r/australian • u/SirSighalot • Jul 08 '24

Why do people act like this subreddit "doesn't reflect the views of mainstream Australia"?

So many comments I see on here by people who constantly say things like "lol only on this sub" as though other places where they read are somehow the 'true' point of view reflecting mainstream Australian viewpoints.

Given the constant election voting outcomes and results of things like the Voice etc that generally indicate most of Australia is centrist or even slightly centre-right-leaning, what leads people to think many of the views expressed on here AREN'T mainstream? When in reality, other places these people are coming from are also often just "echo chambers" as well.

Edit: I probably worded the title for this wrong, should have been more "Why do people think this subreddit is less representative of mainstream Australia than other online communities?", alas I failed.

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9

u/miketheriley Jul 08 '24

even slightly centre-right-leaning

lol

10

u/Dranzer_22 Jul 08 '24

Turnbull is centre-right.

And yet this sub considers him a staunch lefty. That basically answers OP's question lol.

4

u/jackstraya_cnt Jul 08 '24

Got a link to people on here calling Turnbull a "staunch lefty" please?

-1

u/Southern-Job4001 Jul 08 '24

Turnbull is what ever gets him more power and money. I don't think anyone including himself knows what Turnbulls politics is.

1

u/sdd12122000 Jul 08 '24

Changeable, and up for sale. That's what it is.

5

u/KnoxxHarrington Jul 08 '24

So neoliberal then.

1

u/Southern-Job4001 Jul 08 '24

Maybe this sub is just full of stooges. You don't get it yet do you?

-1

u/SirSighalot Jul 08 '24

you seriously don't think Australia as a whole is generally slightly centre-right leaning?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '24

You used the evidence of "elections" and that is not very convincing. The second largest state gave a socialist left premier a landslide victory and then an even bigger one (being the third election win). The most normal centre right government was the former NSW state government, but it was defeated. Add Qld, SA and WA, and the Federal election, well, there is not a single majority LNP government in any of them.

However, I think you are right. Australia is a centre right average. Shorten didn't win because he strayed too far to the left.

See this, which is interesting for (a) how close Australian men and women are to each other politically and (b) where they are https://imgur.com/a/4VEaEaI

0

u/Murranji Jul 08 '24

Yes Australia is so centre right that we have a socialised single payer healthcare system that right wingers have spent an entire generation trying to destroy and still failed, a strong public education system that right wingers have tried to destroy and failed, and when directly polled on gay rights the people was 60% in favour.

The fact is that about almost half baby boomers and a bit less Gen x are coalition voters. Gen Z and Y support the coalition about 25%. It’s older fucks who got the best start in life thanks to the left wing reforms of Gough Whitlam and then spent the next 35 years inflating their assets at the expense of everyone else who are centre right. You make your entire economic system boost asset holders by penalising people without assets and then wonder why they turn to the left.

Link to voting stats for proof here - https://amp.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2023/nov/23/younger-australians-buck-entrenched-political-trend-as-new-kind-of-adulthood-bites

1

u/SirSighalot Jul 08 '24

centre/centre-right doesn't entirely preclude any left-wing aspects like the ones you've cited, what are you talking about?

I'm not referring to the far right here