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How to think about the election results ? Massive message to the government – “Not happy”. Massive message to the Coalition “And you’re no better”.
And so we now see the unseemly grovelling of the formerly high and mighty – to a tiny bunch of well-meaning “independents” trying to not look like a bloc. These chaps who will effectively choose the new government for us will set the agenda and draw the lines within which whatever government that gets picked by them, must operate. So much for democracy.
As a former Labor party member, I know how the rank and file in a branch have no power over who represents the party in their electorate. So the local candidate may not really represent the local branches, the local branches may not reflect the wishes of the residents of that electorate who might sometimes want to vote for that party, and neither might the alternative contenders for the seat.
And even if, in the remotest of chances one gets the candidate one wants preselected and the candidate is elected (as was my situation living in Anthony Albanese’s Grayndler), in the end, I might be governed by the whim of a master of yokelnomics.
Don’t get me wrong, I think blokes like Tony Windsor are rightfully respected as intelligent and considerate chaps and I suspect that they will deliver unto THEIR constituents the fruits of being the true powerbrokers. But it goes beyond that. These chaps have said they won’t block supply and that they won’t support a vote of no confidence (why would they – they risk losing their balance of power)…. UNLESS that vote of no confidence is genuine.
So what might constitute “genuine” ? The look on John Faulkner’s face when he announced another casualty in Afghanistan this morning looked genuine to me.
And Tony Abbott’s suddenly deeply-held desire for a “kinder and more gentle” parliament …. genuine too ? Yeah, right.
But if we take a more optimistic view and remember that parliament was not always like this; that there once were men and women of character, intellect and wit who were prepared to go the extra mile to reach an agreed solution as opposed to beating each other over the head and protecting party interests, no protecting factional self-interest.
I want more of the old timers who acknowledge and look after their constituents, but who can also see the big picture – who can see the need for environmental action whatever it might be, who can see that human rights must be protected without having their arms twisted. But I doubt that a bunch of Green urban yuppies with no track record will be wonderful at filling those shoes.
I want people who are not luddites. I want people who can finally get things going in education and health – especially mental health and disabilities in general. Putting a few bucketfulls back in the Murray Darling is good, but it is not enough.
There seems to be a kind of collective amnesia about the world economy. The rest of the world is shitting blue lights that the big crash is still to come. The US is going nowhere with its internal economy and is still spending an impossible amount on the war.
But if our independents get the broadband up, it’ll be jake.
Yeah, right.
The future might well be decided by people that are more in tune with needs away from just tax cuts and wage rises. As Emmjay so poignantly stated, mental health and education are so important. Yet those do not provide a larger flat screen LCD nor does well funded child-care give ceasarstone kitchens.
Even so, I was most impressed with the three independents during the afternoon’s press interview. Can’t wait for Tony Abbott’s election promises and its funding to be presented to the public. I expect fire works to keep us awake till at least 10pm.
I feel there will be a Gillard led Government with her ears well cocked to the independents wish list. Who knows, things might well turn out for the better. Those parliamentary ‘conventions’ are something that could perhaps do with some renovations, not unlike those done at the Pig’s Arms.
Does anyone understand why a man in a big chair keeps shouting ‘order, order’ and yet it does not result in order. Is that one of those conventions?
They would never shout ‘order, order’ anywhere else.
http://www.moodmatters.net/
The above URL links to a site set up by John Casti to do with his new book called “Mood Matters”. Casti is a mathematician who deals primarily with modeling and complexity. I first came across him when trying to come to terms with certain algorithms to do with biological feed back constraints in climate modelling. His ideas can be startlingly innovative and I cannot say too strongly that the ideas presented in this new book of his make for very interesting reading in light of events here in Australia over the last few years. Even when I find myself disagreeing most strongly with his various theses, it’s often the case that I cannot come up with a cogent and coherent argument for why I disagree. He’s that kind of writer.
That having been said I would like to make the very simple point that there is a very strong mood for change in the way parliament gets things done and that mood may require the removal of many of the current old school players before it’s satisfied. How that happens is obviously entirely up for grabs.
This current period of apparently chaotic uncertainty none the less seems full of strange attractors and there is a definite flow to events. Where that flow may lead and how long it will take to recognise the “New” direction are things we simply cannot know at this time and “this time” still has a long way to go before any of us can claim any clarity at all on the subject of what happened last Saturday and how we might benefit from it.
