Facebook versus the Australian Government - Who is Right?

[Steve3007]

It depends what you consider to be compelling.

[Pattern-chaser]

Aren't there right-wing views to be seen pretty much everywhere? How many nations entertain left-wing sympathies these days? Not very many, I don't think.

[Sy Borg]

The real shame of it all for me is, to echo Sy, that we are everywhere now being fed a very poor media diet.

Where are the compelling right wing views to be found?

Or, rather, where are the compelling views per se?

I am struggling to remember the last time a right/left political issue was much discussed in the public sphere. Rather, it seems to be largely about Trump and mission to save the US from an imaginary paedo cabal and Trump's failed coup attempt.

What is conservative today? It's hard to imagine that Republicans were the same party that once focused on national debt. GWB inherited a surplus from Bill Clinton and, after eight years, had created the US's (then) largest ever deficit. Obama slowed the debt for eight years and then Trump rapidly accelerated it again. In light of this, talking about "small government" makes little sense.

It seems that Republicans don't know what they stand for any more - or at least they talk about it less than they simply follow whatever Trump says. To be fair, his achievements in office were peerless, having done far more in office to enrich his family and work on his golf handicap than any POTUS before him.

[Robert66]

Where are the compelling right wing views to be found?

In these only-just-post-Trump days, I think the answer is "Everywhere!".

I see what you mean, Pattern-chaser. Some have been compelled to don horns and raid the Capitol even. Its just that I haven't been persuaded in the slightest by a right wing argument for ages.

Maybe persuasive would be a better word to use than compelling.

[Robert66]

'It seems that Republicans don't know what they stand for any more - or at least they talk about it less'

That is what I'm talking about - some of them surely do know what they stand for. Let's hear from them. Come on - what would a great America actually be like, under a Republican government? Any takers?

[Pattern-chaser]

Where are the compelling right wing views to be found?

In these only-just-post-Trump days, I think the answer is "Everywhere!".

I see what you mean, Pattern-chaser. Some have been compelled to don horns and raid the Capitol even. Its just that I haven't been persuaded in the slightest by a right wing argument for ages.

Maybe persuasive would be a better word to use than compelling.

Oh. Yes. I see what you mean, now. Personally, I have never encountered a convincing or compelling right-wing argument. However you frame it, it seems to come out 'greed, greed, me, me, I-will-take-it-from-you-so-that-I-can-have-it'.

'It seems that Republicans don't know what they stand for any more - or at least they talk about it less'

That is what I'm talking about - some of them surely do know what they stand for. Let's hear from them. Come on - what would a great America actually be like, under a Republican government? Any takers?

A "great" America? Wow, you creative types are amazing, the things you can come up with! A great America. Whoever woulda thoughta that? Just wow.

[Sculptor1]

News Media owns the Australian government.
In fact as many of us in the UK know, that since Murcoch's News Group took over most of the papers in the UK, Murdoch has basically mandated each PM since the late 1970s.
Each party leader has had to go cap-in-hand to Ruprick. And of you are wondering how Trump got where he did, you might ask yourself who owns Fox Media.
Australia was the first in line for Murdoch's empire.
So whilst FB was able to, at first, to call their bluff, someone has pointed out to Zuckernberg the smell of coffee, and FB has folded.
This is a sad day for freedom of speech, now FB is going to have to be forced to link the news AND they are going to have to pay for it too.
It's like being told to eat your poison and being made to pay for it.

[Sculptor1]

'It seems that Republicans don't know what they stand for any more - or at least they talk about it less'

That is what I'm talking about - some of them surely do know what they stand for. Let's hear from them. Come on - what would a great America actually be like, under a Republican government? Any takers?

The republicans are clueless since, Rupert Murdoch has forgotten to remind them recently what they are supposed to stand for.
He'll get round to it in time for the next Presidential. He probably wants to see how his protege, Trump, is doing first.

[Pattern-chaser]

News Media owns the Australian government.
In fact as many of us in the UK know, that since Murcoch's News Group took over most of the papers in the UK, Murdoch has basically mandated each PM since the late 1970s.

Yes, this justifies my position, of total support for the national government involved. Unelected international business enterprises cannot be allowed to extend their dominance, and that can only be prevented by taking positive action now, while we still can. [Or am I too late with that sentiment? Is it already too late?] So, even if FB are right, and the Oz government wrong, I still support the latter, for reasons I consider to be over-riding.