David Lovejoy, Echo co-founder
There’s a sense in the air that a culture change may be on the way. The need for change has become abundantly clear since the notion of honour disappeared from public life.
Ministers used to resign when they misled the House, when they were caught red-handed fiddling expenses, when they forged evidence against their enemies, when they awarded contracts to their mates, when they were found to have conducted secret trials, when they rorted public service bodies…
Not any more. Unless there’s a black-letter criminal law forbidding their behaviour, and sometimes even when there is such a law, the modern parliamentarian thumbs his nose at precedent.
Honour is a notion for losers.
And it’s not just politicians.
About two in five of those public companies receiving JobKeeper have awarded million dollar bonuses to their CEOs.
Most have also quietly paid shareholders profits that would not exist, but for the government subsidy.
A much smaller number have repaid what they received when it became clear that the assistance would not be needed.
So a large number of the people in charge of public companies receiving JobKeeper have no honour, and are not susceptible to shame, even when they are caught in a clear display of greed and ruthlessness.
The super rich believe that adherence to the letter of the subsidy regulations relieves them of any further moral consideration.
Incidentally, while these profits and bonuses were being announced, the government reduced unemployment benefits (in effect: the tiny increase was undermined by the end of the COVID allowance), and increased the number of job applications the unemployed must prove they have made if they are to retain their fortnightly pittance.
Lacking work is made a matter of shame, in line with the government’s practice of protecting the strong and attacking the weak.
Of course this overbearing, dishonourable behaviour affects us all, but the members of society who suffer most from the jackass brigade are women.
When businessmen and politicians appear to be unaccountable, it signals to some men that they can press themselves on a woman, knowing that in a workplace they hold power over their victim’s career, knowing that in the unlikely event of a complaint, their denial will carry more weight than her accusation.
Their white, male, entitled, private-school, conservative, Big Swinging Dick denial.
Over the last few weeks ‘patriarchy’ has become more than just a concept in sociology.
There is a real problem with males having too much power in all levels of society, and although any solutions will be bitterly fought by reactionaries, who are over-represented in parliament and the media, it is a fight that honourable people of all genders must take up.
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The time has come (again) for woman to climb the ranks and seize those same opportunities as men and be equal among the dishonourable ………….and coincidentally tis also that time (again) for black, white and blue to take the knee and be equal under the yoke for the yoke master cares not about colour or anatomy.
Meanwhile voices speak of the future, of perpetual pandemic, of perpetual dictatorship……….. Fake Pandemic is the greatest show in the circus if you can get past the side-stalls and candyfloss.
An all consuming idiocy plagues the land, David. It’s loot driven. Sickening & dangerous. So many angles
& what to do [try to do] about them. Honour’s a misfit just everywhere you look. The ‘poly-ticking’ is the
foundation of a breed that bleeds the people every which-way. No sensible being would put Porter on
the back-bench because it just goes to show the ‘big or little dangling-dicks’ that the boss man’s always
right… yep – it’s the mentality the flat earth society’s taught them & their Comrade been-counting blokes.
Maybe a few decades behind bars could work but there again so many kick-back judges rule in favor of
the leading flavor. LNP… it’s a party alright.
Fact Check !
Australia is a capitalist economy, There is NO room for honour when success is measured in dollars..
Australian politicians have had no honour since they let the Crown and the CIA sack Gough.
Australia has always been exploited by the rich landowners, endowed through grants from the Crown or their lackies, of these there is at least gender equality with equal opportunity to inherit entitlement.
It has now come to pass, that when “caught red-handed” these elite class criminals, are merely cautioned, demoted, moved or in particular heinous crimes can be dismissed, but never serve time in gaol.
I wonder what ever happened to George Pell ? G”)
It’s definitely not cricket. PM Mossie-Morrison says MP Andrew Laming’s treatment of 2 more
women is disgraceful yet allows [yes, another add-on to the pack of abusers] to keep his job
with the LNP. Australian residents who vote must understand we are being done in by brain
dead unattractive male trolls. Women are NOT happy.
Stefanie what are you going to do about child brides as young as 12 married of
Happening in this country as of NOW ?
Female mutilation of genitals 5000
Women in this country Stefanie…
All happening under our noses
How would you describe this type
Of behavior ? Acceptable?
Well nothing from our on the ball
ABC .. ? Why not Stefanie? Nothing to see here … feminist ? Mandy what about you ?
Getup ? Guardian? CNN ? All must be believed right ? Where is the outrage
With this ?? Yet a man is absolutely guilty
Just for a accusation !! And only this week a melbourne school forced young kids Males as young as 12 to apologise for the rape victims.. made to stand up and made to apologise i repeat .. most of these kids went
Home distressed saying to parents iam not a rapist.. not wanting to go to school the next day .. enough is enough.. not everyone of us Men are rapists. These kids are made to feel
Guilty.. .. i have raised my children to be absolutely respectful to everyone including
Partners… what a disgrace !!
Just in – The Women’s Justice Movement has called for a “vote of no confidence in
the government” via the Canberra Times. There’s also a call for ‘A Red Armband
Day on Wednesday 31st of March.”
Just go & chill out, Barrow. The kids are bright enough to know all will be sorted
out soon. Truth is the rapes must stop manic pollies are not wanted or needed
anywhere.
Add on – I’m now back from a medical appointment & I’ll be brief, Barrow. Learn to
be grateful that many schools are now well aware that both male & female students
are learning what’s ‘Not Right’. The sooner the better to learn tough truths along
with gender equality. You’d be aware that female students are sharing their stories
of sexual abuse & that young men can veer off course while thinking ‘tough’ is the
‘norm’ for younger men when it isn’t. Once again I say – the younger generation
can be trusted to understand wrong from right even when their damaging elders
think the opposite. Gutless grown men – in parliament – aren’t worth a spit.