So much for the Knowledge Nation. It was a nice thought while it lasted but with the former leader of the Opposition vanishing into the gloom of political oblivion, one suspects that Kim's and Barry's grand vision will not arise Lazarus-like from the grave. Or will it. The question as to whether or not it was an apparition and little more won't remain unanswered, but what and when the answer will be remains to seen.

It's a safe bet that the public funds spent on the Senate Committee's assessment of The Capacity of Public Universities to Meet Australia’s Higher Education Needs were wasted. And there is no current political reason that the governing Coalition should alter its stance of providing inadequate resources for  education and science.

The Australian population aren't silly; there was little of consequence that differentiated the major parties. Not really surprising. If you're run by pollsters all of whom use essentially the same tools to determine and analyse public opinion you're gonna be given the same answers and use the same formulae for your populist pitch. So...? 

...always keep a-hold of Nurse
For fear of finding something worse.
                                                    Hillaire Belloc,  More Beasts for Worse Children

And that's just what we've done.

Oddly enough other OECD nations -- no not all -- do look forward and with an increasing understanding of the allocation of the resources required to build the foundations of a knowledge based nation. Why?

Perhaps it's time to ask. Perhaps those in power might be prepared to listen if the style of presenting the case and the standing of the presenters can be made to match its merits. But it will take time; it will require quiet perseverance, and almost certainly it will have to be done in camera.  

Alex Reisner
The Funneled Web