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It doesn’t matter whether one has a genetic predisposition towards what the the old school describes as the left or the right of the political spectrum, when voters are forced to choose essentially between moral bankruptcy or incompetence one has the prospect of voting for mainstream parties that are both unspeakable in their own unique way.
Sometimes the major parties exhibit a particularly toxic mix of both incompetence and moral bankruptcy – he said, almost skirting any mention of NSW.
So there is a natural tendency to think well of candidates who profess no allegiance to the mainstream. And it was with a modicum of expectation that the small clutch of independents currently holding the balance of power in the Federal lower house would exert a magic power and renovate Federal politics, turning back the desperate decline of national government characterised by the Howard government and perpetuated by the Rudd government.
Not to suggest that the Rudd government was as morally bankrupt as the Howard coalition, but with the exception of the response to the global financial crisis, not a lot happened to suggest that we had turned the corner. Under Rudd and Gillard we walked away from asylum seekers, carbon trading, mining tax, indigenous health, water…….. Stayed in the game for wrangling marginal electorates and sucking up to rednecks.
So to the independents. A clear message to the main parties that we, the electorate are not happy with either of you. But what is the message we hold for the independents. ?
Should we expect more from them than extracting the most obscene papered-over pork barrelling in living memory ? Is it OK for them to be interviewing as many bureaucrats as they wish to get a handle on whether the red team or the blue team are really on top ?
How long are we expected to watch the so called independents sifting through a million and six reasons for anointing Tony or Julia as the next PM ? Have they had their 15 minutes of fame yet ?
Could they have just tossed a coin and come up with as good an assessment ?
I would argue that they may be independent for a day but as soon as they flip the coin, they are as dependent as the rest of us. They depend on the anointed government to do the right thing, to not bite the hand that feeds and to at least affect some semblance of competence and civil responsibility. If they think they can make and unmake a king on a whim, they are more dangerous than the faceless numbers men and they deserve to be discarded with the same energy.
I had big hopes for the independents – until I tired of their sickly smiles on TV and their assurances that they would make a decision soon, soon, soon. These are the people who hold the balance of power and they struggle with the simplest of decisions.
For years they have seen the best and worst of both the red team and the blue team and there is no empirical evidence for making a distinction. The rest is just putting pressure on the majors and leaving the country in limbo.
What is the aphorism – power corrupts – and absolute power corrupts absolutely ? And apparently corruption doesn’t even require a majority of votes any more – only a balance of power.
So to the independents, I say “Just make a call, you geese”.
Because if either major party does a spit and we have another election, you will not be judged well for your equivocation, for wandering around looking clueless, for inventing whacko terms and conditions and for flaunting naked self-interest.
You’re missing the point I think.
The independents are doing a deal to ensure they get the best possible results for their electors (and by inference the Country). They aren’t beholden to your. my or more importantly media or pollsters timetables. The country is still running and will continue to do so until the money runs out sometime next year.
Nepal & The Netherlands are both also in the process of sorting out hung parliaments. Nepal has had six votes on the PM and seemingly can’t reach an agreement and the Queen of The Netherlands has threatened to take the country back to the polls after some months of indecision. By comparison, waiting a couple of weeks while some much needed reform is shoved down the throats of the red and blue tribes really isn’t a big deal. Most states in Australia have gone for a similar or longer period while details of a minority Government have been worked out – and life went on. In 6 months the “big wait” will be the subject of trivia night questions – and that’s about it.
These three men have 68 years parliamentary experience between them and Tony Windsor in particular has said it’s about stability. I’d like to believe him.
I find this piece very disappointing and I think Emmjay not only does the three rural independents a great disservice, but fails to understand why the independents are taking their time making the decision.
Personally I think, after decades of political dominance by the two major parties, the bastards are finally being forced to be politicians rather than just play politics. I don’t think it will last past the next 3 years of government, but I hold great hopes the independents and the Greens can get some good things happening for Australia during this period. I for one don’t care how long the independents take making the two major parties squirm, as long as they’re doing their best to make the bastards honest.
