In Terms of Hope

All I have is a voice
To undo the folded lie,
The romantic lie in the brain
Of the sensual man-in-the-street
And the lie of Authority
Whose buildings grope the sky:
There is no such thing as the State
And no one exists alone;
Hunger allows no choice
To the citizen or the police;
We must love one another or die.

Defenceless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.

WH Auden, 1 September, 1939.


We sank when we should have flared up; and were assaulted by faith, lost teeth, a narrow gain. This is the time of year when fate assaults the blessed; when everything goes wrong in order to test and strengthen us; where it's best to stay inside and avoid disaster. But disaster gets to us anyway, no matter how much we try to hide. There were times of evil indulgence; when the boys with their ill gotten gains were plundering the working girls of Bangkok and I listened to their gloating stories; while my own body fell apart and although working, poverty meant we could never triumph; never be the big man about town; never go out with several girls on my arms and order up enormous feasts in local restaurants. Like the lads were doing in Bangkok right this minute. This growing old business is for the birds.

Kevin Rudd is already displaying all the triumphalism of a new Prime Minister. While the incumbent John Howard thrashes around in an ever more embarrassing crisis. He forgot the blue collar workers who make up the backbone of this place; and is now paying the price. He used our money to indulge in his own grandiosity; and is now as deeply hated as any Prime Minister we've ever had. He boasted, time and time again, on and on and on, about the booming economy. But the boiling masses, having been treated with contempt, turned their backs. It was increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to survive on the working wage.

They boasted; their flash cars were everywhere. Anyone without their grand suburban mansion; without their sterling incomes and share portfolios just didn't register. He never went to the opening of a play; and Howard's plea that he hasn't lost his enthusiasm for the job falls on death ears. The working family has had no better friend than John Howard; declare the signs; and it's all baloney. The rich have never had a better friend than John Howard; the rest of us; drowning in debt and living on credit; look at our futures in dismay. It's boom time at the top and struggle town beneath. Between the state, federal and local governments, between the GST and the tolls and the banks; interest on interest; every last spare cent has been hoovered from us. No wonder we resent you; the smug faces of your "team". Every now and then the plundered fight back.


THE BIGGER STORY:

On John Howard:

Andrew Bolt:

Most of his own ministers are sure he's leading them to utter ruin. Yet Howard so radiates an implacable will that those ministers to a man, or mouse, just shrivelled in its fierce heat. Whatever you say, boss. Right behind you, after all. No hard feelings. Baa, baa, or whatever sound lemmings make before the splash.

Glenn Milne:

THE attempt by Howard to suddenly embrace Costello in a bizarre team leadership is a concession of fundamental personal and political weakness, most likely doomed to failure. And if it does fail, John Howard's legacy to the Liberal Party will be the sacrifice of a generation of future leaders.

Matt Price:

The alternative view has Howard selfishly obliterating the Liberals' dwindling prospects by stubbornly staying put, irrevocably tainting his successor in the process. We'll find out soon enough. What we do know is that, like Shakespeare's Lear, Howard is thrashing about near the end of his marathon career going faintly mad.

Michelle Grattan:

Many Coalition members will be reflecting that these could be their last days together in Parliament. The grim reaper of politics - otherwise known as discontented voters - is after them.

John Howard:

The opinion polls do indicate that my level of personal popularity is quite high. Given I've been prime minister for 11 1/2 years, it really is. In fact, my level of personal support is significantly higher than that of the party. If the party's level of support in the opinion polls was as high as mine is, well, we'd be a different story.