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The Jacoby Consulting Group Blog

Welcome to the Jacoby Consulting Group blog.
You will immediately notice that this blog covers a wide range of themes - in fact, whatever takes my fancy or whatever I feel strongly about that is current or topical. Although themes may relate to business, corporate or organisational issues (i.e. the core talents of JCG), they also cover issues on which JCG also feels warranted to comment, such as social issues, my books, other peoples' books and so on. You need to know that comments are moderated - not to stifle disagreement - but rather to eliminate obnoxious or incendiary comments. If a reader wishes to pursue any specific theme in more detail, specifically in relation to corporate, business or organisational issues, or in relation to my books, then the reader is invited to send an off-line email with a request. A prompt response is promised. I hope you enjoy this blog - sometimes informed, sometimes amused and sometimes empassioned. Welcome and enjoy.
JJJ

25 May 2012


State of our democracy

Regardless of which side of Australian politics you support, it is hard to deny the appalling state of our democracy. Granted, this deplorable situation is arguably the fault of our "Hung Parliament" status, yet without that condition, we see a serious deterioration of democratic principles.

Firstly we have a government that indisputably promises outcomes that it can't or won't deliver, because the delivery of those outcomes jeopardises its hold on power. Even when it passes legislation, it struggles to implement that legislation in a painless, efficient and effective manner.

The constituency has lost faith in the government because of its back-flips and apparent inability to implement effectively.

Secondly, we have an opposition that is akin to a marauding pack of hungry, power-obsessed, salivating kill-dogs. They encircle their prey and wait for any excuse to attack the weakest as it totters from the pack - mauling it without consideration, compassion or fact.

If one observes these rightist, doctrinaire Neanderthals, one can't help but be petrified at the prospects of these people taking power.

As it stands at the moment, who knows how far from an election, it appears that not only will these people take power, but will take it with ease and with a large majority. That means that they will be able to legislate what-ever their inhumane and unevolved hearts desire.

Looking from a constituent's perspective - one can't help but be appalled as one observes the antics of both parties.

Thirdly, you have the media. They too have corrupted the principles of a free and unconstrained press that should be at the foundation of a true democracy. A democracy where the constituency is given fact upon which it deliberates and then chooses its leaders and thus its government. How effective can this process be when fact is denied and self-serving interest is promoted. Media's beying for this government to fall is so blatant that it is sickening.

The media defends itself by claiming as its duty (much like the Opposition) to hold the government to account. True, but that is not what it is doing. It is presenting selective choice of elements of a situation as "fact", and upon those "facts", it provides opinion - which coincidentally, happens to serve the media (or at least the owners and supporters of the media.)

Good social order requires a government with a balanced, centrist perspective (of what-ever hue) that sees as its reason d'etre, the betterment of all members of society. In order for that to occur, society needs a equally balanced, fair and reasonable media. Australia currently fails on all counts.

My conclusions are these:

1. Australia will soon enter a repressive and backward political era in which repressive and discriminatory legislation will be enacted - particularly targeting migrants, the poor and unemployed and the disabled. Education will also suffer.

2. As a result of the inevitable moves to suppress labour and grant "business" huge concessions, industrial unrest will reach an all-time high.

3. Economic performance will in fact deteriorate as a result of social unrest and mistrust of both government and business governance.

4. The corporate sector, aided by lax and "blind" regulatory proceesses, will use the opportunity to extract unreasonable benefits and priveleges - thus fueling labour frustration. The new government will have no appetite for constraining the excesses of the corporate sector and we will see the re-emergence of the conditions that saw the recent GFC.

Ultimately, the Australian constituency will get what it votes for - and will deserve whatever it gets - a punishment for being so short-sighted and blatantly stupid.

I would much prefer a less that perfect government trying to do the right thing, than a morally bankrupt government doing everything perfectly.

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