Revenge v's Justice & Grace

Jennifer Oriel’s column in the Australian today titled, Federal Election 2016, electing Labor would have dire consequences. I thought it was an insightful and sensible piece. Her last paragraph had meaning. It reads; 

“In the wake of his ousting, Abbott has demonstrated the qualities of character that earned him the office of prime minister: humility and generosity of community spirit. The political power he lost has been replaced by ­something greater: the Christian gift of grace. Instead of seeking vengeance against Turnbull or his team, Abbott took the higher ground. Conservatives too must choose between vengeance and grace in the upcoming election. Don’t leave two graves behind you at the ballot box.”

From reading the comments it appears there is a groundswell of people who are seeking revenge. Their decision of course, but I wish they would reconsider. That reminds me of a recent piece I read, written by Leon F Seltzer Ph.D. He refers to the confusion between revenge and justice. This piece is particularly relevant

. 

"Revenge is about retaliation; justice about restoring balance. The motive of revenge has mostly to do with expressing rage, hatred, or spite. It’s a protest, or payback, and its foremost intent is to harm. In and of itself, it’s not primarily about justice but about victims’ affirming their inborn (but non-legal) right to retaliate against some wrong they perceive has been done to them."

Some of those commenting in response to Jennifer Oriel’s column are disillusioned with politics. I get that. It’s those who profess to be avenging Tony Abbott’s ousting as PM, or who consider the action a betrayal of their values that intrigues me. 

The only person who has a legitimate claim to being wronged is Tony Abbott. He is openly supporting the party and campaigning to help deliver the return of an LNP government.  He has continued to fight for the values LNP supporters say they hold dear. He is about restoring balance with a workable parliament; both houses. Something his government and the Turnbull government didn't have. Let's not forget it was voters who delivered that outcome. Many are a advocating a repeat of that. I find that hard to believe but it's true. 

The majority of those who seek to slap Malcolm Turnbull down are out for revenge and retaliation. Many are honest enough to admit that is the case. Others hide behind “I will not betray my principles BS.” These are people who by their very actions are willingly heaping their desires to avenge what they consider past wrongs upon "innocent generations” who will follow. They are doing it handing government to Bill Shorten and Labor. Or worse still they risk the control of the country by placing it in the hands of a gaggle to self-interest micros or Greens. Principles? 

We have others who openly declare they are “true blue” Liberals but they are voting for Bill Shorten. True Blue? Never. No true blue Liberal would ever vote for Labor and particularly not modern Labor who wrecked havoc on this country for six years. AND, who will do it again. Bill Shorten has no economic plan, just a huge spending plan. 

These people profess to be voting for Labor in the hope it will be short lived. Then hope springs eternal again with the desire for a new conservative party to rise like a Phoenix from the ashes of defeat. That’s their idea of justice. Well I suppose that's OK if you believe in mythical creatures. But I wouldn’t be relying on hope to save ‘us’. I'd add lumbering the rest of us with Labor, Greens or a mishmash in either house is anything but just. 

"Revenge can masquerade as justice, but it frequently ends up perverting it." Yes it does. 

The question for all us genuine true blue Liberals is; what is the risk and can we really afford to take it in kicking the Libs out. Or, do we stick with what we have and help change it? I’m opting for the latter. I can’t rely on hope and I’m not into revenge. I'll stick with justice and grace. 

Election déjà vu

This comment came from the Australian today. 

"If the Libs do win the election, can you just imagine how Turnbull will react. He will actually think it is because of his 'wonderful' leadership when the only reason would be the alternative is too terrible to contemplate." Joan wrote that. 

My reply. 

“You could say we won for the same reason in 2013.  Labor was simply too terrible to contemplate then and, nothing has changed in 2016.”

By the way the only person who knows what Malcolm Turnbull would think should he win is Malcolm Turnbull. So Joan and all the other Joan's out there you are talking through your hat. You don’t have a clue what he will think. 

