Article item posted on Monday, June 15th 2009 at 1:09 am

Why do the Australian Democrats exist? We represent a distinct body of political thought, one with sound foundations and a stellar future.

Our party’s aims are ably articulated by John Maynard Keynes, a life-long member of the British Liberal Party and later a Liberal Lord: “To combine three things: economic efficiency, social-justice, and individual liberty.

The first needs criticism, precaution, and technical knowledge; the second, an unselfish and enthusiastic spirit that loves the ordinary man; the third, tolerance, breadth, appreciation of the excellences of variety and independence, which prefers, above everything, to give unhindered opportunity to the exceptional and aspiring.”

Australia’s dominant political parties claim to also embrace these ambitions. No so, we say, and insist on a separate party to pursue these aims.

In stating why he could not join the Labour Party, Keynes divided the party into three wings: “the Trade Unionists, once the oppressed, now the tyrants, whose selfish and sectional interests need to be bravely opposed, the Communists, who are committed by their creed to produce evil that good may come, and the Socialists, who believe that the economic foundations of modern society are evil, yet might be good.”

And Keynes found the Conservatives anathema: “How could I bring myself to be a Conservative? They offer me neither food nor drink – neither intellectual nor spiritual consolation. I should not be amused or excited or edified. That which is common to the atmosphere, the mentality, the view of life of – well, I will not mention names – promotes neither my self-interest nor the public good. It leads nowhere; it satisfies no ideal; it conforms to no intellectual standard; it is not even safe, or calculated to preserve from spoilers that degree of civilization which we have already attained.”

Winston Churchill on crossing the floor against Joseph Chamberlain on the issue of tariff reform and free trade, aged 26, denounced the Conservatives as: “…a party of great vested interests, bonded together in a formidable confederation, corruption at home, aggression to cover it up abroad, the trickery of tariff juggles, the tyranny of a party machine; sentiment by the basketful, patriotism by the imperial pint, the open hand of the Exchequer, the open door at the public house, dear food for the millions, cheap labor for the millionaire.”

Time and again, these words were quoted back to him by British Labour and Liberals after he returned to the Conservatives.

Tags: anathema, australia, Australian Democrats, australians, business, conservatives, democrat, democratic, democrats, distinct body, economic efficiency, economic foundations, excellences, individual liberty, john maynard keynes, joseph chamberlain, labour party, liberal party, ordinary man, political thought, politics, sectional interests, self interest, senate, socialists, sound foundations, spirits, spiritual consolation, tariff reform, trade union, trade unionists, winston churchill

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