B.P. Terpstra
The frequency of apocalyptic religiosity, the carbon tut-tuts sermons, the be-green-to-be-seen plays, have cemented public skepticism. Take the Australian Left’s latest Labor-first TV campaign for a carbon dioxide tax with Cate Blanchett. It screams decadence. Or as the Nationals Senate leader put it: “I think that Cate Blanchett is a marvellous actor, a beautiful person and a wonderful Australian, but the relationship between that and a person who is, unfortunately, is already doing it tough in their life, who’s under the pump already because they can't afford their power bill... what do they get from the ad?”
To the critical-thinking eye, Cate Blanchett’s commercial relationships with Big Car and Big Makeup appear problematic. So when in late 2009 Audi’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann, announced, “We’re extremely pleased to continue our partnership with Sydney Theatre Company as Principal Sponsor” and Audi’s website boasted, “Artistic Directors, Blanchett and Upton, renew contract for a second term” questions were raised: The planet or Big Theatre? Our blue skies or Big Car?
No longer are Australians going to cop the “denier” accusations for being critical-thinking citizens. The pro-tax campaign also stars Michael Caton of McDonald’s ad fame.
To Australians struggling with everyday household expenses Carbon Cate is living in a different world. “It's nice to have a multi-millionaire who won't be impacted by it telling you how great it is. It's easy for her to advocate it, she's one of the people who can afford to pay it,” states The Australian Family Association. “There are people who have no comfort zone and no room to move.”
To Australians concerned with actors singing Labor’s government-first chorus, Michael Caton is also living in a different world. “The deceit is astonishing. Apparently, cutting emissions of carbon dioxide will somehow turn our allegedly black skies into the clearest you’ve ever seen,” observes Andrew Bolt, a critical-thinking writer and television host.
And to Australians weary of slick government-first propaganda, questions will also be raised around the pro-tax TV campaigns image tricks. “Good Lord - isn’t that London’s Battersea power station in the background?” asked Herald Sun commenter Walter. “Surely no one could be that stupid.”
It was. Alas, green decadence is blind to reason. “They have shown the old Battersea power station in England because of the ‘Australian Cringe.’ Our coal fired power stations are not old and evil enough,” noted another critical-thinking commenter.