Federal Election 2007

Disgusting how fast the visual pollution that is candidate posters were plastered all over the place...

Just realised our next door neighbour is the labour candidate for this area.

Still wont get my vote though.

Hehe

What seat are you in?

I live in Mile End.

Doesnt really make any difference. I'll be wasting my vote anyway.

No, the fact that their campaigns are already turning to how much money they are going to save the poor man each week, are really pissing me off!!! They spend millions on campaigning and they know all they have to do is convince the average joe that he'll be better off financially they could win.

yeah its frigging retarded. i hate their massive amounts of blabbing on about how bad the OTHER group is, instead of talking themselves up. even Howard's line yesterday,' Love me or loathe me, I am the man who is best for the job' made me think, u have to be kidding! Is this what it comes down to???

They get all their policies out there but when it comes down to it, it turns into a popularity contest. And no matter who wins, half of the policies they tried to win people over with, will never see the light of day.

OH GOD how I loathe him!

I really hope he does not get re-elected. He only changed his views on reconciliation to get re-elected... it's bullshit. There is NO WAY IN HELL he should be running our country.

Well, Howard is right. Of course it comes down this!

YOU might disagree, I might disagree, the whole of Australia might disagree, and that's why we get to vote.

But at the end of the day it comes down to who we think is best for the job.

And pilling shit on the other person in part of shaping that perception. It's whether we choose to believe it or not that matters.

I think what Anna is getting at is that election campaigns should be more about parties saying "you should vote for us because we are going to do the following" rather than "don't vote for the other guy because they are bad". The latter is how this campaign feels like it will roll, which is unfortunate.

I'm voting for Rudd only coz I fucking hate Howard

And OMG, all the junk mail thats filling up my letterbox is crap!

Before the last election the Democrats offered free letterbox stickers saying "No political advertising". I think ours must have worn off cause we're getting tons of crap as well.

 

and note how the libs smear campaign is in ernest.
rudd was slammed for not knowing the top marginal tax threshold (though downer didnt know it either) and today howard got the current RBA cash interest rate wrong. eat shit howie.
 

From play political...http://playpolitical.typepad.com/australian_general_electi/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQdVJL2CO9o

Thats a fantastic rap, HAHAHA!

sick of hearing about the election already

I got some crap in the mail from Tracy Marsh (Liberal candidate for Adelaide) today. You're not getting my vote lady!

That fucking slut! What a ho!


Anyway you couldn't vote for anyone else when you've got Kate Ellis in your electorate... 

 

I have such a crush on her. Sex on legs! And only five years older than me too...

Not long now Katie my sweet, not long now. we'll be together soon.


*edit* fuck. just found out she's engaged.

 

 Everyone in my old house vote for her for that reason as well

 

So you both dislike Rudd, but for opposite reasons

Personally, I'm voting Rudd because Howard is just lining his and his mates pockets.
We can hope that Rudd might start to change some of that, hope...

Woot, I knew that just never got around to it.  Thanks for reminding me, all signed and sent.

Yih haaaa no more voting more me, I am now de-enrolled.  May not re register when I get back to Aus either. For me there's no point, i have no interest in politics any way so never know who to vote for.

for a second i thought you were referring to John Howard.

I mean Kevvy is a bit of a knob, but under the Macquarie Dictionary definition of untrustworthy cunt is this entry:

thats my plan

Why should trust have anything to do with it???

I don't trust any of them to do any good for me, or you, or 90% of Australians.

Their main concern is to bring higher profits for those who really run the country - the 10% with all the wealth. Everything else is secondary to this concern.

I trust both Liberal and Labor to be able to do that, because they're set up in such a way to facilitate that no matter which party is in power and who is leading that party.

"Trust" is a marketing invention made up by the political parties respective PR groups to fool you into voting for their respective leaders. You've been suckered if you actually believe anyone is trustworthy or not.

I'm not voting for either major party so neither Rudd or Howard are of any real concern to me anyway.

That said, I'm pretty happy with where Australia is right now so If I was to choose one over the other I'd still take Howard. I despise unions and everything they stand for so as long as labour have some connection to that side of things I'm never going to vote for them.

thats the dumbest excuse i have ever heard to vote rudd

I mean yeh vote for who you want but that excuse is dumb. The PM of Australia does not make much money at all. He fkn runs the country dude. The WHOLE economic country, internal and external economic decisions . If you worked in government and had the faintest idea how much work he actually (or any PM whatever party they are in) for what they actually get compared to senior bank execs around australia you would then realise he doesnt get paid much at all. The PM gets an accountable salary, and if you were making some of the decisions or the head honcho, then yeh you would have the right to make that much too.

In government, the top positions do not get paid enough if you ask me. thats why they get shitter quality for politicians. If they got paid more, then more people of a higher calibre would actually work in that role.  Lets say you were a highly qualified economist, would you rather work for a bank or major corporation as an executive making millions a year (and some of them make bucketloads), or would you rather work as a fkn policitian making a measly couple of hundred bucks a year.

