Election 2007.

[eggman]

dude, you're testing me right?

yep

on all counts and in all areas

perhaps you may even pass

 

[Jaza]

edit: Does anyone else consider it their responsibility to vote? I do...I always cringe when people say they never registered to vote, or they do donkey votes

Nope.
I don't believe in compulsory voting. If you've worked for any political party or within the system in Australia (as I have) you'd be horrified at the sheer number of people who do not care about who they are voting for.

They are scared to take away the compulsory vote as it would mean, like the USA, that only 35-50% of the population would vote.

But IMO, I'd rather have that 35-50% educated vote making the whole decision rather than it being tainted by a further 50%+ that just don't care. In the end this system means that instead of people getting voted in on real policies, often they are safer just appealing to the lowest common denominator in stupid ways as that's their best chance of getting to the 50%+1 that's required.
Howard has been very guilty of this (i.e. children overboard), as have many politicians from both key parties in the past. I find it despicable that politics should be driven by anything other than the best way to run our country and I feel that the compulsory vote is just a way of making this so.

For the record I voted labour in the last federal election (mainly due to my local member's stance - the person you actually vote for), and I donkey voted in the recent NSW election as no one was worthy of my vote. I felt sick at doing so but I'd rather have no vote (a right I should have) than vote for people so useless.
Am undecided at present but am leaning towards Labour. I won't vote Howard.

 

[silvia saint]

in regard to last night's insight, i was astounded at the amount of undecided, swing voters, especially as many brought up issues important to them and yet were still undecided and waiting to see how the campaign goes. what are they waiting for? it's as if they're waiting for one of the candidates to offer 20 bucks per vote.

the ignorance on issues was alarming. they were asked if they use myspace or facebook, in regard to politicians using it for promotion, and an overwhelming majority put their hands up and yet not one brought up the state of broadband, an issue raised by both parties in the previous 12 months. speaking of the internet, is it that time consuming to enter the addresses of 2 or more parties and glance over their policies? one of the audience members was a sudanese man and he was more informed than most. maybe that's why the government wants to halt their migration

 

[Immortal Teknique]

I reckon both Rudd and Howard are fucktards, but im probably sticking with Liberal this time. Howard's performance on the environment and Iraq has been abysmal at best, but then again our economy is great which is vital to the industry im entering (construction). This election im really focusing on what is important to me, not the big picture as both Liberal and Labor aren't really convincing in their policies on Iraq and global warming, among others.

As someone else said, its like voting for the lesser evil, but i feel Howard although he can be a real dick, has lead this country in a positive direction financially and that is the main reason for my vote.

 

[Jaza]

Anyone see Bob Brown's address to the National Press Club today?

Has me seriously thinking voting Greens #1 and then directing my preferences elsewhere.

Here's a summary of what he had to say:

* He is relishing the Greens growth, as shown by the wide and varied people they have running for seats (went on to introduce some of them).

* A vote for the Greens is not throwing away your vote, it is essentially a double-vote. Numbering Greens as 1, and then someone else as a preference, will send a message to the bigger parties that they can't ignore the Green message, but still allow you to vote for one of the two big parties.

* In an era of "me-too-ism" the Greens are the only party offering any real alternative

* He stated that Howard's attitude towards debates is terrible, and it's because he always loses. Wanting just one debate 5 weeks out from the election is poor, and Brown made it pretty clear that it's no surprise Rudd hasn't commited. Brown himself said he's willing to turn up, and he said it should be a three-way debate anyway. He said he wants the Greens in the debate so that proper alternatives can be raised. If they aren't in the debate, he said they'd be there afterwards to ask questions in the areas that Rudd and Howard didn't mention.

* The Greens will be giving Labor most of their preferences as they prefer a change of government, but they will be going open ticket in some areas, notably Tasmania, where they are disappointed that Labor have endorsed the pulp mills.

* Of course they want the balance of power in the Senate. They believe they can return the Senate to its rightful operation. That is, of offering up debate on topics before bills are passed. He said that whichever party makes government would not be able to get away with sliding their bills through (as Howard did with Workchoices) if the Greens held sway, either by themselves or with another party (he congratulated the Democrats for their role in this country's politics over the years).

