I don’t know if you heard, but there’s an election on tomorrow. Malcolm and Bill want you to be ‘careful’. Don’t listen to them. Have some fun.
I know a lot of people have probably missed it, but there’s an election on tomorrow.
I know right? Who would have known?
I think this will have to go down as one of the blandest elections of recent times. That’s seems to be the general consensus. It’s a total yawn fest.
And what’s missing? Where’s all that sparkle gone? Where’s the razz-a-mataz and the glitter?
I’ll tell you what the missing ingredient is:
Hate.
Elections have become a vicious business in Australia. And personally vicious. Think of the personal hate directed at Abbott, Rudd and Gillard.
No one’s saying Turbull is a baby-hating onion eater. No one’s threatening to roll Shorten up in a bag and dump him at sea.
(Well, no one worth listening to.)
And what happens? Do we welcome a more mature debate and a return to policies over presidential personalities?
Nope. We switch off. Bo-oring. We complain about how dull the whole show is. We want to see the contestants breaking down in hissy fits and throwing chairs. Not all this budget blah blah blah.
(Not that that will stop us blaming the politicians for taking the country down the gurgler afterwards.)
Personally, I’m glad there’s been a bit of a duller tone to things. It was getting a little ugly there for a while. There’s was a lot of serious anger and venom on both sides. A lot of it totally de-hinged from reality. I was worried that this was the way of the future. Just endless swipes and bitching and bomb-threats on Canberra’s Got Talent.
Thankfully though, we’ve got a dull election on out hands.
Of course this raises the danger that people start getting a little creative with their votes. If the whole business hasn’t been polarised around two figures, there’s an opportunity to broaden the view and see who else is on the ticket.
What a dangerous, dangerous idea.
Turnbull used Brexit as an opportunity this week to remind people that they’re servants to a two party system, and if they don’t want the kind of chaos that’s supposedly happening in Britain, then they’d better be ‘careful’ with their vote.
Shorten has also been trying to ward off the protest vote from people who actually want progressive alternatives, not just Liberal Lite.
And right on cue, the major papers have started towing the line, arguing that we need stable government, and stability comes with a clear majority in the lower house and firm control of the senate. So we should be ‘careful’.
Seriously, get stuffed.
How is any of that my problem?
There is an entitlement mentality in the major parties: “There’s only one question on election day, and that is, does Labor rule, or do the Liberals. That’s it. Don’t get all uppity and start voting for minor parties or independents.
It just gets confusing. And don’t you see how dangerous that is? When the major parties are confused about who’s in charge?”
Too right I see how dangerous that is and bring it on. I’m totally willing to get a little ‘careless’ with my vote. I’m willing to get reckless even. I’m willing to piss it up against the wall in a jubilant spree of democratic freedom.
There is absolutely nothing that says the major parties are entitled to my vote. Nothing. If the idea of a representative democracy holds, then I should be voting for whoever I feel best represents my interests. If that’s the Small Fluffy Dog Lovers Party, then so be it.
If that creates problems in the way the major parties are then able to dictate policy to the rest of the country, then so what? That means there’s a problem with the system. It means we don’t have a system that can fully work with individual and free expression.
It DOES NOT mean that there is a problem with the people and that people should be more ‘careful’ and only vote Liberal or Labor.
It looks more and more to me like we’ve outgrown the system. Because, ironically enough, reality TV has given us a taste of democracy.
Imagine The Voice running 10 finalists, and at the end of the night, you only got two phone numbers to vote for. And you were told what those two were and that you had better be ‘careful’.
Vote now and win a car!
No way. People know what democracy’s like now. They wouldn’t wear it.
But we’re being asked to wear it tomorrow. And if the system delivers outcomes that aren’t neat, then the people are to blame.
Seriously, News Corp, Fairfax, you can take that idea and stick it right up your back pages.
Right now, the system and the people are in conflict. Something’s got to give. The media and the major parties hope that it’s the people.
I hope it’s the system.
So let’s take it to breaking point. Get a little wild with your vote. I’m not saying waste it by drawing a cock and balls on the ballot paper or not researching who your candidates are and what they’re about.
But vote for whoever floats your boat. Vote for the Bank Reform Party or the Help End Marijuana Party if you feel they’ve got your back (and they’re not just a funnel for the major parties… ok, there is a bit of work here. But no one said democracy was easy.)
And let the senate be messy. Let us have 76 Senators from 76 different parties. Let it be a vigorous and heated debate of ideas (like democracy was supposed to be), not just a formulaic rehashing of party-lines.
And when they come back and say, ‘tsk, tsk, look at the mess you’ve made, you naughty voters,’ say ‘yes, looks like the system needs an upgrade. Let’s talk about that.’
