How can this be developed so that it works across all electorates and is easily put into place?
Yeah, good question. How CAN we do it? Any thoughts? E-mail me.
What we need is a "Meet the Candidate" night where people who want to be a candidate but need to get the requisite 50 votes, can all be met and interviewed by the public on the one night at the same venue. Needs to be sponsored by, perhaps, Councils, Community Groups, etc.
How can this be developed so that it works across all electorates and is easily put into place? Yeah, good question. How CAN we do it? Any thoughts? E-mail me.
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When I think of the sacrifices that men and women have made to get the vote over the years, I am particularly drawn to the struggle by women to get the vote throughout almost every society on Earth and almost all within the last 100 years.
Folks, all sorts of people all over the world have fought, and died, to get and maintain their right to have a say in their own affairs. We in Australia have that right but people for some reason want to complain about having to do it. Voting is our right! Our ancestors fought for these rights and we honour their memory each time we step into the ballot box. The task of running the country is one we should take seriously. Who we nominate will help shape our future and, therefore, we must always endeavour to get to know who the candidates are and what they believe in. And then vote them in as our representative in Canberra. But remember, it's not like we're asking you to actually do the job of running the country. We just want you to get off your backside once every three (!) years and let every one else know what you think about the way things are going. And you get to do it in a way that is polite, mostly well mannered, even-handed and as close to accurate as manual hand counting can be. Citizens of Bennelong
A Federal election is called, or at least should be called every three years. There are approximately 70,000 electors in the seat that we live in called "Bennelong". Consider this as you reflect upon the fact that the vast majority of donations to political parties are from "special interests" like the Green movement, Big Businesses, and others. Now, let's say that the amount donated to a particular party is $2,000,000 a year - that would add up to $6,000,000 every three years. Let's also say that of that amount, $5,000,000 comes from special interests. That means they outweigh us monetarily by 5 to 1! But there's 19 million of us all up - and probably about 10 million with an income. If even half of us coughed up just one solitary dollar every three years, we'd match the "special interests" at a stroke. Think if we had $1 a week taken out of our pay and donated to the party or candidate of our choice. You'd have ended up donating just $52 a year. But it would endow the political system of our country with an almost incorruptible $1.56 billion (yes, billion!) dollars with which to contest every election. And, don't forget, we get to choose which party or which individual candidates get the money! Maybe this should have been in "The Soap Box" but it's not a bad idea nonetheless. Don't ban guns - tax the ones you don't like to the tune of 300% to 1000%. If say in the case of a Self Loading Rifle (L1A1), make them cost at least $5000 to $10000 and ammo at $10 or $20 per round. Then, if for instance it is deemed that farmers have a right to use one legitimately, then give them tax breaks on their firearms receipts.
Second, insist on six monthly weapons inspections, by certified inspectors, to ensure that the weapon is in good working order and that all safety gear is in good working order. Finally, ensure that the licence is a tough one to get with checks on:
Well I think most of that's self explanatory. Maybe the amounts should be even higher - say $50 a round but with discounts if purchased and used at official ranges. At least with an idea like this you're covering two out of three potential weapons users. These are: 1. Normal people -They should be able to fit within this plans parameters and if they can't - tough. 2. Criminals - They're going to get a weapon anyway! 3. The insane - Well, if the health checks don't get them, maybe the cost will or some other area of the licencing regime. People often ask me why we have Compulsory Voting here in Australia. I found the following on the Australian Electoral Commission website and thought we should reproduce it here:
Arguments used in favour of compulsory voting:
I don’t actually hate Pauline Hanson. I think she’s a genuinely concerned member of our population who decided to run for office, was successful and has since espoused her deeply held views. She is alarmed, as many of us are, about what we’ve become and where our society is headed.
I just think she’s wrong. Very, very wrong. Yes, there are faults in our society as there are in all societies around the world. But we are a good-natured folk, people of good temper, we make great neighbours and we’ve got hearts of gold when we’re needed. All we need is to work together to make society what we want it to be. And the fun part is we all want it to be something different. But take a second and try and picture our society in microcosm. Imagine our entire country is but a small town. Somewhere say like Bedford Falls in “It’s A Wonderful Life”. For the most part we justifiably see ourselves as the Everyman, George Bailey. And we recognise that there are people in our town who aren’t as nice as we think they should be, such as Mr Potter – the mean-spirited banker played by Lionel Barrymore. But for the most part, we try to live our lives in accordance with the teachings of just about every religious faith ever discovered…be nice. We believe in fairness, justice, equality, a good education for our kids, good health for our loved ones and enough money to be comfortable. We want clean streets, clean air and for it to be safe to walk the streets at night. We don’t want the big guys picking on the little guy. We want all the freedoms we can grab but we don’t want those liberties to include the right to hurt others. Or to deprive others of their own freedoms and liberties. We want the guilty punished and the innocent protected. But we rarely want to have to do anything to help make it all happen. There are a few good people who do try. Most of the folks who inhabit our emergency services, anyone who gets off their backside for Clean Up Our Town Day, anyone who helps the sick, elderly or the very young and, yes, anyone with the guts to run for office. So tell me, when was the last time you actually did something to help the other folk in town? Hey, did you vote? Anything else? How do you want society to be? If you think we’re already there, home and hosed, then sit back and relax. If you don’t, consider doing something about it. Even if you only talk to your friends about it and maybe one of them will do something. A man once said, "Decisions are made by those who show up." If the only ones who show up share the views of those like Ms Hanson, THAT’S the society we’ll end up with. Show up! There's two issues facing Australian political society over the next few years - the Flag and the Republic. Both changes are inevitable, in the long term at least, so I thought it time to put my two cents worth into the subject. My Proposed Flag: The design consists of the black and red of the Aboriginal flag along with the Southern Cross in gold and, in the top left, a variable number of stars - in gold - representing the current states and territories. Like the original US flag (which had 13 stars for the 13 original colonies), this can be expanded if new states are created - such a Far North Queensland or New England. Oh, and by the way, don't get too hung up about the shape of the stars...it's all I could do quickly!
