Election Wrap-up part 1!

So, this magical thing happened earlier today; I was asked my name, my address and whether or not I had voted at a previous polling booth and then I was given a little green piece of paper and a beautiful long white page and told to make my vote count! It was an almost sure fire thing that the Opposition Leader Mr Tony Abbott would become the next prime minister - it was just a matter of time! Despite the inevitability of this fact, a record number of people postal voted and well as voted before the day had arrived - not that you would even know! Shopping centers were packed and I spoke to people working on different booths and they said it was a constant stream of people all day. It was grass-roots democracy at work, and the excitement in the air was palpable. 

Now I must point out the obvious before we go any further as not to do so would indicate nothing has happened which frankly is not true. WE HAVE A NEW PRIME MINISTER!! Exciting for some and horrifying for others Tony Abbott in all his budgie-smuggler-glory will be looking out for the young, old and in-between as the next prime minister of Australia. While left leaning people have uttered the phrase 'if Tony Abbott becomes prime minister I will be leaving the country!' currently I know of only one Husband and Wife following through on this promise - legitimately jet setting to our cousins across the lake in New Zealand! But if you know of others please let me know!!

On social media (Facebook and Twitter) as well as around town there were mixed reviews, people sad for Rudd but victorious about Abbott, with commentators predicting a Labor wipeout and a Coalition landslide with really only the possibility of a few strays - Palmer, Katter, Independents and the Greens. But by golly the voting Australian public delivered on their promise to shake things up! Crazy stuff can happen on Election Day (and subsequent night), and tonight was no different! You learn things about your peers that they try to keep hidden, some for better and some for worse! Closet alleged political know-it-alls come out of the woodwork claiming to have great political insights - most of which are misguided and wrong no matter how articulate they may be. Despite these people being frustrating and clogging up newsfeeds, these individuals are a loved part of the election coverage. Everyone has an opinion, but a word of advice, if you do not agree with them you will be labelled a communist, socialist, fascist or arrogant, but that does not matter. After you have your deep and meaningful conversation with your ballot papers (and possibly a sausage after voting) you comes home, sit on the couch and start to relax as the hard work (for many) is over. Most local bottle-O's would have had a run on all things drinkable and as the night progresses the more you drink (alcoholic or not) the worse off your favoured party must be going... Right? Regardless of your political affiliations, election night is always fun!

As a young person I am in the minority for my generation, I do not enjoy the ritual of late night partaying or clubbing or binge drinking, and yet after my first 'drinking' election I think I have come to enjoy some of the drinking games associated with election night - or maybe not! As the night goes on, and more results come in, political journalists, writers and current politicians join forces to sit on panels feeding the hopelessly politically obsessed information in real time. Add in Twitter and the communication is endless, 140 character bits flood the twitter-sphere at lightening speed discussing the trivial (OMG what is he wearing?!?!) to the raw data (the swing against ......) with people from around the country and the globe wanting to know the details of what has happened! 

So far the ALP have retained 53 seats (55*), the L/NP have 87 (91*) the Greens 1 and the so called 'Others' have 2 (3*). Not the Labor wipeout most predicted, but in no way are the ALP in a position to take office once again, and I am only taking into consideration the Lower House, as the Upper House is a whole other kettle of fish - one for coming days ahead! However, the stats we do know include being sure Palmer has made it into the Australian Parliament ensuring the fabulousness of Question Time continues! One thing is certain though, when you wake up tomorrow with a hangover and feeling poorly, our-mate-Kev will be feeling even worse! 

*predicted to win

ALP V Greens! Who will come out on top??

A question I have been pondering lately has been to do with the left side of politics, The Greens and the ALP. Should the contemporary ALP become more 'green'? Does Labor's future depend upon reconciliation with The Green political agenda or can Labor take over Green Issues? Dennis Glover in A Red Green Coalition, stated that Labor must take environmental politics more seriously and The Greens must take electoral realities more seriously, presumably if either are to survive in the long term. While I see it quite unlikely that either will be eliminated from the Australian political scene any time soon, it does pose questions around the post 2010 Federal Election minority government agreement and more importantly about the future of Australia's political left.

