Kevin Rudd - masked hero or super dud?
July 10, 2008 · Print This Article
When Bruce Wayne returned to Gotham City, he donned the identity of Batman and proceeded to clean up the corruption that had infiltrated every last corner – from organised crime running the streets to the police, courts and corporations. Our new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has been tasked with cleaning up Australia after 12 long years of the Howard Government. And the same way that Batman became a symbol of hope for Gotham residents who had grown used to things being terrible for so long, Rudd’s entrance brought its own form of joyful optimism: a fresh take on the environmental crisis, peeling back the previous government’s industrial relations laws and finally saying sorry to the Stolen Generations. But while it’s nice idea that one masked man can single-handedly sweep away the rotten corruption of an entire city, that’s a comic book fantasy. Will Rudd really live up to all the lofty expectations we’ve placed on him?
Kate Gauthier investigates.
When it comes to some of the loftier moral ambitions of the Rudd Government, the most important promises of the election for many were related to moral and environmental concerns, rather than the hip pocket – in stark contrast to the Howard era. An apology to the Stolen Generations, signing the Kyoto Protocol and closing the Pacific Solution camp for asylum seekers – all three promises have been kept, but these were only the first step in a long road to reform.
Ed Coper, campaign coordinator for online political campaigners GetUp, suggests that while Rudd is prepared to deliver on ‘gestures’, he might not be so bold when follow-up work is required. “The simple fact is the jury’s still out on the Rudd Government – they’ve made some really promising gestures, but on areas that were relatively easy to deliver … the true test will come in areas that can expose the government to political damage, where we’ll see just how bold they are prepared to be.”
Read the full story in Corker Issue 2: Winter 2008
Illustration by Dennis Juan Ma
I think it’s too early to say whether Rudd will deliver on the rhetoric.
Since Nov 07, Rudd has been full of symbolic gestures like 20/20 -
and of course his apology to Indigenous Australians “stolen” all those years ago.
But Rudd didn’t send Howard to hell in a handcart at the last election - the people did. And they may well do the same to Kevin if ‘real issues’ such as petrol prices, rising inflation and housing affordability continue to take an enormous toll on their lives.
In the game of politics - these are the issues that win and lose you elections.
I’m not entirely sold on the Batman analogy… especially after watching the new Dark Knight movie. Who would play the nihilistic Joker in this scenario, John Howard? Bob Brown? When I think of Batman, I also don’t think of optimism and altruism.
Maybe Superman is a more fitting analogy. KRudd has the glasses and is quite the nerd, that’s Clark Kent ticked off. He promises to save the day with an aura of optimism and good will, that’s Superman covered.
John Howard can play Lex Luthor. They are both bald and have wielded great power, some would argue harmfully. Luthor was also a President in the comics. Perhaps if you’re not convinced with the look of Lex Luthor being analagous to Johnnie. We could look to Mister Mxyzptlk from the Superman universe - dead ringer