My Proposed Republic Many of you know of my disenchantment with political parties both here and overseas. I'd love to see Australia become a republic where both houses of parliament are filled with nothing but independents voted for as each electorate's representative rather than a representative of a party. As for the President, he or she should also be an independent voted for by the people. However, you would probably have to have a number of run-off polls to successively narrow the field. Once elected, the President would then get to select a cabinet from anyone in the country who was suitably qualified and whose nomination was passed by both Houses. What? You mean this sounds a little like the US system? Well, yes it does. Their constitution works admirably - albeit with some occasional hiccoughs - but with a little Aussie tinkering I'm sure it could become the groundwork for an even better, more democratic way of doing political business. Do you remember the last election? It seemed to me that there were so many people complaining that "I don't want my preferences going to someone that I don't want them to!" or "Why should I trust (INSERT FAVOURITE DEMON PARTY HERE) to give my vote to (INSERT OTHER FAVOURITE DEMON PARTY HERE)".
Well, there's a whole bunch of elections due in Australia in 2001. This is what the Australian Electoral Commission has to say: What is a "how-to vote" card? Political party workers outside the polling place may give you a how-to-vote card suggesting you vote for a particular candidate or party. You do not have to accept these cards. Its up to you how you vote. While elector’s may choose to follow a how-to-vote card, the final decision regarding preferences is in the hands of each elector. (Copyright © Commonwealth of Australia 2000) What's that last line? "the final decision regarding preferences is in the (voter's) hands" Yes folks, that's right, YOU get to choose who gets your preferences! "But I don't know who all the candidates are?" I hear you whine. Well, find out! As soon as an election is called in your area, keep an eye out in the local newspapers and your letterbox - you'll soon have a comprehensive list of all the "worthies" vying for your attention. Then start looking at what they believe in.
Easy. Figure out, from all of the candidates, who you'd like most to represent you in Parliament. Who do you trust most to act on your behalf for the next three years? Give that person your first preference. Then go on and do the same for your second preference and so on. This is the beauty of the Preferential System. Unlike the First-Past-The-Post system, such as is used in the UK, if your first preference happens to get the least number of first preference votes, YOUR vote goes to YOUR second preference. Look, I know it may seem complex but it's the best way there is to ensure that the majority of voters are ultimately satisfied with their representative. It can sometimes lead to a result like the 1998 Federal Election where the Coalition received less than 50% of the two-party preferred vote but that is rare. What is most important is that each electorate received the representative that the majority of voters in that electorate preferred. In a representative democracy, isn't that the point? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you would like more information on "DO-It-Yourself How-To-Vote" Cards, email me with the Subject Heading "DIYHTV" We must strive to establish esprit de corps at every level of society - both for the country at large and the smaller community sections.
I guess this was spurred on by reports in the media about community "warfare". White versus Black, Lebanese versus Vietnamese, Catholic versus Protestants, Christian versus Arab versus Jew and the rest. Here in Australia we shouldn't be indulging in these petty squabbles. I know it's hard to try and stop the kids doing it (remember "West Side Story"?) but the adults need to learn too. I've often thought, not that I'm predicting or supporting the idea of their existence, but mankind will only truly unite the day we make First Contact with an extra-terrestrial intelligence. It would no longer be a case of us and them, it'd us and THEM! *grin* So until then (which may never arrive), we need to figure out a way for communities to develop esprit de corps. This used to come from community organisations - particularly football teams, just look at Melbourne and their Aussie Rules teams - but this has withered through greater mobility, general disinterest and the introduction of big business and media interests. Not that this dilutes the power of a game to excite you but it does take away the passion that people used to feel about their local team. So how else can we bring about that spirit that we've lost? I certainly don't have the answer. Do you? Suggestions welcome. What we need is a strong country. Not just in terms of defence or economy - even though they are very important factors - we should also aim for strength in morals, democratic principles, etc.
If the 19th century (or at last 1837 to 1945) can be described as the British century, and from 1945 till now as the American century. Maybe the 21st century can be the Australian century. Australia has given the world the secret ballot (known in America at the turn of the century as the "Australian Ballot"), maybe we can also gently promote the ideals, the real ideals, that have made Australia - or at least the idea of Australia that we imagine - to the rest of the world. We often don't understand the rest of the world because they don't see themselves the way we see ourselves. Maybe Canadians come close, and New Zealanders certainly, but most of the other nations and peoples around our globe have a very strong, lineal culture to deal with. That's never easy to shed but maybe by leading the way - and not by dogmatic enforcement - we can show that our egalitarian ideal can work elsewhere. Yes I know that it hasn't necessarily worked here all that well but, by and large I think it has. Just look at the Olympic Volunteers. Just remember the atmosphere here in Sydney during the Games. I don't have the statistics (but if you do let me know) but it's a fair bet that crime was way down during those two weeks. |
David TaylorThe blog may cover all manner of subjects from business to politics to ideas that just sound right. Archives
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