While I am obviously no expert when it comes to the ALP or The Greens, it does not take much to look at the current political scene and see what some would call generously describe as chaos, not just in terms of ALP leadership but also in terms of policy ideology. While not trying to outright bag the ALP, they seem to have lost focus, they undoubtedly seem poll driven and geared to winning elections - at any cost. Which I mean is fine and in an election year, even expected, but what the party fail to recognise are the changing desires of the electorate, something Kevin Rudd is only just beginning to realise, coming out earlier this year pro marriage equality. While they claim to be part of the 'left' , a progressive party of sorts, they fail to see their once solid voter base, unions and union movements are scarcely as influential as they once were. Once every so often will a union conduct a full out strike, but I have read countless articles and journals which quote union membership to be falling, and even more importantly active union action among members to be falling. Regardless of the outcome at the election in just under a week, I think there will be a fair bit of soul searching within the ALP in the foreseeable future to try and redefine their core voter base.

The Greens have the left of politics pretty much in the bag, I mean they are pro choice, pro onshore processing, pro carbon tax, pro marriage equality, for voluntary Euthanasia and the list could go on. The point is if the ALP want to be regarded as a major party of the left or even center left, one should be able to identify most of those sentiments with that party as well. Although if outlining the traditional policies of the ALP you  would also include, pro protection, pro republic, secular and pro environment some of which are core policies values but not all. The minor parties have an easier time finding their niche in politics because they know they are only looking to satisfy a proportion of the population, and increasingly so. Hence it is The Greens who are winning out, increasing their polling numbers on the back of the rate of voters fleeing the mess that is called the Australian Labor Party - or so their current television commercial wants us to believe. The commercial which has 'everyday' people talking about voting for The Greens given 'Tony Abbott scares me' and Labor "aren't serious" or are "disappointing". More and more, in conversations I am having with friends and at work people seem to think that The Greens will be better than either of the major parties.

The major parties on the other hand, in recent years have decided that in order to win government (outright) they can't be seen to be alienating any sector of society, from farmers and workers to small business owners and families regardless of their once, core voter base. In general terms both the ALP and the Coalition have differences in their Asylum Seeker policies, Malaysia or Nauru, buy the boats, turn the boats around, more money, less money blah blah blah! However, fundamentally both parties wanted them any place that is not here, in our own backyard. The Independents could not decide who to support, sprouting variations of both policies, it was only The Greens who believed that onshore processing was the way to go. It is almost hard to believe that Malaysia or Nauru were the hottest political news going around Canberra pre and post mid winter break in 2012. 

Furthermore despite the ALP being very much poll driven <insert possible leadership spill here!> all throughout the 43rd parliament, it did start before that. According to polling data since pretty much late 2009, the popular support for Kevin Rudd and Labor has been in decline. Yes it spikes every now and again but only when a new favourable policy is introduced or passed and then only for a short time, nothing of significance. Not only has the move towards the middle of the political spectrum been in vain (see current opinion polls) it has had a adverse affect as all indications are that Labor are still as unpopular under Rudd and they were under Gillard, with reports out recently that Tony Abbott has overtaken Rudd as preferred PM!

Furthermore will it take another long period in Opposition for the Labor Party to rediscover its core voter base, or more so allow the ALP or reconnect with them? Will it take them a formal agreement with The Greens to dominate Federal Politics once more? And if this were to occur which party (ALP or Greens) would give up enough power and influence within the electorate to make the formation worthwhile? Or will Rudd be able to pull a number of rabbits out of the election hat and defy the polls and win outright? Only 5 sleeps to go! 

     

Voting Day 101!

