I’m starting to think that op/ed columnists should avoid cultural analogies. Greg Sheridan plays movie reviewer in a rather incoherent rant which attributes both the failure of the government to lower the top marginal tax rate (sorry you’re not happy with your 3 course meal tax cut, Greg) and “leftie” films such as Three Dollars to failings in our conservative intellectual culture:
For all the talk of our world-beating performance we still have a lower per capita income than many comparable countries.
This weakness in reform reflects a weak Australian conservative intellectual tradition. Nothing is a more perfect illustration of this than the ridiculous new movie Three Dollars.
At a time of near record low interest rates, near record low unemployment and acute shortages of skilled labor, this movie presents a black fantasy that the arts establishment, and many public intellectuals more broadly, believe accurately reflects Australian society.
Taxation is theft, according to Mr Sheridan:
Merely moving the tax rate threshholds, as this budget does, means that inflation and bracket creep eventually put you back in the same incentive-sapping position you’ve just escaped from.
Asian businessmen I talk to are aghast at the idea of relocating to Australia, where the Government would steal half of any extra success they have.
Sheridan doesn’t seem to lack any incentive to turn out crap columns every week. Funny that. Although he lacks the incentive apparently – and the entrepreneurial get up and go – to seek finance for his exciting script idea:
Here’s a wacky idea. Why doesn’t the Australian Film Finance Corporation finance a film in which a property developer is the hero? That would be wildly unconventional, even subversive.
Get off your bum, Greg, and see if you can get the private sector interested in this stunning creative flash, instead of asking the Government to do it for you.
Whatever. You’re no Fenella Kernebone, Mr Sheridan. For a bit of a reality check on what being on the dole is like, Mr Sheridan might like to take time out from his important trips to Turkey (what’s their top marginal tax rate?) and read this piece in The Age.
Meanwhile, the Devine Miss M continues to talk up Southpark. She should have a read of Crooked Timber. Anyway, Miss M claims that the Southpark sensibility is evidence of the increasing conservatism of today’s yoof:
Surveys show this age group hold conservative views about religion, believe in marriage, are more likely to volunteer, have better relationships with their parents than any recent generation and are less likely to drink, take drugs or engage in sex than generation X-ers.
Um, which surveys exactly, Miranda?
I thought you were horrified by surveys that showed that the kiddies were hooking up.
Her thesis is also supported by some sort of pop sociology nonsense from a book called Millennials Rising:
Every new generation is a new people, as the American authors William Strauss and Neil Howe have said in a series of books about history through generations, the latest of which is Millennials Rising, published in 2000. Their theory is that history runs in four repeated cycles, or what they call turnings, and is shaped by four repeated generation types.
Their first turning is a high, a conservative, conformist and prosperous era which usually occurs after winning a war (for example, the Victorian era or the 1950s). The second turning is an awakening, an idealistic, progressive era of “spiritual upheaval when the civic order comes under attack from a new values regime”.
The third turning is an unravelling (the 1920s and our current era, from about 1984, although on his website Strauss has pondered whether we are on the cusp of the fourth turning).
It is a period of disillusionment and alienation as the “new values regime implants”. The so-called culture wars are a typical byproduct. The fourth turning is a crisis, during which big wars and crusades happen and the “entire future of society is at stake”.
After the crisis the wheel goes full circle back to the first turning.
Like. Whatever. Makes about as much sense as the Da Vinci Code. What Miranda is apparently missing (aside from the fact that the Sydney University Arts Faculty hasn’t finished warping the millennials’ minds) is that the implication of this “theory” is that radicalism will return.
My advice? Columnists, stay away from the pop culture wars, and stick to what you know. Next you’ll be telling us Big Brother is the new Shakespeare.
haha, dude, you are in a grumpy mood! don’t stop!
haha, dude, you are in a grumpy mood! don’t stop!
“sian businessmen I talk to are aghast at the idea of relocating to Australia, where the Government would steal half of any extra success they have.”
For someone that’s supposed to be an insider, he doesn’t seem to have of a clue about all the tax breaks and investment incentives that’ll leap into the air, clapping their wings like pigeons, the moment an Asian businessman comes with business card length of Federal and State investment bodies.
“Here?Äôs a wacky idea. Why doesn?Äôt the Australian Film Finance Corporation finance a film in which a property developer is the hero? That would be wildly unconventional, even subversive.”
What!?! He’s calling for my taxes to fund an ideologically-driven film? Not only that Greg, is a film with the logline “He came! He subdivided! He lunched with planners!” really gonna make it’s money back? Someone should explain to Whiskers what market forces really are, before he starts pitching “Off The Plan” to baffled Asian businessmen.
“It is a period of disillusionment and alienation as the “new values regime implants”. The so-called culture wars are a typical byproduct. The fourth turning is a crisis, during which big wars and crusades happen and the “entire future of society is at stake”.
