Tall poppy syndrome is an Australian term that refers to the act of publicly denigrating people who have achieved success in the public eye. The concept is not unique. Many countries and cultures have similar expressions, typically used to keep those with success grounded. Australia’s variant however has moved beyond a kindly intent into a vile covetous one. The expression ‘Australia the lucky country’ has been for many decades misused. It’s first record of use was in a book (of the same name) by Donald Horne. Although the expression is generally used favourably, the origin of the phrase was decidedly negative. It spoke about Australia’s success despite its poor pollical leadership historically. Sadly, it’s problem we still have today.
Damage to the political landscape.
The past two Australian federal governments secured electoral wins from making election promises that were far beyond their sphere of control. This sort of result can only occur when constituents are politically naive and vote along perceived traditional lines rather than on specific policy or credentials. Like the US, Australia is a two-party system with distinct voter bases and neither party typically provides details on significant policies before elections. Parties lose power rather than win elections setting the stage for a retroactive system that does not support market innovation or a socially progressive society. Few would argue the quality of political candidates has declined in recent years. We have seen governments lose power simply because the leadership were exposed as having poor character. Policy has not been a deciding factor in the past two decades.
Adding to the problem is the social tradition of ‘not talking about politics or religion’. I liken this to sweeping something under the carpet. We now have a more polarised political landscape than ever before possibly due to not being able to discuss our views openly.
Somehow we need to attract a better class of person into political careers. This obviously cannot happen until it’s a more attractive environment, one that is not dominated by narcissists and nepotism. It needs to be one of merit and mutual respect.
Australia has by and large been a peaceful place for no other reason other than it’s secular nature under pinned by Judeo-Christian values.
Yet recently, we imported political and religious violence from third world countries that have a long history of ethnic and religious zealotry. This was done under the guise of diversity. The argument was never put to the populace that Australia was suffering from a lack of diversity. Instead it appears senior bureaucrats made the decision to lower the requirements for visa entry as a political statement against perceived xenophobia.
Today’s Australia sees prospective parties actively bribing ever shrinking cross sections with funds raised from public debt. In the wake of the 2007 financial crisis and the COVID pandemic the public seems to have become comfortable with astronomically high government debt levels. Many geopolitical analysts warn of dire economic conditions ahead due to the reduction of available credit. Population declines in developed countries removes the best of the cashed up investors. Government debt increasing lashes the revenue to the same trajectory. We’ve borrowed more than we can repay because politicians committed us to debt they used to gain personal validation. Garbage in, Garbage out.
Origins and Identity
I have long recognised Australia’s collective lack of self-esteem. I always imagined it was due to our ancestors being criminal or economic outcasts from elsewhere. Never quite as clever, wealthy or well-bred as our counterparts back in the motherland.
To compound matters we never really had anything more than a superficial self-identity. Possibly the closest we might get could be Crocodile Dundee or Sir Les Patterson, Both obvious caricatures.
Rather than conceiving a national identity from what was, we derived one from what wasn’t. We knew what we didn’t like… anything that made us feel inadequate. I lost track of the times I witnessed someone being ridiculed for sporting popular hairstyles or clothing choices overseas here. In my view the Australian national identity was carved in relief.
During the second world war US troops were stationed on the east coast of Australia and quickly garnered a reputation for womanising. Truth was, US troops offered local girls dinner invitations, dancing and gentlemanly behaviour. Australian men on the other hand expected sex in return for a meal or gift. Quickly the expression “Over sexed, over paid and over here” became a catch-cry of jilted Australian men.
The ideal Australian has never really existed as it has done for the other young colonists, Americans. Americans and Australians do not have the depth of history to draw ideals from. We have no King Arthur or Siegfried.
Yet somehow that did not stop the Americans. To their credit they have made some incredible achievements on which to hang a national identity from.
Some have suggested Australia’s value of egalitarianism is responsible for reactionary shaming of any Australian who is successful. I don’t buy that. It’s apparent to me at least, Australian does not wholly subscribe to economic or education equality. Our brand of equality is more in line with modern virtue signalling found in any western country. A short drive across any of the nation’s capital city waterfronts will expose the multimillion dollar real estate on show. You can drive a Toyota Landcruser instead of a Porsche, but the primary dwelling gives it away. Melboune and Sydney have private schools that cost more than the net salary of the average income. What might come as a surprise to some readers is that Australia has a thriving superyacht industry.
On the fence throwing rocks.
Australia is a democratic meritocracy. It is clear the vast majority of voters are happy with the concept of success after effort. Yet we have a system of government and accompanying bureaucracy that has enabled those actively working to tear the system down.
I would imagine many people, myself included, celebrate a difference of opinion. How are we then with the idea of dismantling these systems that have brough us into a society mostly free of hunger and danger?
But my hunch is its driven by jealously and inadequacy. Ours and theirs.
As Australia has become wealthier, the wealth gap has grown accordingly. If you have studied finance and economics, you’d understand about intergenerational wealth and the unbeatable advantage it brings. As expected, the gap is widening between the top and the bottom but that isn’t the most interesting segment. Its between the lower levels of the middle class and the poor. People are, as they say dropping off the bottom of the middle class. I am not surprised there is so much venom on social media making suggestion the system in rigged in favour of powerful elites. It true that wealth bring opportunity, possibly even pollical power should you want it. Nobody is going to help anyone else while they are throwing rocks. Some of the language used during the recent Indigenous Voice referendum for instance might not have been designed to insult, but it certainly hit the mark. When you want to change, build bridges, don’t throw grenades.
The system isn’t broken. We are. A person poor one day and rich the next, would have to change how and where they lived. The only formal research undertaken on lottery winners suggested a bleak outcome for most families. Anyone who have experienced a degree of personal success will chuckle at the expression: "Every time a friend succeeds, something in me dies."
Some good links:
Tall poppy syndrome on mental health
Tall Poppy Syndrome - research