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Many of us vote based on our own selfish and immediate needs. The bigger issues that will come to affect our day to day living, freedom, privacy and quality of life are so much more important than domestic and immediate issues. If we continue to think short term and only about our own immediate needs we might one day lose the right to vote and have our say and (ironically) it will be because over time the majority effectively voted for this loss of rights.
I am scared silly these days by people who vote the way they always have. Parties evolve or regress or turn themselves inside out, so one should evaluate who one is going to vote for based on current information.
Seriously, it's just plain dumb (in my opinion) to pick a party when you first vote and then never change it. Worse still are those people who vote a particular way because that's what their family has always done. One day, I'll find the sheep-path story and stick it on the sit or link to it to demonstrate how dumb this concept is. Tradition is not bad on it's own, nor is doing things they way they've always been done... if it's still the best way to do them... but never even taking time to find out about other options nor giving them due consideration just makes you stupid and small minded.
NOTE: a few typos have been corrected, and perhaps a few added as well as one or two links added to my orignal email text. The responses to my original email are as I received them with no spelling or content changes.
I thought I'd send the message I was forwarded from Greenpeace (bottom of this email) along for your interest. Don't feel obligated to read it at all, I just thought it was kind of interesting.
My personal concerns for this election are not whether the leader of the country can manage a budget on their own (they have people to do that for them) - or for that matter any of those other pathetic ads you get on the 'getting-more-idiodic-due-to-lack-of-creative-input-and-too-much-reality television' - but more about what their leanings are on a number of macro or global issues rather than just the domestic stuff that seems to be the focus of many of their campaigns.
A lot of things lately horrify me about the country and world that I live in today. I intend to do a lot of reading and write a lot more letters as it is kind of scary where we are heading and I don't really want to think that I sat back and watched it all happen. Sadly, what many don't realise when they focus on domestic issues and give up bigger issues as oh too hard and assume that these issues do not affect them anyway is that it is these big picture issues that affect our day to day rights, freedoms and quality of life.
In particular, the things that start to boggle my mind are:
On a lighter note... Bookcrossing have declared all poll booth areas official bookcrossing zones on election day :) [more...]
M.
With the election just 2 days away, how do the environmental promises of the major parties compare?
In this election, it seems everyone wants to be a greenie! John Howard has been talking about hugging trees and Mark Latham says he's out to "save the planet".
Yet thousands of Australians know that so far, this has mostly been talk and have pushed our politicians to do more – and actually deliver better policies.
So how have the pollies responded?
Greenpeace, together with other major environment groups, has compiled a final assessment of the major parties' policies on the three key environment issues ( : tackling climate change, saving the Tasmanian forests, and restoring the Murray River. (article | comparison chart)
The results show the candidates have been forced to meet public concerns on some issues, but have a long way to go on others. It's not too late to send your message!
There's still time to tell the pollies that you're voting for the environment. here to send a message!
Read a specific summary of the politicians stand. And don't forget to consider climate change when you vote!
Authorised by Peter Mullins, 39 Liverpool St, Sydney, 2000.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific is an independent, not-for-profit campaigning organisation and does not endorse any political candidates or parties.
This email was sent by Greenpeace Australia Pacific Ltd, Authorised by Peter Mullins, 39 Liverpool St, Sydney, 2000. to [email address removed]
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You should be doing my course at Uni - Master of Public Health....its all about globalisation, Free Trade, GATTS, Human Rights etc...you would love it. I do!a friend
I agree with your thoughts. It is pretty scary what's happening.
I think this election campaign is probably only closely rivalled by the 1975 campaign (I think they had the election very late in the year) after Whitlam was sacked 11/11/75. The mudslinging and scare-mongering is just appealing to the lowest common denominator.
From a very quick glance at the Greenpeace/ACF site it seems clear that of the major parties Labor is clearly ahead. Whilst we effectively have a two party system in this country, I believe if you are going to vote for the minor parties clear thought needs to be given to whom that party's preferences are going. Having said that, It is incredibly important to ensure the minor parties have representation in the Senate to...as the Democrats first said under Chipp...Keep the bastards honest"!
Happy Election Day! I am going to a "after wine show recovery party" at sone "lefty friends of mine tomorrow and an election party at another friends' place. They will noth have lots of people there who share all of your concerns! Hopefully we can celebrate a change, I think at least the "thinkers" are wanting a change too! Hope you have a good weekend a friend
[The number of books and web resources on most of these topics are numerous and quite easy to find]