Broad church schisms

With this exponential change being fueled by economic and structural liberalism, to advocate these ideas alongside social conservatism, and reverence for tradition, is not just contradictory, but frankly, masochistic.

During John Howard's Prime Ministership, he believed promoting "traditional values" and ramping up nationalist sentiment provided people with "points of anchorage"in this era of great change. Yet this advocacy is moving people in two different directions. Clinging to "traditional values" in an era of greater social change, and clinging to the nation in an era of global integration.

There is also a school of thought that suggests by maintaining these two philosophical traditions within the one party it prevents the rise of a far-right party (culturally and economically protectionist) within the country.

Yet these are lazy perspectives to hold; a lack of desire to explain ideas to the public, and a patronising lack of faith in the public's ability to understand them. It also assumes that certain prejudices cannot be altered through increased knowledge, and instead need to be thrown the occasional bone. Yet these bones have grown increasingly large, undermining the country's responsibility and reputation.

The public has a sense that there is something amiss in our current major political parties. The drop in major party supportis not just due to the adolescence and lack of talent of the major party politicians. It is also due to the package of ideas they espouse no longer representing the public's worldview.

Jeremy Browne, MP for the UK's Liberal-Democrats, promotes a holistic and philosophically consistent view he calls "360º Liberalism", in basic terms; the combination of economic and social liberalism. Presently, he explains, the public throughout the West hold mostly consistent liberal views, they understand the connections. As a result, Labour have embraced the market, and the Tories try to restrain their social and cultural prejudices. Although the party they both now make attempts to mimic haven't been able to take advantage of this age of liberalism(Browne puts this down to the salesmanship of the Lib-Dems).

Australia, obviously, lacks such a voting option, bar the maximalist wing of liberalism in our own Liberal-Democrats. Who despite gains, and important public contributions, still cling to romantic dogma distasteful to the general public. Ignoring that most liberal of concepts; rational pragmatism.

Yet, we are not without certain MPs who have an understanding of this holistic view of liberalism. Labor MPs such as Chris Bowen and Andrew Leigh understand the connection between economic liberalism and greater human interaction, understanding, and change. And of course, so does Malcolm Turnbull.

Turnbull is not "left-wing" as conservatives suspicious of him deride. Any labelling of him as such is simply spite and jealousy for Turnbull's ability to grasp the outcomes of the liberal economic ideas he advocates.

With Turnbull's popularity with the public, many within the Liberal Party fear what instead they should embrace; the split of the party itself. This occurrence would free conservatives to abandon the liberal structures that are causing them such grief.

Contrary to what they presently advocate, conservative outcomes would require a far greater role for the defensive, slow moving behemoth that is the state (surely a natural ally of theirs?). Currently, the market (civil society) is well ahead of the state with an issue like gay marriage, opposition to which is a prominent conservative marker. A show such as Modern Family being shown in prime time is both a reflection of society's values, and an educational tool. The only way to for conservatives to counter this would be through market intervention.

With the Liberal Party's current leadership problems, and its philosophical tensions, the question needs to be asked: why should this current "team" exist in perpetuity? Fusionism completed its task 1989. It is, like many of those who advocate it, now a relic.

The world has changed substantially in this past quarter of a century, and it is now greatly exposing this conflict within the Liberal Party's "Broad Church". While it will take courage and commitment to split the party and realign Australia's political options, the ground has never been so fertile for such change. I suspect the voting public will be far more forgiving that those in power to whom this split would threaten.