Brittney Henderson interview begins at 11 minutes and 59 seconds
Brittney Henderson is a queer, Wiradjuri Bunerong person, and Greens candidate for the Western Melbourne Metropolitan area. Listen to hear the about the environmental, public transport, "cost of living" and First Nations issues, that they are campaigning on.
Have you ever heard the phrase "Manufacturing Consent?" It comes from a famous book called Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of Mass Media by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky (yes, that Noam Chomsky :\ ). The book breaks down how media filters information in order to serve the political and economic agenda of "the establishment" (the people with all the power and money). The NDIS is a fantastic example, how many times have you heard people around you criticise it for being 'expensive,' 'inefficient,' full of people who 'aren't really disabled' etc? These are made the only talking points and given validity by even the 'government gilded' ABC. The government defunds it over successive budgets to fufil the prophecy. Humanity and dignity are stripped from the conversation and people are convinced that NDIS cuts are necessary and that the private system will somehow be better (which we know is an inherently inequitable system).
We then find ourselves here, operating within the acceptable terms defined by the establishment media. Our debate becomes narrowed. So in this episode I spend some time sharing my thoughts on this way of framing things. When we think about it we take so many things for granted about our reality. We accept so much in society but do we really question it? Are we finding ourselves arguing within the paradigm created by those in power and on the right? How can we challenge that paradigm in our everyday conversations?
Music
Kill Your Lawn and Kick You Fence intro sting by Tilde Joy and Amy Aednat Ciara
Little Boxes by Malvina Reynolds
The Price of Eggs by Carsie Blanton and The Burning Hells
Amy Ciara.
