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ARTS AND CULTURE

Dangers of democracy

  • 17 May 2011

A brief explanation of paternalistic welfare reform following the 2011 Budget

And the wisemen and women came along and lookedover the tops of their glasses atthe people who were outsidethe fence and theysaid, smiling, kindly, knowingly: ah,weknow what'sgood for you. We're going tostrengthen you and make you strong and even moral and upright. You don't

know better. You

won't even really notice ifat first we put you down.

–John Falzon

Uncommon good(after reading Shaun Carney's article, 'Complacency may yet undo lucky country', The Age, 9 March 2011)

Shaun Carney and Ken Henry share my swimA journalist and treasurer who thinkThe common good is their uncommon Hymn

Today let's hear John Donne's sad tolling ringWithout that tune we all of us might sinkShaun Carney and Ken Henry share my swim

Each stroke for carbon tax I splash and singOur time on earth goes like a watery blinkThe common good is their uncommon Hymn

Ken's tenderness for wombats    it could bringRare insight that such creatures form a LinkShaun Carney and Ken Henry share my swim

Our wealth drowns words like Shaun's    pool-sunk and dimWe buy white goods    enjoy the salesman's winkThe common good    such an old-fashioned Hymn

And some say    let's be cool    leave folks their flingTheir harmless habits wash quick in their drinkBut I hear Shaun and Ken    they share my swim

The common good    it's real   a cogent Hymn

–Jill Sutton

Listening to 774 ABC MelbourneBlack Saturday, 7 February 2009

Kylie rang and asked —Should I evacuate?Where should I go?

And he said — Kylie,your fire plan should be in place.Like the headmaster of the world.

I glanced at the nervous husband sittingat the foot of the table opposite from me

and I said — If I was Kylie I would sue himfor being an utter prick when I needed him.

–Jennifer Compton

El Caudillo speaks to John Howard (2007)

You too, Juanito, are a man of steelwith an impotent nation in your care:'talk peace; but make strong allies everywhere'is the best policy, and I think you feelyou've managed that with nothing to conceal:for Fuhrer and Il Duce, Bush and Blair.It seems all so straightforward; but beware —the dangers of democracy are real.

I never joined them in their great disasterand never suffered their humiliation:through a long life I kept myself afloat.Will you remain the smirking little masterthough propaganda suffer such deflation;or will you simply sink in the next vote?

–Evan Jones

Dr John Falzon is a sociologist, CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia, and a member of