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Journalism of Courage
Countries are welcoming what they hope will be a more collaborative approach from the US. Are we now witnessing a profound shift in political culture for the 21st century? We are seeing change. But it is not all in the one direction. For example, last weekend John Key led the National Party in New Zealand to an election victory over Labour. One year ago Kevin Rudd and the Labor Party defeated a Coalition Government in Australia. In January 2006, Stephen Harper won minority government for the Conservative Party of Canada since confirmed in the snap election earlier this year ending the long-term rule of a left-liberal government.
In the Anglo democracies, the last round of elections have seen four governments thrown out of office with two countries Canada and New Zealand moving to the conservative side and two countries the US and Australia moving to the left-liberal or Labor side.
The parallel in these elections is not that countries are moving in the one political direction. It is that countries are voting for change8230; Clever oppositions have been able to capitalise on the desire for change 8212; Rudd promised 8220;new leadership, fresh ideas8221;, Obama promised 8220;change we can believe in8221;.
8230;The policy of change can be harnessed by the left or the right. It can be supercharged by the supporters of bigger government and who can promise more government intervention. But it can be used by conservatives as well. The lesson of the Anglo world is that, at present, people want change. It is a bad time to be an incumbent.
Extracted from a comment by Peter Costello in the 8216;Sydney Morning Herald8217;