But now to my election déjà vu. LNP voters cheered enthusiastically over our 2013 win in the lower house (hence gaining us government) it was impressive. But, I wonder how much of that win was down to how bad Labor was. Not necessarioly how good the LNP were. I suspect the anti-Labor impact was reasonably large.

At the risk of repeating what I’ve said before where it mattered (in the Senate) it was the LNP’s worst ever result. That says to me swinging voters and disillusioned Labor voters wanted to send Labor a message. In other words, a protest vote. The majority (and this probably included anti-Abbott LNP voters) delivered a mess in the senate; we don't trust you enough. 

Now we are facing the 2016 election. Labor are still on the nose but there are the anti-Turnbull LNP voters championing protest votes. Plus a gaggle of opportunistic ‘parties running for the senate. This group are championed by you've got it anti-Turnbull supporters. They justify that in stating we voting for other conservatives. Of course those other conservatives haven’t said who they’ll favour out of the Liberals or Labor. Mind you, some of their policies border on alarming though. Clive and his group were conservatives. So were some of the other cross-benchers. That turned out well didn’t it, she says dripping with sarcasm. 

But no worries you can hear the protesters say ‘I’ve vented my spleen’ and sent a message. Please write a bloody letter it would be less damaging and the rest of us don’t have the pay the price. 

We have short memories and it seems we are addicted to chaotic government. I hope the country can survive a repeat of 9-years of mess. Six dark Labor years and three years of senate high- jacking.  Why would you want either of those again? Beggars belief.

The Election & The Rising Of Right Wing Extremists

I am fearful of what may result from the next election. I'm not overly concerned that the LNP will fail to win government. I believe we are in a very good position following recent changes, although it would be foolish to take things for granted. What I am fearful of, is what we will end up with in the senate given the number of one cause parties springing up. The agendas of some are frankly frightening. 

Most of these 'chancers' are chasing senate seats because they see that is where the power lies. It’s the classic 'power of one' play. We've already witnessed the behaviour of egocentric power players within the existing senate. The likes of Jacqui Lambie, Glen Lazarus, David Leyonhjelm whose views at times are extreme relish in holding the elected government to ransom and threatening and in some cases blocking good policy because they can't get their own way.

I know many people do not read the Senate Hansard, but it gives you a fascinating insight into the thinking and the language. It often makes for alarming reading at times. Particularly when the headline chasing cause senator Lambie takes the floor.  

Some of those throwing their hats into the ring for the next election should ring the alarm bells very loudly and very, very clearly. Now, I will preface this by saying I know many people are worried about the 'Muslim issue'. In some cases with good reason. Parties who are running on that agenda border on extremists themselves. Consider the likes of the United Patriots Front (UPF) who have said they plan to run for senate seats.

The UPF group formed as a result of a breakaway by the founders of Reclaim Australia after claiming that Reclaim had been invaded Neo Nazis. Yet, the current leader, of UPF, Blair Cottrell's a Jew hating, woman hating self-confessed Hilter devotee himself. Their main activity is protesting at anti Muslim rallies, fighting  amongst themselves for power and finding inventive ways of scamming money from gullible followers it seems. That last comment relates to the recent stunt pulled by the 'delightful' Sherman Burgess and his well publicised resignation from the UPF. This lasted all of a day and included an equally opportunistic grab for money to help with his car payments and buy a birthday present for his kid. The disciples rattled the can for Poor Shermi who took the money, went on a holiday and announced his resurrection in rapid succession. I think Mr Sherman has learnt from the equally delightful exFootball thug and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson AKA, AKA, AKA on how to scam people. 

We have the The Australian Alliance (ALA) affectionately labeled the Gert Wilders Party. This party resulted from the anti Muslim and all things Halal Q Society. If social media is any indication, this group are attracting some support from the exLibs groups. Dig deep and the motivation is very obvious. 