And as if Rudd is going to reduce his salary. If anything, it will go up a minimum of 3.5 % a year or whatever is passed through parliament. Generally that bill is passed through prett fkn quick as ALL of the politicians want a pay rise, doesnt matter what party they are in

read again Erika, he said his mates pockets.  Im sure not all of his mates are pollies, if any


The private sector give good back scratches to the goverment, Bush getting bailed out of bankruptcy 3 times or something is the biggest example of this

And that has what to do with the upcoming election?

You havent read Erikas latest post by the looks...


Ok getting a little off topic, i know

we're not the same person mate.

i'd rather have my reason than yours though, by the looks of it.

the chaser basically summed up what i thought about kevin rudd last night.

I kept filling out my change of address form for this upcoming election but they sent it back twice saying something was filled out wrong ... seeing as I'm a slack mole and didn't bother with it again, does that mean I'm still registered at my old address and I have to vote for a different council ?

Thankyou. Just like in the USA, companies contribute money (obviously not to the same degree) to their preferred candidate for campaigning and so on. In return the companies/CEO's can get some influence into some pretty major fuckin decisions. Just look at the IR laws that Howard implemented. Who benefits from these laws... the big companies!!!

So Erika, instead of just assuming you know everything about this topic (because you work in the government), try listening to other peoples opinions. You don't have to agree, but coming out and saying it is a dumb excuse is pretty fucking dumb in itself. If you really think that is the only reason why I prefer Rudd, then I'm not the dumb one here.

Here is a quote from an article about the evolution of politics in Australia...


Think about it, do you really think that things have changed that much...

Don't get me wrong, not all politicians would be like this. I'm not saying that at all... but imo, Howard is one of them!!!

And you think that they don't get paid enough?!?!?! Have you looked at their super plans and what is included in their salary packages... sorry, but a car with driver 24hrs a day would be worth quite a lot of money.

Get into political life first and set up the conditions for me to get the most out of working for a private firm...

And surprise surprise, this is what the majority of politicians actually do... Soon as they get out of politics they begin to work for the companies they helped.

Bob Carr works as an "adviser" to Macquarie Bank - the very bank he allowed to purchase toll roads and Sydney Airport. That kind of shit should be illegal.

However it did say His and his mates pockets

Im am asssuming in the english language the word His related to the PM 

Plus I didnt know you were an expert on who the PMs mates are? How do you know they arent in the liberal party. derr.

Doesn't matter if they are in the liberal party or not, its all about who they will vote for, and how they will reward the party for doing them favours

who gives a fuk about the US? we are liviing in Australia. I dont agree with people using US practices as examples of how our country is run but yeh i can see what ya saying. I truely believe that the Australian government is far more accountable and transparent than the Bush Administration. ever heard of a FOI?


AND it is a silly excuse (however i do respect wat your trying to say AND I do listen). Look at their policies and the environment surrounding you when you decide to vote. Not just because of some blaze opinion about people who are well off and who is whos mates. Thats lame IMO. (However maybe that was rude of me for saying it was "dumb". sorry bout that LOL so i changed it to silly. LOL. Its no reflection of you just me gettin on me high horse )

I mean, Im not sure who I am going to vote for yet, all I know is that I want the senate to be evened out a lil bit more, so that way bills arent passed which are controlled by the Libs. that means it is integral that Labor win more seats. Otherwise our parliamment house wil be run by one party only. Thats a fkn scarey thing.

However, one thing I dont want is a recession. And labor seem to be fkn good at bringing our country into a recession.

Now they are two good reasons that are actually significant. Not who is rich and who isnt. There will always be rich and poor.  In general, Australians at the moment, are better off than they ever have been. I know Im fkn doing alright.

And no, Im not saying that I know everything about politics, but I do have a background where I have been involved in politics/elections etc. I rather not go into it though as people arch up and judge you becos of it.

And also i have worked in areas that are politically sensitive and Ive actually seen what the Pollies get paid.

 

U sure about that?
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/07/01/1151174401719.html?from=top5

Former member reveals 'Brethren Express' money trail
Posted Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:26am AEST
Updated Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:26am AEST
A former member of the Exclusive Brethren has revealed the secretive religious sect has been transferring large sums of money across the world, possibly to fund political campaigns in Australia and the US.

In recent years Brethren leaders have met with numerous Liberal ministers, including Prime Minister John Howard.  Now ABC TV's Four Corners program has revealed that tens of thousands of dollars in Brethren cash have been transferred around the world in envelopes.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/15/2059279.htm

and that's probably just the start of it..

Scuse the double post but...