After the crisis the wheel goes full circle back to the first turning.”
The dude sounds quite menopausal. Time to get that vigara prescripton filled Greg, and work up the courage to make a move on the cute new intern. It’ll buck yer column up no end.
“sian businessmen I talk to are aghast at the idea of relocating to Australia, where the Government would steal half of any extra success they have.”
For someone that’s supposed to be an insider, he doesn’t seem to have of a clue about all the tax breaks and investment incentives that’ll leap into the air, clapping their wings like pigeons, the moment an Asian businessman comes with business card length of Federal and State investment bodies.
“Here?Äôs a wacky idea. Why doesn?Äôt the Australian Film Finance Corporation finance a film in which a property developer is the hero? That would be wildly unconventional, even subversive.”
What!?! He’s calling for my taxes to fund an ideologically-driven film? Not only that Greg, is a film with the logline “He came! He subdivided! He lunched with planners!” really gonna make it’s money back? Someone should explain to Whiskers what market forces really are, before he starts pitching “Off The Plan” to baffled Asian businessmen.
“It is a period of disillusionment and alienation as the “new values regime implants”. The so-called culture wars are a typical byproduct. The fourth turning is a crisis, during which big wars and crusades happen and the “entire future of society is at stake”.
After the crisis the wheel goes full circle back to the first turning.”
The dude sounds quite menopausal. Time to get that vigara prescripton filled Greg, and work up the courage to make a move on the cute new intern. It’ll buck yer column up no end.
I was amused to see the Howe and Strauss stuff surfacing in Miranda Devine’s column. According to the authors the new generation won’t exactly be right wing:
“They will revive unionism and seek more standard pay scales and benefit packages.”
http://www.millennialsrising.com/qa.shtml
It’s peculiar stuff, kind of like Christopher Vogler for marketers.
I was amused to see the Howe and Strauss stuff surfacing in Miranda Devine’s column. According to the authors the new generation won’t exactly be right wing:
“They will revive unionism and seek more standard pay scales and benefit packages.”
http://www.millennialsrising.com/qa.shtml
It’s peculiar stuff, kind of like Christopher Vogler for marketers.
Devine is really keen on the idea of the bright young conservative army rising up behind me (I’m 24, which is apparently the X/Y boundary — pity I was 13 when Reality Bites came out and missed all that slacking). I don’t see a huge amount of evidence for it anecodotally (apathy compared to the 1960s yes, active political conservatism not so much), so would indeed be interested in the identity of her surveys.
Devine is really keen on the idea of the bright young conservative army rising up behind me (I’m 24, which is apparently the X/Y boundary — pity I was 13 when Reality Bites came out and missed all that slacking). I don’t see a huge amount of evidence for it anecodotally (apathy compared to the 1960s yes, active political conservatism not so much), so would indeed be interested in the identity of her surveys.
Damn, how am I supposed to complain about the good old days, and kids not being like they used to when they are more bloody conservative than I am? It’s getting harder to be a Gen Xer, I tell you. I’m supposed to stand around complaining about today’s yoof, not being told to grow up by some young Yer who is nice to his parents and does charity work on the weekends.
Damn, how am I supposed to complain about the good old days, and kids not being like they used to when they are more bloody conservative than I am? It’s getting harder to be a Gen Xer, I tell you. I’m supposed to stand around complaining about today’s yoof, not being told to grow up by some young Yer who is nice to his parents and does charity work on the weekends.
Perhaps, Mindy, you (and I) can be like my 50-ish history prof. at uni, who would grasp his head and declare at the stunned students in his “late medieaval england” history class; “What’s wrong with you people? When I was your age we stormed the vice-chancellor’s home in protest of something or other?!?”
Personally, I see no evidence of the increasing conservatism of yoof. But then, I’m basing this on a sample of one, my 17-year-old brother, who seems primarily interested in cars and PS2 and clearing up his acne, and not church, chastity and steering clear of booze ‘n’ drugs.
Perhaps, Mindy, you (and I) can be like my 50-ish history prof. at uni, who would grasp his head and declare at the stunned students in his “late medieaval england” history class; “What’s wrong with you people? When I was your age we stormed the vice-chancellor’s home in protest of something or other?!?”
Personally, I see no evidence of the increasing conservatism of yoof. But then, I’m basing this on a sample of one, my 17-year-old brother, who seems primarily interested in cars and PS2 and clearing up his acne, and not church, chastity and steering clear of booze ‘n’ drugs.
Kate it’s good to know that there is still one out there at least. Is he surly and unresponsive too?
Kate it’s good to know that there is still one out there at least. Is he surly and unresponsive too?
