state election ramblings

[erilyn]

Translation for non-Australians: our Liberal party are the Conservatives. Don't ask me, I just live here.

Maybe it's because I don't watch much tv (that isn't downloaded or on Foxtel), but while I've heard a lot of state election related stuff on the news, I've see very little tv advertising, and if you went by campaigning and local advertising, you wouldn't know there was an election on. But I live in an incredibly safe seat - my lower house vote doesn't count at all, at the state or federal level. I don't even think there's a VOTE [MEMBER'S NAME] outside his house (he lives nearby).

I hate living in a safe seat, no one (from either party) tries to bribe us with infrastructure spending etc.

I may have to forgive the Greens for their call at a previous state election to vote as a protest against Howard government policies, specifically the Iraq war (if I recall correctly). This massively pissed me off, not because I agree with the Howard govt or am a big Liberals supporter, but because I object to making a STATE election about FEDERAL issues. There's more than enough important issues at this level. But I do so dislike both major parties, and I like quite a few of the Greens' policies. Though I don't want our local member to actually lose - he's one of the better less bad people in his party, IMO.

Of course, the most important thing about election day is what sausage sizzles/cake stalls my old primary school (where I vote) will hold on the day. Mmmmm.

Ack, gotta go to an economics lecture.

Comments

[vaudevilles.livejournal.com]

Being caught up in safe seat machinations are boring and not condusive to caring about politics.

I find the state/federal system very strange. But then we do two votes one for electorate and one for party so I do feel like at least one of my votes counts. And that's just as weird a system I guess.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

We vote twice, one for lower house (which is where the seat is safe and therefore feels like a wasted vote), and one for the upper house, which is done statewide and therefore the vote can do something :)

[vaudevilles.livejournal.com]

Ah. Getting it now. Every country seems to vote differently, which is cool, but confusing.

[lydia-petze.livejournal.com]

TBH, I didn't mind the mixing of state and federal issues last time around, because I would sooner vote for Satan than a Liberal anyway. I also think it's a potential issue this time around because Debnam is being damn quiet on the subject of whether or not he's going to surrender control of state public service jobs over to Howard - and that has me bloody worried.

I also live in a safe seat, but god, they're going crazy up here thanks to the Bryce Gaudry/Jodi McKay issue, and I am OVER it.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

But IR's an issue of relevance, it overlaps. Say, like water policy, with the current plans to federally manage the Murray-Darling.

The freaking Iraq war (which is what they were referencing)? How can that be relevant on a state level? Pissed me off :)

[lydia-petze.livejournal.com]

This is probably awfully parochial and one-eyed of me, but I *do* lump the Conservative bastards in together, if for no other reason than principle. If they choose to be evil, I choose to not give them a chance of any sort. I apologise for nothing! :-D

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

It's just such a misleading tactic, and that's the sort of politicking I hate. I'm less biased in a way - cause I dislike all the political parties for something ;)

The Libs must really be mourning Brogden's meltdown now. If they still had him (and he hadn't turned out to be an idiot), they might actually be effective competition for Labor (and for a Lib, he was quite socially progressive on a number of issues). Wonder if they'll dump Debnam straight after the election, or wait for a year?

[lydia-petze.livejournal.com]

But see, they can politick all they like, my vote isn't going to change.

It's all the other idiots out there who are actually swayed by Today Tonight stories that are the worry, but they're going to be morons no matter what the parties say, imo.

[qotfu.livejournal.com]

Word, sister!
Did you see my post about the march and concert?

[lydia-petze.livejournal.com]

I did! I'll have to see what my schedule's like, but I'd love to put in an appearance.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I guess I just wanted to hold the Greens up to a better standard than the main parties. I have been impressed by them refusing to back down over harm-minimisation approach to drugs, despite the outright lies that have been said about their policy.

[charliequinn.livejournal.com]

My Mum worked at a State School, so she was very, very anti Kennett. Her husband wouldn't let her put up Labour posters in the yard (he's a swinging voter), so she went down the house down the street, under cover of darkness, and ripped out all their Kennett posters. To this day, she still calls that place, "The House of Horrors".

She also cried tears of joy when Kennett was voted out ::G::

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

See, people actually putting posters up in their yards is such a foreign concept around here!

[charliequinn.livejournal.com]

I guess because Kennett was such a strong personality - and I guess because we Melbournians do like to argue ::G::

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I'm sure elsewhere in Sydney there must be empassioned people *g*.

[proteinscollide.livejournal.com]

Maybe it depends who you are and where you are. One of the little old ladies I work with - and I should warn here that all the people at work are Liberal voters, it's been really painful because I've had actual conversations where they talk about how awesome John Howard and/or Alan Jones is *retch* - actually went to her local Liberal guy and told him they could put posters on her lawn (it's a safe Labour seat) and is awfully happy about it. *sigh*

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

By "around here" I meant my general area, not the whole of Sydney, I've certainly seen them elsewhere. We're just a bloody apathetic lot, clearly *g*.