Oz Elections

[Keith]

Everyone has gone a bit quiet re: Oz elections but it appears you have another hung Parliament damn it.:furious:

Seems this is the year of the 50/50 split in public opinion.

Amazing that Howards legacy has largely disappeared off the radar and I find it hard to believe that the average Australian is really comfortable with the PC crap that you are having to endure. Having said that, there has been a noticeable shift in philosophy towards the USA who are having to tolerate their own brand of political interference in everyday life (for your own 'elf & safety though mate).

The UK is a close third in this respect but even we don't have some of the very daft anti car legislation beloved of some US and Australian States.

So guys, what gives?

 

[roaldin]

Howards legacy! Well I guess a congenital disease is a legacy of a kind so I'll take it that that is what was meant...

Ok, well for my part I don't think this is a terrible situation given the alternatives.
The leaders of each of the two major parties are now both claiming a mandate from the electorate - for all their policies - I find this incredible!
This sort of behaviour is why they are both so on the nose here.
Maxine McKew (took Howard's seat last election) got it right IMO when she said that the people had simply said "a pox on both your houses".

Major edit: (too many cans of worms opened at once so deleted the essay I wrote)

This is a chance to regain representative politics.

I maintain that if the Liberals had Turnbull as leader they would have won easily. I doubt labor could have beaten him.
They really need to understand that people simply don't ever want a return to Howard politics.


What would make things better -
Well Australia needs to get some sort of bill of rights quick smart to retain and regain rights and freedoms that used to be taken for granted. Also, just for kicks - and because you called Howard's deceitful and malign (I hope to forget ruddock one day) reign a "legacy" - I'll add that we need to get rid of our damn monarchy. You are welcome to yours.


Tim.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

Well interesting viewpoint Tim, the Howard Government had the Australian
economy in the best shape it had been for years and if it wasn't for that surplus Australia would be in deep sh*t now. What killed Howard was work choices and the general consensus that he had reached his use by date.
I agree with you about Turnbull, a brilliant mind and an excellent business man, however his stance on carbon trading was his downfall.
I think the electorate had a gut-full of the spin from both parties and wants a leader who can make decisions based on what is best for the country rather than what will win them votes. Both Joolia and wingnut back flipped on policy when the back room boys worked out it wasn't popular with the masses.
Hence the vote for the independents and the massive informal vote.
Some weeks before we know who will govern I think.

 

[roaldin]

No point getting into an argument about Howard. I'll agree to disagree on that government's overall performance.

On the rest of your post I think we are pretty close to agreement, which may be a bit of a miracle here on GT40s...

BTW I doubt that "Wingnut" has ever been a more appropriate nickname.


Tim.

 

[Dalton Veitch]

Do we want a hung parliament? Hell, no!! We want them all drawn and quartered as well.

 

[roaldin]

Do we want a hung parliament? Hell, no!! We want them all drawn and quartered as well.

:lol:

 

[Keith]

Thank you for the reply Tim, I don't really know much about Oz politics except for what I read on here.

Howard was a leader that came to peoples attention outside of Australia and seemed to be a strong leader that gained international respect and that is why I mentioned him.. Plus I met him once during his visit to London to unveil the memorial to the Australian fallen. He seemed very personable but of course, I don't know much about his politics.

In business, we don't know much about the people we deal with daily, and yet through experience are able to successfully form value judgements based on intial reactions, and to me, this was a similar case.

As for the "damned monarchy" I will leave your insensitive comment alone for now and as I said in another thread it is a matter for Australians to decide on the future of a Republic, but it looks as if you are "hung" on that issue as well, but don't worry, with Julia already proclaiming an ideal opportunity for forming an Australian Republic on the death of HM, a little prematurely I might add, it looks as if you will get your wish in your lifetime, and you are certainly welcome to that my friend.

 

[roaldin]

Re monarchy comment: it was supposed to be a bit tongue in cheek and I did try to make sure I referred to Australia's monarchy.
I did however think I might have cut it a bit close with you given your comment on another thread, so apologies if I pushed your buttons too hard.

Personally I find the idea of a monarchy offensive but it's up to the English to decide how they think about theirs.
I wish no harm to anyone including your Queen. Long may she live (along with everyone else).

Given how easily I've taken offense here in a weak moment it'd be a little rough of me to suggest you shouldn't be able to state your feelings here also (and you did it better than I did).

Tim.

 

[clive]

Australia will become a republic one day. We just don't know when.

This election appears to have given a decisive degree of power to a group of (nominally conservative) independants. This group is indicating an early preference for the Labor party, the current governing party, based on policies which happily coincide with the wants of their country electorates. Labor have promised a fairly expensive but all inclusive cable rollout which will transform internet and communications throughout Australia. The Liberals (conservatives) have proposed a cut price version which does not appear to be satisfactory. These independants only have to satisfy their constituents, not the party machines.

This situation could well be a good thing. The governing party required to negotiate good policy with (seemingly) sensible independants, rather than back room dictated politically correct crap that we have had to get used too, would be a wondrous experience. A drop in the testosterone level at the highest levels could also be interesting.

Howard got two things right. The guns buy-back, and the GST. He was otherwise a malevolent little rodent, totally driven by power and the quest to maintain it.

Clive

 

[Dave]

I hear the sex party was very happy with a Hung parliament.

