THE GILLARD CHARACTER ISSUE

Julie Bishop's attack on Julia Gillard's set to continue today.

Three 'lines' are apparent in the way the story's being received and reported . . . 

ORGANISATIONAL PATHOLOGY

What can explain the current disillusionment with politics? Why has Labor lost its way?

I suspect that the role of the individual in the party has been subsumed. The structure rules supreme, cannibalising those who fail to submit to the new dominant ethos of the party - the extraction of personal wealth from the commonweal.

This was published in the Canberra Times today . . .

POLITICS & POLICY

Normally we hope politicians' decisions are driven by the best policy options. 

That's not always the case, as this column explores.

STRATEGIC BOMBING

This piece, for ASPI's Strategist http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/achieving-victory/ examines strategic bombing. 

FRAGMENTING THE ELECTORATE

My biggest problem is always attempting to cram too much into a column - particularly when I only have one opportunity a week to put my thoughts in writing.

Sometimes what I'm really trying to say only becomes clear at the end - when I'm revising for the fifth time what I'm attempting to say.

That's the case with today's column.

I went for the 'interesting' start. I suspect I should have just concentrated on the way the fragmenting of the electorate means politicians will have to find new ways of communicating with, and keeping together, smaller communities of interest.

See what you think . . .

2 NEWS STORIES

For my journalism tutorial.

The facts of the two stories I've asked you to write are below.

Remember, I just want quick, 100 to 150 word radio news stories. File them to the dropbox.

Good luck,

KILLER COMPANY

TV Drama doesn't come better (for Oz journalists) than Devil's Dust, an accurate re-telling of the true events surrounding James Hardie's culpability for poisoning it's own workers.

I'm very proud to call Matt Peacock a mate.

I think he should sue the ABC, though. Those sideburns he's depicted with in the '70's were atrocious! Cigarets aplenty as well, of course. But what about the booze and the women? A very partial 'history' . . .

MORAL TALES

Journalism is about reporting what's going on. But you need an eye to 'see'.

This piece describes the end of Mitt Romney's campaign for the US presidency.

But look at the way it wraps in so much more as well . . .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-at-romney-headquarters-the-defeat-of-the-1-percent/2012/11/07/857d00f6-284a-11e2-96b6-8e6a7524553f_print.html

EDUCATION OR ROTE LEARNING

I began writing this piece the week a couple of months ago when Julia Gillard released her 'education revolution'. 

I was angry about her ridiculous prescription to ensure (how?) teachers were "in the top 30 percent in Maths and English". 

I tried exploring this idea . . .  but, surprisingly, haven't been able to find out how she will achieve this grand, yet completely unnecessary, objective . . . 

BEING PART OF ASIA

This is a brilliant piece about the failure of the government that's marked by one critical flaw.

I saw it as soon as I re-read it (the fifth time).

I mention Jim Thompson. Of course I mean David.

That's brain damage for you . . .