It’s been said that rarely in Australia does any party win an election; the last lot just lose because we ceased to trust them.I’ve been fascinated for years by the Australian psyche and the forces involved in its collective decision-making and by the Australian sensitivity to trust. There is a unique scepticism that has to be penetrated if the rich experience of Aussie trust and loyalty is to be released, parcularly in the fields of politics and religion.
Politics is about negotiating for the power to implement your values..
However you are only given that power if you and your party’s values reflect those of the majority of voters, or if you can, through a process of dialogue with the voters lead them into a more refined and aware set of values. What we have seen in this election is a message to all those who tried to lead: “We don’t trust you.”
The distribution of votes has been a fascinating phenomenon. In my view there has been a lack of the kind of leadership capable of leading people into a new and more refined set of values; values more able to deal with the contemporary questions that the electorate believes need to be understood and worked with.
Power is a fascinating thing; it is usually not experienced as power by those who have it but is usually experienced as freedom to implement your decisions. So clearly the voters have spoken. They have said “We won’t give any of you the freedom to lead because we’re not convinced you know where you’re going, nor do we think you have taken enough time to know us and what we care about so as to truly represent us.The capacity to listen deeply is often the door way to real influence.
I seem to recall it says some where that we are to be “slow to speak and quick to listen.” You never change another person’s opinion by trying to impose your own.
We wait to see out of both leaders, who will be the best listener.