Just don’t let lecture me about being careless.
Seriously though, enjoy your vote folks. It may be an imperfect and limited taste of democracy, but it still something denied to many. We’re still the lucky country in a lot of ways.
Are you feeling same as me about this election?
Do you expect much to change, regardless who gets in?
steve says
The Uk result was great, Trump is waking up America an the 2 party’s are in for a shock.
For the first time Pauline has my vote in the senate.
Jonny Mew says
Who wrote this? Best newsletter yet! We actually need a serious change in the system in this country and this article sums it up nicely (:>! Love it! Thankyou P.S yes we all need to get a little more engaged in politics but in a constructive way to drive the changes we want to see!
David says
Interesting Jon. I was planning on writing ‘None of the Above’ on my green paper but a cock and balls sounds like much more fun with the same effect. Thanks!
Hugh says
The Libs, Labor and Greens need blood noses for reducing/cancelling 341,000 part pensions from next January, and retrospective restricting and extra taxing superannuation. Aged care is being slashed. Retirees will be hit hard, despite paying taxes and supporting others for over 50 years. What a horrible way to treat ageing Australians!
Jac says
I hear your pain Hugh and i have friends screaming about pension cuts and living week to week. But unfortunately the world has changed and pensions are a huge privilege that many countries dont have. Working and paying tax for 50 years provided benefits and services for you then, it wasnt a savings plan or guarantee for your future. Thats why we have superannuation. We need to manage this expectation of being looked after in our retirement by the govt. The govt cant afford to increase it with an ever increasing aging population. Its the hard facts. Maybe they expect us to go back to yesteryear when our kids supported us!
Hugh says
In the 1970s when today’s retirees were well into working and planning for retirement, they were assured of full pensions at 60 for women and 65 for men, with means tests only on the medications. Subsequently the governments introduced superannuation to eventually be at 12% for 35 years to replace pensions which would remain for the shortfall. Now this is being wound back. The GFC severely damaged many retirement savings. And a poor-man’s $550K investment property in outer Sydney where excessive values have pushed the median to $1M will now mean the total loss of all pension for a single person despite a gross rental of only $300pw, which becomes closer to $200pw after expenses. Selling would incur high fees and CGT, but eventually they would regain access to the pension. Responsible planning for a comfortable retirement has been ruined for many, and the government has abandoned them.
Tom says
Despite never watching any ‘Reality TV’, I also favour voting for thinkers rather than party machines.
‘Left’ & ‘Right’ mean absolutely nothing since the end of the cold war.
The resurgence of democratic thought among ‘the masses’ is so refreshing. The party machines, in their death throes, just cannot understand what is happening – how ‘disobedience’ has arrived out of left field. Little did they expect that the Democratic Party would be the harbinger of such an endemic demand for the right of the people to have their voices heard.
The Parties’ propensity for having ‘Presidential’ elections is hopefully a thin of the past. Since the mad monk’s captain’s calls, ‘consensus’ policy making has become more widely expected.
Whichever group dominates the Lower House, the Senate – the States’ House – will have to be convinced that the legislation is for the betterment of the people, not just of the proponent party’s ideological aims. Lady Julia, the most underrated leader we’ve had in living memory, showed how to go about it. She had to reach consensus in both Houses, for every piece of legislation. She was ahead of her time. The parliamentarians, led by our most efficient Opposition Leader and his lackeys in the media did their darnedest to tear her down, throwing logic and truth to the winds, because she did not fit their ‘Presidential’ image.
Indy says
That’s right Jon. I’ve been ranting on about going the extra mile and actually finding out who and what the prospective members are. I mean, when we are standing around a bar in a pub or around the bbq with our mates, everybody is complaining, whinging and whining. The problem I see is that we have had it so good for so long we all seem to take the “she’ll br right mate” attitude. But it ain’t right and our lackadaisical attitude towards voting is now biting us on the ass. There’s no denying that we have had it good here in Australia. No real political turmoil, no wars, no uprisings, we pay out taxes, we muddle through a lot of shit that the government invents for us to plough through (gives the public servants something to do) but the distance from all the real drama of the world has made us soft, we take the soft options. But now things are changing. Social media has a number of new young players game enough to put their hand up to be considered. We need the young generation. They are the ideas people. It may not happen in this election but I think it will the next one. Its happeneing in the rest of the world right now. We have got a bunch of old farts who are so out of touch with todays reality its almost embarassing. I wish tomorrow would be blunderbusses at ten paces. So yeah, what a dull and boring and predictable election this has been. But guys, we put them in there when we didn’t question the voting system. This is all about treating us like mushrooms and hitting us with figures that are created in never never land to keep us confused and hopefully led to the ballot box with the threat of a fine and a 50:50 chance of either tweedle dee or tweedle dumm.
