Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan is the cleverest political ploy since Scott Morrison convinced the party to support net zero by 2050 on the condition that they didn’t have to actually commit to doing anything to achieve it until 2049…
I mean, think about it. Peter Dutton is arguing that nuclear will not only be cheaper, but he’ll be able to build it in about ten years or so, and it won’t go over time or over budget and we can count on this because his party isn’t the Labor Party who always go over time and over budget. Of course, anyone who keeps up with any large public – or private – project anywhere in the world would be aware that every organisation is a victim of optimism bias when they do their plans and that this is why the Pyramids are one of the wonders of the world; ok, they did go a little over budget but at least they were built in time for the British to plunder…
Now I don’t intend to go down to the path of “the CSIRO said” versus “but the Independent committee for building nuclear plants said”, because we’ll be here all day arguing about things that we can’t possibly know until the future happens… and possibly not even then. I am merely pointing out the political beauty of making a prediction that is so far into the future that John Howard won’t be wheeled out at election time. (Ok, that’s a pretty bold prediction, but it makes my point: A prediction that far into the future won’t be remembered, so nobody can tell me that I’m wrong.)
Yep, this is one of those times when we shouldn’t consider whether something is a good idea or not, rather we should just look at it in purely political terms. In saying that, I am not merely trying to get a spot on “Insiders”, I’m actually asking everyone to consider politics and not worry too much about whether it will actually help anyone pay their energy bills in the coming months because that’s what a good political commentator does. If you were to consider the effect of things, then you’d be a social commentator and could be dismissed as someone who clearly has a bias. Anyway with a bias, say someone who supports the idea of human rights or the survival of mankind or anything at all, shouldn’t be making comments on politics… Unless they’re concerned about whales bumping into offshore wind farms which – unlike offshore gas or oil rigs – are impossible for whales to navigate around.
It’s really quite a brilliant strategy and as such, I applaud Peter Dutton for agreeing with whoever came up with the idea. It well may have been Peter Dutton himself because, well, there’s a first time for everything.
And Labor are making the terrible mistake of attempting to use rational arguments and statistics and expert opinions to weaken the case. Yes, what they need to do is to attempt the very successful tactic of refusing to talk about the topic at all. You know how this goes:
“So what is your objection to nuclear?”
“Look, we’ve already dealt with this, and what we really need to talk about is our recent announcement/our success in dealing with/the shadow minister’s sudden resignation…”
The basic problem for the future is the fact that people are more likely to respond to emotion than reason. How else did we get to the point where people were more concerned with people arriving by boat than overstaying their visas when they arrived by plane? And how did we then move from that to a point where everyone is meant to be concerned about legal immigrants (don’t point out that asylum seekers are legal, I know, I know!)? Yes, all this immigration is pushing up house prices which is a problem for the homeless and first home buyers who we are now meant to care about and not blame for having too many smashed avocado lattes… Which reminds me, house prices in Melbourne aren’t going up as fast as the other capitals and this is also a massive problem.
Some things are what’s called a wicked problem where whatever solution you try creates a new problem. Or instead of “some things” perhaps I should just say “the economy”.
Whatever, there is no easy fix and nobody has all the answers.
But politically speaking, it’s always easy if you can get people angry without worrying about the logic of what you’re doing or saying. That way you can do something like tell people that Covid isn’t a problem and we shouldn’t be locking down and still criticise Dan Andrews for the hotel quarantine that let Covid out and killed billions.
Mm, strangely Andrews was re-elected with a large majority, so maybe it doesn’t always work.
Also by Rossleigh:
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Peter Duckwit-Futton is far from being a political genius, and closer to being a neglected sphinctre. Dutton has failed basic maths, reasoning, evidence, science, investigation and logic, but as the advertisers, the Mudoch maggots, the Trumpites, the religious fanatics all do similar, stupidity wins, feels good, emits pressures, satisfies idiots and dolts and generally contributes to a political unclearness and intellectual desertification. Dutton and Littletobeproudof lead the intentionally stupido conservative rabble, well trained in imbecility by former Top Grubs, mad Morrison and Braindead Joyce. That team of irresponsibles gave us a ruined coppery internet, and deliberately so for patrons and donors. They gave us a Robodebt horror, of such criminal incompetence that we still shiver with rage. They gave us a laughably bad Snowy II, which fails everything for Australia’s needs. They ran up actual debt from c. 167 Bill$ to nearly 900 bill. $, and for nothing good. Social, political and commercial filth, e g., Solly and Gerry, got heaps of money for SFA and kept taxpayer money because of the bowelbrained Frydenberg’s hopelessness. They STINK, Do not SNIFF.
Peter Dutton – more cynic than anything else.
True, we need to speak to most people in terms they understand, perhaps emotion. But that should be based on truth with a solid case behind it.
This is all too true – the criminality (I can’t think of a better word) of the LNP is breathtaking. The NBN fuck-up and robodebt are utterly shameful examples of hypocrisy, stupidity, ruthlessness and inhumanity; it’s hard to believe they still exist as a political party with any clout at all. “The hanging’s too good for them.”
You have a wonderful way with words, Phil.
Intbuffoon.eresting comments, but we will not know the answer until after the next federal election. People I talk to at times are totally sucked in by the
Holy shit, how did that happen…. That should read: Interesting comments, but we will not know the answer until after the next federal election. People I talk to at times are totally sucked in by the buffoon.
Potty Boy Dutton’s nuclear strategy is as dumb as Tone the Botty’s fart about direct action climate change! Direct action on climate change is when people decide not to pollute, not when governments pay polluters not to pollute. With any luck, since by 2049, Potty Boy Dutton will be 78-79 years old, and won’t be in politics, as he’s hardly Churchillian. And Churchill had quite a few fuck-ups to add to his resumé, not just Gallipoli. Potty Boy is not a sage, and anybody who believes that Tone the Botty is anything resembling a sage needs their head read.
There is a misunderstanding that nuclear is Dutton’s strategy when in fact it has a whiff of fossil fueled Atlas-Koch aka IPA to delay transition to renewables; backgrounded by dog whistling of all things renewable by RW MSM and influencers in support.
Related, most Australians are blissfully ignorant of the ‘architecture’ when the same RW infosystem avoids relating issues (observed offshore) of fossil fuels’ talking points, climate science denial etc. that may contradict the LNP, IPA and RW MSM position.
If that doesn’t work then use the Koch’s US partners Tanton Network (see joint Heritage Project 2025) to flood the zone with white Christian nationalist faux environmental tropes, eugenics and greenwashing around refugees, immigrants, international students and population growth; too easy.
Subsequent to Ming braying at the royals and the moon, his infection by mind parasites spread rapidly through the party room and to all anywhere who opened themselves to the members. And yes, it was and is known that the mind parasites have a penchant for empty-headedness, vacant lots, and those seeking fiscal favors upon which to gorge. However, it is now abundantly clear that proximity to mind parasites plays a lesser role. Instead it is revealed that epigenetics is the main player. The party policy is rooted in a ‘fucking-over’, party growth by pleasuring those with the dormant gene. It’s rumored they say it’s better than sex.
One can only wonder at their diminishing future as they fill up with aspiring self-starters from a limited pool.
The Dumpster is loaded with all the cunning of a shithouse rat and little else and Der Spud is from the same sewer. Intellect and genius…bwahahaha!
true, Michael, he is spot on with msm debt bias.