Speculators

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4745828.html

"Over the weekend we once again had the spectacle of speculation reported as news.

That is not to say the stories are false, but there is a strong desire among journalists to be the first to report that Julia Gillard only has days left as PM."

'Speculation reported as news': the bane of all rationality. The big question being whether the electorate can discern the difference. Has anybody seen my WMDs? Has anybody seen my budget emergency? And now has anybody seen my recession? Has Rupert Murdoch sent his clowns out to fabricate a sense of panic so that sufficient numbers vote for the conservative forces, or is it just in the nature of the beast? Probably a combination of the two. The 'Children Overboard' lie demonstrated the extreme fallibility of the electorate and instituted a Howard government rendered  illegitimate by the fact of this lie. Similarly Dubya bought an election when his relative Jeb, in Florida rigged an election or two. 

It is only conservative forces in recent times who deploy these insincere, deceiving tactics based on media manipulation and outright falsification. Furthermore, they dumb down the electorate by taking money out of education in order to create voters unable to discern the fact from fiction; the lies from reality. They also spruick counterenlightenment, postmodern undercurrents championing emotion over reason, so that it is easy to get swept to power and then maintain the status quo by creating a sense of panic and negativity. They thrive on these fantacies, Climate change denial being a major example.

Craig Emerson also got in a big splurge for the government at a televised press conference. The facts are that this country faces significant challenges if we are to maintain our level of well-being: climate change; equality in education; economic management. In almost any area you look at this government has been strong, far-seeing, visionary, in its legislative program. They are effectively facing these challenges. A conservative government would turn away from them and pretend they don't exist.

Why change governments if the present one is doing so well. 

The conservative forces are split five ways and GetUp is mobilising. If the likes of Hanson, Palmer and Katter can attract enough liberal leaning voters and the youth and female votes come home, there is still hope, no matter what the speculators in the media put out as news.