* Environment - Kyoto should be ratified as a starting point, so we can move on from there. His goal is clean energy giving us 15% of the county's energy by 2015, 20% (I think) by 2020.

He was challenged on environment in two area - the economics of it and the ability to meet his targets. He suggested that the targets were possible, and had been met in other countries, and then went on to talk about how many new jobs can be created by focusing on the environment. Apparently some international dude had made a speech to the press club earlier this year stating that for the countries that are embracing climate chage issues it is having a positive effect on their economy. He spoke about how all our decent scientists are taking their ideas overseas and then we are seeing other countries manufacturing goods with our ideas.

* He's only had one meeting with John Howard. In 1996!! Howard offered him a cup of tea, he offered to take Howard out to the forests. He took the tea, Howard took the forests. Howard hasn't met with him since.

* He believes that Rudd stands up for what he believes in, but he doesn't offer enough of an alternative to the government.

* He will be encouraging Rudd not to get into a tax-cut war with the government, and to announce that the money will be better spent on services, pensioners, the health care industry, etc etc I can't remember the figures and things he was bandying around. He said that money received from tax cuts will disappear when the inflation and interest rates go up.

Said to take away the cuts to high earners - like politicians - and give that money to pensioners, who have had ??(forget the figure) million dollars stripped back from their pensions under the Howard gov.

* He thinks that Peter Garret missed a great opportunity to really announce himself as a dynamic new politician, but thinks he'll be a decent presence on the front bench.

* He thinks the Libs made a big mistake by not removing Howard and replacing him with Costello. As an example, he nominated the reconciliation thing as one area that would have gone done better with the public if it came from Costello. As it is, Howard is being forced to change his own policies and it just looks like vote-buying.

 

[MoonlapseVertigo]

Bob Brown is one of the few Australian politicians that gives me hope. Greens will be getting my #1 vote.

And you know what's kept the economy going? It's not the Liberals. It's the incredibly long period we've had without a global recession, mixed with a local resources boom and a strong market position. Plus, it's the treasury department that does most of the real management. Politcians, in their usual style, have taken all the credit though.

Some believe the politics of fear will always triupmh over the pollitics of hope. I really hope this isn't the case.

 

[Charlie Brown]

Liberal voter this year for a few reasons

1. Iraq - I firmly believe it is in the best interest off free countries to stay in Iraq even though it cost our nation...it has to be done

2. Tax cuts are handy

3. Liberals team looks much more experienced

4. cos i hate Rudd and want to see him lose, that guy is your typical little hitler, power hungry little tyrant dressed in sheep clothing...what experience has he got to run a nation, i rather trust howard who what you see is what you get....

 

[eggman]

Bob Brown..... I like his policy on nudity and skinny dipping

Swing voters and ignorant voters are likely to be the reason why the Coalition stands a better chance. These type of voters are the ones more likely to donkey vote or just make their final decision in the booth, pencil and paper in hand and ummm and aaahhh for 2 minutes - then just go with what they know and vote for the Coalition

 

[eggman]

And you know what's kept the economy going? It's not the Liberals. It's the incredibly long period we've had without a global recession, mixed with a local resources boom and a strong market position.

These points are certainly true and valid points that people often gloss over. However, effective economic management at a fiscal level is even more important in times of abundance as it is in bad times.

Plus, it's the treasury department that does most of the real management. Politcians, in their usual style, have taken all the credit though.

Could you not say that about all areas of goernment and politics? A little too much faith is put into individual politicians. They are the rainmakers, the front people, the mouthpieces or which ever way you want to say it. Its the departmental specialists and policy makers behind the scenes that really drive the change.

Politician is the one who will be responsible in the end and of course they are going to take the glory when it all comes up in their favour.

 

[eggman]

Is that a rhetorical question?

 

[Charlie Brown]

Why have one party created and implement all these policies and then 4 years later another party comes in and wipes all these policies away and implement their own which in turns takes time to implement, and its a neverending cycle...parties should be building on existing policies, for example workchoices right now are favouring some workers, while doesnt really affect others much...why not try to fix what is wrong instead off just wiping out the entire policy and doing it new.....thats why i say fuck you Labour party and Rudd who came out off nowhere, thinks he knows what is best for a better Australia...he doesnt deserve to be PM ! GET IN LINE AND EARN IT

 

[eggman]

hmmm a very aggressive point and one that sums up a negative area in politics and voting in general, regardless of which country it is

One thing you said stood out for me though...

