THE ELASTIC EDGE OF LEGALITY

“Fire! Ready! Aim!” 

An Australian Special Forces soldier first introduced me to the phrase “operating on the elastic edge of legality”when describing his tours of Afghanistan.

It came to mind again during these early days of Trump’s crazed Second Coming as Elon Musk and his band of pre-pubescent tech thugs charged into America’s government operating systems, slashing and burning at will.

In accord with Trump’s philosophy of ‘Fire, Ready, Aim!’, Musk and his Young Bros adopted the old Scottish rugby call of ‘retaliate first’ as they strong-armed their way into their nation’s most secret databases and computer platforms, their eyes blazing with doctrinaire destruction.

Sadly, we’ve become accustomed to Trump’s performances, to the pandering of his Republican Party hierarchy, and to his Democratic opponents frozen like deer in headlights as he ‘floods the zone’ with his shameless slapstick.

But the risks are already there and they’re getting bigger by the day. Every time Musk’s tech thugs trample over the law and ignore the impact of their actions on their fellow citizens’ lives, they weaken the structures that bind the nation.

Every time Trump trashes agencies, governments and individual reputations, he adds to the confusion and promotes the division, within America and around the globe.

As we have done for decades, Australia turns its eyes to America and, both consciously and subconsciously, adopts many of its methods and beliefs.

But, surely it’s time that we recognised the values that have built our nation: a Fair Go for all; the power of community; secularism; multiculturalism; all underpinned by democratic elections and government.

Let’s not allow the garish Trump Show to outshine our politics. Let’s turn to leaders with character, to representatives who demonstrate a determination to care for their constituents and let’s ensure that truth and kindness still play a crucial role in public life here.