Gotchya, yeah in terms of control we certainly have more power over the Indigenous rights and Asylum Seekers.

Time for a hot take: (somewhat unrelated)

I actually have come to really credit Dutton for what he did with the boat people issue.

"We don't comment on on-water matters."

With that he killed a line of attack used against progressive parties in this country by conservatives.

And suddenly the conversations around asylum seekers arriving by boat couldn't be a national pinata for the news.

It hasn't solved any of the fundamental rights violations, but it did take the politics and grand standing way out of it. But the professionals have to carry out their work, but with less fear of a national outrage campaign against their decisions.

I'm not saying it has lead to better delivery of rights, but i am saying he created a situation where the delivery of better rights is more likely. Away from the culture wars and political grandstanding decision making can be clearer.

I don't subscribe to the theories around CIA grand strategy there, the US has many fingers in many pies doesn'talways mean they'repulling the puppet strings.

I've learned a bit about that period, and Kerr really seemed to have a boner for using that power and being the big (conservative) dog.

Also i'm not sure its as simple now for the GG to go ahead and do that, i can't remember the details but i think the GG's requirements forbuse of that power were significantly tightened in its aftermath.

Wow. Interesting time for sure. I's under the impression John Howard's sudden flip was down to the Americans saying go.

Yep, it will have to come down to grass roots.

Thats how Albanese plays everything. Maybe with the possible exception of the Voice to Parliament, he goes about a bees dick further than the public on everything.

Until a Government actually takes us down that road i suppose we can't really know what costs Australians would be willing to endure, so i guess its my hunch.

I'd argue what is happening in Gaza is very relevent to anybody who believes they benefit from a world system that 'should' frown upon neighbours attacking each other. Australians in general i argue fit that bill.

I suppose indigenous rights are more relevant to Australians than whats happening in Gaza, although i'm not sure on that. The fundamental right to live in peace within borders of your community, even if un-recognised, seems to me to be a foundational pillar for indigenous rights to stand upon. In this instance if we don't stand up against genocide and violations of human rights in Palestine, then it seems hypocritical to stand up for indigenous rights at home.

But the above assumes a faith in an internationalist cause, i think there is a stronger argument, without hypocrisy, if a person determines they have more parochial concerns and values.

I've left out the asylum seekers because there is always a very clear motivation to demonise and alienate that group in any society. They are targetted because they can be, and at little to no cost for the attackers. Its bullshit that people don't see through the carousel of propaganda and lies that wheels around endlessly targetting immigrants. So i suppose its a rights issue, but i think its different from Indigenous rights. Their mix of rights are a result of gaslighting and prejudice. I haven't explained myself well here, sorry.

pro-Palestinian advocacy really costs Australians nothing, so for most the opportunity to take a selfish position doesn't exist. It's free moral high ground with zero trade-offs.

I want to come back to re-read this when i'm in different mental contexts. Its right, but i think it'll hit different as i consider different actor's motivations.

It is. Theres a point in things where you have to say as a nation we're willing to wear the consequences of our convictions.

Its a shame that i feel that Australians aren't willing to accept costs like those for what i still believe are broadly held convictions about how we want to live in the world.

Well, what are the costs of moves like those. I'm working on a moral and humanist calculus, Albanese may be partially working on that, but he'll also be working from a political calculus.

The US has made it pretty clear that Israel is their favourite protectorate. If, as you say in another comment, we are owned by the US, then does that mean in the heirarchy of protectorates we are lower than Israel and therefore likely to seriously damage our standing with the US by imposing arms sanctions? And what does that mean for Australian military defence? And technology supply?

For one thing, we'd have to be ready for massive and disproportionate responses from the fascists in charge in the US. Is our defence establishment ready for that? Our population psychologically ready for that?

I'm proposing these, not as my values, but to demonstrate that this is more complicated for the politicians than for ordinary people. PK on Politics Now podcast had a good discussion on this last week.

Its come so late, but the lobbying and propaganda is always an ongoing threat Australia needs to be alive to. Mike Burgess alluded to similar, without naming names a couple weeks ago.

I'd say the crimes committed have reached a breaking point where the propaganda and lobbying of Israel has finally failed to be succcessful in light of the reality.

Its horrible that we couldn't have the moral courage to be more decisive earlier, and act in the interests of humanity. This is a failing we own as Australians.

I don't want a fucken culture war between the generations like what happened with baby boomers. Gen X forward are all fine by me, live your life, be conscientious of other people and where they're at in life, and for shits sakes lets be open to changing our societies based on different generational challenges. The generational wars were always stoked by cynical conservative bread and circuses propaganda, fuck em, stop paying them attention.

What does he think this is? A lucky dip election? State the plan!

Mate if you've been holding back helping the Ukrainians more until something like this has happened, theres something wrong with the your perception of this conflict.

Also that Melbourne School Teachers a true aussie hero.

Someone call Mr Squiggle, that red line ain't very straight!