Trumpism versus milquetoast

Most certainly I won’t be influenced by duplicitous words intended for Jewish consumption deploring antisemitism while social division is fomented through the pointing of fingers at other communities. Propaganda and dehumanisation have never ended well.

The position on Israel? I will not vote for a party or candidate who supports the dismantling of the state or the equivalent of the wholesale expulsion of the Jewish people.

But then, I will not vote for a party or candidate who supports the ongoing war, the expulsion of Palestinians, or the supremacist policies and actions of the Netanyahu (and cronies) government.

I will vote for a candidate who aligns with my values:

* Proactive policies and practical actions for social cohesion and cultural/religious tolerance vs further polarisation of ethnic, cultural and religious communities.

* Fully (realistically) funded, free education and health systems that demonstrate (not just promise) equity. Realistic funding here also means appropriate staffing.

* We are in the midst of the climate breakdown. Some courage to act would be nice. Give credence to the science with wholistic plans to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, invest hugely and for the long term in alternative energies, rigorous attention and investment to support transition for those whose livelihood and communities rely on the existing resource infrastructure — rather than mealy-mouthed shifting of carbon credits which everyone knows do nothing.

* Social and economic support for those in the bottom third of the socio-economic ladder.

How would a true government for the people pay for all this? I would add the futile wish that the trickle-down economics of the current system be abandoned in favour of an equitable tax system that doesn’t create billionaires in the same society in which fellow Australians have no accommodation, no medical care nor a living wage.

* Complete transparency for all political donations, across the board political funding ceilings, an independent anti-corruption vehicle and fixed terms for all politicians. (Politicians who begin as partisan activists in their teens, graduate as political apparatchiks as their first employment and are then rewarded with parliamentary seats for life have power and self-interest in their sights and give only lip-service to the concerns and needs of those who they are supposedly representing. Not that I have any hope that the system will change. )

It seems unlikely I’ll have a candidate who comes near my wish-list so I can’t answer your question of whom I will vote for.

I can’t vote LNP – borrowing Trumpist tactics and aspiring to oligarchy in my view, while projecting motherhood statements without any costed policies to demonstrate how to achieve that apple pie heaven. And I do not believe the support for Israel or stance on antisemitism is based on anything beyond polarisation for political purposes.

I’m disappointed in Labor – not because of the bubbe meises claims of antisemitism, which are rubbish, but because current policies are milquetoast.

I can’t vote Greens – I agree with many policy aspirations but that all-or-nothing approach can’t stand in a complex world – plus no policy detail and there is hint of antisemitism down deep in their ranks.

An independent? Maybe, but the majority party will dictate policy direction in any case.

I wish, I wish that politics was not about who gains power and influence in 3 years time but actually focused on long-term justice, equity and visionary, stable governance for the people governed.