this post was submitted on 12 Apr 2025
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The rightwing advocacy group Advance has acknowledged it is paying for election materials attacking the Greens to be used by third-party groups during the election campaign.

The Advance spokesperson said: “Our campaign against the Greens won’t defeat teals because it was never meant to. We have been crystal clear for the past 18 months that our focus is on the Greens this election.”

Advance has also focused on the anti-renewables movement, appearing at “energy forums” across the country and events held by groups set up to oppose the rollout of offshore wind and solar energy.

What a bunch of truly shitty people :(

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago

Just follow the money. Don't even need to do that, its very obvious which industry group benefits from attacking the Greens. It is the same companies, majority foreign owned who aren't paying their fair share of taxes.

It is hard to understand how anyone would fall for these corporate propaganda campaigns but then you think about the number of phone and internet scams and see all the fraud and weird cults around and I guess you just have to influence enough people to shift the goal posts. They must be spending a fortune per vote. Must be nice to have a licence to steal our countries wealth and not give anything back.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago

They've got absolutely fuck all of any use to say about anything - they're just 'anti' the greens. No policies, no big ideas, just opposed to another party. Fucking useless nazis.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Are these the cunts funded by the yanks?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 hours ago

Let's face it, probably also the Russians.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago

Lots of locals who'd fund this.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago

Voting for people like this is like being convinced to punch yourself in the dick.

Some people need to wait to discover what a truly shit idea it is before. Its a pity that when people get cancer, it doesn't pop up with a label saying it was caused by Coal and car fumes, because if it did, the choice would be obvious

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Looks all's fair in love and war, as they say, so I don't see a problem with these people organising against the Greens, Labors, or anybody else's policies. Let the best arguments win, which is great cause their arguments rely on lies, fiction, and crimes against humanity. The Greens need to be able to handle themselves against attacks like this.

The real question i have with Advance, and Aust Institute for that matter is, who funds them. I have to accept them, i suppose, but if they're going to have influence over this country's politics, the average voter must be able to know who funds them.

Greens Truth

The Truthers schtick is so tiresome. Its like a gold star they put on all their homework to make themselves feel special.

The type of assistance Advance has on offer was revealed by two Jewish advocacy groups in a recent forum hosted by the Australian Jewish Association (AJA).

I suppose this is the real guts of the article, the importance of highlighting a truly sad partnership of the Reactionary Rightwing International. These Jewish groups and their links to Advance is a sad union for them to seek.

According to Piper – who appeared in Advance’s anti-renewables Dollars & Destruction video series – the organisation is a natural ally for groups that feel they are mostly excluded from the conversation taking place in parliament and the media.

“Advance is helping get publicity for the grassroots people who have been shut out of everything,” he said.

The victim complex is unbearably boorish.

They have the the largest private media organisation/conglomerate in their corner. They have not one but four plus parties shouting their propaganda. Libs, Nats, ON, Palmer, SFF?, Sustainable Aus?.

They are dominant in all but reality. It is the realisation that no matter how much shouting at the wind is done, it doesn't turn it back, it can create a hurricanes though... so that'll be useful for exactly no one.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 hours ago

The effectiveness of these groups should be obvious from the referendum, if not the US election. Wealthy people are more than willing to throw shitloads around to spread misinformation and flood people's feeds.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Let the best arguments win, which is great cause their arguments rely on lies, fiction, and crimes against humanity.

How's that been working out so far?

The "marketplace of ideas" is rigged when most media platforms are either directly owned by ultra-rich shareholders (e.g. most mainstream news outlets, and plenty of minor ones too, and most mainstream social media platforms) or dominated by astroturfed campaigns (troll farms, targeted political advertising e.g. Cambridge Analytica). Why should we expect the quality of an idea to determine its chances of winning?

You're right that it makes those points easier to dispute and counter, but that won't happen on its own, especially if the Greens can't reach the same audience.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

So, i was speaking in the context of Australia. So thats important when considering how its working out so far. Each Nation's media is distinct to a greater or lesser degree. And, i think its going pretty well here, not perfect though.

You're dead right about the media and social media skews. But Australia is, luckily/smartly, dealing with these issues better than most. We actually have a Government whonis willing to put up legislation afainst social media platforms, however flawed that legislation may be, that places known limits in the minds of those platforms owners' power.

The concentration of traditional media has been diluted from its zenith of power by the ABC, and the introduction of Guardian. One of which will never leave, and the other of which has a great deal of support. And of course those Social media companies whose interests don't always align.

Basically, i think its going better for us here, which the Greens success as a mainstay Party proves. Along with other minor parties, Nationals not included in that, they have a unique historical context which seems to have frozen them as a share of the electorate and nation.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

I'm also talking about Australia, I only brought up Cambridge Analytical as a notorious case of a phenomenon we also see here, ABC alleges there were online misinformation bots interfering with the recent referendum.

I completely agree that the ABC and having The Guardian and to some degree Independent Australia and The Chaser media in the mainstream puts us in a better situation than our neighbours. Yes, definitely. However, I also emphasise that this is still a heavily tilted table, with 7, 9, 10 and (depending on your region) Sky on public television and online, plus the usual suspects like The Australian, but also many regional news sites are owned by them too.

Until we (as a general society) shift away from those media platforms, they influence the information we (as a general society) receive and how it's framed. Yeah, it's better, but it's still very uphill. Legislation and our political situation have made it easier, it helps but it can't solve the problem on its own.

And thanks for replying, it's made me realise that I should be sharing more news from progressive publications to help make that shift happen.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 hours ago

Its why i'm so excited by the idea of Activitypub. It offers the world another chance at a genuine 'Market of Ideas'. And thats what i'm all about, sharing the idea's not necessarily from a specific political hue, but they have to be based in the facts for me.

But, i don't think its a coincidence that theres a large crossover with progressive publications, and 'factual' outlets. Progressives afterall have to take the world as they find it otherwise they'd progress from nonsense to chaos. Thats something not all across other parts of the political spectrum feel a strong demand on.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Let the best arguments win

Unfortunately, it's very hard for citizens to distinguish lies from truth. E.g. the "Children Overboard" scandal - a well timed lie can win an election. At the very least we need honesty in our election materials. Libellous electioneering is dangerous.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

Yeah, na, good point.

I suppose i's thinking of the longer term argument, where hopefully enough people learn the spurious claim that are made.