Things like inflation etc, are one thing the government needs to be aware of. Sure, a recession sucks, but look at how frustrating it is in Australia these days with the economy running full steam. Apparently, things will just get worse for the low income earner if the IMF's warnings of an inflated economy come to fruit...The parties' promises of tax cuts are just hot air, what we need is more money being spent on essential services, instead of people having more money at the end of the financial year and things being too inflatedly expensive to afford (housing, services such as transport, hospitals, education)

IMF clouds Australia election with inflation warning
Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:04am EDT
By Rob Taylor

CANBERRA (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund has been pitched into the middle of Australia's big-spending election race after it urged the government to exercise restraint to keep a cap on inflation.  Conservative Prime Minister John Howard, lagging far behind Labor's Kevin Rudd in polls ahead of the November 24 election, on Monday offered A$34 billion ($30 billion) in tax cuts in a bid to avert what opinion surveys say is near-certain defeat.

But the IMF in its latest world economic outlook said prudent financial policies and flexible exchange rates had helped underpin growth in New Zealand and Australia, where economic expansion is tipped to hit 4.25 percent in 2007-08.

"Against this background, it is important that both governments continue to exercise fiscal restraint in the period ahead," the IMF said. "The main short-term policy challenge ... continues to be to keep firm control on inflation in the face of strong domestic demand and tight labor markets."

The pre-election warning struck at the key economic plank on which conservative hopes rest, with Howard this week asking voters to recall his strong economic record and saying interest rates would always be higher under a Labor government.
More at http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSSYD33507920071018

bah i cant even be  bothered reading those posts. Thats why I usually stay out of these soap box things.  Ive said my bit, not trying to convince anyone just saying my bit. Cant be fkd 

Fuk Im too lazy

 

I am completely with you on this comment. I honestly think that both the major parties are equally incompetent. I think the best outcome in any election is a balanced senate which does what it is designed to do - moderate the bills before they're passed.

yeah! i mean the last year or so has seen some SHOCKING amendments pushed through the senate!

Fuck it. Fuck it all, and fuck this discussion, and anyone who participates.

Kill them all, distribute the wealth, give the law to the people and who ever can survive wins.

Anarchy forever!

image not archived: istockphoto_46237_symbol_anarchy.jpg

"I am an anti-christ, I am an anarchist
Don't know what I want but I know how to get it
I wanna destroy the passer by cos I

I wanna BE anarchy!"

Yeh Fuck Em!

fuck them all
Everyone is pissing me off today

Hate hate hate

Including anyone who is in government the bunch of rotten cnts.

Including my work you fkers

seriously, i have to point out what a complete and utter pile of shit youve just said!

1. when john howard was treasurer in the early 80s, interest rates were 22% while inflation and unemployment were both in double figures - he's the only treasurer to have the trifecta!
2. the economic reforms that keating set up in the 80s (floating the dollar etc etc etc) hurt initially but laid the way for the boomin economy we have now.
3. when australia was in recession in the late 80s/early 90s, the world was basically in an economic recession - wall street crashed. and for that matter, the recession only officially lasted about a year. though SA wasnt helped by a useless fucker named Tim Marcus Clarke who ran the state bank during the hyper inflated late 80s and left it with a $3 billion debt! nothing to do with paul keating...
4. in the Uk while labor has been in power here, the conservatives have been in power there and their economic situation has been pretty fucking similar...

there are so many more reasons, but the Libs have just happened to be in the right place at the right time and like to take credit where it aint due... interest rates anyone? howard says 'its me' when theyre low but 'outside factors' when they go up. note that even when interest rates were 14% under keating, housing was more affordable than it is today.




what do you call all the business groups like the ACCI etc that support the Libs, cos as far as i can see, theyre just unions for CEOs and stinking rich cunts. sure, there are wankers in unions, but peter "OMG we're all gonna die cos plebs are getting $10 a week more" hendry of the ACCI trumps them by miles.

Jayar summed it up very well. Australia is such a little country on the global scale, it really gets me that some people are dumb enough to think Howard is so good at 'managing' the economy.

I twisted part of me wants Howard to win so he show Australia what he's made of during a global stock market crash.

So... who watched the debate last night?

Rudd kicked Howard's ass. I'm not quite sure why Howard agreed to a debate, as he is shit at it... perhaps cos he knows he's going to lose the election?

I thought the debate was pretty rad, interesting to watch the "worm" as well. It was fantastic that Rudd actually answered the questions... instead of waffling on to skirt around them like Howard did.

howard has never won a debate though...

I was under the impression that he doesn't usually DO debates because he is so crap at them. Perhaps that's why he's never won one.

And you really think that if Labor was in power in the last 11 years none of that would happen???

Shall we take a look at the great Labor era and what happened back then?

