Politics

[Liam_snorkel]

I mentioned a lobby group, not a fringe party.

Anyway I agree that our situation isn't ideal, but i think its more to do with the quality of our two major parties than the voting public. I'd still rather have the ignorant and apathetic involved in the process than not, and I see a voting as a civic duty not something to opt in or out of.

 

[KingKong]

I agree to disagree.

 

[mrTbeer]

What fringe party is in power in America?

There's only 2 majors Dems and Reps.
But the NRA and the Bible-belt are pretty loony.
I've wondered about Compulsory voting before, it's odd but probably better, protest votes have a consequence though.

 

[Dave70]

The examples you gave - single mothers, small business owners etc are precisely the people who need to make themselves aware. Compulsory or not makes no difference - political decisions affect them. They can be a small part of those decisions or have no influence at all.

Informing yourself doesn't start or end with voting by the way.

Ignorant by necessity is the homeless mentally ill guy, not the small business owner. Homeless guy/girl needs representation more than anyone though.

I'm a small, small business owner for coming on a decade, so fair to say my terms of reference are a little more than theoretical.
Labor governments spend, Liberal governments save, beyond that, there's little more I'm concerned with. We did some nice work during the BER scheme, followed by some horrendous bad debts from builders and fabricators tanking. That's not the governments fault, but people like to blame them anyway. Though I still shudder to think where we'd be today if labor hadn't inherited a whopping surplus to help fund it's stimulation package - or was it the mining boom? Either way, Euromoney magazine believed Swans cock eminently suckworthy. Perhaps some may see irony in receiving a congratulatory pat on the back from European anything in regard to fiscal management.

I believe a change of government will be good if for no other reason it will silence all the ******* muppets pissing and moaning about how we need a change of government, apart from that, little will change.
As I've said before here, I challenge anyone to demonstrate how their lot has be worsened by the current government.
My observations? you went to uni, you vote left, you went to TAFE, you vote right. Not an iron rule, but pretty true of people I associate with.
You gentlemen cast your vote however you choose, but personally I gave up stressing over situations outside my control as best I could years ago.

 

[Liam_snorkel]

[...] if for no other reason it will silence all the ******* muppets pissing and moaning about how we need a change of government, apart from that, little will change.

this is the thing which will make it bearable for me.

Nothing either of the two majors do will affect me directly, except maybe fibre to the node (I live at the end of a street with a very long driveway... would much prefer fibre to the house.)

So based on that I should just be looking forward to having an ignoramus prime minister to make fun of.

 

[Bridges]

Politics and indeed your vote shouldn't need to be judged on what affects you more. It should be about the greater good. Which party is going to make our society better, improve the lot of people worse off than you, and not embarrass our country internationally by being an insular retard. If you're in a position where whoever you vote for won't directly affect you, good luck, well played. But think about how your vote may make a difference for members of our society who DO need some help.

 

[Liam_snorkel]

absolutely agree, neither of the two major parties will be high up on my ballot.

 

[OzPaleAle]

Can you imagine how embarrassing it will be to have Abbott representing us on the world stage....
Imagine him at the UN,
Tony: um ah yeah stop the boats um ger yea carbon tax.
Bankie Moon: Tony go sit in the corner the adults are talking.

 

[manticle]

I'm a small, small business owner for coming on a decade, so fair to say my terms of reference are a little more than theoretical.
Labor governments spend, Liberal governments save, beyond that, there's little more I'm concerned with. We did some nice work during the BER scheme, followed by some horrendous bad debts from builders and fabricators tanking. That's not the governments fault, but people like to blame them anyway. Though I still shudder to think where we'd be today if labor hadn't inherited a whopping surplus to help fund it's stimulation package - or was it the mining boom? Either way, Euromoney magazine believed Swans cock eminently suckworthy. Perhaps some may see irony in receiving a congratulatory pat on the back from European anything in regard to fiscal management.

I believe a change of government will be good if for no other reason it will silence all the ******* muppets pissing and moaning about how we need a change of government, apart from that, little will change.
As I've said before here, I challenge anyone to demonstrate how their lot has be worsened by the current government.
My observations? you went to uni, you vote left, you went to TAFE, you vote right. Not an iron rule, but pretty true of people I associate with.
You gentlemen cast your vote however you choose, but personally I gave up stressing over situations outside my control as best I could years ago.

All good Dave except that last bit.

Loads of uni-goers/graduates forming the the middle and upper middle vote conservative, labor (not that left I'll grant) has got the traditional base of tradies etc.

Certainly I went to uni and am left leaning but I know a lot who weren't/aren't.

 

[Dave70]

Piss Easy challenge. I got made redundant in 2011 from a private sector job as a direct result of a Labor policy. Started my own small business within a month which has been great, but it sure was nice getting paid every 2 weeks!
I was refused any unemployment benefits because I 'let slip' that my wife still had a job. And the government only counts those unemployed who they pay benefits to, what a hoax.

I don't see much truth in your observation with the people around me. I went to Uni and don't vote 'left'. Maybe true for the generation that were gifted FREE Uni under Whitlam's Labor, but not my generation. You can bet that 100,000's of people that went to TAFE and now wear high-viz each day (me included) are thinking about voting 'right' tomorrow.

Were you installing pink batts by chance in 2011?

What did you study at uni?

 

[Liam_snorkel]

stark contrast to the hysterics in the murdoch papers. It's worth a read.

http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-age-editorial/labors-policies-best-reflect-our-values-20130905-2t828.html

 

[jlm]

Work's keeping on flinders island for a bit longer than intended. Will I be able to vote? Where is the polling place? What will the pub dish up for smoko tomorrow? Will tonight's session on boags draught and cascade stout result in a huge hangover?

 

[Dave70]

Work's keeping on flinders island

Unless 'work' involves cleaning chemical toilet holding tanks with your tongue, I'm just having a tough time feeling sorry for you.
Ok, maby just a little cos of the Boags thing.

 

[TasChris]

Exactly. You would have a situation whereby, say most people couldnt be bothered voting and you get a loony fringe party get power cause they get their supporters to vote and get in because we couldnt be bothered voting against them......just like the US of A

Hmm do you mean like the Greens getting power Federally and in Tasmania?
Cheers
Chris

 

[Liam_snorkel]

he said loony


by the by: yesterday's coalition pamphlet costings didn't include their direct action plan, fraudband, and refugee policy.

http://www.politifact.com.au/truth-o-meter/statements/2013/sep/06/liberal-party-australia/have-all-coalition-policies-been-fully-costed/

 

[Dave70]

No pink batts, I was and still am in the construction industry, Anna Bligh announced funding for Flood relief and the funds came from QldGov. construction projects, some already underway.
Uni = Bachelor Engineering, GradDip Economics

Our accountant lives in Brisbane and at the time there didn't seem to be a whole lotta love for the Bligh government according to him. Don't know the ins and outs, but I was under the impression she handled it well.

At least you still work in the construction game, our account manager from Bluescope is a former architect who also holds a grad dip in economics and is now - well - managing accounts for knuckleheads like us. Seems to be a lot of that kind of thing about.

 

[TasChris]

he said loony

Hmmm I know !!
They are all loony...just the degree varies depending on your perspective.

Cheers
Chris

 

[Liam_snorkel]

^ agreed!

 

[Droopy Brew]

I will have to pull you up on any comparison drawn between Australia and India... your comparing apples apu with oranges ockers.

Fixed

 

[sponge]

Not much to add to this thread, except early voting FTW!