Most people do not like voting. Most people do not see the point in voting (my vote will not make a difference). Most people dread even the thought of going near a polling booth. During the US Presidential Campaign, a YouTube video of a young girl crying at the thought of another few weeks of campaigning went viral and I am sure many people can relate to her pain - even if she was a mere 4 or 5!

Now there must be reasons for this right? I mean it is not like when you go into the polling booth you have to have an injection / cut off your hand / stick a needle in your eye... do you? Nor do you get laughed at / shot at / looked down on depending on which way you swing, so what is the big deal? I guess people who are voting for the first time in a couple of weeks could be a tad nervous or apprehensive at the thought - God knows what is going to happen when it is just you, a pencil and two pieces of paper in that tiny little booth.  But rest assured you still have plenty of time before September 7 to get ready, and here is my list of things to do before you go and get your name crossed off and cast your vote.

1. Learn who the major parties and minor parties are. This is really really important for those first time voters as not all parties will endorse or put up candidates in every electorate.

2. Find out which electorate you are in, especially if you live on an electoral boundary it may have changed! 

3. Look up your local candidates either on your local stobie poll or political leaflets that will no doubt flood your letterbox. That or you can go to the AEC website for full details on candidates and voting places, among other things of course!

4. It is also vital to have at least a basic understanding of the different voting systems in play at the Federal level. In the Lower or Green House Preferential voting is used to elect the 150 members. This type of voting requires voters to place a number in the box next to the preferred candidate and subsequent numbers corresponding to the level of preference for all other candidates. In the Upper or Red House voters need to decide whether or not they want to vote above the line (1 number only) and let parties decide preferences or below the line and number  EVERY!!!! box.

5. Read all the leaflets that get sent to you, some of them may even be important! Most, if not all political parties, groups and Independents will want to secure your vote and this means nagging you until you give in. Phone calls, text messages, emails and sometimes even personal visits are just some of the ways they will try and make contact. And it won't stop, it will never stop .... well maybe on September 8th but the road is long before you get there!!

6. The Debates. The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have so far encountered each other twice in a debate ... of sorts. The second one was dubbed to have covered more ground and was probably more exciting than the first but that does not mean they weren't important. Debates, however unexciting, gives candidates more of an opportunity to cement their every changing views in the public arena. Despite flip-flops, backflips and policy turnarounds, these two people and their subsequent parties are trying their hardest to sway voters to vote for them. Promises, 'core' promises and political sweeteners are all part of the game, the game to win office. 

7. Have Fun! I have said it before and I will say it again, we in Australia are part of a privileged group of people who have the choice about who our representatives are and ultimately who will form the Government. Barry Cassidy on the ABC says that this parliament was a 'mixed bag' which got a lot done but was very politicized throughout its three year term. Whether or not that was a result of the people inside parliament or those outside fueling the fire remains to be seen but one thing is certain, it was a hectic time and political speculation was always at an all time high. Vote Liberal, Labor, National, Green, Katter, Palmer, Democrat, Sex Party, One Nation or Independent I don't care, all I care is that you vote and vote properly, no donkey vote, no invalid vote and no writing on the side of your ballot. You have no right to complain about the work the government is doing, if you could not be bothered or you intentionally messed up your vote! Your vote is sacred and use it well!    

Hey You!

When I tell people I want to grow up and be a psephologist and that my favourite thing to do is look at political and voting systems and just politics in general, 99.95% of the time I am met with a look of disdain and total horror; but also skepticism at what I could possibly see in the policy makers and representatives who line the walls of Parliament Houses around the country and world. The first 1000 times I laughed and said, well some people have to love it, in the same way some people have to love solving crimes, fixing people, collecting and storing money and run around fields in the name of national sport. But now I am kinda getting annoyed. Why? I mean, yes I may take my obsession a little too seriously (studying politics on holidays and requesting political books/plane tickets to Canberra for my birthday) but nonetheless the institution of Government and electing our Government is a fundamental part of a democratic society, and as such should be celebrated not given eye rolls and put to the back of peoples minds. 

