22nd January 2000
Although not due until November, the US presidential election has been in full swing for months. With the field narrowing down to seven favoured candidates, the circus-hype will be stepped up over the coming months. Because there is no compulsory voting, whoever becomes the President in November will get there with support well short of 50 per cent of the nation. In fact, if previous presidential elections are anything to go by, less than hald the people will bother voting at all.
Why?
Christopher Reed, writing in The Bulletin (25/1/2000) included these comments, disturbingly like Australia, although to a lesser degree:
" …. A tiny fraction of super-rich citizens exercise vast political power, some of whom are the candidates themselves, running their own vanity campaigns on vast personal fortunes, while others exploit the political legacy of dynastic families.
The pretence of a two-party system disguises what one opposition critic, mostly ignored by a subservient press, describes more accurately as "two factions of the business party quarelling over the spoils" …..
It is here in early November that a new president and numerous senators and Congress members will be "elected" at a total estimated cost in campaign funds of $US3.5 billion ($5.3 billion) - an increase of more than one-third since 1996. Most of this loot comes from the corporate world, where the desire for a free and representative democracy is not the motivation …..
The attention the media devote to candidates and opinion polls demonstrates their complicity; they treat with unquestioning earnestness a system where the outcome has been pre-ordained ….
US politics is … in thrall to money, with campaign "contributions" acting as open bribes in all but name …."
Reed's research for his article comes in part from Noam Chomsky, a world-noted Jewish iconoclast whose findings seldom reach reviews in the mainstream US media.
And this was what the Murdochs and Turnbulls wanted for Australia. The influence of big money already exists, with most party politicians learning early not to get out of step with those who fund their parties.
But at least we don't have to go through this nauseating process to select our head of state! The monarchical system looks better by the moment.
AUSTRALIA'S SOVEREIGNTY UP FOR GRABS: A 'sub-committee" of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade is now taking submissions on Australia's relations with the United Nations. In its official advertisement for submissions the following comment is made:
" … Of particular interest is the increasing demand for and the changing nature of peacekeeping operations; the implications of these operations for national sovereignty; the question of a standing army for the United Nations; an International Criminal Court; and reform of the structure and financial arrangements for the United Nations …."
This raises huge issues for Australia. The current operation in East Timor is officially a United Nations one, although Australians serving there do so under their own commanders.
Much attention in the US has been drawn to the case of a young Marine, imprisoned because his oath of loyalty was to his own country - not an international military force.
Australia would be foolish to reduce in any way its own sovereign decision-making process over any use of its already inadequate armed forces. The record of UN peacekeeping operations since the end of the war, starting with its infamous role in the Congo and Katanga, has been a tawdry one. The current Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan, has had to accept personal blame for the despicable use of so-called "peace-keepers" in Ruanda. The UN's behaviour - and defeat - in Somalia was just as infamous.
Another issue exists. Section 68 of Australia's Constitution says the the Governor-General, as the Queen's representative, is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. It is not for any politician to transfer command powers to any other authority without the consent of the Australian people.
It is essential that as many submissions as possible, raising these and other concerns, be submitted. The final date for submissions in February 21 - only four weeks away. They should be made to:
The Secretary, Sub-Committee on the United Nations,
Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade,
Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600
(Tel: (02) 6277 2313; Fax: (02) 6277 2221; Email: jscfadt@aph.gov.au
Website:http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jfadt/U Nations/UNIndex.htm)