The new steward of the great barrier reef

[clive milne]

http://youtu.be/9y2IjD9pb54

[Steffen]

It's easy to pin this on the Federal Government, when in fact it was the Australian people who installed this government, knowing full well what was coming and making a more or less educated choice. Unless I see at least 50% of people tomorrow with their heads hanging low I'll have to conclude that this is what most of Australia wants and endorses.

Cheers
Steffen.

[AndrewJ]

I really hate statements like this, as well as pollies who claim they
"have a mandate".
The "other mob" was more voted out than this lot voted in.
We are pretty much stuck with two professional political parties that make dumb and dumber look like an erudite pair of individuals,
so no matter how bad they both are, one will end up winning :-(
I reckon all ballot papers should have a box at the top saying
"no one worthy of my vote"
If you fill that in, they get the message that you have voted and
dont want any of em.
See how many get a "mandate" then.

Andrew

[clive milne]

Hi Steffen,
I understand your sentiment, however, I am inclined to offer the suggestion that the mandate the current administration is fond of citing, is a case of abrogating the function of democracy by means of manufactured consent. The manipulation of an entire population is relatively easy if you set (or pay to set) the terms and scope of the debate in the mainstream media.
Gina's clumsy attempt to control Fairfax and Clive Palmer's surprisingly effective tilt at the windmill of public influence are two examples noteworthy only in their simplicity and lack of subtlety. The multinationals corporations exert influence at a completely different level. It is they who won the last feral election.

There is a lot going on here that never makes the papers, and it has been going on for a long, long time. This will not surprise any good student of history.

[clive milne]

Whilst I have no fondness for the 'other mob' I found it obvious that the media were trying to sabotage public confidence in them at least 18 months ago. The voting public is pretty much led by the nose for someone else's convenience.

[clive milne]

Anyway guys, I appreciate your passion and your perspective, but can we please be mindful of the purpose of this thread, that being the danger of ceding responsibility of a sensitive natural environment to a corporate behemoth possessed with the sensitivity of Pol Pot.
Politicizing the debate any more than necessary for context is invariably counter productive.

[el_draco]

I would consider a mandate 95% of the vote myself and none of them would score that. Apart from that, the ****es are supposed to represent ALL Australians, not just those stupid enough to vote for them.

Whats worse is that they are unrepentant liars. The current nobs have gone to the World Heritage Committee to take 76 thousand hectares off the nominated areas from last years forest peace deal. They claimed in public 95% had been heavily logged or degraded. Now it turns out, less than 10% has EVER been disturbed and those areas were included to form regeneration buffer zones. Who says?.... the Liar-brals own people. In the REAL world, that would be a criminal offense.



Hallelujah to that brother.

The only way one of them will not win and therefore wont be able to claim a mandate is if you refuse to vote. They make a big deal over the fine but I believe the No-show vote was substantial last time.

Where's Renato1.... Bound to show up sooner or later :rofl:

[el_draco]

.... but the Pollies are OWNED lock stock and barrel by corporates. Cant really separate them Clive :shrug:

Proof is in the pudding on this one. Just check out the stench from the current royal commissions, ICAC etc. Guarantee, not one of them will do time.

[Steffen]

I know, I know, sorry for being so glib. But it's really frustrating, and somehow "I told you so" doesn't quite capture it.

Cheers
Steffen.

[clive milne]

Yes,
The point I was making is that if you were to accept that a government is in essence 'owned' then is it not the case that the 'owners' are ultimately responsible for the actions of the administration they control? The focus seems to be on the puppets instead of the string pullers. It is not surprising when deflecting culpability is the very nature of pty ltd.

[el_draco]

Alas, not surprising at all....:(

[noeyedeer]

I'm on the electoral roll and havnt voted in anything since I was 18 .. and I think I made my own box, to bring Fat Cat back.
never had a fine .. never wasted a Saturday in a queue .. except for that one time .. I'm now 36

matt

[el_draco]

Bravo... Joan kerner (?) made me abandon all hope (1984?)... 30 years ago. Now if we can only convince the other 10 million suckers who perpetuate this farcical system....:rofl:

[multiweb]

:question:

[casstony]

I haven't voted for a major party in a long time. There may be minor parties or independents which represent one or more of your views and polling places are open for the week leading up to elections so it's not necessary to stand in a long line.

Lots of people not voting doesn't seem to work to the plebs advantage as indicated by the US mess.

[Nikolas]

Just a bit of perspective.
On the three parties alone the majority voted for the ALP, the libs came second the
nats third.
The libs are only in power because of their coalition with the nats which combined with the libs means that as a team they hold the majority of votes.
No nats then no chance of the libs ruling.
the way Rabbit is going even the nats are getting antsy.
So statements like the majority of the voters voted them in is misleading. What if the nats decided to side with the alp?

[Nikolas]

I voted Australian sex party in the senate, since all pollies tend to screw us I figured that at least they are experts in screwing and make it fun at the same time :)