How do you reach the other side of politics?

In my post "I am stunned ...", I commented that "NO-ONE is doing anything to bring the lunatic fringe RWNJs back into the fold". 

So what would that entail? 

Well, I think it is instructive to consider how minority governments function - which is a compulsory process of talking and negotiating to a position that all involved can live with, even if they aren't happy with it. 

When I was co-convenor of TGV, we deliberately worked with the ALP and the Libs (we would talk to anyone who would listen): both those parties were supportive, but the independents weren't. An ALP MLA took on the role of negotiating with the independents, and was able to get an agreement, although we had to concede one transphobic inclusion, and there were a few times I would have taken personal legal action if I had the money.

Interestingly, when the legislation passed, one of the organisations that rang to congratulate us was a UK organisation whose decision to hold off until they could get everything they wanted was used as a basis for criticising us - something they were utterly stunned about, as that hadn't been their intention - they were dealing with UK conditions. 

So from that: 

• use an intermediary who has credibility with both sides; 
• understand that you WILL have to concede something, but stick to your guns on what is genuinely important (we threatened to get the Libs to oppose the law in response to one egregiously transphobic proposal).
  

Amy Chua advocates, in "Political Tribes", for people in different groups to talk to each other. Two or three decades ago, that would have worked, but the divisions that neoliberalism and right wing neochristianity have entrenched - particularly in the precariat - have made that unviable (it never was viable in terms of having bigots meet members of minority group). 

However, political parties may still have that option to some extent - as was shown by the Gillard government.

The problem these days, in the era of what Robert Reich describes as "knee jerk conservatism", is to find a conservative MP who is approachable - they do exist, mind, but they're not necessarily going to be able to talk as they wish.

The other option, of course, is for voters to change their representatives, but that can be difficult. 

Consider the electorates of Hughes and Capricornia. 

Hughes has an extremely controversial representative who has quit the Libs and joined the extreme right wing UAP, giving him access to funds from a billionaire (which has been used to send uninvited texts to much of Australia). That rep is in power because two Lib PMs overruled the local branches and insisted on him (refer to the link I provided - you can get general statistical info on electorates via this ABS page). Now that he is out, the Libs can propose who they want, and there will be a question over how many Lib votes the rep takes with him. 

In this electorate, and Capricornia, jobs are a key issue - I'll come back to that shortly, bu the comment on jobs is "Hughes has always had a well above average number of trade qualified residents. The decline in Labor's vote in Hughes reflects changes in the workforce, tradesmen more likely to be self-employed these days compared to the days when they worked for the large state corporations such as the electricity authorities".

Let's now look at Capricornia, which is held by the conservatives (the Libs and National Party have joined in that state, so that is a reference to the LNP). One of the other extreme right wing parties also gained a major vote there, and the link includes the following: "The electorate still includes significant agricultural and pastoral districts, but the region's economy and workforce is increasingly dominated by the mining industry and associated transport and export facilities".

The mining in Capricornia is fossil fuel mining - coal. Coal is an industry that has no future - in fact, the fossil fuel industry is a "dead man walking" situation, and for very good reasons: the survival of life on this planet. 

However, if you're talking to someone who is drowning, they're not going to be receptive to a warning of an imminent landslide that will be even worse. 

Thus, the sorts of points which need to be conveyed to people in Capricornia are: 

1. the climate crisis is real - yes, that needs to be said because the consequences are so life changing it blocks people's ability to accept it; 
2. other jobs can be made available; 
3. other jobs, training and support will be made available.
   

It is actually a pity the Palaszczuk government hasn't actively implemented the renewable energy and job transitions policies of the Andrews government, which would give credence to point no. 3 above. If they had, there would be, in my opinion, a good chance that the ALP's policies on "just transition" and jobs (see Chapter Two here - the length of that document is a challenge) would help win the electorate. 

The Australian Greens have also published reasonable "principles" on employment and economic justice, but I doubt they would appeal to parents with kids who are looking at losing their life plans (people often do build plans for their lives on the basis of a particular job). 

With regard to other parties, I'll indulge in a bit of speculation (you should check their actual policies - particularly closer to the next election). 

The Libs will probably trot out their wrong claim to be better economic managers, and everyone - out of habit and lack of credible challenge - will swallow that reflexively - without thought.

The extreme right wing parties will probably promise the world, and appeal to people's fears - populism of the type that #45 used so devastatingly in the USA. I am relieved that this group of people, mostly the victims of neoliberalism in the precariat, will not be likely to form government ... but I am concerned they may get balance of power.

In terms of working with those people who are drawn to the extreme right, Guy Standing has a few recommendations on how to engage with them. Those should be being implemented RIGHT NOW and for the last year or so by all parties which consider themselves progressive - with the first step being listening (and the mass phone ins from other states / travel train of outsiders being avoided) - use local members of parties.

It is difficult during a pandemic, but phone calls and web-based engagement have become quite widespread now, and would be a  good way to get this underway (and to coincidentally reduce the power of conservative media).

So ... just a few thought.