Commentary 22 - Progressive Patriotism

 PROGRESSIVE PATRIOTISM

(Written by Warren Maloney 18 May 2025)




The re-elected Labor Government in Australia has adopted a slogan of "Progressive Patriotism" - It is a variation, I guess, of MAGA but is focussed on taking the middle ground of Politics and implementing "Woke" and DEI style policies, whilst pushing the Conservatives further Right, and the Greens further Left. It will be interesting to see how it works. The 2nd term Labor Government has the highest majority ever for a Labor Government, and for the 1st time in Australia's history, the majority of Cabinet members are Women and under 50 years of age. 

Of course, I am very biased in my support for the above politically and patriotically.

BUT it is interesting that when you travel you open up your eyes to other possibilities and achievements. 

Karen & I "discovered" ICELAND in 2013. We wanted to go there because of its Crime Detective literature and the fact that everyone is known by First Name not by Surname. And when we went there we were blown away by so many of its characteristics and achievements. These included
  • It so loves literature that giving books is a compulsory thing for Christmas & Birthday presents
  • Education is Free, as is Medical care. There are no private clinics. Prescriptions are free.
  • All Voting is online. Female political leadership has been common for over 30 years. They are a World leader in DEI legislation.
  • The Police and Offenders call each other by their first name. BTW, they average 1 murder per year so being a Crime Writer there needs plots from fiction not real life
  • Whilst they don't really believe in their ancestral myths of the "hidden people" (equiv. to Irish leprechauns or English garden fairies), they do reroute roads to go around spots where the Hidden People live.
  • The Country collectively chose Lutheranism as a common Religion to avoid further religious fights (Missionaries are not welcome). So they largely call themselves Lutherans but only less than 5% attend services. But they do take marriage Vows for Life very seriously, and spend much to counsel/assist marriage harmony and punish domestic violence and deserters.
  • They have no Army. If any one wants to do Military service, they have an acceptance relationship with the Norwegian Military.
  • The houses/businesses use "district heating" (utilising the volcanic technology) and that heating is free
  • They all speak English as it is the 2nd language taught from Grade 2 at School
  • They imprison Company Directors & Senior Public Servants for financial failure or work accidents
  • They welcome Tourists with enormous enthusiasm but legally discourage foreign land ownership or requests for permanent settlement.
  • They are dependent for most of their farming/fishing income on 4-5 activity months each year. This includes Whale & Puffin hunting.
  • They have adapted their private land tenure laws to easily compensate and relocate if directly threatened by the very common volcanic activity
Some of the above are very appealing and some are very challenging. "Progressive Patriotism" would have a very different meaning there. But Iceland is one of the 2 other Countries that Karen & I could live in!

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