Sustaining ideas at election time

September 9th, 2013  |  Published in Social justice

This collection of brief posts first appeared on the site’s facebook page leading up to, and immediately following, the Australian federal election on 7 September 2013 (in which Tony Abbott, leader of the Liberal Party, became Prime Minister of Australia.)

save nation too big

QUOTES ON THE WAY TO ELECTION DAY (1)
I cannot say whether things will get better if we change.
What I can say is that they must change if they are to get better.
(Georg Christoph Lichtenberg)
Comment: To hijack an old hippie slogan: All we are saying…is give change a chance.

QUOTES ON THE WAY TO ELECTION DAY (2)
Once you realise that trickle-down economics does not work, you will see the excessive tax cuts for the rich as what they are – a simple upward redistribution of income rather than a way to make all of us richer, as we were told.
(Ha-Joon Chang, 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism)
Comment: Having the choice to vote for redistribution of income DOWNWARDS – that would be something!

QUOTES ON THE WAY TO ELECTION DAY (3)
There must exist a paradigm, a practical model for social change that includes an understanding of ways to transform consciousness that are linked to efforts to transform structures.
(bell hooks, killing rage: Ending Racism)
Comment: Sounds good to me, bell hooks, but can you give us the answer yet?

QUOTES ON THE WAY TO ELECTION DAY (4)Justice + figures
Rules of taste enforce structures of power.
(Susan Sontag)
Comment: Gotta get rid of those rules of taste.

QUOTES ON THE WAY TO ELECTION DAY (5)
Give your creative thoughts free reign, for it is only in the hearts and dreams of people seeking a better world that true social justice has a chance.
(Bill Quigley)
Comment: Time for dreams, and dreamers.

QUOTES ON THE WAY TO ELECTION DAY (6)
If you look at what is happening on earth and aren’t pessimistic, you don’t understand data. But if you meet the people who are working to restore this earth and the lives of the poor, and you aren’t optimistic, you haven’t got a pulse.
(Paul Hawken)
Comment: I think he’s saying it’s all about people power.

POLLING DAY (Saturday 7 Sep 2013)peoplepower
Now is the hour…for people power
The first day…of a long haul
Stay strong…and safe.

MORNING AFTER…
Sad and sorry and head full of cliché.
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON
This too will pass
Tomorrow is another day
There’s always next time
Grit the teeth
Gird the loins
Back on the horse
Stay the course
It’ll all come out in the wash
Whatever will be will be
Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, start all over again
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON
Did I say that already?

panic t 240-shirt

But only for a little while, then on with the job…Joan Beckwith.

 

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