Adam Wallace says
How do you know who really has your back though? There’s two huge glaring issues. 1.pollies are renown for making all kinds of promises before the elections only to fizzle out or plain turncoat on those promises after they get into power… the list is as long as my arm… (pretty sure when GST came in Stamp duty was to be ousted.. for example). 2. one part policy may seem to suit you and represent what you want in the country… yet another policy could be the exact opposite. Just leaves me feeling conflicted… Yes progress sounds good…better legislation my business on the one hand comes at the expense of my sons education or my father’s pension / super. Are we to all just serve only ourselves or do we look at the bigger picture of what may be good for the future of all of us? 76 parties would probably be best… ongoing referendums on the big topics would also be a more accurate measure of what the majority want. Unfortunately the system is pure “Nanny”… we know what’s best for you… “you uneducated plebs don’t know what’s good for you and can’t be expected to vote for what’s best”… Of course it’s hard to know what’s really going on and how we should vote in any referendum if we are constantly bombarded with misinformation, lies and propaganda by fully government sponsored media.
ron says
good stuff!!..but don’t we just pay taxes to finance a professional association of ‘hit men’ collectively called politicians, and then complain about corruption in government and other nasty things? what difference is there between kings, presidents, primeministers etc.? they are all our ‘leaders’. do we need leaders? (silly question) but leadership in a democratic way.
remember abraham lincoln.. a paragon of virtue. hmm .lets see what really happened : his presidential platform was slave reform(abolishment) but the morgans wanted to build a network of railway lines through to new orleans from new york. big problem..
“all those damn cotton farmers want too much for their land..far too much. so lets get a stooge president (not unlike bush jnr) and get a war going between north and south. the north will win of course and we get the land for free..as we will in the wild west” (refer the ‘indian solution’)
you see over half of the union states had already agreed to abolishment of slavery and the other half were ‘on the way’. so how can a war be fought over slavery? easy, winners write history the way they want. pres lincoln then decided that over 700,000 dead was too much for him and he was gonna confess everything. so now we get the normal scenario from the ‘boys’..get rid of him. and they did in the traditional way of usa presidents who get assassinated. in virgin australia..(we haven’t had an assassination yet), we will ‘vote’ for progress, good economy, sound government and a good life for all..bill and malcolm will deliver of course, right up until midnight 2nd july. cheers, ron
Ian says
If you are serious about investing and improving your financial position – how could you possibly vote labor who want to change negative gearing, tax superannuation above a certain income and increase capital gains tax. These are the very things that help people become self funded retirees – and we all know that no government can fund the pensions for 5.2 million baby boomers who are currently aged 51 to 71…Labor want to dip into the piggy bank of everyone’s super.
ZB says
If I think only of what I want, then yes I want negative gearing. Yep, it would help me financially.
However, when I think of what is good for the country then I have to say no.. negative gearing to me is like tax breaks for the wealthy, and also middle class, but mainly for the wealthy. It is like some kind of middle class welfare. We don’t need it to keep our economy strong, nor can we sensibly neglect the impact it has on the budget.
If they took those billions from scrapping negative gearing and used it to increase funding for health care and to reduce the retirement age then I would be happy. Don’t want to work 9-5 mon-fri until I drop dead thank you very much.
If negative gearing goes people will continue to invest in property, but the game will change that’s all. Existing owners will still be able to negative gear their old properties btw so they are safe..
Lilly James says
I”m ashamed to say that for many years I didn’t vote. I now realise, as a woman, how lazy and disrespectful that was to the suffragettes who fought for my right to do so. I don’t believe that there will be much change following this election, but I do think there is a growing realisation of the power our votes have. It isn’t easy to trust any politician as they all seem break some promises along the way and dazzle us with bullshit when they are caught out. Having already given it lots of thought I had decided not to vote with either of the two big parties, but to “mix it up a bit”, and reading your column, Jon, has been like a breath of fresh air and made me feel ok about following my gut. Thanks Jon, you bring a smile to my face every Friday, love your work.
ZB says
Yep, the idea that you have to vote for one of two parties is completely bunk – it is what they want you to believe, but it is rubbish. In fact it is the opposite of the truth, the reality is that the minor parties get the swing vote, and big parties have to negotiate with them, and THAT means they have more power. THAT is what scares them.
