As an insider I would say that Labor does a very good job at appearing public, but is quite far from it in reality. I've heard many personal beliefs of elected members that would shock regular Labor voters and branch members. The goals and alliances are much more complex than even factional and sub-factional lines.
Further, the idea that Labor is super ideological is also a little misplaced. While generally aligned on low stakes items such as protecting renters etc., the promotion of "strong Labor values" effectively sums up to "Liberal bad" more often than not. As per usual there is little cohesion on the left, e.g., there are open secret anti-gay groups of muslims within the "far-left" factions who work with Rainbow Labor colleagues.
Overall a really good article.
After the shit-show that was the referendum, and as a supporter of nuclear, I wish you good luck in the next federal election.
Yeah I'm not surprised at the similarities in Labor, there have been open-secret gay groups within the Libs for a long time as well. Labor certainly seems to operate more effectively despite what you've said (from an outside perspective)
What do you say to conservatives that consider joining the Liberals, but have seen the failures of the VIC Liberals, and the pushing out of actual traditional conservatives? Down here in VIC, I’ve heard from people in the Libs camp, that have watched the party push out proper conservatives; more publicly known recently such as Bernie Finn, Moira Deeming, and up north Gerard Rennick, and others in the past like Craig Kelly.
I agree and I wouldn't blame anyone in Victoria for being disenfranchised with the Liberals, I'd advocate for right-wing Victorians to get involved with non-party organisations like the Australian Natives Association who are quite active, or the British Australian Community.
The Libs aren't much better around the rest of the country, but for those in every other state I would encourage people to get involved and pull the party to the right, treating involvement in the Libs like a side project while they work to build their own personal resources, get involved in non-party organisations and network. If everyone did this the party would slowly transform over the course of the next few decades without people getting burnt out or despairing.
As an insider I would say that Labor does a very good job at appearing public, but is quite far from it in reality. I've heard many personal beliefs of elected members that would shock regular Labor voters and branch members. The goals and alliances are much more complex than even factional and sub-factional lines.
Further, the idea that Labor is super ideological is also a little misplaced. While generally aligned on low stakes items such as protecting renters etc., the promotion of "strong Labor values" effectively sums up to "Liberal bad" more often than not. As per usual there is little cohesion on the left, e.g., there are open secret anti-gay groups of muslims within the "far-left" factions who work with Rainbow Labor colleagues.
Overall a really good article.
After the shit-show that was the referendum, and as a supporter of nuclear, I wish you good luck in the next federal election.
Yeah I'm not surprised at the similarities in Labor, there have been open-secret gay groups within the Libs for a long time as well. Labor certainly seems to operate more effectively despite what you've said (from an outside perspective)
What do you say to conservatives that consider joining the Liberals, but have seen the failures of the VIC Liberals, and the pushing out of actual traditional conservatives? Down here in VIC, I’ve heard from people in the Libs camp, that have watched the party push out proper conservatives; more publicly known recently such as Bernie Finn, Moira Deeming, and up north Gerard Rennick, and others in the past like Craig Kelly.
I agree and I wouldn't blame anyone in Victoria for being disenfranchised with the Liberals, I'd advocate for right-wing Victorians to get involved with non-party organisations like the Australian Natives Association who are quite active, or the British Australian Community.
The Libs aren't much better around the rest of the country, but for those in every other state I would encourage people to get involved and pull the party to the right, treating involvement in the Libs like a side project while they work to build their own personal resources, get involved in non-party organisations and network. If everyone did this the party would slowly transform over the course of the next few decades without people getting burnt out or despairing.