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. 

• Do they feel the same way you do about the issues that matter to you? 
  
• Don't know? Ring and ask them! 
  
• What do you mean they won't talk to you. Don't vote for them then - put them last in your preferences!
  

So now you've done your research, what next?

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?

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If you would like more information on "DO-It-Yourself How-To-Vote" Cards, email me with the Subject Heading "DIYHTV"

I recently wondered what the population of our planet would have been if there had been no wars. Just think about. We're overcrowded now with 5 billion souls on this earth but think if no one had died from wars. Over 100 million people died because of the Second World War - that would mean another 500 million people born if they had lived.
 
Now this is not to say that war has any benefit whatsoever. But it does lead me to wonder when we're going to realise that our only future lies in finding somewhere to grow. As far as I can tell, the only option is to look for that place in space. Yes - space. I have no idea what would be involved in finding such a new home. Is it feasible to consider finding a planet similar to our own? Is it possible to make the moon or Mars inhabitable for mankind? I have no idea. What I do know is that mankind is trying to find the answers to these questions and the International Space Station currently being built, right now, in orbit, is part of that search. Governments from all over the world have made a financial commitment to the ISS because they realise that that is where our future lies.
 
The Australian Government has just announced a $23.5 billion increase in the military budget over the next ten years - a decision whose generosity even surprised the military themselves. But, according to an article I read this weekend, they won't spend $50 million on becoming part of the ISS. That's 7.7 days worth of spending from the military increase.
 
Like I said at the start, if you think this is unimportant - fine. That is your unalienable right. If, however, you feel as though something's not quite right about these sort of decisions, that maybe we should be concentrating our efforts on the future of mankind and not its destruction, then it's also your right to say something about it.