Actually, the whole 60s thing is partly mythical. There were large numbers of militantly conservative youth at Universities – associated with Goldwater Republicanism in the US and the young Libs and the NCC in Qld. At Queensland Uni for instance, the antiwar left never won an election to the Student Union – there was a Liberal Union President as late as 69, and many guys were still wearing ties to uni as photos I’ve seen of the era demonstrate. That’s not to say that radicalism didn’t exist – but to imagine that it was the calling card of an entire generation is wrong.
Most generalisations about generations are just that – and these days most are constructed for marketing purposes.
The myth of overwhelming radicalism was started in part by the media and in part by the rads themselves. It suits the right to keep it alive.
In Australia, the 70s was actually a more radical period in student politics, as Tony Abbott and Peter Costello could tell us.
There was a secular shift in lifestyles and morality in the West in the 60s but it’s misattributed causally if it’s seen as just a generational thing.
Actually, the whole 60s thing is partly mythical. There were large numbers of militantly conservative youth at Universities – associated with Goldwater Republicanism in the US and the young Libs and the NCC in Qld. At Queensland Uni for instance, the antiwar left never won an election to the Student Union – there was a Liberal Union President as late as 69, and many guys were still wearing ties to uni as photos I’ve seen of the era demonstrate. That’s not to say that radicalism didn’t exist – but to imagine that it was the calling card of an entire generation is wrong.
Most generalisations about generations are just that – and these days most are constructed for marketing purposes.
The myth of overwhelming radicalism was started in part by the media and in part by the rads themselves. It suits the right to keep it alive.
In Australia, the 70s was actually a more radical period in student politics, as Tony Abbott and Peter Costello could tell us.
There was a secular shift in lifestyles and morality in the West in the 60s but it’s misattributed causally if it’s seen as just a generational thing.
Mindy — oh, pretty much. Stays in his dark cave of a room only to emerge and speak in mumbled sentences directed at his feet. He’s actually a good kid, much more pleasant than I was at his age.
Mark — Yes, though he was British so maybe things were different in the UK when he was a young rabble-rouser. My campus, even in the late 90s, was spectacularly conservative, populated almost entirely by national party voting, ute-driving and rum-drinking children of the rural upper class, so I doubt it was ever a hotbed of radicalism. I had some of my fellow students make a fuss about being taught by a pregnant woman once, so there you go.
Mindy — oh, pretty much. Stays in his dark cave of a room only to emerge and speak in mumbled sentences directed at his feet. He’s actually a good kid, much more pleasant than I was at his age.
Mark — Yes, though he was British so maybe things were different in the UK when he was a young rabble-rouser. My campus, even in the late 90s, was spectacularly conservative, populated almost entirely by national party voting, ute-driving and rum-drinking children of the rural upper class, so I doubt it was ever a hotbed of radicalism. I had some of my fellow students make a fuss about being taught by a pregnant woman once, so there you go.
Early 90s was a pretty radical time at Uni, actually, Kate!
Early 90s was a pretty radical time at Uni, actually, Kate!
I’m 32 – what generation does that make me?
Excellent post btw!
I’m 32 – what generation does that make me?
Excellent post btw!
“X” I should think, though in your case I believe the term “XXX generation” applies.
“X” I should think, though in your case I believe the term “XXX generation” applies.
That must make me the XXXX generation, Fyodor.
That must make me the XXXX generation, Fyodor.
Well, you are a banana-bender, Don Marco.
Well, you are a banana-bender, Don Marco.
Don’t tell anyone but I was born in Adelaide.
Don’t tell anyone but I was born in Adelaide.
Stone the crows. That explains a lot. Your secret is safe with me.
Stone the crows. That explains a lot. Your secret is safe with me.
It’s a little known fact that the largest demonstration ever held at Sydney University was not over the Vietnam War but over a student being killed by a car on Parramatta Road in the late 1950s(?). The demo was followed by the building of the Arundel St footbridge, which still stands.
…
It sounds like Miranda Devine should get into Jungian psychology, she’d be right at home with ‘archetypes’, personality types, alchemical symbols and mythology. If nothing else, it’d be a welcome change in styles of bullshit.
It’s a little known fact that the largest demonstration ever held at Sydney University was not over the Vietnam War but over a student being killed by a car on Parramatta Road in the late 1950s(?). The demo was followed by the building of the Arundel St footbridge, which still stands.
…
It sounds like Miranda Devine should get into Jungian psychology, she’d be right at home with ‘archetypes’, personality types, alchemical symbols and mythology. If nothing else, it’d be a welcome change in styles of bullshit.
Maybe she could combine Jungian archetypes with her “hardwired” biological determinism – that might make for a really nonsensical mixture.
Maybe she could combine Jungian archetypes with her “hardwired” biological determinism – that might make for a really nonsensical mixture.
Damn, Mark, I missed the radical bit by a decade.
I was at uni from 98-2000 and it was very very un-radical. The only way the union could attract any attention to rail against whatever it was they were railing against was by holding a free sausage sizzle.
