Miranda Devine – stating the obvious
Ms Devine has a habit of penning some enticing lines, I mean the topic of Gen Y and politics seems enticing as does her exploration of the Green Police ad that screened during the US Super Bowl but her article simply fail to deliver anything new.
When Labor came to power in 2007 only the supremely optimistic could possibly believe that a new government was going to achieve anything worthwhile on the question of climate change and the environment and such optimism rapidly becomes unsustainable in the face of our daily experiences. Miranda asserts that it is only Gen Y that smells a rat when its obvious that any thinking person is capable of perceiving the folly of mainstream politics.
If Gen Y’s are giving voice to their scepticism and doubts then I expect to see revolution in the streets sometime soon but a different picture emerges if we consider the forces trying to influence the mindshare of Gen Y. South Park and the Simpsons might be entertaining as is a clever car ad that pokes fun at the notion of a green police but they are hardly inspiring people to achieve better.
You can sum up the contribution of such mindnumbing mediocrity in a simple motto – social consensus is undesirable so look out for yourself. A message brought to you by Rupert Murdoch (owner of the Simpsons) or a car maker (Audi) is hardly a source of “real answers”.
A greater moral challenge isn’t invoked by the consideration of a new “green diesel” powered car, nor is it invoked by a carefully orchestrated TV meeting with the PM. When the serious and savvy people decide that the institutions which used to serve a purpose are no longer suitable for these times, then Miranda might be able to claim the future is in good hands. Until then it seems like we are just witnessing the ongoing sublimation of dissent through the time honoured practice of sophisticated rhetoric and amusing time killers.
