Pixelated Semantics

A schizotypical inventory

Amoral fibre

The amoral fibre of Australia's conservatives is exposed in an ABC news report that reveals "MP David Clarke proposed 'exploiting Muslim sentiments about Jewish people and homosexuals to recruit Labor-voting Muslims to the [Liberal] party". Mr Clarke is reportedly 'a member of the Catholic sect Opus Dei', and has been defended by the federal Health Minister, who opines "there is nothing wrong with [...] David Clarke simply because he goes to church on Sunday and simply because he shares some views not uncommon among some decent members [of the opposition]." A former federal Liberal leader says the religious right is a 'growing influence' in the Liberal party - and there appear to be no qualms over a Hansonite re-run of bigotry being used to improve (or maintain) conservative standing at the polls. It is also an indicator of a Party that knows its policy is not substantial enough to attract voters on merit. The same MP alleged to have made the proposal has also reportedly been linked to branch-stacking activities by reputed neo-fascist elements (including a gentleman well known in the history of the Liberal Party as the leader of a faction known as the "Uglies".)

Mr Clarke seems to have some trouble with definitions, however, for instance majority:

'I believe that the majority of the electorate of New South Wales will agree with me on the majority of these matters. Those who disagree that they are the views of the majority should at least concede that they are views held by a significant section of the electorate. In any event, that section of the electorate, whether it be a majority or not, needs to be represented, and I intend to be one of those who will speak on their behalf.'

Within 3 sentences the political assertion of 'majority' is reduced to a 'section... needing to be represented': it seems understanding the nature of 'mandate' and 'majority' has never been a Liberal strongpoint. His fawning innaugural speech to the NSW Parliament goes on to claim:

'I respect the right of individuals to live their lives as they choose, unmolested and without harassment and persecution, provided they do not bring harm to others or to institutions and concepts that protect others.'

Which presumably signals that 'harassment and persecution' are appropriate against individuals who 'harm concepts'. Doing harm to an idea has never been a legal or moral issue in this country, at least until extremist elements of the Liberals ascended to power: in fact, it is not a basis for persecution at all, legal or otherwise. Recent events within the Liberals may perhaps be clarified in the light of views that would apparently sanction persecution of those who disagree with 'concepts' held by the powerful.

Note: 24 hours later, and allegations are emerging from within the Liberals that confirm the analysis offered here:

'Clarke is stacking the party with the next generation of Ustashi [neo-Nazi/Croatian nationalist organisation - Editor] people. They are the children of Ustashi migrants who came to Australia in the '40s and '50s. He's been recruiting in some of these ethnic groups and been playing ethnic wedge politics. He tries to tap into the racial prejudices of various groups in the community and to recruit people into the party and the right faction. He's also actively pursuing One Nation refugees and trying to get them into the party.'

Note 2: Further details of the allegations are published and basically confirmed today: Clarke agrees he attended events amounting to a "glorification of April 10, 1941, the day Hitler installed Ante Pavelic and the Ustashi into power as Nazi puppets" (in Croatia). Another well-known "national socialist" seems to confirm Clarke has "long been involved in the recruitment to the Liberal Party of individuals associated with right-wing fringe [...] beyond the [Tony] Abbott One Nation shenanigans". These relationships are not new, however, there is ample documentation showing more than 50 years of leniency by governments towards 'ex-fascist' refugees and close ties between the conservatives and 'neo-nazi' extremists - what is new is the emergence of this information in the public domain, largely as a result of the attempted suicide of a former Liberal leader in NSW which can be tied to extremist pressure within his own party.

Item posted by AutoEditor at 8:50 am ::