Fair comments, bludgers – and way more civilised than I deserve. I guess I was having a snit of a day and punched this one out in a mood of frustration. These dudes probably mean well – and they’re an easier target than Telstra – in my sights for totally f*cking up a new ADSL connection. How does this sound to you ? 5 weeks after paying – and it’s still not working ! And because the “package” wasn’t in place they added a $500 surprise to the phone bill. True bastards.
Are you sure the independents and greens are really doing what is in the best interests of their electorates? I can’t see how the electorate of WILKE’s benefits from his deal, 2 extra staff and some coin, I’d say that benefits him a hell of a lot more that his community.
Emm,
H and I understand and all is forgiven when concerning ADSL packages.
Yes,yes. My service provider (Optus, Yes!) understood us to the tune of over $700.- with the whole neighbourhood logging on to our wire-less which was delivered ‘wire-free-abled’ without letting us know it could be accessed from hundreds of metres away by anyone opening their lap-top.
Thanks to the technical team from the Pig’s Arms, we were able to convince ‘Yes Optus’ to refund us the total bill of over $700.-
Of course, since then we have disabled the ‘wire-free’ and our downloads are now less than a third and well within the allowable 8gb.
I am not sure what this has to do with the Independents.
Nice to see it’s not just me, my new wireless went to a house almost a kilometer down the road yesterday, and today the log in details and the plan details (that are all wrong anyway) went to another house and even though the new service was added to my existing account they have given me two new street numbers for each of the correspondence. Luckily I’m well known and these items were directed to my place.
On your blog; look I think you’re saying what a lot of frustrated people are thinking, Oakshot seems to have an agenda, the others are trying to assimilate details from each party and make an impossible decision. It is a poison chalice, for some of them. And even though I feel they are most definitely swinging toward Labor (Oakshot for sure, and he’s trying desperately to sway the others)and they run a real risk of being seen by their voters as choosing the wrong side.
Once they have made this decision, I think they will regret it from day one, they will have no further power, and no further say realistically than they did before.
I think what the independents get out of any deal is less important than what they can achieve over the next three years. Being able to make the two major parties face issues they’d normally avoid is powerful and important place to be.
gosh that was quick.
from sound bite thinking on independent pollies to ADSL in 30 seconds.
“well meaning”?
Perhaps, but when asked , the independents wouldn’t say what they got out of the deal although Oakshot slipped that there are offers on the table.
Really if they are getting personal benefit, it should be made public or it is simply corrupt.
There’s your problem – Hel$tra.
Seriously, it should have been physically separated prior to the initial share offering. The initial share price would have reflected what was for sale, there would have been a clear delineation between public infrastructure and a sales pitch as well as some interest in the public good rather than allegedly the shareholders.
“…technical team at the Pigs Arms.” Ha Ha HA. Those poor buggers can hardly get a dunny to flush. Oh, shit, I’m one of ‘em.
I seem to think the independents are representative of me and I got the exact election outcome I voted for. I’d prefer a balance of power in both houses every time
For the first time ever I actually feel like I’m going to be effectively represented instead of ignored by metropolitan and coastal bigots that can’t see past their own backyard.
Now like Emmjay the reactionary mainstream media are going to overanalyse and criticise the Independents movements but there is one thing I feel safe in and that is for the first time in my lifetime we actually have a representative parliamentary democracy instead of a faux one.
Speaking of NSW(or not as the case might be). If anyone has EVER had a thought of running for politics flash ever so quickly through their brain, I reckon you’ll never get better odds for running as and Independent in a traditional Labor seat than in next State election. I reckon even rusted on Labor voters might find themselves reluctantly sending a message that the goings on of the last few years can’t be tolerated , but they aren’t going to want to vote Liberal either.