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The Donald Trump spectacle gives Australia a nightmarish vision of things to come The Donald Trump spectacle gives Australia a nightmarish vision of things to come
(7 months later)
As summer sideshows for global political tragics go, America’s primary races are absolutely without peer.As summer sideshows for global political tragics go, America’s primary races are absolutely without peer.
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Donald Trump grows ever stranger, and the Larry David impersonator Bernie Sanders, the protest candidate, is encroaching on the “inevitability” of Hillary Clinton – a woman who has prepared her entire life to be president, and speaks like a politician who will know how to navigate the complexities of “politics as it is” because of her high-level professional experience.Donald Trump grows ever stranger, and the Larry David impersonator Bernie Sanders, the protest candidate, is encroaching on the “inevitability” of Hillary Clinton – a woman who has prepared her entire life to be president, and speaks like a politician who will know how to navigate the complexities of “politics as it is” because of her high-level professional experience.
Clinton’s current tone of informed realpolitik would normally be a strength in the context of an election contest. Tidy and nuanced answers, which reference the realities of governing, are generally considered a plus.Clinton’s current tone of informed realpolitik would normally be a strength in the context of an election contest. Tidy and nuanced answers, which reference the realities of governing, are generally considered a plus.
But somehow, all that down-to-the-fine-print ballast is presenting, at least in this early primaries stage, as a weakness for Clinton. She sounds like part of the system, because she is part of the system. She is a creature, (and given the dynastic overtones, possibly the creature) or embodiment of the status quo.But somehow, all that down-to-the-fine-print ballast is presenting, at least in this early primaries stage, as a weakness for Clinton. She sounds like part of the system, because she is part of the system. She is a creature, (and given the dynastic overtones, possibly the creature) or embodiment of the status quo.
The primaries sideshow is, as I’ve noted, enormous fun, and I don’t want to curtail anyone’s viewing pleasure.The primaries sideshow is, as I’ve noted, enormous fun, and I don’t want to curtail anyone’s viewing pleasure.
But we really need to sift through the colour and movement if we are to understand that our groaning banquet of passing strange is actually a function of a deep malaise at the heart of the US political system.But we really need to sift through the colour and movement if we are to understand that our groaning banquet of passing strange is actually a function of a deep malaise at the heart of the US political system.
Americans are looking at their system and pronouncing it an ass. The desire for something else – anything else – is fuelling both the Trump and Sanders insurgencies. It might all fizzle, but right now, alienation and disaffection is set at rolling boil.Americans are looking at their system and pronouncing it an ass. The desire for something else – anything else – is fuelling both the Trump and Sanders insurgencies. It might all fizzle, but right now, alienation and disaffection is set at rolling boil.
Sanders has, through his campaign, worked to both voice and validate the concerns of progressive voters that money has a lock on the legislators in Washington DC. Money and rent-seekers first, people second.Sanders has, through his campaign, worked to both voice and validate the concerns of progressive voters that money has a lock on the legislators in Washington DC. Money and rent-seekers first, people second.
Related: 'Give us a dream': Hillary Clinton supporters look to her for aspirations
While Clinton continues to grapple gamely with politics as it is, Sanders talks about the possibility of another politics entirely, and his dogged discipline with that core, mildly utopian message, ensures the message cuts through.While Clinton continues to grapple gamely with politics as it is, Sanders talks about the possibility of another politics entirely, and his dogged discipline with that core, mildly utopian message, ensures the message cuts through.
Over on the right, Trump, the billionaire plutocrat, has managed to style himself as the anti-establishment candidate.Over on the right, Trump, the billionaire plutocrat, has managed to style himself as the anti-establishment candidate.
I won’t seek to analyse the how’s and why’s of that – journalists and commentators in America have already written extensively on the intricacies of the Trump phenomenon with more insight and depth and elegance than I could possibly offer from my distant and far less well informed perch.I won’t seek to analyse the how’s and why’s of that – journalists and commentators in America have already written extensively on the intricacies of the Trump phenomenon with more insight and depth and elegance than I could possibly offer from my distant and far less well informed perch.
But it’s fair to say Trump is busy telling voters that he doesn’t need to play by Washington’s rules because he has his own resources. He won’t owe any favours. He won’t need to bend to special interests because he’s not part of the architecture. He’s completely independent.But it’s fair to say Trump is busy telling voters that he doesn’t need to play by Washington’s rules because he has his own resources. He won’t owe any favours. He won’t need to bend to special interests because he’s not part of the architecture. He’s completely independent.
Most of what Trump says is irrational and mendacious, but his projection of structural independence is merely mildly mendacious, a politician’s pugnacious overstatement, not a lie.Most of what Trump says is irrational and mendacious, but his projection of structural independence is merely mildly mendacious, a politician’s pugnacious overstatement, not a lie.
So how can we summarise these intersecting roads? The notion that politics in Washington could be different is proving compelling, at least at this point in the cycle, with voters on both the left and the right. Americans may not agree on very much, but it seems they can agree on that.So how can we summarise these intersecting roads? The notion that politics in Washington could be different is proving compelling, at least at this point in the cycle, with voters on both the left and the right. Americans may not agree on very much, but it seems they can agree on that.
Now we get to the part of the Dispatch where I say all the obvious things. America is not Australia. The system of government in America differs from our system of government in many important respects.Now we get to the part of the Dispatch where I say all the obvious things. America is not Australia. The system of government in America differs from our system of government in many important respects.
Australians have not lived through a visceral experience like the impacts of the financial crisis – a catastrophic failure of regulation that has been followed by only the most limited of corrective actions on the part of government and regulators.Australians have not lived through a visceral experience like the impacts of the financial crisis – a catastrophic failure of regulation that has been followed by only the most limited of corrective actions on the part of government and regulators.
