South Australia’s government is running an ‘Open State’ festival with all the usual buzzwords about innovation, participation, engagement blah blah blah. I’ve been to three of its events, all of which were good for thinking with – not about ‘innovation’ and ‘democracy’ (the events were deeply problematic) but about how the neoliberal state tries to... Continue Reading →
But which BIT of big business gets its way in which circumstances, eh?
The State is merely the committee for managing the affairs of the bourgeoisie, innit? The evil moustache-twirling CEOs get together and tell their political meat-puppet underlings what to do. Simples. Well, sometimes, but every so often maybe it is more complicated. I’m collecting examples of these every-so-often moments for my PhD thesis. I have quite... Continue Reading →
Maunderings and meanderings (Thesis) #Window #Metaphors #sense-making
Maundering #1 One of the key techniques for defensive institutional work is to make nonsense; to destroy or at the very least degrade the sense-making capacity of your opponents. Disorientate your enemy, deprive them of the ability to figure out – (quick enough - these are OODA loops, don't forget), what is going on. Screw... Continue Reading →
You cannot be Serres-ist?! Baal and the Challenger explosion
Okay, I will admit to being prejudiced. Or rather, having encountered a certain group and then unfairly tarred'em all with the same brush. And that group is.... late 20th century French "philosophers". I read a bit of Fucko, couldn't get into Derrida, liked bits of Virilio... a bit of Auge, but decided to leave Badiou,... Continue Reading →
Mark Latham and his crystal balls
This below is from a 2013 Quarterly Essay called Unfinished Business: Sex, Freedom and Misogny by Anna Goldsworthy. It's in the correspondence bit, talking about the previous essay, 'Not Dead Yet' by Mark Latham. Here below is a prediction Latham made while replying to (most of) his critics. And so it came to pass, especially after... Continue Reading →
Political parties as street gangs. Except in #Manchester of course…
This below is from a Quarterly Essay called Unfinished Business: Sex, Freedom and Misogny by Anna Goldsworthy. It's in the correspondence bit, talking about the previous essay, 'Not Dead Yet' by Mark Latham. I have added the link. Part of the explanation of this organisational shortcoming lies in the fact that political parties are strange beasts.... Continue Reading →
Neoliberalism and the forced march to nowhere #Australia #Keating
This below is from a Quarterly Essay called Unfinished Business: Sex, Freedom and Misogny by Anna Goldsworthy. It's in the correspondence bit, talking about the previous essay, 'Not Dead Yet' by Mark Latham. Fwiw, imo, Guy Rundle is a very very smart guy. That social vision is advanced by most of the current ALP elite past... Continue Reading →
SA Blackout: From name-calling to … report writing
The political and cultural battle around the South Australian blackout of 28 September is moving from the ‘(s)pinning-the-blame’ phase to the ‘await the verdicts of the “independent” reports’ phase. All available insults have been traded, and other issues will be popping up on the radar imminently. For example, a stoush over the proposed gay marriage... Continue Reading →
The powerlessness of power?
This below is from a Quarterly Essay called Unfinished Business: Sex, Freedom and Misogny by Anna Goldsworthy. It's in the correspondence bit, talking about the previous essay, 'Not Dead Yet' by Mark Latham. I have added the links. [Moises] Nairn is the author of a well-received recent book, The End of Power [Guardian Review], which argues... Continue Reading →
Why argue with #climate denialists? It’s comforting is why
"Never wrestle with a pig, you both get muddy, but the pig enjoys it" as the old saying goes. But what if we, secretly, enjoy it too? Or if wrestling with the pig is a safer and more fun option that wrestling with the angry rabid hippo who is next in line? WTAF am I... Continue Reading →
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