Anybody that knows me, knows that I am as a-political as a
person can get. I happily generalize politicians with the
statement "if their lips are moving they are telling lies."
I, along with many others, long for the day where we can see
honest, diligent, astute, professional people running this great country.
I am skeptical that it will happen in my lifetime.
Our current two party system is a breeding ground for mediocrity
and self serving greed. And, sadly, our system dictates that the
party that receives the majority vote is often not the party that
ends up in power. Somehow the average person in the street
needs to do something about the fiasco we call democracy.
We can do it with our votes, but we need to be as studious and
diligent as we expect our elected representatives to be.
Here are a few tips:
1. Understand how our system works, go here:
http://australianpolitics.com/
2. Ensure that the person you vote for, if not elected, uses your
vote in a manner that suits you.
3. Check out this link: http://www.federalelection.com.au/links.asp
4. There is more info here: http://www.aec.gov.au/FAQs/
5. And WA specific info here:
http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/state_wa.htm
6. Consider the important issues: Health, education and the environment
Don't vote for either major party. In my opinion we should adopt a "keep the b******** honest policy". Vote for a minor party
(democrats or greens) or vote independent.
8. Remember to consider that we here in the West have spent years under a Federal coalition and years under a state labour party and
yet we have an atrocious education system, a failing health system and we have to import workers from overseas because of years
of neglect from state and federal government for traineeships and apprenticeships.
If I was as dishonest and inaccurate in my business as our politicians are with us, I would be in jail by now. Stop the rot! Use your vote as a voice for change. Email your state and federal representatives. Ask them to state in writing EXACTLY what they will do with your vote. And remember, above all else over the coming weeks / months, if their lips are moving..................
Got an opinion? Say it here.
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9 comments:
Yes, your words are very true. The Central Eastern Business Association (CEBA) formerly known as the Morley & Districts Business Association recently had the eminent Saul Eslake from the ANZ bank speak to us. He is regarded by many as Australia's top economist. He along with his analysis gave a blow by blow comparison of policies of Liberal and labor. He said that there is very little difference and it does not matter economically which of the two is in power. I for one have been voting for independents for many years.
As an aside, Federally you cannot do an informal vote, BUT HERE IN WA for the State YOU CAN. You put a 1 in the box for your choice and put a 2 in for ALL THE OTHER CANDIDATES. In WA by law your vote has to be counted and it is not possible for them to allocate your preferences.
Apparently it is illegal for me to tell you about this, but I've just done it.
You wanted some comments - so there you are
name provided
Hello. One way in which we can show our political parties what we think of them is to vote against them. We have the right to vote and we should, but it is not the right to vote for anyone, any more than it is the right to vote neutrally, or against them. We have been told for decades that unless we vote for somone then our vote is wasted. That is not true. Any correctly filled in ballot paper is a valid vote. To vote against someone is simple. Put them last. Not first or second but last. Use the preferential system against them.
This is how I have voted for most of my life. I put someone, usually a minor party first, then I fill up the spaces with the ones who have the least chance of winning and then I put the major parties last in a reverse order, with the one least liked stone motherless last.
An alternative is the reverse donkey vote. Instead of voting down the page, vote up it. Remember. Up them! Up the Page!
I have advocated for years that no politician should be allowed more than two terms in office in their life. That is a total of two terms, not two terms of each kind, federal, state and local government. Imagine if we had had that system in place now for a few decades. None of the current crop of polititians would be there and we would be seeing half of them gone at every election. That would mean that talented people who wanted to help their country would stand for election, because once the party hacks had all been used up, they would be forced to go out into the community to get good candidates from competent citzens, rather than party members whose turn it was to be elected.
I am very tired of being governed by people who do not live in the real world. It would also mean that to be elected to parliament would not be an escape from the real world, because in a few short years you would be back in it for the rest of your life. That would mean that politicians would have a vested interest in seeing that the real world is somewhere that they would like to be.
For example. John Howard escaped form the real world when he was 25 years old. He has never faced instant dismissal from a job. He has never been underpaid. He has never had to go cap in hand to an employer who doesn't like him. who would prefer to be rid of him and sucked up for a pay rise. It's been automatically done for him by a so called independent tribunal. He has never had employees as all of his staff are public servants. Etc., etc., etc..
