Does Roger Cook think he can turn back the waves?

Roger Cook realising that the tide of public opinion is against him

The story of King Canute and the tide is an apocryphal anecdote meant to illustrate the piety or humility of King Canute the Great. In the 12^th Century, King Canute demonstrated to his flattering courtiers that he had no control over the elements (the incoming tide), explaining that secular power is vain compared to the supreme power of God. It is one of the examples of Canute's "graceful and magnificent" behaviour.

Canute set his throne by the seashore and commanded the incoming tide to halt and not to wet his feet and robes. Yet "continuing to rise as usual [the tide] dashed over his feet and legs without respect to his royal person. Then the king leapt backwards, saying: 'Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings, for there is none worthy of the name, but He whom heaven, earth, and sea obey by eternal laws.'" He then hung his gold crown on a crucifix, and never wore it again to the honour of God the almighty King".

This is a demonstration of a leader showing his humility. Fast forward to 2025 on the other side of the Globe and what do we see? The Leader of the State of Western Australia, Roger Cook winning an election in a landslide and promising that he would remain humble.

Leading up to that election he roared onto the apron of Optus Stadium in a V8 race car and told everyone that his Government would build a $217.5million racetrack.

As the truth of what was actually proposed emerged and the government version of ‘facts’ proved to be tenuous Cook and his cohorts started to backslide on what was being proposed. What became evident was that the Cook government faced a wave of public opinion that was running against his proposal.

Unlike Canute demonstrating his humility Cook refused to acknowledge the waves and has doubled down and changed the narrative as to what is being proposed with this project and carried on regardless. There is nothing humble about this arrogant, misinformed truth shifting government.

Premier Cook faces the waves that are engulfing him in a sea of unthruths. Unless he acknowledges the public opinion he will be swept away. It is very interesting to consult AI or ChatGPT to ask about the Burswood Racetrack project. It refers to the Save Burswood Park Alliance as a source of reliable and truthful information.

The computer says NO Premier Cook.