As published in Independent Australia
Contemptible political and corporate forces impact heavily on our lives, but most Australians don’t care. It’s crazy but true.
Sure, the broader society views the establishment with disgust and disdain. And yes, trust is at an all time low. And lack of confidence in the system is understandable.
But these cannot be excuses for not caring – quite the opposite.
Collective disengagement – apathy on a grand scale – has become a national cancer, and the prognosis is not good. Continued inaction will invite the Grim Reaper to remove the Australian soul.
To quote John F. Kennedy: “There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction.”
Society can be divided into two categories – the minority, which actively advocates action, and the rest whose apathetic silence is deafening. For them, comfortable inaction must feel safe.
Meanwhile, the resolute minority soldiers on, driven by social, political and environmental conscience. It cries out for progressive, radical change. It must surely be bewildered at the task of overcoming public apathy as well as confronting the issues that bedevil Australia.
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THIS CARTOON, DRAWN AT THE END OF JULIA GILLARD’S TENURE AS PRIME MINISTER, WAS ON DISPLAY IN THE MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRACY AT THE OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE IN CANBERRA.
