Skeptics in the House

Much to my wife's shock, I recently made the claim that the Liberal Party is the natural governing party for Australia - not just because we're right of centre politically - just a little bit conservative - but because, fundamentally, we are a nation of skeptics.

There's nothing wrong with those classic Strine responses to any statement (with optional rising inflection):

• "Ya reckon?"
• "Ya think?"
• "Ya don't say"
• "Are you f***ing kidding?"

These are obviously a direct result of a level of skepticism ingrained in the Australian psyche.
But sometimes, you just have to accept that you're talking to (or about) someone who knows more than you, is an actual (recognised) expert in their field, or simply is right.

There's a lot of talk these days about mandates - & I don't just mean in politics, where having the support of a third of the voting population is seen as clearly being able to speak for all. Popularity is not the seal of approval that you are right - only that people will listen to (or watch) you.

Is anyone really of the opinion that, say, Kim Kardashian should be politically active? I have no idea what her politics are, but I suspect that she could run for the Party Party Party Party & people would vote for her.
That doesn't give her a mandate. That doesn't even mean that people agree with her platform. It just means that, say, she's prettier than the alternative.

But I've gotten off track - & I would never suggest that our current PM is pretty. Australia would not vote for KK because she's not a skeptic.
Clive Palmer is a skeptic. Bob Katter is a skeptic. The Democrats were skeptics ("Keep the bastards honest!"). Pauline Hanson was a super-skeptic.

The Liberal party are also conservatively skeptic. Along the skeptic spectrum, a lot of the above were left-wing (radical) - even if they were right-wing from a political point of view. The Liberal Party is centre-right skeptically & politically.
I'm not talking about the actual Liberal Party here, but the theoretical one. Individuals within a party at any time may make it appear more skeptical or more radically skeptical.

Now, for the kicker. Why on earth are we such a nation of skeptics? Why can't we just admit that someone else could be right for once, or could be an expert?
It's not the English overseers that are the experts anymore, it's normal Australians who happen to be highly educated or experienced experts in a given field. They do not hold a position of privilege that has to be undermined simply because it's fun to do so.

If only we could embrace knowledge, wisdom, expertise. If only we could look up to people who have dedicated their lives to some facet of human endeavour who is willing to share that experience. I think that would make us the clever country we always wanted to be.

However, as long as the average Australian is a skeptic, they need fair representation in the parliament(s). Thus, regrettably, the Liberal Party is the natural government.