Dumb idea

David Barnett and others think there’s a good chance the Nationals and the Liberal Party will merge over the next year or two, at least in some states. Brendan Nelson has said he would support such a move as long it was imposed from the top. However Ted Malone’s idea of including One Nation and Family First is just plain dumb. One of the good things about our political system is that it allows minor parties to get a few people elected. By doing so there’s an outlet for political extremist and radicals. If those parties didn’t exist the fringe element would infect the major parties. The last thing the opposition needs is One Nation xenophobes or Family First Christian fundamentalist. The non socialist forces have to appeal to conservative centre, as John Howard did. A union with One Nation or Family First would be suicide.