Rudd who came out off nowhere, thinks he knows what is best for a better Australia...he doesnt deserve to be PM ! GET IN LINE AND EARN IT

Whilst Kevin Rudd didnt really come out of nowhere, the main thing that has hurt the ALP over the years is a lack of cohesiveness and consistency with not just policy but their team also.

They have very little to build confidence in the Australian voting population.

 

[Jaza]

I agree with the analogy of...

v.s.

 

[420star]

thats why i say fuck you Labour party and Rudd who came out off nowhere, thinks he knows what is best for a better Australia...he doesnt deserve to be PM ! GET IN LINE AND EARN IT

Rudd joined the ALP in 1972, at the age of 15.

In 1981 Rudd joined the Department of Foreign Affairs, where he served until 1988. He and his wife, Thérèse Rein, spent most of the 1980s overseas posted at the Australian embassies in Stockholm, Sweden and later Beijing, China.

Returning to Australia in 1988, he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Labor Opposition Leader in Queensland, Wayne Goss. He became Chief of Staff to the Premier when the Labor party won office in 1989, a position he held until 1992, when Goss appointed him Director-General of the Office of Cabinet. In this position Rudd was arguably Queensland's most powerful bureaucrat.[7] In this role he presided over a number of reforms including development of a national program for teaching foreign languages in schools. Rudd was influential in both promoting a policy of developing an Asian languages and cultures program which was unanimously accepted by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in 1992 and later chaired a high level Working Group which provided the foundation of the strategy in its report, which is frequently cited as "the Rudd Report".[8]

When the Goss government lost office in 1995, Rudd was hired as a Senior China Consultant by the accounting firm KPMG Australia. He held this position while unsuccessfully contesting the federal seat of Griffith at the 1996 federal election. At the 1998 election he contested Griffith a second time and won.

Following his 1998 election success, Rudd was promoted to the Opposition front bench after the 2001 election and appointed Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Yea Rudd came out of nowhere & i think he may have earned it. here's the rest of the entry if ppl feel like doing some home work

 

[Samadhi]

C_F and Maz: i've unapproved a few posts, if you want to have a go at eachother, can you take it to PM?

Thanks

 

[babysnakes]

As a visitor, I shall follow the election with close interest. I lived in South Africa during the end of apartheid elections (1994), and the Blair v Major election of 1997. This one will be just as heated I hope!

 

[eggman]

C_F and Maz: i've unapproved a few posts, if you want to have a go at eachother, can you take it to PM?

Thanks

see.... I warned you punks.

now look whats happened.

 

[Beatlebot]

After seeing Bob Brown on the 7.30 Report last night I'm definitely voting Green. I guess I'll send my preference to Labor although Kevin Rudd really puts me off. I've honestly considered voting Howard in over him if you can believe that, but the ridiculous tax cuts that have been proposed have sealed it for me. Greens then Labor is the way to go this election.

 

[Charlie Brown]

They can say that tax cuts are offset by rising inflation and interest rates, but at the end of the day it will still be money back into my pockets...who says when labour gets into power interest rates and inflation are not going to go up ?, at least with the tax cuts i have ''some'' money back!

 

[eggman]

Howard's tax cuts are not cuts at all: Indexed to inflation, the tax cuts deliver nothing to taxpayers.

yeah this all very true and Ian McAuley knows his stuff. However the RBA figures FYE June 2007 has CPI at 2.1% and the various projections for the next 10 years has the CPI somewhere between 2% and 3% and even Ian McAuley and the Age columnist have used inflation at 2.75% in their analysis.

My point is, where would income earners be with out the tax cuts? Taking into account the RBA's monetary policy we know that inflation is going to roll on regardless. With the tax brackets held constant income earners will have thier purchasing power eroded.

Better to come out at parity with inflationary changes than to loose out because of them


RBA CPI stats