Reinstate the iconic Aussie on Australia Day

Like one of those ambulance-chasing law firms that guarantee to "make things right", large sections of our political elite have convinced themselves the Aussie "fair go" is achievable through cleverly-worded legislation and more public funding. Though justified as an enlightened source of social healing, this worldview is, in reality, divisive and dehumanising, for it gives the impression promoting the Australian spirit is a mechanistic process, doctrine-based socialism for special interests.

Worse, the underlying pathology - the idea that one doesn't have to take responsibility for stepping up and actually doing what is fair and responsible - only encourages the easy option. Pretty soon, we're all feeling entitled, with no one left to do the right thing or underwrite the growing welfare tab.

Remote, over-analysing politicians and commentators like Soutphommasane continue to misdiagnose this political phenomenon.

Opposing same sex marriage does not make one homophobic, bigoted or un-Australian. It is often a desperate attempt to break the self-congratulatory trance, to gain recognition of the damaging social implications of a democratic culture fixated on reducing its ultimate concerns to things and concepts that can be legislated for, bought and sold, or argued about in perpetuity.

Being Australian is about doing what an Australian does. And at some point, we have to subdue the well-meaning political beast and trust we can get on and do it without the preachy input from cynics who clearly can't recall what makes this nation great.