There is a Federal Election Campaign going on in Australia at the moment (no way! I hear you say!), and for most people, the thought of turning their television sets on at the moment, is met with a sense of dread and is a vastly unpopular past time until about the 10th of September. If you are unlucky enough to have momentary lapses in judgement and do turn the television on, you will be met with vision of baby kissing, hard hat and high-vis wearing pollies and pollie-wannabes sucking up and smooth-talking potential voters in anticipation for the next three-ish years. Nothing we did not already know.  Right? Also what we have been told is that young people have turned off, not interested and unavailable for comment, when it comes to voting/elections/politics/policy ... you get my drift. And a year or two a go I might have said, yeah I am in the minority, 6 in my politics class, 20 in my politics lecture, party signup on the decrease blah blah blah. But something strange is going on. . . Young folk are getting converted. Not in plague proportions or anything, so no need to call the police, but I can see something happening.  People who are studying Biochemical Engineering, Animal Science,  Speech Pathology, Radiology and English have started caring who says what, and why and when. They will post a little rant on Facebook, ask a policy question, YouTube a Politicians' most recent speech or borrow a political textbook to find out an answer. Boom! And suddenly my quota of politically literate friends has gone from about -5 to 30. 

Obviously I am not so naive to think that this has no correlation to the fact in less than 3 weeks they will find themselves walking into a polling booth for probably the first time, nor the fact they have been bombarded with political paraphernalia in their newsfeed and letterboxes since halfway through May. When newly re-elected PM KRudd was sworn in, in late June he called on young people to 'come back' stating that he could see why they had turned away but stressed the importance of government in their lives. Well Mr Prime Minister I think they are coming back. Not necessarily in the form of ALP loving, center-left voters that you were hoping for, but they are joining in the national conversation anyway.   My friends vary from right-wing Fascist's to economically conservative but socially progressive to left wing ecological Greenies campaigning for Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. They come from low socio-economic areas and Upper class affluent suburbs and are wanting to contribute. I also have the closet interested political friends, who you would never know could even list the last 3 Prime Ministers much less hold a substantive conversation with, but they are out there.  Watching and absorbing. Ready and waiting for their day to shine. September 7. 

I am not saying that every young person could accurately describe and quote the latest Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Outlook but what I am saying is you probably should not write-off their vote. Most young people will vote above the line in the Senate, vote in accordance with their parents and quite frankly not care 'until the next election' (because that is when I will need a 'real' job and care [no lie!]) but not all. And in the end even 100 votes will not change the outcome of this election but it is a start. Rome was not built in one day, and this election, despite everyone wanting to take the 'moral high ground' will be about slogging the opponent, there are a band of newly educated young people out there who will use the world as their oyster, and September 7 is just the starting place ....    

The week that was not...

Writing a blog is very similar to writing is a diary. The writer, writes (or types) their dreams, aspirations for the future, what happened to them that day and countless other random thoughts that the think might be interesting to look back on one day. Some people are dedicated diary writers, some only write in diaries when they are on holiday or some, like me only write when something happens that is worth sharing or savouring. I mean what is the point in writing something down, when countless other people have said the same thing over and over AND OVER AND OVER!!! The only difference between blogs and diaries that I can think of, is to do with theme and consistency. Most blogs have a theme, cooking, politics, trains, weight loss etcetera and diary entries are more like opening your brain and spilling the content onto a notebook at random invervals.

