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The great political party, The Liberals, formed by Robert Menzies seven decades ago, is in its death throes. It has been assassinated by right wing zealots.
There is also a need to explain just how bad the present system is, with no limits on spending by multi-millionaires like Clive Palmer, and no constraints on donations from any source.
In Britain it was clear to me at once that their politics, despite the apparent similarity of parties called ‘Labour’ and ‘Labor’, was not the same as ours.
Built into the ‘conservative’ frame of mind is also a preference for, or a kind of belief in, the notion of an organic society, which is not just a set of individuals.
The ability to take someone else’s perspective and empathise are important motivators of 'pro-social' behaviour; that is, actions that promote social acceptance and friendship.
University campuses are covered in myopic campaign gatherings against 'that Hanson woman'. The time she therefore receives in terms of interest and coverage tends to be out of all proportion to her actual relevance.
The change is evidenced by growing dissatisfaction with politics as usual, with the rise of political parties on what were the margins, and with the return of the young to party politics.
