From the Newsletter of the Southern Highlands Branch of the Labor Party, May 2014
Times like these make it hard for anyone to maintain their faith in the liberating power of politics. Current events remind us that politics creates space for idealists who seek the greatest good for the greatest number as well as fundamentalists, fixers and cynical populists.
Fundamentalists believe there is only one truth, an attitude which creates a “whatever it takes” attitude to power. They are dedicated and driven.
Populists believe public opinion is always right which creates a need to follow opinion and attempt to shape it through means fail or foul. They prefer listening to focus groups rather than reading research papers on the economics of climate change or anything which relies on assembling evidence and persuation.
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