After Dastyari´s downfall we must question the hold of big money on any political party | Jeff Sparrow
(The Guardian China)

Irrespective of a donor´s nationality, what are the effects of politicians hobnobbing with billionaires on the democratic process? We need to be very careful about the political narrative emerging to explain Sam Dastyari´s downfall.In Fairfax, Mark Kenny argues that, by resigning over his connections with billionaire Huang Xiangmo, Dastyari `reinforced to Beijing, and to its wealthy business and political surrogates here, that Australia will safeguard its sovereignty as jealously as does China`. Related: Sam Dastyari quits as Labor senator over China connections China´s rise is a fact and isn´t going away. It constitutes a profound shift in the distribution of power in Asia, and is creating a new regional order in which China has a lot more influence, and America has less ... Related: America or China? Australia is fooling itself that it doesn`t have to choose Related: Turnbull says Australia will `stand up` to China as foreign influence row heats up Continue reading...