The claim that Australia’s Tory coalition represents economic responsibility has always been somewhat overstated, resting entirely as it does on the ALP’s unsuccessful attempt to nationalise the banks in 1948 and the behaviour of one Whitlam minister.
At least those two actual foundations mean that the said claim is not completely laughable. Which is unlike the claim that the same coalition is “the party of defence”; the Tory’s and their minor deity Pig Iron Bob have actually stuffed pretty much everything military they’ve ever touched, helping Japan to re-arm before it’s attempted invasion of this country, then giving us Vietnam, Iraq and variously massively costly equipment which is either incompatible with our defence priorities, unserviceable, or both.
Of course, the economic-responsibility shibboleth rests also on the fact that so many Tories are rich, so we paupers assume they must know what they’re talking about when it comes to the cashola. Like when Rupert Murdoch told us all how much cheaper oil would be after the invasion of Iraq… wait a sec! Perhaps we should consider the possibility that they’re rich because they’d sell their grandmother to Ivan Milat for 2 bob, rather than due to any special economic genius.
And surely that shibboleth is taking a beating lately? How in the name of all that’s holy can they claim that title while pulling the alcopop stunt, when the majority of the electorate seem to support the normalisation of the excise rate? The tough-on-drugs party of economic responsibility undermines Commonwealth budget planning because it insists on a special excise discount for a particularly dangerous intoxicant? As the kids say on World of Warcraft, “WTF?!?!?!”
By the way, on his other blog Tim has been coaxed away from the admittedly well-spun binge drinking argument (or rather, thinks “the elasticity point is worth taking on board”). But we should consider that les filles jeune say they like the alcopops because they’re cheap AND they can’t taste the alcohol.
Getting anecdotal, I well remember the introduction of wine coolers to my teenage years in the 80s. Previously the girls had largely been smirking and shaking their heads sadly at the beer drinking antics of we boys at parties, but thanks to Legs Opena’s appearance some time in year 12, the boot was suddenly on the other foot [and it was massively easier to get some action]. Back in the current millennium, if price signals get people onto something wherein one can taste the alcohol, it stands to reason that they probably won’t guzzle that something-else as if it were lemonade.
The Tories various other budget responses can be easily explained. Luxury car tax? D’uh, as hard to explain as the company directors backing their own share options. Same for opposition to means testing the baby bonus. The Tories have always been staunchly opposed to welfare - for poor people. Rich people getting free shit from teh guvment, on the other hand, has been the God given order, from the land enclosures that lead to the Kelly uprising, to the more recent gifting of various public assets to the afore mentioned Rupert Murdoch at fire-sale prices. It can even be said that watching Bwendan justify that policy on the basis that “all babies are equal” was like hoovering a cocktail of meth, steroids and happy gas - infuriating and amusing at the same time.
But what of their undermining of the machinery of government for this important principle of cheap Vodka Cruisers? The only recent Australian politician I know of who showed a particular interest in getting teenagers bent out of their minds was of the NSW ALP. One can hardly imagine Dolly Downer and Malcolm settling down for a nice osso buco, accompanied by several cans of Château UDL. And as I said, the electorate’s largely agin ‘em.
Speaking of which, it was telling to have a look at The Australian, whose headlines this morning told us only that the Evil Greens are threatening to “oppose alcopop tax” [which is to say, they haven’t decided for certain and may want something in return], and that Nelson is not going to block supply [in its entirety]. Realising what a stinking dud this policy is, Rupert’s minions are apparently trying to protect the Tories from themselves. And this is of course how the twin shibboleths about the Tories arise in Australia, by virtue of them being regularly repeated, often passive voice a la “the Coalition is seen as the party of defence”. In a country where News Limited with its obedient editors owns the vast majority of the metro newspapers, false memes can become conventional wisdom with the Right support.
So anyway, what do ya reckon? Has the alcopop industry forked over enough cash to warrant Dick Honan treatment?
Or is Brendan Nelson just an idiot?