Damn, Mark, I missed the radical bit by a decade.
I was at uni from 98-2000 and it was very very un-radical. The only way the union could attract any attention to rail against whatever it was they were railing against was by holding a free sausage sizzle.
It was a time of great openness – related at some level I think to the sense of possibility that dawned after the velvet revolutions.
It was a time of great openness – related at some level I think to the sense of possibility that dawned after the velvet revolutions.
Urgh. I always hated the Gen Y label, but I think we’ve found a new winner in ‘the milennials’. I think I missed a whole bunch of crazy memos at birth.
Although, if this conservative youth army are having so much less sex and make perfect soldiers, what happens when they all bloody well cark it on the battlefields of these great wars? If anything, good soldiers need to be rooting like bunnies so when they get blown up there are replacements.
Urgh. I always hated the Gen Y label, but I think we’ve found a new winner in ‘the milennials’. I think I missed a whole bunch of crazy memos at birth.
Although, if this conservative youth army are having so much less sex and make perfect soldiers, what happens when they all bloody well cark it on the battlefields of these great wars? If anything, good soldiers need to be rooting like bunnies so when they get blown up there are replacements.
Sheridan’s thing is nonsense but I had a vaguely similar reaction to Three Dollars, lefty that I am. It made its points about unemployment, financial instability in a very heavy handed and tedious way. After the screening there was a q and a with the director and writer (Elliot Perlman) who talked about the scourge of generational unemployment and kids growing up in houses where neither parent has ever had a job. I’m no John Quiggan so I could be wrong, I thought, but I don’t think those families are the ones where (like in the movie) the dad is a chemical engineer and the mum an academic. Theres a great aussie film out there waiting to be made with those themes, this aint it.
Sheridan’s thing is nonsense but I had a vaguely similar reaction to Three Dollars, lefty that I am. It made its points about unemployment, financial instability in a very heavy handed and tedious way. After the screening there was a q and a with the director and writer (Elliot Perlman) who talked about the scourge of generational unemployment and kids growing up in houses where neither parent has ever had a job. I’m no John Quiggan so I could be wrong, I thought, but I don’t think those families are the ones where (like in the movie) the dad is a chemical engineer and the mum an academic. Theres a great aussie film out there waiting to be made with those themes, this aint it.
I object to anything with David Wenham in it!
I object to anything with David Wenham in it!
plus, the whole financial spiral for wenham’s character starts with the dumb contrivance of him getting frog marched out of his *public service* job without notice and for no apparent reason. I don’t think you can do that, even in Victoria. Join the union, you moron, that would have been a much better message from the film.
webnham was at the screening and i admit to being transfixed.
plus, the whole financial spiral for wenham’s character starts with the dumb contrivance of him getting frog marched out of his *public service* job without notice and for no apparent reason. I don’t think you can do that, even in Victoria. Join the union, you moron, that would have been a much better message from the film.
webnham was at the screening and i admit to being transfixed.
Hey, leave Mr Wenham alone thank you. Preferably alone, naked and somewhere in my proximity. (But don’t tell my husband.)
Hey, leave Mr Wenham alone thank you. Preferably alone, naked and somewhere in my proximity. (But don’t tell my husband.)
Well at least from this post we can anecdotally confirm the overt sexuality of a couple of the ‘generations’.
I thought that ‘the milennials?Äô were characterised by expecting UFO deliverance, and mass suicide.
Well at least from this post we can anecdotally confirm the overt sexuality of a couple of the ‘generations’.
I thought that ‘the milennials?Äô were characterised by expecting UFO deliverance, and mass suicide.
Oh, Mindy, we must get together and rub elbows and discuss our near identical taste in totty. When I worked in Surry Hills my office full of women would clear out in a minute at nthe ews that Mr Wenham was at our favourite coffee shop up the road.
Oh, Mindy, we must get together and rub elbows and discuss our near identical taste in totty. When I worked in Surry Hills my office full of women would clear out in a minute at nthe ews that Mr Wenham was at our favourite coffee shop up the road.
Ah, talk of touching elbows. Makes me want to go out and experience paternity.
Ah, talk of touching elbows. Makes me want to go out and experience paternity.
I notice that it doesn’t point out that Kev left his pregnant girlfriend to be with Brits.
If you desire to be a dad I’m sure EP could put you in touch with a couple of likely lasses.
Zoe – damn I didn’t know he went to a coffee shop in Surry Hills. I used to work near Surry Hills, the mad dash would have been worth it!
I notice that it doesn’t point out that Kev left his pregnant girlfriend to be with Brits.
If you desire to be a dad I’m sure EP could put you in touch with a couple of likely lasses.
Zoe – damn I didn’t know he went to a coffee shop in Surry Hills. I used to work near Surry Hills, the mad dash would have been worth it!