Aussie election: Democracy in action?

[Kim OHara]

An interesting list just popped up on the ABC website, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-06/2 ... on/4939224

The ABC's Vote Compass provided unprecedented insight into the views of Australian voters, capturing more than 1.2 million responses during the federal election campaign.
Here are 21 things Vote Compass has revealed about Australian political life.

Amongst other things, it shows many of my opinions are minority opinions in my home state - no great surprise - but not nationally.
Also that there is majority support (nationally) for gay marriage, more action on climate change, making the mining companies pay more tax, reducing aid to the car industry, and tightening restrictions on CSG. If that were to be reflected in tomorrow's ballot, we'd have a Greens government.
It won't happen, of course, but it's disappointing that we are likely to have a government which is on the minority side on all of those issues.



Kim

[edits:fixed formatting]

[manas]

Hi Kim,

no, it's the Murdochcracy in action...

metta
manas _/I\_

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Why An Abbott Election Victory Would Be Good
https://www.thevine.com.au/life/news/wh ... 05-264996/

P.S. Vote Green! (especially in the senate - once the final lay of the land is known, we'll see just how important the senate will be)

Metta,
Retro.

[Kim OHara]

Hi Kim,

no, it's the Murdochcracy in action...

metta
manas _/I\_

For those who don't understand that reference, here's how one of Australia's largest-circulation papers, Murdoch-owned of course, celebrated the announcement of our federal election date.
The bloke on the cover is our Prime Minister.

images.jpg (12.46 KiB) Viewed 1263 times

So much for fair and balanced reporting!


Kim

[dagon]

There is only one valid question in this election - who are you going to vote against.

To paraphase the old saying that:
democracy is like two wolves and a sheep deciding on what they are going to have for dinner
my words - 2 media owners and a conscience deciding what we are going to think

metta
paul

[dagon]

Edit due to duplication of post

I wonder if i could get away with doing that when i vote, lol

metta
paul

[Kim OHara]

Why An Abbott Election Victory Would Be Good
https://www.thevine.com.au/life/news/wh ... 05-264996/

Thanks for that link, Retro - it's good, and I will spread it far and wide on Sunday if we get the result we are being told to expect.

P.S. Vote Green! (especially in the senate - once the final lay of the land is known, we'll see just how important the senate will be)

Absolutely! And remember ...

never-give-up-frog.jpg (36.2 KiB) Viewed 1258 times

Kim

[Dan74]

A quick perusal of the vine article and so far I agree completely - I've been saying the same thing for ages (even before Rudd).

I am not surprised that people are voting for the Libs, even though I shudder at the consequences. Labor has really squandered its chance, not that it was given much of a chance by the media, it is true. And I hope they ban the incessant polls. Why do we need polls? We have a representative democracy (supposedly), the MPs should have an ear to the ground. The polls create a feedback loop where the constant reporting of the polls actually influences the next poll. This is a perversion of democracy. I also wonder about methodology - apparently some still call landlines - who has landlines now??

Anyway,

PS Had a chat with one of the Wikileaks guys who is a colleague yesterday morning. We need a way forward.

[Kim OHara]

Edit due to duplication of post

I wonder if i could get away with doing that when i vote, lol

metta
paul

It's worth trying!


Kim

[Ben]

During this election campaign more than any other time I have thought seriously about getting more involved in political action and joining The Greens.
Unfortunately, only recently I had to cancel my modest monthly donations to the UNHCR due to my personal financial situation.
It is expected that Abbott will win in a landslide (in the House). One can only hope that he is constrained by sensible opposition in the Senate.
kind regards,

Ben

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Ben,

Well, handing out the how to vote cards today was good fun!

It's funny... it's something that once would have been outside my comfort zone, but today I felt I was in my element.



Metta,
Retro.

[Ben]

Yeah, perhaps when I am more financial I'll join The Greens.
Unfortunately due to my ongoing financial situation I recently had to stop my monthly donation to the UNHCR.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Yeah, perhaps when I am more financial I'll join The Greens.

You don't have to do that though... I'm not a "paid up" member. I just volunteer, get involved etc. They're not going to turn back any help they can get!

Metta,
Retro.

[Kim OHara]

Greetings,

Yeah, perhaps when I am more financial I'll join The Greens.

You don't have to do that though... I'm not a "paid up" member. I just volunteer, get involved etc. They're not going to turn back any help they can get!

Metta,
Retro.

I'll second that!
I'm not a member but they welcomed my help and I spent half the day handing out how-to-vote cards, and enjoyed it, too.
There's an attractive camaraderie between campaign workers of all all parties, e.g. Labor people were happy to look after Greens cards when I took a break, and to hand them out to anyone who asked; or the Lib campaign worker who happily admitted she voted Greens for the Senate; even the Rise Up Australia people were willing to share a laugh.
More importantly, I feel I helped a few people make better choices and I feel that I did what I reasonably could to make the political landscape a little less ugly. If I hadn't got out there, I would be disappointed (and a bit angry) with myself for not supporting my beliefs with action when it came to crunch time.

Now to wait for Senate results ...


Kim

[Ben]

Thanks guys.
I just turned the ABC back on and as expected - a change of govt is in progress.
I would have liked to help out today but was feeling very unwell the last 24+ hours.
Your public spirit is admirable.
kind regards,

Ben