made them terribly dewy eyed and hopelessly vulnerable to a manipulative vaccuum cleaner like the ALP Inc machine. Not least Rudd who is almost laughing in self congratulation on 7.30 tonight - where I swear I saw a mad Latham streak emerge. So that was the jelly back bone of our nation huh? I think we saw alot of sheep really. As for dangerous climate change impending - special interests under Rudd’s ALP Inc continue afoot. As to Sneddon’s howler, this reminds me of Howard too, first election speech when I realised he was likely to lose. Along the lines of “the people of Australia don’t want a new or an old government, they want the RIGHT govt”. He meant correct but he just sounded like meaning an ultra right wing govt - on mad frolics to Iraq, nuke energy plants, aircraft carrier Australia … where would it end … consciption? Nuke weapons?

By: JamesK

JamesK — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

At least with Mr. MacCallum there is no pretense of objective commentary! I take issue with him suggesting that this sham somehow succeeds in ensconsing the ALP “at the political centre” and even worse: “Rudd Labor as the one true representative of the Australian people”. Relax Mungo your heart need not still!….You silly man!