In his comprehensive and well argued paper as published on Tas. Times this week (Environmentalism, lies and minority Government: HERE) John Biggs puts the whole election campaign, including the outrageous falsehoods about Green policies, in context.
In the following paragraph quoted below Dr Biggs puts the essence of it all in a few sentences:
“The all-but-total policy overlap between the two major parties is not based on brotherly love. Rather, they have both have been bought out by the same powerbrokers, committing them to the same outdated paradigm. When the differences between parties are not based on policy, party preference becomes a personality contest, a bitter competition between the leaders to see which personality appeals most to the electorate and which one the powerbrokers see as the more effective in implementing their interests. Thus the two parties spar for attention like Tasmanian devils snarling over a rotting carcase. However, both hate the Greens even more than they hate each other because the Greens are a threat to the two party system itself – and to the rewards of cutting deals with the world of big business.”
An earlier genuine and concerned intellectual, namely J. K. Galbraith, described a similar situation in his homeland, the USA, when he wrote of the power of the corporations “ … they manage prices to which the not so-sovereign consumer responds. And the corporation also shapes the tastes of consumers to its products. No one can fail to be aware of this power. The advertising that does it dominates our vision and pre-empts our ears.” Galbraith also wrote in the same pages. “The corporation also exercises power in and by way of government. This too is agreed. Its payments to politicians and public officials are believed by no one except the recipients to be acts of philanthropy or affection. And less mentioned but more important is the naturally advantageous relationship between the modern corporation and the public bureaucracy.’’ ( For full context see Galbraith J.K. “The Age of Uncertainty’ 1977 pp257-259)
One could easily imagine that Galbraith had seen several decades ahead to the relationship that has developed between corporations operating in Forestry and Forestry Tasmania when he wrote that last quoted sentence. That is to say nothing of the ex Premiers who have combined to oppose any political change that could result in openness and letting the light of day into Government to Corporation relationships.
Any way thank you John Biggs for a valuable article. The very valuable article from Justice Slicer and his many associates of a similar date complements the Biggs article . However the context that the above quoted and other paragraphs from Dr Biggs sets out is not present in the Slicer article. This is not written to try and denigrate the valuable Slicer plus others’ contribution but simply to make the point that the attention that John Biggs draws to the differences there can some times be between what is described as common sense and good sense are real and important.
By some difficult to comprehend mental process there are many voters who while conscious that they are being lied to, still vote for the purveyors of misinformation. What Dr Biggs writes about hegemony helps explain this aspect of a somewhat disturbing reality. The constant and relentless barrage of misinformation the modern populace are subjected to creates confusion, uncertainty and misjudgements. The changes to laws advocated by Slicer and others are essential but they are only part of a much needed and much more wide reaching change both in political cultures and legislation.
The need for real change in these regards is further underlined by the Mercury Tuesday March16th report on false Labor Party accusations against the Greens on Heroin. The Mercury report makes the valid point “that (Green MP) Ms O’Connor’s comments (on this subject) have a much less contentions meaning when read in context”.
Another point that the Biggs article makes, that is becoming more important every day that passes, is his reference to Dr Bleaney’s revelations about poisons in our water systems. E nitens plantations are beginning to appear as an even more serious danger to Tasmania’s future than the clean water, agricultural land destruction and agricultural community destruction aspects that are already apparent. The possibility that these are poison generating trees is even more frightening.
