AUSTRALIA VOTES

[trout]

Senator Pauline Hanson, Now this will be interesting

[JeffH]

And Derryn Hinch. Now there's a couple for you. [At least I think D H will apply some brainpower to issues; even if I don't agree with some of his opinions.]

[r9453]

Yep, the previous senate was colourful enough but now the circus has really come to town.

[trout]

Yep, the previous senate was colourful enough but now the circus has really come to town.

In Canberra the Circus has always been in town, At least now with 2 senators that are not part of the "Establishment" maybe they have a good chance of making the buggers accountable :good:
Honest politicians are as rare as hens teeth , Hanson and Hinch fit that bill nicely.

[JeffH]

trout, that reminds me of the old joke;
Q. How can you tell if a politician is lying?
A. His lips are moving!

[trout]

trout, that reminds me of the old joke;
Q. How can you tell if a politician is lying?
A. His lips are moving!

:laugh2:

[oh my florin]

Maybe things may work out better but with Democracy the future is often not of concern and today is what gets people elected. Also the fact that you get some really useless people/parties elected such as the Marijuana Party, Motoring Entusiasts Party, Sex party etc which is just ridiculous and makes me question the party elected on the day is elected on merit of Policies (unlikely) or the idiocy of portions of the population (my favourite criticism)

[Fulvio]

useless people/parties elected such as the Marijuana Party, Motoring Entusiasts Party, Sex party etc which is just ridiculous

WHOA! I resemble dem remarks, Podnah!

Are you saying that anyone with a special interest is by definition useless and ridiculous? What does that make us then?

Well-rounded people have interests. And given that our society marginalises and victimises minorities, those interests may well be repressed. Look at the way the mint makes our own niche much more difficult than it needs to be, for example.

Those three particular fields share a few common traits. They are much more popular than average. They have been overlooked, discriminated against and/or demonised by our political leadership and society at large. And they contain individuals and/or organisations with the motivation and will to change the status quo.

None of which speaks to the quality of the individuals concerned. Just because someone believes in changing laws which adversely affect some part of our society, does not mean they are incapable of making decisions in the wider sphere. If someone is a problem-solver, then that's what they naturally do. Solve problems. I would rather have someone who could look at an issue and resolve it, even if he or she was a muscle-car-driving, pot-smoking sex fiend, over a stuffed shirt with a ton of vested interests pulling his strings. Because the 'solution' the puppet will deliver will not be in MY best interests, but those of his masters.

That's why we always need a few of the fringe-dwellers running naked through the halls of power... keeps the bastards honest!

[Pedro]

As much as we whinge about our pollies (with justification), imagine if you were a US resident facing the possibility of another Clinton or Trump! :shock:

Pedro

[autocoupler]

We have a great system and our style of democracy is what many nutters in the world hate, we actually do have a choice, and as yet don't get shot up or loose our heads because we simply have a different point of view. Hell, we have the ability to install the most incompetent bunch at times but we endure for three or four years, then have another go. In other parts of the world the wrong party getting elected often means civil war, dictatorships and the sort of thing we see going on in the middle east right now. Nothing wrong with bagging the parties or individuals, but we must never take our right to make a mark for granted, it's infuriating to think a bloke like Hinch can brag about not voting in 70 years but then has the gall to ask the public for their vote, and in the same breath says he will campaign to make voting non compulsory.

[trout]

As much as we whinge about our pollies (with justification), imagine if you were a US resident facing the possibility of another Clinton or Trump! :shock:

Pedro

230 Million people in the US and THAT is all they can come up with :dash1:
the very thought of Donald Trump becoming the next President of the USA scares the crap out of me.

[robbiegal]

well guys and gals
we have a long wait
as it's looking to be hung parliament

ho hum .......

at least we all good and voted

[Fulvio]

230 Million people in the US and THAT is all they can come up with :dash1:

The trouble is, the field ISN'T 322,762,018 (hasn't been 230 mil for yonks). Its maybe a few thousand, max. And of those only a few dozen actually have even half a chance. The system's rigged, and you need to be exceptionally well-connected to even get a look-in at a start, let alone any kind of support whatsoever. Of course, telling kids that anybody could be President is just part of the con to keep the natives from getting restless. :dodgy:

Anyway, back to Canberra.. I'm thinking that a hung parliament could very well be the ideal outcome. No wild policies on either side, some of the previous egregious mistakes fixed, and business as usual for a few years while we mull over how we let this happen. Expect a landslide next time, in whichever direction the wind blows. :angel:

[ausjack]

From what they've been saying we may have another election sooner than we thought..I suppose they love to spend our money so why the hell not :dash1: