Meltdown #28: Social Democracy
While we’ve thrown out the presiding government to conclude this Limericks in Meltdown series, the ultimate winner is not just the voice of the people, but democracy itself.
The people have spoken, we heard them shout
The Liberals have faced an electoral rout
Justice has been done
Democracy has won
It was a laggard government, and we’ve thrown them out
In comes our new Prime Minister, the only son
From a small council home of a single Mum
It wouldn’t have been easy
For Anthony Albanese
She’d be very proud of what her son has done
And a resounding victory for Monique Ryan
Vanquished Josh Frydenberg, the Liberal scion
An historic defeat
In the blue ribboned seat
Kooyong’s Independent, after second time tryin’
It’s a triumph for progressive, that’s been missing of late
For fairness, opportunity, and more respectful debate
For gender equality
Less blokey frivolity
It’s a wake-up call for the Murdoch estate
So now the Uluru Statement from the Heart
That the previous government ripped apart
Can regain momentum
With a fresh referendum
For an indigenous voice, they should’ve had from the start
And could this be the end of the climate wars
Can we finally legislate targets and laws
Or will the Senate and Greens
With self-destructive genes
Drag our climate back to political scores
It’s a victory for those struggling on the minimum wage
And to restore our reputation on the world stage
For greater diversity
And a broader fraternity
With Pacific Island neighbours, more closely engaged
And the Biloela family can finally be free
Maybe political discourse can find decency
From the sensible centre
With every crossbencher
Driving higher standards of integrity
But we shouldn’t underestimate the challenges ahead
As global disruption from Ukraine spreads
Cost of living pressures
May need drastic measures
Inflation’s at large, families struggling to be fed
And they’ve inherited a massive energy crisis
Freezing wintry weather and soaring power prices
It’s a rude awaking
Of the last mob’s making
As the plundering power market fossilises
There’d been no energy policy with any gumption
Like new grids for more renewables construction
That gas led recovery
Has sure gone to buggery
With no gas reserved for domestic consumption
Yes, the electorate gave Morrison a slap in the face
For saying “vaccination isn’t a race”
And for “I don’t hold the hose”
He was so on the nose
And rejected by women, for his lack of grace
His leadership had slumped from shocking to worse
When he totally bungled the Omicron curse
For the jobs that he shirked
Or just because he smirked
Scott’s gone to the wilderness, it’s good night nurse
New leaders now emerge on opposition benches
As they lick their wounds and come to their senses
Their parties are lurching
With some deep soul searching
For the plot that they lost, and how to mend fences
But the real winner of course, is our democracy system
A smooth changing of guard, no authoritative dictum
No mass objection
No insurrection
The clear voice of the people … in their absolute wisdom
Kevin Holmes • 7th June 2022
