Election 2010 – Do Australians want a Mummy or a Daddy
There is a shtick in modern western politics called the “Mummy Problem”.
The shtick goes like this. When voters want a National Daddy, someone to stand next to them who is strong, determined, tough, protective and will stop the local bullies, then they vote Conservative.
When they want the National Mummy, want someone who will comfort them, nurture them, give them jobs, national healthcare and the “policy equivalent of matzah ball soup” (thanks to Josh Leinman for that one), then they vote the equivalent of the ALP.
So I’m not sure we Australia’s quite know which we want… the Mummy or the Daddy? On one hand, the Coalition’s push to “stop the boats” seems to be a jingoistic thrust to advance the Daddy option. On the other hand, tax the rich mining companies to hand more superannuation to the workers is the Labour equivalent of a Mummy cuddle.
Dare I say that we Australians want a little bit of both. Maybe, in that case, we just need a big brother instead? And no, that sure isn’t the Greens. They are just the policy equivalent of a “Shabbos Cholent” A little bit of this, a little bit of that, all warm and sloppy and no real structure.
One week to go… and the catch cry that will be on everybody’s lips….. it’s too close to call!!
