I accept your arguments, except that "pretence" should probably read "pretext". But it doesn't make wiki's nor my arguments any less valid.
The fundamental difference between the ISA and Liberal positions on VSU/USU is simple. ISA believe in a healthy and vibrant student community that forms a fundamental basis for a good university environment. Graduates should not leave university with just a good understanding of a subject, but as well-rounded individuals with an appreciation for community and cooperation. We do believe in the value of student unionism, but we believe that it has become so corrupted by party politics that it has become a negative, rather than positive aspect of the university experience. For us, VSU is a means to make our student associations more accountable to the students, until they prove themselves worthy to represent and service the student community. For all intents and purposes, the Independent Students' Association IS the middle ground you speak of.
For the Liberals though, VSU isn't as much a means as it is an end - specifically, an end to anti-Liberal campaigning by the left-dominated student associations - and you know this as well as I do. We want to fix our Unions, the Liberals want to divorce the student body from them. We want to do what students believe is right for students, the Liberals want to do what the Party believes is right for students - and the Liberal Club executive are absolutely hellbent on adopting the whole shebang, whether the issue is abortion, immigrants/migrants, HECS or even water desalinisation/recycling - and you, Justin, should know this better than anybody else here.
