I’ve previously written of my distaste for the age of celebrity we live in. And I’ve also written about the ordeal of miners Brant Webb (photo, left) and Todd Russell (right). Here in Tasmania, this island with a population of only half a million people, parochialism reigns. And so Webb and Russell are celebrities. (A celebrity being a widely known person.) In some circles they’ve been afforded folk hero status. Maybe they deserve it, maybe not. I think fate placed them in an horrific situation which they dealt with courageously and tenaciously, but the real heroes were their rescuers who voluntarily assumed potential mortal risk. Anyway last Friday Webb announced his candidacy for the Australian Labor Party in the Tasmanian State seat of Bass, at the State election next March. Thus he joins a growing list of celebrity political candidates – mainly sports stars and media personalities – of whom most (I think) have been elected. Webb has no political background, and no stated vision for Tasmania or even Bass. He doesn’t live in Bass. And, based on my meetings with him, he’s not a man of notable intellect. So as a candidate his only asset’s his celebrity status. Here is the official spin. I think he’ll be elected. So much so, I have a 2-cent bet riding on it. In our problem-ridden Nation and State, we need to elect the best people. Not just the best known.
1 comment:
Here is a newspaper article following Webb's candidacy launch. It seems the man's done a 180° turn regarding the pulp mill - from anti to pro. So much for his integrity and independence. Some people - including Webb, manifestly - are only too willing to sacrifice their principles and beliefs to gain power. They are just the sort of people who are not needed in parliament.
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