tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post2001407578616791733..comments2023-12-01T11:40:00.045+11:00Comments on Dikkii's Diatribe: Keeping your member "local"Dikkiihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-85710273829122260382010-07-25T18:34:03.307+10:002010-07-25T18:34:03.307+10:00I agree that the policy coverage in the media need...I agree that the policy coverage in the media needs to be stronger. Reducing everything to a popularity contest is the sign of a lazy media, and I think ours is certainly quite bad.<br /><br />It might also be that a lot of people genuinely do know how the system works, but unfortunately I've spoken to well more than a statistical sample over the years that consider that the local candidates are purely incidental to getting their preferred leader into the top job. These people, incidentally, will probably be the first to complain when someone is rolled mid term.<br /><br />I suspect that my version of events is borne out in reality as well. I heard a story of an independent who was standing somewhere in Queensland last election. Said candidate apparently did lots for a few local sports clubs and was active in one of the commercial clubs - Rotary, Lions, Apex or something like that. Liberal / National / ALP candidate parachutes in and with saturation advertising, win the seat. <br /><br />This happens all round the country and in these cases, I see no evidence to suggest that the local voters are aware that their member is meant to represent THEM, just the number corresponding to the how-to-vote card of their choice.<br /><br />Not convinced, and with good reason.Dikkiihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-26115374116530360042010-07-25T14:40:59.120+10:002010-07-25T14:40:59.120+10:00Is it that a lot of people don't understand ho...Is it that a lot of people don't understand how voting works or does it just suit politicians and the media to reduce coverage to a popularity show. <br /><br />Where is the reporting that compares the policy's of the major parties. I think we have a situation where we have our attention focussed on a two horse race for us, actually thinking about policies is too hard, much easier and possibly more inline with human behavior to reduce it to "who do I like the best" and which candidate do I want to back so I can perceive myself to be on the winning team.<br /><br />I am not sure that education is the problem - unless you are a first time voter you've seen it all before, you know you don't vote for Julia if she's not in you electorate. I think the process goes more like, hmm I like Julia who do I have to back so he gets in. Hence the uproar over Rudd being shifted, people saw him as Labor and have some personal investment in him being in the top job.Sean Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14485575602984697926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-79109534620050374102010-07-23T17:24:17.630+10:002010-07-23T17:24:17.630+10:00Oh yes and agree - vote below the line.
Do you, p...Oh yes and agree - vote below the line.<br /><br />Do you, perchance, live in a marginal seat? Jagajaga is a totally safe ALP seat.Dikkiihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-74539226592595058462010-07-23T17:22:17.092+10:002010-07-23T17:22:17.092+10:00Thanks Blamer.
To be fair, I probably have receiv...Thanks Blamer.<br /><br />To be fair, I probably have received the odd thing in the mail from Macklin, although I'm more likely to have received stuff in the mail from my state MP, Steve Herbert.<br /><br />Naturally, like most Australians, I only pay attention at election time.Dikkiihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-35192300223695729512010-07-23T17:09:03.028+10:002010-07-23T17:09:03.028+10:00Nicely said.
Your local electorate is deathly qui...Nicely said.<br /><br />Your local electorate is deathly quiet. Meanwhile my incumbent ceaselessly bombards letterboxes all year round. Alas it's mostly political advertising - rarely communitee notices or surveys. Never specific requests for submissions on a particular issue.<br /><br />Advertising works. And it is advertising that the major parties (only) can well afford.<br /><br />Election time looms so the major parties parade their choice policies around, but those issues don't coincide with the issues that I care most about.<br /><br />Oh how I long for an independant website that simply lists all my local candidates with what they've done and their position on the issues that I care about.<br /><br />Vote below the line.Blamer ..noreply@blogger.com