But don’t despair, the media will still fill the airwaves, the news stands and the net with all the empty fatuous bleating and braying, partisan posing and pontificating, all the opinion both profound and paltry, needed by any and all the political tragics imagining they’ve got a handle on this thing. The simple truth will remain. These are the interesting times the old chines proverb talks about and it will be even more interesting to see how it all turns out.
mmmm, highlight of the election coverage — rabbit walking out of building complex with a look like he just got a duck at the crease, the other Julie Bishop’s attempt at puppy dog eyes watching National Press Club address by “the bloc” – heart wrenching stuff
It’s been my long held belief that true democracy can only exist in the vacuum left by the removal of party room politics. With a richly rewarded right wing union hierachy controlling socialist political parties, and neo-corp anational entities monopolizing the libs, thereby making them look increasingly fascist black-shirts, perhaps some grass-root political representin is just the order. How horribly frightening that MHR’s with real constituents might have some say and sway over what outcomes Gov should pursue. Shock horror……
Perhaps this is a model more aboriginal communities might use as a success model for entrainment in regional electorates on a broader scale – what horror those dreams might bring….(sarcasm intended).
Who knows, if the MSM vilifiy the IND enough, representin might become the new cool for the disenfranchised and thereby create a new fad, representin… God forbid the masses get the idea representin is fo’real
Wish list for 24ABC coverage post election menopause
1. Conversations – dinner at the gov’s house with shorty and spouse in tow.
2. Dialogue over beers, between Ludwig, acolyte shorty and habub.
Question – How did ABC24 ever manage to swing melissa clarke on the panel? Those blow by blow summaries of the election coverage reminds me of Voss’s
inciteful and persusive commentary on how league should be played according to the Voss. Get a job with 9 will ya lissa? 9 loves their pol/ed to be running commentary rather than insightful analysis…..
Real insightful and perhaps deconstructive policy and/or political analysis of each IND MHR should be a priority for ABC24 and each of the IND MHR’s are right to demand an oppurtunity to put their case to the NPC with as much expediancy as might be expected otherwise the MSM will crucify these poor fellows “for the greater good”. Fagan of Brissys CMail has already called for them to side with the right. Fagan obviously has no idea the fraility for a right coalition to passing bills in a hostile senate. Rhetorical question, if the Greens were happy to sink the Labor carbon trading plan because it DIDN’T live upto their expectations because they BELIEVE in a CRISIS situation, what are the prospects for passage of the supply bill if the GREENS don’t get what they want in the next budget? Is it to much to beleive they are any less radical in their beliefs than Frasier in the 70’s? The reason he called the gov and asked for double dissolution was he didn’t believe Labor acted in the nations interests….. Sound familiar? Would the ALP support them in not passing supply? To regain green credentials in the eyes of the constituency, perhaps, the gamble may well pay off in a return to voters giving first preference on the ballot.
BTW – has anybody else noticed the yellow tinge to the rabbits complexion over the last few days? what sort of medical condition causes that, or is it just the tan startng to wash off? hahaha
sorry for the fractured commentary it’s hard to type this while youre chuckling to yourself…
Despite having enjoyed a short stint as ‘returning officer’ at a local ALP branch some decades ago, I remain as mystified as ever about the machinations of Australian Government.
I can give you an example: The question of supplying the proposed election promises costings by both the ALP and NLP to the independents was answered yesterday. The answer that Abbott gave was way out of my league. I could not understand the language but understood enough that he could not or won’t give details of proposed election promises. There is some hiatus between treasury and opposition that I remain perplexed about.
It seems one never gets a straight answer, a simple answer that makes sense and contains some logic.
From where I stand now, it seems that the 2 party system needs a good dose of paraffin.
I do enjoy the three independents’ antics during interviews. What a relief from the election. If another election is held, I hope it will involve even more independents. They really rock.:smile:
“Sweeeeet!” Dooley. Nice pocket analysis; and I’m chuckling too.
To say this is all about the Independents getting broadband up is ignorance at best and naivete at worse. It is a given the Murray Darling needs more water. It is a given that their are missteps in the global economy. As always though, something is better than nothing. And something is a start to more.
That is all set to change with the victory of democracy over the partisan process. A balance of power in each House to curb the excess ideology and partisanship of all the parties. This is democracy as intended.
