https://www.news.com.au/national/po...g/news-story/bf89ff6b675e9edda820d3d0c533864e Passing of an era. Love him loathe him he made his mark on the political landscape of this country I remember his election 1983 as one of the most blatant last minute switcheroos ever pulled on the Liberals who thought they were up against Bill Hayden until the last minute It was a time when we still thought Labor still stood for the average working person
Yeah we were also fooled by Democrats for a time into believing that they were for the working man too.
We can't even mourn a great Australian without some ignorant American ideologue crashing the party. A reminder that Hawke was everything they can never be - intelligent, curious, compassionate, broad minded, popular, likeable, unifying and far sighted. He towered above such sad, small minded people and we are a batter society for it. Thanks for everything Bob.
Gotta love his personality. A truly great Australian. Not too bad of a PM as far as the ALP goes, though I fall on the Keating side of the Hawke-Keating debate.
Without re litigating that argument, without Hawke Keating would not have been about to achieve a fraction of what he did. Hawke knew how to sell those ideas & reshape them into a form that was politically palatable.
Don't get me wrong, I'm right of the LNP, I have no love for most of the stuff Hawke and Keating did, but I look back on Hawke, Keating, and Howard as the last PMs who had broad respect from most people of both parties. I like that they had the ability to govern with a majority and then be judged on their actions with no excuses. Compare Scomo with Howard or Shorten with Hawke and it is clear the standard in our pollies has declined considerably. I doubt we will ever get back on the right track. Hawke would be shredded relentlessly for encouraging unhealthy attitudes toward alcohol and tobacco.
I think that leaders of that calibre are not judged in the same way as lesser ones. Hawke was seen as a bit of a larrikin but was admired because he admitted his flaws. What do you think?
I think he wasn't a faceless union/corporate hack there purely to preserve the power of the establishment. And in today's environment this is refreshing.
Hawke could do very well today because he had the self confidence and ability to back himself. Rather than the forced 'average bloke' routine of Morrison or the plain forced feel of Shorten he would come across as genuine. I suspect he would shrug off the attacks for being a 'union thug' or a 'corporate sellout'. However, it would be a harder road now, and that is entirely down to us, the voters. The 'gotcha' culture, negative politics and all the other crap that makes political culture suck is the result of responding to the electorate. We get dull, professional politicians because we punish personality. We get a dearth of policy because we punish risk (though this election may prove an exception). We get small, highly motivated groups exercising disproportionate influence because we let them. Worst of all, we blame everyone but ourselves - its 'the politicians' or 'the media' or 'the other side' or...whoever. Never us, sitting back & whinging like its an Olympic sport. We don't deserve leaders like Hawke, so we don't get them.
Great Aussie he was, may he rip. I think only Gillard came close in the years after..... Certainly not Howard, as he didn't use the golden era of the Chinese cash flow for a future after coal. Now we are left with Morrison and Shorten, certainly not inspiring. More Shorten, I believe. For the Greens most of my fellow countrymen are missing the courage... Reg.
I don't think it matters how he was elected (the political shenanigans) he was elected and proceeded to increase the reputation of Australia on the world stage. Charismatic as he was, Hawk and the team he headed brought much to the table. NOT all agreeable but his legacy will stand. He help to grow the Chinese trade that eventually save Australia during the GFC. No matter what side of the political divide, you have to accept that Hawk and Keating together made many great changes to this nation. If only the current lot could get a glimmer of their talent the world would be a better place… God rest his soul…
Yes exactly thank you, even Keating admitted Neo-liberalism has failed When even Keating is getting off the neoliberal train https://redflag.org.au/node/5751 Neoliberalism has caused 'misery and division', Bernie Fraser says https://www.theguardian.com/busines...caused-misery-and-division-bernie-fraser-says Paul Keating says neoliberalism is at a dead end after Sally McManus speech https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/paul-keating-says-neoliberalism-is-at-a-dead-end-after-sally-mcmanus-speech-20170329-gv9cto.html
Are so you can find aspects that don't meet your ideals so you come in swinging... I am sure we could get to anybody’s funeral and find something to demean them by... does that mean we should??? I leave that for you to answer. Personally speaks volumes to me… As stated, no matter what side of politics you stand "Hawk and Keating together made many great changes to this nation" Like them or hate them…
Lol. Many, in fact, far too many, right wingers from the lower classes believe the myth that Republicans are on their side. This especially so among farmers who slit their own throats whenever they vote for that party.
I am not against the mom or pop Democrat, I am against their leaders. Yes I know Democrats truly love tons of laws, but they are not good for the citizens. Reason? Laws are never designed to help you, but are designed to put free humans into prison Democrats keep crying too many people get locked but still they support a lot more of those laws. I have suggested using the German system which turns out educated people who can live among society.
You work in a very regulated industry, so how can you say that laws are designed to put people into prison? Aren’t the laws in place to protect both the buyer and the seller?
Are the people who say they look to the future, yet dwell in the past, fair game??? As a politician just what impact do you think Hawk had since he left politics??? As I said, it speaks volumes to me, and many others. Dwelling on peoples actions and motives from what 25yrs ago. Ignoring the good to dwell on the negatives just so when they die they can berate their life while not even cooled in the grave. Yeah, politicians seem to be fair game… Not my cup of tea, but clearly some think they are better than majority…
But Hawke and Keating implemented right wing economical policy. Deregulating and privatising. I’m confused how you say you are right but you couldn’t get anymore right than changing the whole landscape of Australia’s economical system!
