Sunday, November 18, 2012

Game of Illusion

More than anything else politics is a game of illusion.

Which is why politics and the media are so intertwined - they need each other to reinforce the myths that they have both created - and to keep we citizens in the dark.

For a long time this little game was rather subtle - the illusions that were conjured up were at least partially believable and as a result, the attempts of the political class to treat citizens like mushrooms were mostly successful.

But I sense that is changing - and rather quickly.

The most obvious example of an unbelievable illusion (or was it delusion) was the failed attempt by the Republicans to manipulate their way into the Presidency.

In Australia there are lots of examples - but one stands out in my mind.  That magical "Budget Surplus" so beloved by Liberal party conservative politicians.

The Liberal party have been banging on about "debt and deficit" for decades.  Few of them actually know anything about how an economy works - but they do know how Dr Goebbels and his "big lie" work.

"The essential leadership secret does not depend on particular intelligence, it depends on a remarkably stupid thick-headedness.  When one lies, one should lie big and stick to it, even at the risk of looking ridiculous".

They have learn't how to use the "big lie" and they repeat it - endlessly.  To the extent that "low information voters" actually believe it.

And our Labor party - yes Virginia the one that actually gets to pull the levers and decide how the economy is run - is so intimidated by the "big lie" that they have also decided to pursue that magical "Budget Surplus".  They are so scared that the "low information voter" will punish them when next we get to vote that they now own the "big lie".

So tell me again why we would want a Labor government if all they do is implement Liberal conservative policy because they aren't smart enough to create their own illusion?

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