Wednesday, November 16, 2005

When Lefties agree with the Christian Right...

... is it a sign of the impending Apocalypse? Can we expect Death, Famine and the rest to come riding over the hill on their skeletal horses sometime soon, carrying their copies of the IR legislation?

Just curious.

What made me start to wonder is a news article on AM today - "Christian lobby unhappy with IR changes to penalty rates".

The bit that really made me do a double-take was this bit:

CATHERINE MCGRATH: In your submission to the inquiry, you also raised concerns about the bargaining power of people going for jobs under this new regime. What point are you making there?

JIM WALLACE: Well I think it's simply irrational to think that someone who's entering the workforce for the first time is going to have the knowledge and skills to be able to negotiate on an equal basis with a new employer. And so we would like to see that there's some protection in there, in either the representation that the new employee has, or in the length of the AWA that a new employee is negotiating.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: Jim Wallace, you've been lobbying a great deal on Christian issues around Parliament. Normally, have you found the Government receptive and how have they been on this issue?

JIM WALLACE: The Coalition has normally been very supportive of Christian values and of family values.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: But not in this case you're saying?

JIM WALLACE: Well in this case, I think that they've acted against family values, in that this will inevitably mean that families will spend less time together, and that over time, we'll see Sundays, Saturdays and public holidays treated just like every other day.


Of course, they're taking a different tack on the whole "we're getting screwed" thing than a lot of lefties - guess they don't like the threat to the Sabbath Day or something - but it's just weird for them to be on the same side as the Democrats and Greens for a change!

Comments:
It is weird, but it's also good that there is some common ground. Anyone who disagrees that families don't need any more barriers to time spent together is someone who knows these laws won't affect them.

Of course their motivations are a little different, but the end result is the same. I just hope the church won't be swayed from this issue by the Howard government springing an anti-gay or anti-muslim aspect to their campaign for the next election. Family should be more important than bigotry, and I hope the church remembers that.
 
It makes me feel uncomfortable. Like when you meet someone who is same sex preferred and votes for the coalition.

Still - welcome friends. Although I have this image of a liberal arts student pad - let's say Sarah's - with beardies like me hanging around in tye died outfits smoking the weed as, on the end of the couch, is perched somewhat unfortably a chruchie looking lady.
 
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