Is the Rudd Sell-out beyond Redemption?

Moral enlightenment is possible but it is gradual and it is not easy to convince voters that, for example, we should let in many more immigrants and massively increase foreign aid. At home, we need to reduce cruelty to farm animals and Aborigines need to be treated with genuine concern and respect, as opposed to being coerced into submission.

If Rudd can urge the nation to move towards such morally uplifting ends, even if it means a small reduction in our economic well-being, his ethical and social regression in the lead up to the 2007 election will be forgivable.

The danger with this is that the community does not know the man well enough to make an informed assessment regarding whether in the end his end will be whatever best advances the interests of Kevin Rudd or those of the entire community – especially those that are worst off.

Certainly, there is no evidence to date that there is any principle, beyond personal ambition, that Rudd believes is cardinal. A man without any principles is ultimately vacuous.

To that end, the transparent, and albeit sometimes flawed, social conscience of John Howard might just be the preferable option.