Ongoing ANU polling shows how populism fails. The country is clearly unimpressed with 'Let it Rip' Covid, but…

Ongoing ANU polling shows how populism fails. The country is clearly unimpressed with 'Let it Rip' Covid, but is powerless to do anything in real time because populist democracy is only constrained by elections. /1 #auspol #COVID19aus https://t.co/QMKyAl09gM

State Governments, as part of the National Cabinet Let it Rip cabal, are faring almost as badly in public opinion. /2 https://t.co/CYvzezv31L

Our faith in institutions, the real guardians of public health, is less impacted. Institutions the State and federal governments have been progressively sidelining during Operation Let it Rip. /3 https://t.co/rDd9Xa3fur

So we have some political leaders whose zealotry and capture by vested interests has forced the Let it Rip shift. Others are probably fearful of very loud loon minorities, whipped into a frenzy by far-Right US groups. /4

The data suggests Australians are not Brits, or Americans. Or not yet. They're not at war with their own institutions. They're not political libertarians, mostly. My gut still says Let it Rip violated the implied contract Australians have always had with their governments,.../5

...to keep them safe and not outsource core government responsibilities such as public health to individuals. NSW by-elections support this gut feeling. A federal election to come.../end