Yesterday's man, page-20

Good morning @Parsifal

If that was the short version, I am sure I would have also really enjoyed the long version.

A very thoughtful and insightful post … thank you (when you thought you typed “shift in attitude” have a look at what was typed, which probably has an element of truth lol).

I can see what you are saying. However I can’t help noticing the period over which you opine Keatings policies produced unintended, unpleasant social outcomes, coincides with the rise and rise of the internet and more importantly, social media and its behemoth, influencing social media platforms. I think social media has played a huge role in shaping perceptions, self to global, and generally not all good.

Instead of a very local community, youth now get to unavoidably compare themselves and circumstances globally with millions, including the modern blight of “influencers” and deliberate to malicious misinformers. I don’t think any global government yet has policies to deal with this. Youth mental health is in crisis and most of us would perceive many around us seem to be experiencing an increase in dissatisfaction and unhappiness which is counter to the espoused views of the behemoth social media platforms who without exception predicted and promised enlightened times.

So yes, I clearly get what you are saying about the long term impact Keating’s policies, but more likely because external global cultural developments overtook them. No government since has been able to recognise, let alone shift the trends. Thinking about it now, perhaps much maligned Turnbull came close when he recognised and discussed the need for more kindness in social policy and government function. What a twist that a Labor Keating and a Liberal Turnbull had the views they did.

Thank you so much for the considerable and thoughtful reply.

Dex