 

[Gus Richmond]

Ok, my view.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
A hung parliament is what you get when trying to pick the best of the worst. No one wants to vote for sh!t policies from poorly represented parties.<o></o>
GFC - we didn’t have to bad a time of it because you can’t shut down a blast furnace (with out major dramas, read dollars). China and co made sure the sales of ores and coal etc didn't stop for this reason. <o></o>
The Howard government just happened to be in power prior to the GFC so little Johnny claimed bragging rights. Pigs bum I say. It was the hard working mining industry that sheltered <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Australia, then, </st1lace></st1:country-region>Labor claimed they prevented us going into recession...bollocks, it was the hard working mining industry that did (the banks just keep sucking like leaches as expected).<o></o>
I know other sectors also contributed they are not forgotten.<o></o>
<o> </o>
Monarchy, we should hold on to our heritage. Long live the Queen.<o></o>
I’m off my soap box now.<o></o>
Cheers,<o></o>
Gus.<o></o>

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

Howard got two things right. The guns buy-back, and the GST. He was otherwise a malevolent little rodent, totally driven by power and the quest to maintain it.

Clive

Clive, I don't agree that Howard's banning guns was a good move. I'm a boy from the bush living in the city and I really resented having to hand in my guns. And the compensation was considerably less than their value.
A knee jerk reaction to the tragedy in Tasmania and of course the bad guys remain armed. As recent events in Sydney and Melbourne confirm.

 

[roaldin]

After being told exactly what the public thinks of them at this most recent election, Liberal and Labor continue to campaign against each other exactly as they were last week. They have learned nothing. Pathetic!

To believe that they can continue to get away with the same old crap just shows the sort of contempt they have for the people of this country.

The only dignity, integrity, honesty, respect for position, respect for the Australian people and just plain decency that I see is coming from the independants - more power to them.
They are in danger of coaxing some hope from me that there might be such a thing as a decent politician!

Edit: - Just after I wrote the above, Abbott appeared on a nearby TV slinging mud at his opposition yet again. I guess Gillard will fire back soon enough.
This is really quite a sad illumination of the disease infecting Australian politics.

Tim.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

After being told exactly what the public thinks of them at this most recent election, Liberal and Labor continue to campaign against each other exactly as they were last week. They have learned nothing. Pathetic!

To believe that they can continue to get away with the same old crap just shows the sort of contempt they have for the people of this country.

The only dignity, integrity, honesty, respect for position, respect for the Australian people and just plain decency that I see is coming from the independants - more power to them.
They are in danger of coaxing some hope from me that there might be such a thing as a decent politician!

Edit: - Just after I wrote the above, Abbott appeared on a nearby TV slinging mud at his opposition yet again. I guess Gillard will fire back soon enough.
This is really quite a sad illumination of the disease infecting Australian politics.

Tim.

+1 Tim, I couldn't agree more, add in the deplorable level of journalism and the whole thing is a farce.

Post tortoise, You can transpose Abott for Gillard it works for both.

While suturing up a cut on the hand of a 75 year old farmer, whose hand had been caught in the gate while working his cattle, the doctor struck up a

conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Julia Gillard, and her being our prime minister.



The old farmer said, "Well, ya know, Julia is just a Post Tortoise."



Now not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked,



What's a "Post Tortoise?"





The old farmer said, "When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a Tortoise balanced on top, that's a post Tortoise."



The old farmer saw the puzzled look on the doctor's face so he continued to explain. "You know she didn't get up there by herself, she doesn't belong up there,

she doesn't know what to do while she's up there, she sure isn't goin' anywhere, and you just wonder what kind of dumb idiot put her up there in the first place."

 

[roaldin]

Ah so that explains the headline - "What will Cheney do Post Bush?"...

Sorry for the tangent, couldn't resist.

Tim.

 

[Price Walton]

There's a worse element and it has the potential to bring it all (including the reason for this site) undone.

The greens continue to receive what amounts to a protest vote. They present as an alternative when their policies amount to as far left a combination as possible.

Combine social engineering with a tax regime designed to cripple anybody who tries to make a dollar and you've got a totalitarian recipe.

Combine that with a set of principles that removes the ability to do anything......fun, gives a picture of what is happening.

So to summarise, the nation has failed to elect either of the centre mimics, while encouraging a bunch of loonies from the outside of the circle.

I'm applying for jobs in NZ and the greencard lottery.

 

[roaldin]

I'd already pretty much decided on a move to NZ. Howard's government was what catalysed my search for somewhere else to live.
That and the fact that the fun police you mention are now so totally entrenched here in Tas'.
I have to wait until my kids finish school though.

Have been thinking about Canada as well, but America? - er, not so much... I doubt I'm far enough left or far enough right to have any friends over there.

Tim.

 

[Dalton Veitch]

Dead right Freewheel. The Greens, who long ago seemed to be a useful little contra force, are now a very radical and scary group, empowered via the voters' disenchantment with Liberal/Labour.
I've tended to be a Liberal voter, while my wife (the Professor) is more Left Wing. The Liberals tend to budget carefully and run a surplus, then Labour will get in and spend money in all directions. But this time round, I don't like ANY of them or have confidence in their leaders. I really like Canada the country and people, but know nothing about their political system. I spent many of my early years in NZ, and have friends and relatives there, but I think NZ has been quite restrictive politically in the past (correct me if wrong). I'm blown away by the level of craftmanship carried out in tiny NZ.
What ever happened to Prince Leonard here (Oz), who set up his own independent principality and paid no taxes, received no benefits, etc. We thought he was looney; maybe he was the smart one.