Everybody, well unless you live under a rock and in which case you probably would not be reading this, would know about this little thing called the Federal Election which is happening on the 7th of September. It is a magical thing really, I mean who knew that we, the people of sorts, all get to go to a similar place and to the EXACT SAME THING is just a few weeks time. Vote. YAY. Since our Prime Minister, Kevin Michael Rudd called the election all hell has broken lose on the streets. Random peoples faces (I mean our local Federal Candidates) are plastered all over stobie poles enticing us to remember to vote for them in a few weeks time. The more posters the better the chances of election or re-election, or so the theory goes. Furthermore our omnipresent Federal Representatives have taken to personally phoning us and coming to our houses to try and persuade us to vote for them. AND don't even think of mentioning television advertisements sponsored by either of the major parties, who by the way claim to be above 'dirty' politics but engage in it at every opportunity. 

So lets have the highlights from the last week or so. The media have been telling us for months (make that since the 2010 election) that the ALP have stood no chance at gaining office again this year and that the leadership tension and message problems were making voters tune out and ignore the hard facts and realities of life. Not anymore hopes Kevin-im-just-here-to-help-Rudd, who is trying to bring relevance back into Australian Politics. Oh, and not to mention that the Opposition Leader would 'stop the boats' at any cost- a favoured saying by my dad currently but really do people really care? Should we take The Greens approach of onshore processing? Maybe, Maybe not. 

One thing people do care about (according to Facebook, Twitter and posters all around university) is Marriage Equality. Tony Abbott this week came out and called the push for Marriage Equality the 'fashion of the moment' and it probably is, but what does that matter? If it has public support and people want it why not say something like 'yeah ok people, I don't agree with it, but what do I care what people do in their own time?" If it is not hurting anyone (which I can NOT see how it would be) and no one will die because of it, just sign a document and move on. Personally I do care either way, but I do believe, that, the way in which Ellen DeGeneres described gay marriage when she wrote a letter to the US Supreme Court says it all "Portia and I have been married for 4 years and they have been the happiest of my life. And in those 4 years, I don't think we hurt anyone else's marriage. I asked all of my neighbors and they say they're fine." Drug abuse rates would not drastically increase nor would the world end due to homosexuals being able to marry. Lets just do it and move on and as Tony Abbott says "get on to more important things."

THE DEBATE! Last weekend the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader engaged in what most describe as a hour in which both leaders gave heavily rehearsed answers to some questions asked by senior political journalists. My favourite part was after the main festivities, when analysts and political journalists and commentators got to discuss every tiny detail and  Channels 7, 9 and 10 all declared someone else the winner. Abbott, Rudd and a draw. The debate did not really see any new information released nor did it really allow for a combative debate between the leaders, and if anyone really thought that their opinions of the leaders would change after watching the debate, they were surely mistaken. 

And on side notes, big speculation has been aroused as to whether or not the Coalition will increase the GST after their tax review comes back, should they win government, is the 'honeymoon' period over for Rudd, should words like 'sex appeal' come out the mouth of the alternative PM and what the heck is going with the Liberals candidate in the seat of Greenway. All perfectly good questions and all of which, I'm sure will be answered very soon but until then folks... 

Where to begin?!?!

Oh God! What a day! Where does one even start? Obviously all the events of today have lead to the de-throning of the first female prime minister Ms Julia Gillard, to the former prime minister Kevin Rudd, but it was a long and treacherous ride to get to this point. 

The day started with Independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott announcing that they would not contest the next election in the seats of New England and Lyne respectively.  Now on an ordinary day, in an ordinary parliament this would not make more than be few hours worth of news, but most people know the last three (some say five) years have been anything other than easy or straightforward! 

One of the other key Independents Bob Katter, then came out and said that he would support  his BFF Kevin in a Rudd lead ALP government, because in his words 'no one was driving the bus' anymore. At that point, I had Simon Crean flashbacks, of him eventually being the sacrificial lamb that was put up as a catalyst offering, in the hopes of sparking a Labor leadership vote, when in actual fact he lost his cabinet position and there was no leadership vote. 