We have not lived inside a system where the most inexcusable societal inequality can be rationalised by adherence to “the American dream”.We have not lived inside a system where the most inexcusable societal inequality can be rationalised by adherence to “the American dream”.
Being a rising middle power, we have not had to manage the cultural anxiety that the era of American exceptionalism is now over.Being a rising middle power, we have not had to manage the cultural anxiety that the era of American exceptionalism is now over.
We don’t have to contemplate soul-searching about why the great 20th century superpower has turned in on itself and become almost ungovernable in the new century, largely because of the institutionalised idiocy of a political system that has Balkanised into hyper-partisanship deployed for its own sake, not for any greater end.We don’t have to contemplate soul-searching about why the great 20th century superpower has turned in on itself and become almost ungovernable in the new century, largely because of the institutionalised idiocy of a political system that has Balkanised into hyper-partisanship deployed for its own sake, not for any greater end.
Given recent history, green shoots of economic recovery notwithstanding, it is entirely rational for Americans to look at their system and feel either fear or boiling rage.Given recent history, green shoots of economic recovery notwithstanding, it is entirely rational for Americans to look at their system and feel either fear or boiling rage.
In Australia, our institutional failures are smaller in scale.In Australia, our institutional failures are smaller in scale.
We had a Labor government content to cannibalise itself in front of the voters for reasons that remain incomprehensible, and more than mildly disconcerting, a portent of structural instability at the core of one of Australia’s oldest parties of government.We had a Labor government content to cannibalise itself in front of the voters for reasons that remain incomprehensible, and more than mildly disconcerting, a portent of structural instability at the core of one of Australia’s oldest parties of government.
We’ve survived the Dumb and Dumber era of Tony Abbott – which was mainly just painful to watch, but did actually result in one legislative action that was entirely against Australia’s national interest, the repeal of a perfectly functional carbon price.We’ve survived the Dumb and Dumber era of Tony Abbott – which was mainly just painful to watch, but did actually result in one legislative action that was entirely against Australia’s national interest, the repeal of a perfectly functional carbon price.
That repeal happened because of the Abbott government’s deep dive into “truthy” at the expense of facts and reason and science and evidence-based policy, and because carbon-intensive industries that prance about in boom times fancying themselves more powerful than democratically elected governments really wanted to forestall the inevitability of mandated carbon constraint for a few more years.That repeal happened because of the Abbott government’s deep dive into “truthy” at the expense of facts and reason and science and evidence-based policy, and because carbon-intensive industries that prance about in boom times fancying themselves more powerful than democratically elected governments really wanted to forestall the inevitability of mandated carbon constraint for a few more years.
Not the Wall Street atrocity, but not good, either.Not the Wall Street atrocity, but not good, either.
Apart from those specific examples, looking more broadly at the architecture, our system looks strong, but is actually weak, and nobody much seems interested in making it stronger.Apart from those specific examples, looking more broadly at the architecture, our system looks strong, but is actually weak, and nobody much seems interested in making it stronger.
Australian politics, like American politics, is obsessed with money. Same obsession, just smaller in scale. Our donations and disclosure system is little better than a joke, and every call for a national integrity body gets buried.Australian politics, like American politics, is obsessed with money. Same obsession, just smaller in scale. Our donations and disclosure system is little better than a joke, and every call for a national integrity body gets buried.
This year is an election year. The prime minister, to his credit, is inclined to pursue a reform agenda. Yet there is a rapid-set smugness at the major party level about matters of political reform. I can’t see much broad-based momentum for soul-searching. And we need the soul-searching to ensure we don’t sleepwalk into the same ornery place the US is in this election cycle.This year is an election year. The prime minister, to his credit, is inclined to pursue a reform agenda. Yet there is a rapid-set smugness at the major party level about matters of political reform. I can’t see much broad-based momentum for soul-searching. And we need the soul-searching to ensure we don’t sleepwalk into the same ornery place the US is in this election cycle.
That means extending the conversation about ending the age of entitlement beyond Joe Hockey’s ultimately inconsequential finger-waggling at the public – it requires Australian politicians to grapple with concrete steps to end their own age of entitlement.That means extending the conversation about ending the age of entitlement beyond Joe Hockey’s ultimately inconsequential finger-waggling at the public – it requires Australian politicians to grapple with concrete steps to end their own age of entitlement.
It would necessitate reforms that not only strengthen accountability, but also reassert the fact that parliament exists to serve the people.It would necessitate reforms that not only strengthen accountability, but also reassert the fact that parliament exists to serve the people.
Related: Donald Trump and Sarah Palin: a liberal nightmare come true – or a stage act?
It requires a deep think about the current health of representative democracy, and whether or not we can take steps to bring communities into politics to give more input, without undermining the structural strength which is delivered in our political system through the application of major party discipline.It requires a deep think about the current health of representative democracy, and whether or not we can take steps to bring communities into politics to give more input, without undermining the structural strength which is delivered in our political system through the application of major party discipline.
As well as thinking about reforming the economy, ensuring that our fiscal house is order, that we have the right drivers for economic growth, that we are living sustainably in the environmental sense, and governing for the future, politics also needs to grapple with fundamental questions of integrity: can voters have faith in the system that exists now, or do we need to buttress the foundations?As well as thinking about reforming the economy, ensuring that our fiscal house is order, that we have the right drivers for economic growth, that we are living sustainably in the environmental sense, and governing for the future, politics also needs to grapple with fundamental questions of integrity: can voters have faith in the system that exists now, or do we need to buttress the foundations?
Otherwise our political party game beamed live from the US is less summer spectacle, and more harbinger of our own, collective nightmare.Otherwise our political party game beamed live from the US is less summer spectacle, and more harbinger of our own, collective nightmare.