So you can shove your “Give us another poll” up your ideology.
I suppose it’s nice to barrack for a political team. Socially acceptable emotional escape valve, and it’s kind of social as well. It seems very much like barracking for a cricket team, only the the election takes the place of the umpire. Global economics take the place of the weather, when it isn’t playing a significant role itself.
I sill don’t know what colour flowers my third gerbera will have. The other two have flowered continuously throughout the Winter.
If there is another election , too soon, the voters will punish Both the government and the coalition even more, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a bigger slice for the Greens, I think the Donkey vote will increase significantly.
To be honest, I like independents, I like that they don’t serve the Party first and the people last, and that their agenda is your agenda not simply telling you what you want to hear in the last few weeks before each election and then forgetting it as soon as they are back in.
If what eventuates in that a conservative, perhaps the West Australian Independent National, combines with the Green and another Left Independent to form Government with Labor it will be historical and definitely volatile.
I do not rule out a double dissalution before the new senate sits if that is the case.
any chances of the agricultural wing(?heh) of the Nationals joining up with the agricultural wing of the Greens?
wouldn’t that put a hole in the born-to-rule sec-tor.
well.
anything seems possible at the mo.
A couple of points.
The libs are now ahead on both primary and 2pp, giving the indies a legitimate excuse to support them.
A poll has found that 1 in 10 voters would vote differently if they had to do it again, which would in all likelihood neuter the indies.
I can’t see how Abbott can lose. Unfortunate, but true.
Maybe Julia should do a Tasman flip and offer Abbott the Prime Minister’s mantle. Abbott would suspect a trick and refuse. Child psychology as applied to political process. It worked once !
Not sure that would ever happen,
)
The greens seem to be calling for bans in Australia of aircraft delivered crop spraying, and banning a lot of chemicals used currently in either pest management of control of fungal problems. I think the Nationals have more in common with Labor than they do with the Greens.
What are “indies”
’scuse my ignorance, . . . ha ha.
Yo. I voted for the mary wanna party
Just to scotch another example of the fallacious ‘informal vote = donkey vote’ idea. Donley is voting 1 – n straight down the ballot; informal is an illegitimate vote. (You may have actually meant ‘donkey vote’, but I haven’t seen anything to suggest that the donkey vote was up at this election.)
You could be right, I was thinking of they way our ballot was ordered, but yes quite obviously everyone else in other electorates will have differing orders of the candidates, so in my electorate it would be Donkey, others would probably vote more informal.
As I’ve srcuteneered several times, it’s always interesting to read some of the comments on ballots, we have some really nice individuals out there that’s for sure.
Well it looks like the independents lacked the sheer guts to give us another poll, well Tony Windsor really, Oakshot was always going Labor and Katter was always going Liberal/National.
Looking at the personal benefits Wilke got from Gillard , cash and 2 extra staff for his electoral office, you have to wonder what they have payed to Oakshot, will he be the new speaker, bets are even money.
Well perhaps the AEC don’t wantto another poll yet. They haven’t finished counting the votes for the House of Representatives and the Senate count is still ongoing.
If we went to the polls again, the Greens would be slaughtered as they don’t have the funds to print pamphlets and How to Votes. The media has taken to spreading lies about teh Greens policy decisions so they have to drop pamphlets in letter boxes and adopt GetUps email campaigning to be heard.
I think the Liberals would win simply because their backers have deeper pockets and they get free publicity from the media.
I disagree, I think it’s about time the media began informing the voting public about The Greens policies, they have evaded scrutiny for too long and masqueraded as purely an environmental party which they are not, they have policies on a range of issues not just the environment.
Now that The Greens have Members in the Lower House I expect them to assume the Party leadership, and be a real force in politics and that means having the media question policy.
When Gillard has gagged her Party members from speaking on any issue, demanded solidarity in the house at all costs and impinged individual members freedom to cross the floor with threats of expulsion to the point where members can no longer represent their electorates but only do the bidding of the Party itself, would anyone fear that Hansonism could be a problem? Gillard has such a fingernail hold on power, both within her party and within the house that her communist ways of ruling by fear and oppression are all she has to aviod the same fate she doled out to Rudd. I think even Pauline Hanson is laughing at the patheticism of Gillard’s comments.
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