Hawke and Keating began the erosion of workers rights with the wage accords...
Keating cosied up to big business and deregulated the banks...
Marbo was settled in 1988... and yet no reconciliation back then.
We had droughts during Hawke and Keating's time, and yet they did nothing back then to prevent (Edit:the impact of) future droughts...
Australia went to war in Iraq in 1990 over oil...


It's postmodernist analysis of modern post-war political theory. Daniel Bell, look him up sometime. His writings predicted the shift from manufacturing to the information age. His theories were used as a basis for the cyberpunk novels of the 1980s.

Bah, go back to reading The Communist Manifesto, I can't be fucked arguing with close minded idiots anymore.

Daniel Bell, although capable of producing theories i am strongly against, is a brilliant thinker, and incredibly important theorist. The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism is a brilliant book, as much as i disagree with some of it.

worst campaign ad ever.
its not what you say, its what you do. what the fuck do they even mean by that anyway. 
and the green peas just make it worse. wonder why they didnt they use carrots?   

chiiiillll winston

"left" & "right" are just easier descriptions to use than having to go into vagaries and details.

i know what youre saying, but thats a pretty simplistic way to frame it.
arent you the commie round here though?

http://www.howshouldivote.com.au

A website that matches your answers with the answers of the politicians in your electorate (assuming they have completed the survey)

Also has profiles of the candidates.

Good if you've got no idea who is running in your electorate - The ONLY posters I've seen around here are for Peter Costello - didn't even know there were other candidates!!!

leezee and i decided mia handshin is slightly hotter than kate ellis, we like to discuss the important issues in politics

christopher pyne's wife sent me a fucking letter the other day... what's with that... obviously he's struggling to win votes

Funny, but also informative (clip from newstopia on interest rates):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKLcLhJ7pDQ

really shows the absurdity of some of the arguments presented to us 


Slightly hotter. Slightly.

But yeah you're right. Leezee and Roost, tackling the big issues since 2000.

I watched that last night... absolutely hilarious!

Ooh countdown!

And for those fence-sitters/people bewildered about voting...And who to vote for...

How Should I Vote

i trust you guys won't be wasting your votes on the major party system.

go zenophon = keep those barstards honest in the senate

A vote for Xenophon is a vote for the (SA) people

nick xenophon seems a lil creepy to me

image not archived: JARROD_stiffler.jpg 

I know who I'm voting for anyhow, but I did the questionaire. I found it interesting when I received my card to see that both the Family First and Liberal candidates had not completed their quiz at all!

I also searched for a clip of Kevin Rudd on Rove... but I can't find it anywhere. I read a few online newspaper articles about Kevin snubbing AM radio, etc to be on Rove, FM radio and whatnot... the comments posted by some people are hilarious.

I'm really looking forward to voting on the weekend and can only hope that Howard is ousted as Prime Minister!

Nick Xenophon can suck my cock. He's a fuckhead, and moreover is responsible for getting Ann Bressington into SA State Parliament.

Do you know who Ann Bressington is?? She's got a chip on her shoulder because her daughter died of drugs.

Some of the things Bressington has done:

Introduced legislation banning the sale of "drug taking equipment" - pipes and bongs.
Tried to introduce a bill that allows random drug tests to be compulsory for every secondary student.
And she wants to raise the drinking age from 18 to 21.

Because Xenophon let her on his ticket, it means he holds the same values.

So a vote for Nick Xenophon is Federal Parliament is a vote for xenophobic reactions to drugs and those who take them.

Wake up people and do a little research into who you're going to vote for!

hes a fucking Personal Injuries claim lawyer

Shonky town!

he should go back to where he came from! Shonky town

Im going down down down to Shonky Town 

Those rules they want to bring in are a complete load of shit. Also why would I want to bring in a no pokies mp? I love the pokies. After no pokies it will be no casino and so on. All Xenophon has going for him is a few crazy stunts.

You my good man are a fucking idiot.

Proven by that statement.

I could become the next No casino MP.

That could work for me

 

the fucking casino is shit anyway. You go there on a Tuesday night and its dead. 

Skycity is a shit hole. The original casino was awesome - really nice decor and a strict dress policy. Now its just  cheap Vegas knock off with no class and a shit crowd. Burn it down.

Pokies are the single worst thing that has ever happened to this state. Nick Xenophon FTW!

Sea of pokies that place

way too many pokies not enuff tables. card tables are what make a casino

I have a pokie gaming managers licence but I still choose not to work in that field.

The casino is the reason i dont have to have a real job...as shithouse as skycity is, its all ive got...i will not have anybody running for its demise

actually it would really just mean i would move to Melbourne, but this set up means no paying shitloads of rent, which is nice

Nick Xenophon has split his preferences between the Greens and FAMILY FIRST...

Family First are evil.

I'm voting for John Howard just to spite Lexy & Trashy!

Fingers crossed he gets in by one vote.

 

they're both fucking horrid..family first are worse though...all of the things i hate about right wing parties, without much of the stuff i like