Kevin Rudd: The Man Who Should Have Been An Activist

Lots has been said about Kevin Rudd in the last couple of months. Some have reflected on his Xy and seen it as not much more than a political stunt originally to take the "Xn vote" away from John Howard. And, that Kevin's true, less than Xn, self came out in the way he unfairly dealt with people. I think something less conniving was going on. I think Kevin Rudd was a man of principles (probably not all that I would agree with) and passion and, in the world of slow moving politics that passion is easily corrupted. I think it might have been Tony Blair who once lamented that even though he was Prime Minister he still didn't have the power to get done the things he wanted to get done. I suspect Kevin Rudd found himself in a similar position and pushed himself and those around him to follow his own agenda - which I'm sure might have changed as quickly as it does for any of us. It was a recipe for burnout, clashes and eventually mutiny. For all that his apology to the stolen generation and avoiding of the GFC (albeit on excellent advice from treasury) should be remembered as two great moments.

I think Kevin Rudd just made the wrong career choice. I think he should have been an activist not a politician. Activists create the space for politicians to make the right decisions (Ched Myers). With his passion and the way he could wrap the media around his finger he would be great at raising awareness and creating the space for politicians to make the right decisions.