Democrats denounced over `lunatic fringe' charge

By Jonathan Singer

The Greens have called the Australian Democrats' NSW election slogan, “Silence the lunatic fringe”, offensive and hypocritical. Lee Rhiannon, Greens upper house candidate, on March 18 declared: “To suggest anyone should be silenced during an election campaign is inherently anti-democratic”.

Democratic Socialist upper house candidate Dick Nichols told Green Left Weekly the Democrats' slogan reflected the party's desperation to be accepted into the “mainstream”.

“The Democrats look to make deals again and again with the major parties. They passed Peter Reith's draconian Workplace Relations Act and are prepared to accept a limited GST. But they work hard to present themselves as an `alternative', so they must try to discredit those who are really trying to create one.”

Rhiannon pointed out that the Democrats' lead upper house candidate, Arthur Chesterfield-Evans, was a founder of BUGA UP, which defaced tobacco billboards before cigarette advertising was banned. “BUGA UP was derided as radical and loony, but its activities are now seen as valuable. Today's `lunatics' may be tomorrow's pioneers.”

Nichols added, “A growing number of people are looking for a real alternative to Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Many new parties have formed. Some seriously seek to make a contribution. Others may be abusing people's concerns to garner cheap votes as fake alternatives. Politically progressive forces should work towards a party or alliance with sufficient political activity and authority that everyone seeking an alternative will look to.”

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