withoutaface said:
Joined the Young Libs a couple of months ago.
There are still a fair few wet branches in existence, and I suppose the best way to change a party is from within...
Pre John Howard I would have said I could have joined either the ALP or the Liberals. If I had joined the Liberals I would have been a wet. However I don't think my socially progressive John Brogden like values would go down too well in the 'modern' Liberal party. I also would never join a party that has implicitly given credence racism, going some ways to legitimising institutional racism or at least arguing for it in the High Court. I can't help but think Holt would not have agreed.
If I joined the ALP I would be in the right faction. My economically liberal views would not fit well with the left.
I doubt that I'd joint the ALP for the infighting and the fact that it is unelectable when the economy is going well.
All in all I'd probably not get involved in politics. I know plenty would share my opinion. Too many people in either party who are simply dingbats and morons. You only have to look at the people who run student politics. On both sides. People with ability tend not to go into public life as much as before. No doubt people like Menzies and Whitlam, if such people exited today, would not have gone into politics. There is more chance they would have stayed in private life working as lawyers.
People with ability shoot for private enterprise these days. Which is sad. Those with the best ability are swallowed up by the private business. All government is left with is the dregs.