Going into Question Time there was a rumour a flying around that a petition was making the rounds, to Labor MPs to force a caucus meeting to determine the leadership. It spread like wildfire, but no one could say, with absolute certain, that this was true.  When the Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott, rose to ask the first question of the day, people waited with bated breath as to how soon Abbott would call to suspend standing orders and seek to initiate a vote of non confidence. Very surprisingly, it was towards the end of questions today that the theme of leadership was brought up.  But alas the vote is not gain a majority, let alone an absolute majority. 

Adding to speculation also, was Foreign Minister Bob Carr making a personal executive decree that states that Foreign Ministers will not talk about domestic matters. How horrendous for a person hand picked by the then prime minister, to suddenly stop worrying about domestic affairs.... 

Julia Gillard then came out and proactively sought a caucus meeting for later in the day to decide/silence/fix/change the ALP leadership one final time before the election - presumably still on September 14. Kevin Rudd came out shortly after,  and agreed to put his name forward - a step up from last time. The condition both sides agreed to was, whomever loses the leadership battle, would bow out of Federal Politics and not contest the next election, and at this point it s still anyone's game! 

The battle lines were drawn, ALP members held 'secret' meeting with each other and Bill Shorten held a doorstop meeting with journalists ... The result, Shorten flip flopped to join forces with ex prime minister Kevin Rudd. It was a sombre affair, but the vibe I got, was that it needed to happen. After months of denying there was a real polling problem within the ALP, Labor MP's  had decided that if they wanted to be in a job come the election (according to the polls) they needed a change. 

One thing that stood out tonight was, at no point today did any Labor politician look happy about what was transpiring. Julia Gillard I can understand, but the other members, it was like they were doing something just because it was part of the bigger picture. Like when someone needs to get a vaccination to travel to some parts of the world, the needles aren't fun but the places you will go are. Only in our scenario the place is Canberra in a post-election Parliament. 

It emerged after nearly an hour of voting and deliberating, that in fact Kevin Rudd had made is long awaited return to the top job, ousting the one, who ousted him! 45- 57, by no means a landslide but a win is a win right? The tables have finally turned, and after years (we can say that right?!) of leaks and politicking, apparently Federal Labor is back on track. With the man who brought us Kevin07! Probably he will need to re-label to something more current Kevin13?  It doesn't have quite the same ring to it, but I am sure it will look just as good on a T-shirt and a poster and a stubby holder and a cap and as a Facebook picture and a ... Well you get the picture. Anthony 'Albo' Albanese was elected Deputy Prime Minister and a range of quasi cabinet appointments i am sure will follow. I say quasi appointments because in the not to distant future there will be an election (sooner if Abbott had anything to do with it) and who knows what will happen now! 

Julia Gillard has copped a lot of flack since she assumed the prime ministership in 2010 some justified and some seriously quite petty. One this is certain, she will go into the history books for a range of reasons. 

Looking back over the day, there is one thing I am not too sure about, and that is the reasoning behind Bob Katter coming out to the media,and professing his unwavering support for his BFF Kevin Rudd. We all know that Rudd and Katter are friends, but I don't recall any Members of Parliament (other than from the Coalition) ever coming out forcefully supporting an alternative Labor member (not the PM) for the leadership.  The language he used, of " no one is driving the ALP bus" and that "Julia Gillard can not control the party any longer'' was almost like he was hoping a spill would going to happen for the sake of his friend. The only difference between Katter and Crean, is that Katter would not (or could not) be dealt any punishment by the party as he is an Independent. A friend helping a friend, and not even making the ultimate political sacrifice in the process. Yes Katter did say was going against his party in doing so, but when you create a party, who is to say you can't go against yourself?

All I can say with certain is two things. 1) the word BREAKING: is now no longer relevant when discussing Australian Politics - especially after a day like today, and 2) That tomorrow will be just as crazy, given the Lower House in parliament has one more day of sitting. 

Baaa Baaa, but I am NOT a sheep.

