mockocelot replied to your post:I used to consider myself a political leftist, and...
The last couple are pretty on point, but the IPA’s influence on the government is concerning, considering what it wants, and Murdoch’s global media influence was a problem long before Abbott was elected.
Why? The IPA is a lobby group like all the others. You think no government in the past has been influenced by lobbyists? Really? The reason the IPA has influence is because they're old and well-connected. It's no different to the influence the AWU has on Labor. But that doesn't get attacked.
As for Murdoch's influence, he doesn't hold guns to anyone's head and force them to vote Liberal. Yes, his papers have a right-wing bias but in general they just reflect community attitudes. "Yay the government is great" doesn't sell papers. The Telegraph is a total rag, but it always has been. Always. We managed to elect a Labor government twice and the previous one four times.
Murdoch doesn't choose the government. Voters do. And if they're influenced by Murdoch it's because they choose to be. Australians are naturally conservative. It's a fact of life.