Comments on: The LNP takeover was the root of Liberal woes http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/03/23/the-lnp-takeover-was-the-root-of-liberal-woes/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:48:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: john t http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/03/23/the-lnp-takeover-was-the-root-of-liberal-woes/#comment-24741 john t Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-24741 Tha "National" brand of politics is still heavily tainted, in the minds of a largish part of the electorate, by the stark memories of Joh Bjelke-Petersen and the brutish luddism of his administration, and of many of his political colleagues. The incredible antagonism of that government to intellectual and social enlightenment, and even to social tolerance, is etched on many voters' memories. It fatally taints the present LNP.<br /><br />Sadly, the behaviour of quite a few members of the ALP government exhibits similar characteristics. The tunnel vision and intolerance achieved through a country upbringing by many Nats, is shown to be equally achievable by members of the ALP govt who have experienced lives as union officials or ministerial staffers, and nothing much else. Both behave like apparatchiks in the former Soviet.<br /><br />So there is a substantial pool of voters who would welcome the chance to vote for a party that has sufficient policies and candidates to pursue liberalism - including the "wet" sort - while avoiding the bone-headed dogmatism and conservatism exhibited by both our present pair of major parties. I think a liberally led LNP has the better chance of capturing the liberal vote from where it currently lodges with ALP, Greens, and independents. This means Brisbane, in large part. Tha “National” brand of politics is still heavily tainted, in the minds of a largish part of the electorate, by the stark memories of Joh Bjelke-Petersen and the brutish luddism of his administration, and of many of his political colleagues. The incredible antagonism of that government to intellectual and social enlightenment, and even to social tolerance, is etched on many voters’ memories. It fatally taints the present LNP.

Sadly, the behaviour of quite a few members of the ALP government exhibits similar characteristics. The tunnel vision and intolerance achieved through a country upbringing by many Nats, is shown to be equally achievable by members of the ALP govt who have experienced lives as union officials or ministerial staffers, and nothing much else. Both behave like apparatchiks in the former Soviet.

So there is a substantial pool of voters who would welcome the chance to vote for a party that has sufficient policies and candidates to pursue liberalism - including the “wet” sort - while avoiding the bone-headed dogmatism and conservatism exhibited by both our present pair of major parties. I think a liberally led LNP has the better chance of capturing the liberal vote from where it currently lodges with ALP, Greens, and independents. This means Brisbane, in large part.

]]> By: Cathy http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/03/23/the-lnp-takeover-was-the-root-of-liberal-woes/#comment-24742 Cathy Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-24742 Its up to federal conservatives to decide how much damage the Nationals inflict before they're deemed the HIH of politics. A Labor government steeped in scandal and downright dodgy management led by a spin-Queen dressed in hard hat bolts across the line for a fifth time in a state hungry for change and all Truss and Turnbull can do is decide conservative mergers won't work nationally. In Queensland democracy is hi-jacked by a political group unable to get its act together and no one wants to admit it - whose feelings are going to be hurt by the Liberal Party distancing itself from a bunch of hayseeds? About 14 non-descripts. If it means Queensland moves into the real world - its well worth the exercise. Its up to federal conservatives to decide how much damage the Nationals inflict before they’re deemed the HIH of politics. A Labor government steeped in scandal and downright dodgy management led by a spin-Queen dressed in hard hat bolts across the line for a fifth time in a state hungry for change and all Truss and Turnbull can do is decide conservative mergers won’t work nationally. In Queensland democracy is hi-jacked by a political group unable to get its act together and no one wants to admit it - whose feelings are going to be hurt by the Liberal Party distancing itself from a bunch of hayseeds? About 14 non-descripts. If it means Queensland moves into the real world - its well worth the exercise.

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