Being There

"As the stock of politics fell, so did good reasons to become involved in it. Social scientists wrote learned books on the reasons for 'post-democracy', 'the market state' or 'bowling alone'. They shared a vision of a dystopian future in which all forms of communal life - running charities, joining political parties, staing in a marriage - would shrivel. People would retreat into the private universities of gated villages with homes where bedrooms were individually equipped with en-suite bathrooms and entertainment centres that spared them the necessity of talking evfen to their family."

Nick Cohen on life after the fall of the Berlin Wall.



This is a picture of the Canberra hills during the fires of 2003, which destroyed hundreds of homes and circled the city. I've taken it off the computer at Jenny's house, where I am staying. I'm attending the Lone Father's conference in Canberra, where I have to speak today. I'm still very nervous about it, and will never agree to anything like it ever again. It's not worth the grief or the nerves. It's not what I do. I write things, that's what I do, that's what I'm good at. I'm not good at getting up and making statements; or being a protagonist for a cause, or anything like that. Except that strangely, it has fallen to me.

What a mess the conference is; old Barry Williams has managed to get an impressive string of politicians to speak at the conference, but they say nothing when they get there. That the situation is still an absolute mess is clear to anyone. But they all, somehow, embrace their torturers, thankful for small mercies. The system is a disgrace and we receive worthy lectures on how it has improved.

The killing machines have become even more efficient. It's all unbelievable and leaves me feeling exasperated and cold. There are poisonous disputes within the worthy; and a hopeless lack of talent. And the frustrated despair that people feel; it's just got worse. The government's done a lousy job; and the opposition is about to do worse. It makes me angry at the futility of it all. All they had to do was treat people equally, with respect and dignity. They did nothing of the kind.

THE BIGGER STORY:
Australian Prime Minister John Howard continues to thrash desperately around in the lead up to the election expected to be called for November:


Sky News Australia Howard's rate rise apology
The Australian, Australia - 3 hours ago
JOHN Howard has apologised for yesterday's increase in interest rates, diverting blame to state governments while fending off Labor accusations the increase ...
Mortgage 'promises' back to haunt John Howard NEWS.com.au
Howard regrets rates pain Sydney Morning Herald
Howard Says Australian Rates Will Hurt Home Buyers (Update2) Bloomberg
Bloomberg - Sydney Morning Herald
all 142 news articles »

Alalam News Network Folly of Howard's radical reversal
The Australian, Australia - 7 Aug 2007
THE latest bizarre twist in the 2007 election contest is John Howard's decision to enshrine at the centre of his strategy an assault on Kevin Rudd for his ...
Look who also wants to be Lib PM The Australian
The mirror image has a crack The Australian
Howard's perfect storm NEWS.com.au
Hindustan Times - The Australian
all 187 news articles »

Sky News Australia Amalagamation protestors buoyed by Howard intervention
ABC Online, Australia - 21 hours ago
The move came after Prime Minister John Howard announced Commonwealth funding for any councils who want to risk a state fine by holding referendums on the ...
Beattie plan may cost ALP at poll The Australian
Howard plays his merger card NEWS.com.au
Plebiscites give people a voice: PM Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney Morning Herald - The Australian
all 117 news articles »
25000 sign petition for gay rights in Australia
PinkNews.co.uk, UK - 7 hours ago
The Prime Minister of Australia John Howard will be presented with a petition today demanding an end to discrimination against same-sex couples. ...
Entsch to hand PM gay rights petition Sydney Morning Herald
all 20 news articles »

2GB News Playing politics puts people's lives at risk
The Age, Australia - 3 hours ago
... professor of health economics at Monash University, wasn't using hyperbole when he said Prime Minister John Howard may succeed in keeping Tasmania's ...
Howard says Tas being spiteful over hospital ABC Online
Govt united on Mersey takeover plan ABC Online
The states won't be going away The Australian
The Australian - Melbourne Herald Sun
all 86 news articles »
NSW in threat to pull plug on PM's water deal
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 2 hours ago
Morris Iemma, one of the most enthusiastic state supporters of John Howard's plan to rescue the Murray-Darling basin, yesterday warned that he would ...
Iemma will have to swallow it Sydney Morning Herald
Murray deal may go down the drain The Australian
Howard tells Iemma: 'Stick to water deal' North Queensland Register
Melbourne Herald Sun - The Australian
all 126 news articles »
Howard defends his honesty
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 7 Aug 2007
JOHN Howard stridently defended his honesty last night as his Government confronted some of its darkest days. The Prime Minister defended his honour after ...
Don't write off Howard: biographer The Age
PM insists he is still Honest John NEWS.com.au
Liberal MPs want Howard to stay on: Abbott The Age
Crikey (subscription)
all 32 news articles »

The Age Rate rise will hurt: Howard
NEWS.com.au, Australia - 13 hours ago
Prime Minister John Howard conceded the rise would hurt homebuyers. "I am aware, and the Government is aware, that this decision will hurt some homebuyers, ...
Australia raises rates to new high Financial Times
Another rate rise likely after election Melbourne Herald Sun
PM pays after claiming false credit The Australian
The Age - The Age
all 334 news articles »