11/10/2026
I was visiting my Grandpa, who had obviously seen some of my videos and posts online.
He asked “You’re not thinking about getting into politics, are you, Jake?”
“No Baba, I don’t want to. I want to build stuff. I don’t want to get political, but I don’t think I have the luxury of turning a blind eye. My kids will want to build stuff too.”
I have lots to say on the topic - essentially as a layman. I think specialists and experts can get lost in the details and miss the obvious.
I’ve travelled extensively, to almost 50 countries. Every time I flew home it was a comfort to step onto Australian soil. There was always dinner table conversation about how a country does X or Y better than us in a narrow view, but by and large, Australia is absolutely the “lucky country”. (It’s worth remembering that Donald Horne meant that as a criticism: a lucky country run mainly by second-rate people who share its luck.)
One common pushback when advocating for change, reform or a new direction for Australia is “where is doing it better?” or “where would you rather live?”
This is a lazy logical fallacy: a red herring that shifts the burden of proof.
For the sake of the argument, let’s accept the premise that Australia is “the best in the world” at absolutely everything. Does that mean there could be no issues? Does this mean that there is no room for improvement? In this frame, is pushing for improvement somehow no longer noble?
I recently remarked how poor the roads in NE Vic are. One commenter claimed he was 65 years old and they were no worse than he’d seen his whole life.
OK - so are we now establishing that they have always been crap? Does this somehow negate a call for rectifying this issue - because it’s always been that way?
A lot of the world is suffering. Third world conditions, lack of infrastructure and wealth, war.
I understand the mindset of an empathetic person who watches the world’s suffering and regards calling for improvement and progress at home as selfish and isolationist. It’s not.
If the global baseline is struggle, we do not display empathy and compassion by levelling down. We owe it to our position, endowment and the sweat and blood of our forefathers to push forward and continue to shine as an example of what is possible in a cohesive, high trust and organised society. To be an example to the world. To help where we can, but not by robbing ourselves and borrowing against our kids’ future.
I wish I had the luxury to be politically naive and unmotivated. As a present and motivated young father, I do not. Nothing matters more to me than my family unit and to watch the precious opportunities afforded to my grandparents, my parents and me erode is jarring.
I meme, I make fun, I fight and I provoke - this is not a technique. It’s my personality. Class clown, recalcitrant by nature - “lovable rogue” as nicknamed by some teachers.
The political shift in Australia is palpable and our leaders seem disconnected. While we are asking for common sense and pragmatic reform our leader is overseas receiving an award for being a good “Global Citizen”. I would love to feel proud that our leaders are being recognised on a global stage for exemplary leadership. I wish I did.
But many of us feel like we are being continuously gaslighted and sold short by our leaders while we watch them playing winner on a global stage.
Why the One Nation groundswell?
Common criticisms of One Nation are:
“They don’t have any policies”
“Their policies (that ‘don’t exist’) aren’t costed”
“Pauline is a racist”
I think you can wrap up One Nation’s support in two succinct points.
Supporters don’t feel lied to. Hanson has said the same thing for nearly 30 years, at real personal cost.
Supporters feel prioritised and valued for the first time in a long time.
Because I share the sentiments of being unrepresented (frankly, I feel punished and swindled.) I’m labelled a N**i, racist & just a horrible human being.
They (anonymous online activists) come after my children and accuse them of being props. They leave negative reviews on my business pages to hurt my family’s livelihood and tell me they are adding me onto boycott lists.
I also believe labelling people with sensationalist terms like N**i and racist is problematic. Watering down the terms with willy-nilly use takes away their utility. Example: In the past, if someone had called me a racist because of something I’d said, I would have been taken aback and would likely have done some serious contemplation. Now it comes so often that it no longer lands. That’s dangerous, because when real racism shows up, the word has lost its power.
Can we worry that our fuel reserves are inadequate without being accused of wanting to dig up the whole country?
Can we notice that immigration seems overwhelming while not actually hating immigrants?
Can we hold the ruling government to account for lies and misdirection without a perfect party to put in its place?
Can we want safe roads even though roads have always had potholes?
It’s OUR government, governing US in OUR Country. Why shouldn’t we want to be prioritised?
I want my children to have the opportunity to own a home, start a business and have some semblance of the freedoms that our forefathers fought for.
So no, Baba, I’m not planning on getting into politics. But I can’t stay quiet either.
