Political leaders; who will triumph and what do they stand for? (2 Viewers)

[Riet]

Who cares? Either way we are still a backward ass country

 

[Absolutezero]

Who cares? Either way we are still a backward ass country

Most still are everywhere in the world when compared to individuals.

 

[Slidey]

Actually, it's so much more than this. Also, it raises issues of where will is stop, who will control it, what is morally bannable, and is it the governments right to decide this?

Not to mention the false positive rate of about 5% or every 20th site you visit.

 

[Slidey]

We're arguably one of the least backwards countries in the world, certainly less backwards than, say America or Britain in a lot of areas.

Our choice of politicians right now just happens to be between a giant douchebag and a giant colostomy bag.

Who will I preference after the Greens? Much as I now dislike Rudd (and especially Internet censorship), there's no fucking way I'll vote for Abbott, especially not since he's been repeatedly making subtle comments about how he supports the internet censorship scheme.

 

[Absolutezero]

We're arguably one of the least backwards countries in the world, certainly less backwards than, say America or Britain in a lot of areas.

As a whole yes. Though internet censorship will bring us down a notch or two.

Basically, when compared to the values of some individuals, the government will always be backwards. Simply, because they cannot possibly keep up with every individual.

 

[Lentern]

^ Most Australians vote for major political parties because the other parties don't stand a chance. The parties push the corporate agenda, not look after the needs and wants of the average Australian.

I can't believe that most Australian are completely ignorant when it comes to preferential voting.

 

[jennyfromdabloc]

We're arguably one of the least backwards countries in the world, certainly less backwards than, say America or Britain in a lot of areas.

Such as? We're certainly way behind America in the crucial area of free speech. At least the first ammendment prevents things likeiInternet censorship.

Our choice of politicians right now just happens to be between a giant douchebag and a giant colostomy bag.

Who will I preference after the Greens? Much as I now dislike Rudd (and especially Internet censorship), there's no fucking way I'll vote for Abbott, especially not since he's been repeatedly making subtle comments about how he supports the internet censorship scheme.

The Greens are a bunch of socialist nutters. I'll be voting LDP or shooters party in the senate, and drawing a cock my ballot for the house of reps.

 

[Kwayera]

I can't believe that most Australian are completely ignorant when it comes to preferential voting.

As someone who scrutineered at a booth for the Bradfield by-election, I can say that on the whole, they are. It's amazing how many.

 

[Lentern]

As someone who scrutineered at a booth for the Bradfield by-election, I can say that on the whole, they are. It's amazing how many.

Surely you jest? I grasped the concept in year 4, that lady at parliament house made it seem clear as day. That was a an awesome trip actually, we got to mock parliament and I was the leader of the opposition.

 

[JonathanM]

It doesn't make sense to vote for parties because they are probably going to get in anyway. And it is much better that the balance of power is not held by the major parties in the senate. Besides, most independents are smart and reasonable people, certainly my independent in the house of reps is.

This is a complete generalisation and I need only cite Steven Fielding, the democrats, Pauline Hanson and many of the Greens as an example of how stupid it is. Independents de-rail the political process: i.e. Labor trying to get Fielding's vote for the National Broadband Network by making a more extreme internet filter to satisfy his minority beliefs.

You clearly don't realise it, but the major parties provide for all the needs we have in defence, economy, education and to a certain extent the environment. Australians are on the whole an apathetic people, who just want life as it is to go on with little change. The major parties provide for this.

You're essentially discounting most of the votes made by Australians as irrelevant and placing importance only on the few people who vote for Independents and smaller parties. You're also making the huge generalisation that all Australians vote for the major parties because "they are probably going to get in anyway." Well, I hate to inform you that it doesn't work that way. If you can remember how we make up our parliament, it's by voting for individual members who represent our local areas. These members promise things which are of local importance to us and we vote for them on this basis, thinking of national issues only after this. It's probably only those in the poltical know-how who vote on the basis of party rather then the local policies their members are selling to them.

 

[BlackDragon]

This is a complete generalisation and I need only cite Steven Fielding, the democrats, Pauline Hanson and many of the Greens as an example of how stupid it is. Independents de-rail the political process: i.e. Labor trying to get Fielding's vote for the National Broadband Network by making a more extreme internet filter to satisfy his minority beliefs.

You clearly don't realise it, but the major parties provide for all the needs we have in defence, economy, education and to a certain extent the environment. Australians are on the whole an apathetic people, who just want life as it is to go on with little change. The major parties provide for this.

You're essentially discounting most of the votes made by Australians as irrelevant and placing importance only on the few people who vote for Independents and smaller parties. You're also making the huge generalisation that all Australians vote for the major parties because "they are probably going to get in anyway." Well, I hate to inform you that it doesn't work that way. If you can remember how we make up our parliament, it's by voting for individual members who represent our local areas. These members promise things which are of local importance to us and we vote for them on this basis, thinking of national issues only after this. It's probably only those in the poltical know-how who vote on the basis of party rather then the local policies their members are selling to them.

umm.. I didn't say anything about why people vote. All I said is that it doesn't make sense to vote for people because you think they are going to get in anyway. I didn't say or mean any of that stuff that you just said. But yay for putting words in my mouth!

 

[SylviaB]

We're arguably one of the least backwards countries in the world, certainly less backwards than, say America or Britain in a lot of areas.

Britain? yes

America? No way.

at least they have a decent constitution

 

[vikraman]

You can have the best laws all of which are rendered useless if the citizens aren't smart enough lol. Americans by and large are freaking retards and they'll take whatever their congressman/senator/president/pastor/anyone in a position of authority/FOX News (FUCK EM') says as the absolute truth. Hence the wide belief that healthcare reform will lead to "death panels" and immigration reform will lead to the country "being swamped by a tide of mexicans" so on so forth. Decent constitution guarantees jackshit in terms of how backwards a country is.

Australia is pretty good on that count because all of us know to not believe ANYTHING that comes out of our politicians mouths lol. And the ideological split is quite understated, we haven't had any really right wing or really left wing governments in well ever. a succession of fairly centrist governments has made us far more reasonable than US. UK is horseshit though.

 

[0bs3n3]

Abbott on the other hand is pretty much rotten to the core in my books. I oppose almost every thing he stands for (and that seems to include internet censorship).

Oh noes! Principles!

 

[JonathanM]

umm.. I didn't say anything about why people vote. All I said is that it doesn't make sense to vote for people because you think they are going to get in anyway. I didn't say or mean any of that stuff that you just said. But yay for putting words in my mouth!

I assumed that it was implied, but fine, my post and the arguments within it still apply.