Rave over.
name provided
Crew, Here is a thought, The Nationals on their website have published the list of MP’s that voted for daylight saving and those who voted against an early referendum. This list should be circulated to all voters. Not that this is the only issue in politics but, if they were to lose there seat, maybe, MP’s in future would think twice about imposing their will in such a way again.
I will take the list into the voting booth and number any of the MP’s in my area, last!
You are correct, they are as bad as each other!
I am not sure how you came to be sending me this email, however, this advice is good in part because I see the importance of voting for a minor party. And I stress that to vote a minor party number two on the ballot paper will not help a minor party at all.
In your last email newsletter you wrote:
Don’t vote for either major party. In my opinion we should adopt a "keep the b******** honest policy". Vote for a minor party (democrats or greens) or vote independent.
I actually don't think I will be following your advice on the (alternative, humanist secular) minor parties you have suggested. Infact they are the very last on my preferences. I will however, be interested in any candidate that upholds the values that impact the family, protects and respects the issues of life from conception through to natural death.
Therefore, I do agree with the following:
No matter which party wins government at the Federal election, it's almost certain that the balance of power in the Senate will be held by minor parties. Your choice is between a Christian party and a humanist secular party. Please consider your choice carefully as it may change the future face of Australia soon.
It is very important (and our responsibility) to know how the people placed in Government will vote on issues concerning how we live in this country. It is very much our responsibility to vote for the person that upholds the claims they make while passing laws that govern life.
For information on how the current Government have voted in Parliament on very critical issues that shape the values of this country go to: http://www.christianpoliticsinfo.org
to change our results, Christians need to change their voting habits -PUT CDP FIRST
'2' won't do - we need '1' to win
Thanks for showing an interest in politics, I just hope you will look further into the situation before you make a final decision to vote for the greens or democrats or persuade others to do so.
name provided
Hi, although I share most of your criticisms of the current party system, voting Greens in particular with some of their outragious extreme proposals is certainly not a solution unless you want to return us to high inflation and unemployment and rampant drugs freedom.
We also need to be careful not to paint all politicans with the same brush.
We should vote for the best contender for our seat regardless of party.
If we all did this instead of blindly following party how to vote cards, they would soon get the message.
name provided
I read your article with interest. Have you conxidered the Montessori method of teaching children? Riverlands School in Arthur Street, West Swan, is based on the Montessori system, where children start formal learning on their 3rd birthday. Children use specially designed hands-on materials and work at their own pace. We do not use rewards, coercion or punishment as mistakes are part of learning. Children at a Montessori school learn self-discipline and social responsibility.
The classes are in 3 multi-age groups:
Children's House - 3, 4 & 5 year olds.
Lower Primary - 6, 7 & 8 year olds.
Upper Primary - 9-12 year olds.
If a child is a high achiever, he/she is not held back but encouraged to move to the next level of learning. Children who are struggling are given every assistance. Each child works to his/her own capacity within a multi-age group.
name provided
Hi read your comments on political parties what happen to the “Grey vote” is it still a party running for election.
Let's face it- anyone who becomes an elected politician does not do so for altruistic reasons, (or if that is how they start out the altruism doesn't last long.)
They quickly become corrupted by the venality of the major political parties, and then settle for keeping their bums on the comfy red or green leather seats.
They are rarely of a calibre that would command the inflated salaries and perks, which form part of the job, in any other field except politics.
They however, would have us believe that they are working hard on our behalf when all they really have an eye on is the big brass ring of a gold plated pension( after as little as two terms in office), and free first class travel for life.
So when our local incumbent tells me about the number of hours a day that she works, I just wonder how effective and productive those hours are, and how much is taken up by self promotion through photo opportunity.
A great pity that the quality of our 'elected' representatives is so poor. We are not paying peanuts and shouldn't expect to get monkeys.
I am personally sick and tired of the asinine, childish behaviour of both major political parties, and I am insulted that they hold the intelligence of the electorate in such contempt that they appear to believe that they can buy our votes by handing out "treats" before any election."Treats" which are conspicuous by their absence in the inter election years.
They will both go low down on my preferences. and a pox on both their houses.
I would have great respect for any politician who stood for a policy of federal government spending proportionate to the contribution of each state to GNP.
On this rating our own state would come either at the top or near it instead of always left to suck up the crumbs'
Secession from the federation would get my support, customs and passport controls - the lot!!
Then we might get some real action from our "elected representatives" provided we could control the state lot.
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