{"product_id":"9781743518076","title":"The Political Bubble: Why Australians Don't Trust Politics","description":"\u003cp\u003eAustralians once trusted the democratic process. While we got on with our lives, we assumed our politicians had our best interests at heart. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot anymore. That trust has collapsed. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMark Latham joined the Labor Party in the late 1970s hoping to improve people's lives through parliamentary service. Twenty-five years later, the Opposition Leader ended up as disillusioned as the rest of us. The scorching honesty of \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Latham Diaries\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003eensured he'd burned his political bridges, but ostracism from the Canberra Club has its advantages.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Political Bubble\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e Mark Latham is free to explore how parliamentary democracy has lost touch with the people it's supposed to represent. As with most institutions at risk, politics has become more tribal, with left- and right-wing fanatics dominating formerly robust, mainstream parties.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter the disappointment of the Rudd\/Gillard years, Tony Abbott promised to restore trust in Australian politics but, as with most of his promises, it was dispensable. \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Political Bubble\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e looks at the new government's policies - how Abbott is adding to distrust, not solving the problem. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat can be done about this democratic deficit? Can our parliamentary system realign itself with community expectations or has politics become one long race to the bottom?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'A brilliant analysis of Australia in the era of Tony Abbott and fanatical right-wing politics.' ROBERT MANNE\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pan Macmillan Australia","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47168646775024,"sku":"9781743518076","price":20.9,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781743518076_p0.jpg?v=1763706261","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781743518076","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}