There is what is called the “messiah” phenomenon in American presidential elections. It means you will have about 100 days to implement your most important policies. That is when people are still enchanted with you and your opposition is too intimidated to disagree, but you had better get going because every interest group is looking you over and will soon be coming for you. Some will see you as an opportunity, others as a threat.
Eventually they will discover you are not the messiah and that you disappoint and have feet of clay. Hopefully some of those who resented what you represented and hated you for the wrong reasons, will learn – probably just as you are giving your resignation speech – that you were human. At last they will be ready to see your good points just in time to miss them. In my last blog I hinted about some of the things I know went on behind the scene.Thanks Evan for you comments, but a case could be put he tried to do too much too soon.That is why he worked so hard and why he was seen to push; saying sorry to our indigenous people, injecting money into the economy to save us from recession and a great slide into unemloyment; the attempt at legislation for climate change when certain interest groups were so intransigent. They split their own party and threw out its leader.Yes, Kevin 07 would have done more if it had been up to him alone, but sadly politics is the art of the possible; what those around you think is possible. Whatever happened to Peter Garret? Politics is what happened! It has been my privilege to interview many of these people over the years. Most start out really wanting to make a difference, only to discover that the structure they have to work in is not conducive to idealism. I am still amazed by Wiliam Wilberforce who stuck it out for 40 years, but he had a small group of deeply commited mates who did more than give advice from the grand stand. One of his friends was John Wesley whose favorite passage is found in Malachi 3:16-18. It was the inspiration for his class meetings. There is something about having a small group you don’t have to perform for. We all need support.
It is a pity to see Rudd go in such a way. Hopefully Julia will actually get elected and serve us as our choice.
Thankfully, you don’t have to be in politics to make your (idealistic) dream a reality. Many serve the kingdom in ways that never bring them attention, but help people to achieve a better life.
Support is paramount. Having three people who will counsel and guide you, correct and disciple you, care and pray for you cane keep you on course and stop you from crashing.
Too much too soon? We get frustrated and impatient, yet God has his timing for everything. Do your best and let God take care of the rest.
If politics is the art of the possible then apparently not much was possible for Kevin. Apparently more was possible for Whitlam or Hawke and Keating or even Howard (what was possible was appalling but he did things.).
If the structure is not conducive to idealism someone who has been in it since there adolescence and become PM should know this. Why then speak of great moral challenges only to junk the morality?
I don’t see that he tried to do much at all. Saying sorry isn’t terribly difficult – unless your an out and out racist. What’s hard about conforming to economic orthodoxy when you have a huge surplus to spend (thanks China, hope you keep liking our iron ore). The big polluters don’t want to deal with carbon reduction (gee, who’da thought?). He then doesn’t do what he could have – ie. something in Australia (I hear he was the PM or something). Instead cave in and don’t do what you can. What exactly did he try to do? My case he did little. What he did was the easy stuff. When it came to doing anything difficult and unpopular he didn’t even do the little he could.
Most politicians do start out wanting to make a difference. When they find out they can’t do much what do they do? Leave and try to do something worthwhile like Al Gore? Stick with the perks? I leave you to be the judge.
I greatly admired the dignity and depth of Kevin Rudd’s apology on our/my behalf to our indigenous people. Saying ‘sorry’ – not terribly difficult, Evan? Making it meaningful, that’s a whole different story. In well over 100 years of Federation no other Prime Minister ever rose to the task.
Interesting comments.
Great blog Mal..really enjoying the thoughts..
Yes, I am enjoying here too.Great stuff! Keep going Mal.
When did you become so cynical?.Evan..I am skeptical,but hopeful…Jesus was innocent ,But he was not naive. Id love to chat with you Face to Face some time.You Always had a good mind,but a sensetive spirit,is that still there? love to show you my book some time!
Mal, you have a very sensitive spirit. That commenter is hoping to pressure you into accepting their world view, by undermining your identity. Don’t listen to that person.
Small group we don’t need to perform for…. that is a blessing indeed!
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