The 2008 US Presidential election is getting unprecedented coverage in Australia. The Presidential debates were covered live here on major stations, and our television news, online news, radio and newspaper news is giving the elections serious coverage.
But how do the two sides compare in an Australian sense? Not everyone in Australia is following the news, and the depth of understanding in probably weaker again.
Traditionally Australian political parties have affiliations to American parties (often formal), for example the Liberal Party of Australia (our conservative party) has ties to the Republicans, the Labor Party to the Democrats. This split is reflected amongst newspaper columnists as well, for example Andrew Bolt is fiercely pro-Republican, anti-Democrat, but the divide has never made sense to me, because the policy divide isn’t anywhere similar to the Australian picture.
My wife recently told my mother to think of the two sides this way: The Democrats are the Liberal Party, and the Republicans Family First, because both are to the right in an Australian sense, but one is clearly more religious. It’s a generalization to be sure, but lets test it.
How Obama compares to the last Howard Government (and where applicable the Rudd Government)
I’m a former Howard Government staffer, as was my wife, so I’ve got some grounding in what the Liberal Party did in office. These points may generalize a little bit, but they are accurate without always referencing every fine detail.
Healthcare
Howard: supported universal healthcare through the Australian Medicare system. Offered tax incentives to those who took private cover
Obama: doesn’t favor state sanctioned universal healthcare, but is looking at a fallback option outside of the private system, an affordable health care pool
Result: Obama to the right of Howard
Defence (or Defense in US English)
Howard: troops in Iraq (and generally supported Bush), but most Australian troops in Afghanistan. Pro ANZUS
Obama: favors pulling out Iraq, increasing troops in Afghanistan. Pro Anzus
Rudd: favors pulling out Iraq, has kept troops Afghanistan. Pro Anzus
Result: Obama is to the left of Howard only on Iraq. May be more interventionist then Rudd
Industry policy
Howard: spent billions on propping up car industry, subsidising other industries. Reduced tariffs but didn’t remove them all.
Obama: talks about investing in industry, retooling car industry.
Result: about the same
Free Trade
Howard: started signing free trade agreements later into his term, previously more a unilateralist. Generally free trade, although conceded may conditions in various FTA’s.
Obama: wants conditional FTA’s. Regarded as anti-free trade, but hasn’t ruled them out
Result: hard. Obama wants different conditions in FTAs, but Howard regularly had conditions as well, so Howard wasn’t a pure free trader either. Obama slightly to the left, but not by a lot.
Farm policy
Howard: unprecedented socialist on farm policy, billions in subsidies.
Obama: not clear. Farm subsidies aren’t talked about much because generally both sides in the US support them.
Result: about the same.
Welfare
Howard: cracked down on unemployment benefits, but didn’t abolish them. Number of disability pensioners ballooned. Australia still has a generous social welfare system
Obama: wants the state to look after people more, but hasn’t proposed Australian style system.
Result: Obama to the right.
Environment
Howard: soft on global warming, but backed clean coal and some alternative industries.
Obama: strong on global warming, talks about investing billions in green energy.
Rudd: talks strong on global warming, but hasn’t done much yet.
Result: the environment isn’t necessarily a left/ right divide anymore, but Obama to the left
Taxation policy
Howard: cut taxes at all levels while in power. Did offer tax cuts to middle class only at times. Didn’t offer relief in Fringe Benefits Tax but some Capital Gains Tax relief
Obama: will cut tax for middle class, increase for wealthy, but rates are still much lower then Australia
Result: actually about the same. Howard did target tax cuts for the middle class, and the wealthy still pay tax at higher rates.
Education
Local/ State issue in both countries at some levels.
Howard: increased funding in education, talked about choice and standards. Tax help for early childhood education/ daycare.
Obama: wants to increase funding in education, supports “charter schools.” Wants to target early childhood education.
Result: about the same. Obama more to the right on some things, left on others.
Higher Education
Howard: supported HECS/ HELP, the system where University students don’t pay upfront, but pay back the Government when they earn, although increased fees significantly. Government still major backer of University system
Obama: wants to make College more affordable. Is not proposing a HECs style scheme from what I’ve read. College in the US primarily private or nonprofit run.
Result: Obama is a shift to the left from Bush, but is still way to the right compared to Howard.
Retirement/ pensions
Howard: free market superannuation where savings are invested with fund managers. However, increased the compulsory rate employers must contribute to super.
Obama: anti-free market 401ks, but isn’t proposing compulsory employer contributions from what I can read
Result: about the same. Howard increased taxes on employers and forced them to contribute more to retirement savings, yet was to the right on where the money should go.
Pretty amazing the coverage it gets in Australia. Although with more people having business ties to the U.S., the result could have greater effect on their lives than a local election.
I find your definition of “left” and “right” very curious and highly flexible. It sort of devalues the wisdom of your points by using those terms in this way.
Roger
generalizations to be sure as noted in the post. But if Howard was a conservative and off the right, and Obama's policies tend to be to the right at least economically…well you can draw your own conclusions. Obviously this is an Australian context, not an American one, but vice versa, put Howard in America, and he would have been labeled a socialist…mind you, he actually was as well 🙂
Duncan
Interesting post and of course left and right are relative terms as you note. Perhaps though easier to understand than the 'wets' and 'drys' that the Brits were using some years back. I never quite got my head around that particular bit of political jargon.
Incidentally, I've been bemused at the bogey-man status afforded 'socialism' during a lot of the comment in this US election campaign. It seemed to me that the blanket use of the term revealed a lack of understanding of the workings of contemporary western governments, where so much of society's infrastructure is necessarily 'socialised.' It begs the question of what is 'bad' per se, about socialism?
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what Coalition would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
Once more without typos…
I think of Labor as the party that does in Australia what the Democrats would love to do in the US if the voters and media would let them.
And the Republicans as the party that does in the US what the Liberals would love to do in Australia if the voters and media would let them.
That was something I noticed as well Kate. Truely as a Canadian I watched a little horrified when they kept saying 'well thats socialism' with such contempt. I guess they are still recovering from McCarthyism.
Its sad really because Socialism isn't anything to do with Communism which it seems is what American's think when they hear the word.
Just stumbled across your blog, very interesting. Will be interesting to see how the US election will play out across the globe, but I would have liked to see how our support for the US, through some testing times for Australia, over the last few years would have have paid off if Howard were still in power.
I found that to be quite enlightening actually as I hadn't thought of the parallels before. Cheers!