Terror laws passed through upper house without amendment. Parliament was given a mere three hours to discuss more than 100 amendments. Because that’s enlightened debate. Has anyone else watching our gubernatorial processes been terrified recently?
The yelling. The lack of rational discussion and argument. The shouting of ‘order, order!’ The bizarre laughing at things that aren’t funny (what *was* that guffawing about Costello saying Howard was enthusiastic about the RBA appointment? It’s been described as ‘witty’. I’m baffled.)
Stott-Despoja sounded reasonable the other night, in the three second grab that made it to the news. Unfortunately, what she was saying was the death sentence for civil liberties in this country because she has no choice. Why? Because the Libs have a majority in both houses and everyone else is spineless.
Tomorrow, I will be interviewed on JJJ about blogging and the dangers of your employer/the border police searching for you online. I’m going to do my best to insert something in there about sedition and the government too, because I’m truly worried about this.
I’m not going to stop political blogging though. They can jail me if they want (I don’t really think they will… but you never know). If they do, it will prove a point. I won’t be cowed. I still believe in dissent and freedom of speech. It’s like that “I’ll publish the memo” commitment that Jen mentioned. Safety in numbers… and in making political critique normal not aberrant.
Don’t stop. Don’t give up. Don’t cower in silence. If this is the new McCarthy era, so be it. Time to stand up for what you believe.