As an Abbott Government looks more certain, there are many who are desperate to do anything they can to stop him from getting the keys to the lodge. We are getting to a stage of ‘keeping Abbott out at all costs’; whether it be sacrificing important principles on key issues, or just ‘staying quiet’ about important progressive policy until after the election is done.
There probably two ways this discourse is playing out. Firstly, many are saying that any attack on the ALP is simply ‘helping Abbott’. As a way to keep him out, we need to minimise left-wing attacks on the Government, and focus solely on defeating the LNP. There are too many examples of this to point out – but basically look at anyone who criticises the ALP from the left and you will see this argument lobbed their way.
Building on this, there are many who are both excusing the ALP when they adopt right-wing policy, but more worryingly pushing others to sacrifice their left-wing principles until Abbott is defeated. A perfect example could be found on a comment on Greens Senator Larissa Waters’ Facebook Page the other day:
“I really don’t think it would hurt to drop some principles to keep abbott out… Start the fight again when Abbott has been defeated this is the last roll of the dice.”
These approaches however are ignoring what I can only call the ‘costs of keeping Abbott out all costs’.
It’s important that we consider why we want to keep Abbott out so desperately. Whilst many can’t stand him personally, and dread the thought of having to see him on our television screens for the next ten years, we can only summise that the major driving force behind this movement is his very right-wing nature. It is natural to try and do whatever you can when faced with a Conservative Government, but Abbott, and his particular brand of conservatism is definitely raising the stakes of the game.
Given this however we really need to ask is, isn’t a ‘keeping him out at all costs’ approach self-defeating? If, in trying to defeat Abbott, we become Abbott, then it seems like all we’ve done is saved ourselves from seeing his face on TV, and nothing more.
Now, I know many would say that that’s not what we’re doing – there are still major differences between the ALP and LNP and all we’re doing is trying to shut down controversial issues (like the budget and asylum seekers) so we can focus on the issues where we can win. Even with this caveat however, this movement is having a real impact on our ability to defeat Abbott.
By shifting to the right, we are allowing Abbott to frame the terms of the election debate. We are setting the election on right-wing terms; ceasing ground on major issues like tax redistribution, asylum seekers, the environment (see all the mining approvals recently), welfare etc. And in doing this we are giving Abbott significant authority. As the ALP adopts his ideas, or more importantly his ideological framing, they are letting him be an ideological leader. And once he becomes an ideological leader, it makes sense for many in the community to turn to him – if we’re going to have Abbott’s policies why not just have Abbott.
And whilst we may say that what we need to do then is focus on the areas of difference, and campaign against him in that manner, that story unfortunately doesn’t work. People vote based on emotions and values, not on specific policy details. As many in the left sacrifice their values therefore they are painting a picture of a valueless movement focused largely on power, and whether we like it or not, that pushes people in the other direction.
And this is where the problem goes well beyond this election. If, in the likely scenario that Abbott does win on September 14, a further shift to the right from the left in the meantime would make bringing back a progressive agenda extremely difficult.
If for example, we ceased to fight on progressive ideals such as redistributing mining wealth, or getting rid of mandatory detention for asylum seekers, we would be ceasing those ideas for decades. We would be giving them over to the right, and in turn making it far more difficult to bring them back in the future. Tony Abbott’s right would become the new norm for politics.
When engaging in political fights like these we need to think not only about the short-term election, but also the long-term game. I never want to see Tony Abbott as Prime Minister of Australia, but giving up on progressive principles now, will not only aid his march to the lodge, but it will also make it much more difficult to fight against his conservative Government if he is elected.
If we want to live in a left-wing world, and have a left-wing Government, we have to fight like that. I am certain that we can, and should win by being progressives – if we want a progressive world we really have no other choice.
Ps. a couple of other interesting articles on the subject:
Tad Tietze in the Drum: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4524642.html
The piping shrike: http://www.pipingshrike.com/2013/02/the-phoney-problem-of-ideology.html