I haven't written in over a month! Golly Wolly!! Why, you may ask? Suddenly have I lost the ability to type on my little iPad keyboard? Lost the will to live? (Almost, but no), No I have been dreading my next blog post because I do not want to become a sheep. Baa Baa. 

In the week after budget week, political commentators, journalists and nerds were talking about the governments need to administer an aggressive legislative agenda, as there were only 4 more parliamentary sitting weeks before the Federal Election in September. Important debates on policy were promised, and, like a misguided fool, I believed them. Wonderful I thought four glorious weeks in which the media, the journalists I look up to, and the public will be captivated by the magnitude of political debates on offer. But no, the next week Kevin07 came out in favor of Gay Marriage, and that in itself triggered another round of leadership speculation. When would the Prime Minister be out of a job? Would it be hours, days, or a week? Shock horror, she, after another month, is still in her job.  

Honestly, the Abbott Coalition must be sleeping easier, knowing the biggest threat to the government, and the prime minister come from within the party. I am currently re-reading Mungo MacCallum's How to be a megalomaniac (or, advice to a young politician),  and a quote about enemies, frighteningly resembles the ALP and the position Julia Gillard is currently in. "A newcomer took his place in the House and looked across the chamber. 'There they are,' he breathed. 'The enemy.'  An old hand sitting nearby smiled sardonically: 'No son, that's the opposition. The enemy are the ones sitting all around you.' The sad part about the current situation, is that, one only needs to think, let alone say the words 'leadership spill' and it becomes the mainstream media's front page news for the next week. That being said however, at the moment, Kevin Rudd just needs to leave his house in the morning, for him to be apparently 'contesting the prime ministership'. 

My, my how far have we fallen. One of the sad parts about watching the ABC's documentary on Gough Whitlam, is that I can see how much as changed in the way of political discourse. No longer, do we have question times, where the questions aren't rehearsed or predictable. Already, we know the Coalition will ask questions on: The carbon Tax, the budget 'black hole'  and either try to get a no confidence motion passed, or play with standing orders until Speaker Burke tells everyone to shut it or get lost.  

I do not want to be a sheep when it comes to political matters, but the way I see it, at the moment you are either a sheep (being disgruntled with the stupidity of federal politics) or an emu with its head in the sand. You are either shaking you head at the lack of any substance in the political sphere, or don't give a dam and plan to donkey vote, come Election Day. Neither of which, are options I like.  So instead, I am re reading the 2013-14 federal and state budget papers - a fun alternative really. 

I am mad, at the fact I can not turn on my tv / open a newspaper (or my iPad for online news) and find that, since the last time I looked, the government have come to a real, working compromise with the <insert: Greens, Coalition or Independents> on <insert issue here>. I am mad that it feels like every blog post I now read, is about one of three things, 1) Leadership speculation 2) Someones disdain with mainstream media and the way in which they report 3) Kim Kardashian's pregnancy (and apparent baby girl). Why are they my three options. 

From all reports, the 2010 Federal Election was one of the worst elections ever, and produced what the Leader of the Opposition claims is the worst government in the history of governments, but what about the 2013 election? If the last two and then some years have been anything to go on, the coming election may be even worse! Perhaps not in terms of a government at the end (polls show am almost landslide for the Coalition), but in terms of an election campaign, this one looks set to be as crappy as they come. The more ridiculous the better.  

And so, with so little time remaining before the election, (I have already received my first round of election propaganda!!) I beg people to stop engaging in the crap (cough, I mean leadership speculation/ politician bickering) that is engulfing our news, and care about making a difference in someone's life. A favored quote of mine is, "courage is not the absence of fear, but rather, the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, the the cautious do not live at all." Let us all be brave and have the courage take a stand against what is right. Life is short and we all are too busy to care as to whether or not Kevin07 will run again for the ALP leadership. If he does yay. If not, who cares. Focus on the tangible and with a bit of luck the 'scratchy feel' politics has, according to Annabel Crabb, will dissipate.