Self flagellation

Mike’s
Pith & Wind cont.
.. (I think it was on the ABC) about an apparently typical family in North Korea.
(Let’s get over the ‘what is typical’ debate before we go
any further).
Of course, by Western standards they weren’t that well off in terms of
consumer goods that may or may not qualify in your world as being essential,
but they had a TV set and otherwise got by. What I was impressed with was the
degree to which each and every citizen was politically aware, and aware of exactly
how their particular variation of the communist system works.
So, you might say it’s simply a result of indoctrination, and you’d
be right. But compare that to the degree to which Australian kids are versed
in how it all works, and there is no comparison.
I’m not just talking about learning about the Westminster-style parliamentary
system we’ve inherited and subsequently modified to suit the local climate
– I’m sure most kids get a grounding in that.
No, I’m talking about yer actual capitalism, the same loathsome capitalism
which communism was invented to oppose, the system which, by its nature, allows
those people very interested in the acquisition of money to the exclusion of
nearly every endearing human quality, to wield significant sway, not only over
the people whom they immediately employ, but over the political parties either
in power or waiting for their turn.
It might well be that the biggest evolutionary change in politics since that
wonderfully reavealing TV series Yes Minister was made, is that it’s no
longer the government bureaucracy that is the constant in the democratic system
– it’s the corporations. In other words, the government might change,
but the primary influence on government policy remains big business – which
makes the votes that you and I cast so conscientiously (or otherwise), seem
kind of irrelevant, don’t you think?

Well, shit. Was that what I wanted to say? It’s just that I get nervous
when I see us blindly stampeding towards the American social model. Nobody
in government has actually articulated that this is official policy, and we
sure as hell didn’t vote for it, so why is it happening? Is it yet another
manifestation of cultural cringe?
Hey! ‘Manifestation’. Another ‘–ation’ word.

Degradation of the nation
Infestation of playstation
Corporate manipulation
Eliminate affiliation

Contractual obligation
Lowering of expectation
Tit-for-tat retaliation
Cancellation of salvation

US farmers’ allegations
Kickbacks to administration
I Know Nothing protestations
Wheatboard case for serialisation