Tara Tate says
Bloody brilliant! The Animal Justice Party sounds good to me. Hope the Senate is a multi coloured rainbow so the lunatics can’t keep running the asylum. Hope the Senate is even worse for Turnbull than before – temper tantrum double dissolution be damned. Time for all people to have a voice, not just the 1%. Last time I checked that was the meaning of democracy
Clay Sparkes says
I really enjoy the way you think Jon…thank you
KatM says
Enough of vacillating bilateral dictatorships! Our parliament needs more diversity to reflect the multitude of views. We live in a society and environment but they keep boring us with some mantra of Jobs and growth. They don’t mean growing more trees now, do they? Putting people first? In selfies or on chopping blocks? Imagination is the limit and the major parties have none; they make even less sense. We need direct participatory democracy or voluntary voting so people have a choice whether to vote or not, in case they don’t care about how they’re treated by the public service system.
Tommy says
It looks as though the puppet of the top end of town is ready to continue disappointing us all and wrecking our health system at their behest.
In order to avoid getting into a position where one needs to avail oneself of the services of the pawns of big pharma’s sickness industry, may I offer a few suggestions to all the thoughtful people who relish Jon’s blogs?
1 – Make your diet as close to natural as possible. All our biological systems were developed millions of years ago, before fire was used in food preparation.
2 – Counter-cultural it may appear, but urine therapy is far superior to taking drugs. Big pharma has spent billions on researching it in various disease situations; but their exploitations require the patenting of individual chemicals. So the enormous array of benefits of urine therapy are kept from us the public.
If the practice appears dubious, or unhealthy, just consider that the first purification of blood coming from around the intestines is carried out by the liver, which removes all undesirable materials. The kidneys then maintain homeostasis by shunting any excesses into the bladder.
The 70+ year old Mr Moraji Desai, PM of India used to practice ‘Shivambu’ as the practice is known there.
Their custom is to drink a glass of mid-stream urine first thing in the morning, after the brain chemicals generated during sleep have been partially filtered out. However more recent studies have shown that a feww drops under the tongue is equally effective. So take your pick.
Personally, I have found that a few drops under the tongue has recently been more effective than pain killers when I have had frightful tooth aches.
It may be consoling to realise that just a few hours earlier, your urine was part of your life-giving blood.
Animals lick the urine drops from their neighbours. They instinctively know what is good for them.
Unless you have a urinary tract infection, your urine is sterile. Lawrence of Arabia recounts how wounded Arabs used the sterile urine of pre-pubescent boys to wash their wounds.
Just Google the subject or borrow books from your library on the subject.
3. – For any viral, bacterial or other microbial infection, zapping with radio frequency low voltages, as promoted by Dr Bob Beck will rid your body of even the most difficult infections. Once again do you own research.
Although I have no medical training and cannot recommend any treatment, I recommend that you do your own research and due diligence. I have personally found that they work and hope you will find the same. How does the Queen keep so healthy? She has advisers who are not slaves of big pharma.
If our Government had the balls to buck the multinatioinals and investigate these matters in a genuine, unbiased scientific research, they could save billion$ from the budget – but don’t hold your breath!!!
Andrew says
Not sure how Jon’s blog got side tracked with this waffle but if you reckon it’s good for you then go for it…. just don’t preach your “religion” to everyone…..
Tommy says
Andrew, Sorry if you are offended.
If open your mind and your eyes to realities, you will find that there is a wealth of amazing wisdom which the vested interests try to keep from us, because their prime aim is to make money from our misery.
By the way, my ‘religion’ is agnosticism, based on years of biology studies and inquiring into other people’s thoughtful research, in a wide array of fields. Hanging onto the security blanket of conformity to the ‘keep your head down’ precepts of the anti-tall-poppy brigade is a very poor substitute for being adventurous.
My recent benefits from urine therapy has me motivated to spread the good news. If just one other person improves the quality of their life, or prolongs it, as a result of my goading, this extension of Jon’s efforts to improve the lives of his readers will have been justified. Too many people go through life following the ‘How To Vote’ cards handed out by big pharma and other vested interests, like the banks and propagated by their puppets in the media. Try positive gearing more aspects of life. It’s wonderfully liberating!!!
Peter says
Way ahead of you Jon. I spent half a day looking at all the other minor parties, their policies and their candidates on the white senate form. In the end I voted early and numbered 1 – 14 under 7 different parties that ‘floated my boat’. I did it, because like you Jon, I believe the system is broke. I also did something I have never done before. I left the green form blank because I didn’t like any of the parties and their policies – mainly due to the lazy policy on negative gearing, where they think it is alright to introduce blanket reforms that hurt the Mum and Dad investor. Going after every investor, rather than targeting the high end of town that still use negative gearing and where most of the billions would be saved, is just plain wrong. I can see that this might become a regular occurrence, if the ‘system’ does not change.