Their views are not matters of political disagreements and opinions. They're dangerous nonsense that only radicalises and harms those who believe it as it disconnects them from reality, from society, and if they have legitimate grievances they can no longer take action to remedy them. It's sad.
How does one stop being a SovCit? I wish I knew how to help these people but any attempt to challenge their narrative (or even ask neutral questions to even UNDERSTAND their narrative) are met with aggression and bizarre accusations of partisan undermining of their personal freedoms.
It's easy for outsiders to mock them for being conspiracy theorists (they are) but consider the constant stress and trauma of genuinely believing the whole system of government is INHERENTLY trying to destroy you in elaborate ways and you're a powerless pawn doomed to be oppressed. That sucks!
I genuinely believe that everyone should understand and be able to engage with the political system of the country they live in. Sovereign Citizens refuse to do that and shut themselves off from any legitimate avenue to learn or act in their own self interest. It's sad. They are their own obstacles.
These people are SO ANGRY but at... nothing? If they have legitimate grievances then I can't discern them. If they have genuine political desires then they cannot express them. They simply are so far down a rabbit hole that they can't engage with any action that would remedy their problems.
It's a melting pot of nonsense, conspiracy, and random anti-social aggression. They ask rhetorical questions about how is that (insert thing here) is legal when it clearly contradicts page 278 of the Constitution? (there are like 30ish pages of the Constitution depending on formatting)
There's no media literacy. At all. There isn't even agreement to what it is they believe. The government isn't real because it's a corporation OR it should be real but every government since Whitlam is corrupt and ignoring the Commonwealth Constitution Act 1901 (it's not 1901. It was passed in 1900)
There are frequent sharing of posts/content that is poorly generated AI slop. So called BOMBSHELL news articles about CORRUPTION are barely legible and offer no details, incorrect sentences that barely read grammatically, and the only discernible message is "GOVERNMENT CORRUPT! RISE UP PATRIOTS!"
I'm in a few sovereign citizen groups on Facebook (because doom scrolling wasn't DEPRESSING ENOUGH) and I'm fascinated by the sheer volume of misinformation and disinformation spread by these groups to a truly baffling degree. It's concerning and saddening at the same time.
I FORGOT to upload it THIS MORNING so I guess ENJOY it at NIGHT. I'm TIRED. I started TYPING like this for a BIT and need to STOP.
Hello! I have finally made a NEW VIDEO and it's about how LAWS are MADE in AUSTRALIA! Enjoy PLEASE: youtu.be/1LH79Jihzpg
On this day in 1966 we transitioned over from pounds to dollars! Happy 60th anniversary to the Australian dollar 💚💚💚 www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtyN...
I'm periodically reminded that some people think that local government isn't a legitimate/constitutional level of government in Australia. If you ever encounter these claims here's a handy fact check to explain why they're wrong: www.aap.com.au/factcheck/th...
I have an announcement about the future of Auspol Explained! If you haven't watched it yet then do so now. NOW!* youtu.be/2QVxQy781J8
*or later idk it's not going anywhere.
I was going to make a video about Federation and how it wasn't independence for Australia but I don't have much time (book writing, planning other things) so I'm putting it aside and will revisit that later. I'm going to announce something else for January.
Merry Christmas from everyone's favourite traditional holiday being: the Christmas Gargoyle of Auspol Knowledge! May you have a wonderful holiday period, your masonry be free of water erosion, and you get the best gift of all: a better understanding of Australia’s political system. Ho ho ho.
For December's episode I'll be telling you all about how Harold Holt died: youtu.be/KhaJTUE3GTE
Let's learn about graphs! Often you'll see data about [insert political thing here] and being told a conclusion about it that supports [insert political position here]. But is it being fairly represented? How is it being framed? Here are some handy tips on critically analysing graphs:
They were self-governing colonies. Upon Federation they became state. But even the nation of Australia was still considered a colony of Britain until 1907 when it became classified as a Dominion.
I have heard it a little bit but I think it's just people having only a vague idea of both Federation and independence. I don't think it's a pressing bit of misinformation but I'm going to make a video on it anyway to clear up any ambiguity.
This isn't like a pass/fail thing. I'm curious what people's perception of this is. I'll make a video about it for January.
Hey quick yes/no question: do you think, or have you been told before, that Federation in 1901 meant independence for Australia?
Here's to another wonderful year of me explaining how Australian politics works!
It's been a pleasure being a big nerd on the internet talking about my second favourite subject (my first is Pokemon). It's been very rewarding to hear from people that I taught them so much, that I helped for their exams, or that they felt confident voting because they understood how things work.
Whoa! Auspol Explained is SIX YEARS OLD TODAY! When I started I had a simple mission: help people understand how the Australian political system works without telling them who they should vote for. Six years on that mission continues! Thank you to everyone for their support.
50 years ago the Whitlam government was dismissed by the Governor-General, John Kerr. It's not well understood so I asked constitutional expert Anne Twomey about it to unpack what happened, why, how, and also why it wasn't as unprecedented or unexpected as people think it was. youtu.be/BKGCcq1j9BE
My first of TWO videos today is here! An interview with Professor Jenny Hocking about the history of the dismissal of Gough Whitlam: youtu.be/C_RJ72Z5OJY
Ok but am I the only one who thinks Roger Sterling from Mad Men looks like James Scullin?
Have you ever wondered about what quotes dead Australian prime ministers have on their graves? I have. And I ranked them. This is the ranking listical you didn't know you needed: youtu.be/QxMdx8NQhi0
I'm giving a FREE talk at Subiaco Library about how Australia's constitutional/legal relationship to the UK has evolved over the centuries since colonisation. When did we gain independence? Come find out why that's such a complicated question at my talk: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/auspol-exp...
