Labor and the Australian oligarchy

A similar process might be seen in the Rudd-Eddington connection. However, this oligarchy backed the principles of Howard’s WorkChoices law, and are not happy with Labor stated intention to “rip it up”. This is a problem for Kevin.

What then are the constraints on Labor? What could they do in government if they regain the confidence of the oligarchy?

They might revise some social programs, adjust some environmental laws, create new corporate subsidies and reshuffle the cronies. They will not be allowed to engage in public investment which competes with private investor opportunities, scare the stock markets, interrupt the private plunder of natural resources or regulate the corporate media.

These limitations indicate a failure of political alternatives and participatory democracy. They are linked to a tightly controlled and undemocratic media, weak public debate and a moribund two-party system.

Minor parties need not face the same pressure, except to the extent that they want respectability in the corporate media. But Labor’s task is clear or, if it were not, Kevin’s new friend from News Ltd and JP Morgan will have made it so.