Drewski, saying the ALP are ‘left wing’ because our available spectrum has shifted so hideously to the right is ridiculous; it’s a lame capitulation to anyone who want to put certain ideas beyond the pale. The “spectrum” still exists in its entirety, no matter which parts of it are thriving at this particular moment, in this particular place.

Meanwhile, as for the net filter bullshit, I’m not worried; coming from a party whose main election plank was the rejuvenation of our telecom infrastructure, a program which would catastrophically sabotage said infrastructure is the most blaringly obvious case of political suicide I can imagine. No amount of “won’t someone think of the children”-s can turn around the universal hatred for this scheme. The ALP, insanely, decided to attack the only thing the Australian electorate gives enough of a shit about that it’ll actually get up off its collective arse to protect — its luxuries. They’re holding a knife to their own throats and daring the Australian people to come closer. “Go on, take one more step! I’ll do it!”

Yes, pornography (and alcohol) is banned in some remote Aboriginal communities – but it’s not because of a “few” Aboriginal men, it’s because of a systemic culture of child abuse and rape. And it wasn’t “swept under the carpet”, it was a giant political firestorm that essentially forced then (then Liberal) government to take action.

And the “intervention”, as it was called, was broadly supported by Aboriginal groups, although not supported by many Aboriginal groups as well.

It is absolutely nothing like apartheidt.

Personally, I think there has to be a better way of changing the culture of Aboriginal communities, but I don’t know what that is and I am absolutely positive that they had to do something.

The US gives the impression that it is very Right-wing; but this is their media doing them a disservice. I’ve visited about 5 states in the mid-west and bible belt and only Indiana and Oklahoma seemed quite overtly Right-wing in my opinion. Kentucky, Florida and Illinois are if anything quite hostile to Fox News; you can always tell the political leanings of the area you are in by watching the local Fox news programmes. When they are louder than the main Fox News channel, you’re in wingnut country.

I have recently changed my position on the subject of game bans: let them. Let the politicians ban what they want. I want them to see the resulting mess.