After the Big Have Feasted...

In an interesting Australian political environment, I pen a note that laments the lack of attention to building local resilience within a holistic global outlook....

One rural Federal politician is shocked about the possible abolition of her seat and has been heard to blame Federal Government policy for it. Such blaming is both absolutely correct and deeply hypocritical. The government party's policies are helping centralize power with mega-business entities. There have been some badly planned interventions to reclaim a balance, but lobbying - I suspect - always seems to protect major institutional investors, to the detriment of smaller and regional businesses. But this politician's own party is equally beholden to major institutional interests. A few rural protectionist tweaks and fixes may appease some coalition partners and corporate farmers, but is hardly likely to restore a sense of rural community.

Population drift from city to country won’t be addressed until policies actively and primarily encourage local entrepreneurship, education, diversity, creativity and neighbourliness. But a particular version of neo-classical economics seems to have captured most policy positions and the big end of town is the winner. Meanwhile the small end – and small towns – have to be content with the crumbs left after “the big” have feasted. It’s not a prescription for healthy business, community or society.