Today Greg Sheridan, in The Australian, has a go at all the usual evil Lefties who dare to query the new Howard plan:
http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/gregsheridan/index.php/theaustralian/comments/ditch_politics_when
Apparently to question the detail is to politicise the issue. Funny how attacking the NT for not acting quick enough isn't a politicisation of the issue. Considering that the reality of these camps has been known well before this report, haven't all governments, state and federal, not reacted quickly enough?
I agree with the vast majority of what Pearson has to say, I think it's hard not to, as do many who question parts of the plan. Anyone who objects to sudden and dramatic intervention has to reflect on the decades of failure and the product of that failure, but to lambaste 'The Left' as Sheridan does (because they always speak in generalities) for raising questions is itself a politicisation of the issue. It serves to merely drag the whole thing into the swamp of the culture war. Such as these remarks:
"His genuine moral and intellectual clarity show the utter feebleness of what passes for intellectual life on most of the Left."
"Disciples all of the Robert Manne school of Howard as the ultimate incarnation of evil in government, they are not only morally but intellectually and analytically blinded by their detestation of Howard so that anything he proposes, they oppose and demonise.
Anyone who thinks Howard all good or all bad is nuts. He’s a normal politician, just like Rudd, who will generally try to govern in the national interest as well as his political interest. Pearson doesn’t suffer under the delusions of the Australian Left. Though he craves and needs no accolades, the integrity of what he has said on this occasion may well be one of the most important political statements in our history."
Well let's say that Sheridan couldn't help himself, it is The Australian after all. Over there they like nothing better than to stick the boots into Robert Manne. He's made the whole paper look quite foolish on many occasions. Manne doesn't like Howard this is true, but to claim him as blinded by his "hatred" of Howard is just hyperbole. Manne's writings don't come within a inch of the aggressive, tormented attacks performed by some of the more notorious conservative commentators. They hate him because he hurts, simple. Furthermore, I'm not aware that Manne has said a thing about this plan.
Then Sheridan becomes confused when he admits that it's possible that Howard is acting in his own political interests??? Isn't this where most have taken issue with what some on the Left have said? Including yesterdays editorial?
And of course todays shocking editorial:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21980508-7583,00.html
" Those who would rather see children continue to suffer than for the Howard plan to succeed should be ashamed of themselves."
Of course in true Australian editorial fashion zero evidence is provided that those who question would rather see the plan fail, this is unfortunately common for this particular paper. Nor is any evidence provided for this:
"This time, however, the divide is not along party-political lines, with the Opposition under Kevin Rudd maintaining bipartisan support. Instead, the dissenters represent a coalition of people united by their blind hatred of the Howard Government."
Really??? United by their blind hatred of the Howard Government???
You dare not raise an iota of criticism against this plan people of Australia, or you're merely displaying your blind hatred of the Howard Government. Just shut up!!!!!
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