There are many others, but I wanted to highlight the latest single cause activist to declare their hand. Enter Kim Vuga and the Love Australia or Leave Party. Actually, it hasn't got a lot to do with loving Australia, but it does have a lot to do with hating all things Muslim. Kim is very passionate about her loathing of Muslims and she does raise some important points about ISIS sympathisers and terrorists. But if Kim has her way we will be back to the days of the treatment handed out to the Tolpuddle Martyrs. Hilter and the KKK will be cheering from the sidelines. When you look at the following, the only thing missing is forcing Muslim’s to wear the equivalent of the Jewish Star and sending them to concentration camps. 

No one has the right to demand of anyone that they declare their love for the country they live in and if they don't demand they leave. We do have the right to expect people obey our laws, live in harmony with us, do us no harm and contribute to the country. I certainly have the expectation that if people migrate here and don't do these things, then they should be helped on their way back to from whence they came. But to go down Kim’s path is supporting extremism every bit as extreme as though she protests about. 

We need to deal with the radical Muslim issue. No argument from me but branding and labelling everyone because of their religion is totally unacceptable. Most of the new parties appear to be basing their foundation on the Muslim issue. It almost borders on ethnic hatred. That worries me a lot more than a 100 or so religious radicals. I'm confident the authorities will deal with them. 

Back to what worries me about the election.  There is a core of people, albeit based on various polls and comments on social media who have simply given up on the LNP since the change of leadership. That is their right and they make those decisions based on a number of factors, not the least being their hatred (many have said it so I'm simply quoting the example) of Malcolm Turnbull. There are others, who like me are comfortable with change, but still wary about the new leader. For me, as long as policies are consistent with conservative expectations I'll stick with the party and frankly I don't see a viable alternative. 

The group that worries me the most are the 'we are going to teach the Liberals a lesson' lot. They will probably vote LNP in Reps. Many have said that, but they won't vote LNP in the senate. Many will vote for the new 'opportunists' anti-Muslim parties in the senate. Can you just image a senate full of more Lambie clones!!!!! God help us.

Malcolm has around year to prove himself and to present a set of policies that meet the expectations of the majority of Liberal Conservatives. Hopefully as a result we can also pull in some of the swinging voters. If he wins the election and then fails to meet those expectations we can vote him out in three years. But, if hardline opportunists are voted in to the senate we are stuck with them for SIX YEARS. Not three, six. All I ask is people think about that because your decisions impact on all of us, just not you. 

We have already seen what a hostile senate can do. Let's not forget the existing senate played a major role in contributing to the downfall of Tony Abbott.  I often wonder if Mr Abbott had been able to work with the cross benchers (regardless of how abhorrent a couple are) and therefore got reform policy through how different his fate might have been. 

We have already seen what a hostile senate can do. Let's not forget the existing senate played a major role in contributing to the downfall of Tony Abbott.  I often wonder if Mr Abbott had been able to work with the cross-benchers (regardless of how abhorrent a couple are) and therefore got reform policy through how different his fate might have been. All too frequently,  lack of support had nothing to do with the merit of the policy it was based on personal dislike of Tony Abbott and personal agendas. 

Suffice to say there is a lot of water to run under the bridge before the next election assuming Turnbull goes full term. Who knows what the mood of the electorate will be by then. There is certainly a lot riding on the outcomes in Paris. Many detractors are promoting the theory that Malcolm Turnbull will sell us out. I don’t know if he will or won't. I can only rely and what he has said and I pray he is telling the truth. The tax reform proposal is very important as are all their policies. Who knows, perhaps people will have finally released their anger and based on performance decide that get square is not advisable. That said, we can not rely on that happening. The only real fail safe is for Nick Xenophon to be successful in achieving support for changes to senate elections, which will hopefully stop micro parties gaining seats, and therefore we can eliminate some of the far-right radicals. If we don’t and they are successful in getting rid of all the Muslims who will they come for next. It might be us. 

Timely reminder.