Fear and panic aren’t just bad in themselves; they often lead to stasis.

And that’s bad for more than the obvious set of reasons.

Demagogues and dictators rely on conformity of thought, and on wearing their opposition down, to get the upper hand.

As we all mourn the terrible violence against immigrants in Belfast, and the continuing murder of innocents in so many places – including Lebanon and Palestine – we mustn’t fall prey to inaction. If we do, we let the bastards win.

In this very vein, this week, Kos Samaras supplies us with a handy ‘how-to’ guide to defeating Pauline Hanson. Just what the doctor ordered.

He offers a way of understanding the woman attracting so much attention, and reminds us that her support base is not all baked in. Many Johnny-come-latelys have been lured by the “she’s not a politician,........

© Pearls and Irritations