In the lead up to this election voters ought to ask themselves what to make of our democracy. We will be given the opportunity to vote for a string of candidates, most of whom represent the Liberal or Labor Party. These two parties are seemingly the only credible alternatives. Though does that popular perception stand up to reason. Industry groups are generally right when they lament the fact that government spending does not create wealth. I would argue that some enterprises like train services, and utilities, to the extent that they are still owned by the state, are creating wealth. But these activities all have independent stewardship. Do we need 'efficacious executive administration' for the country. Can we not afford a 'weak government', if only for the sake of competition. We currently have a very comfortable duopoly for the Liberal and Labor Parties. They know it, and they take every advantage of it.
It is interesting that Tony Abbot is the incumbent choice for PM. Interesting because he was the person who railroaded 'red neck' Pauline Hanson several some years ago now. She even orchestrated her imprisonment for electoral fraud for 'discrepancies' which would not even make a Liberal backbencher blush. In the meantime, these politicians which have overseen the executive administration of the country for most of the last 100 years, have done very little to improve the justice system.
On the contrary, they have not simply overseen the decline of justice, they have actually been the principle exponents of abuse. Government ought to be engaged in protecting people, but instead they are the principle exponents in abusing their interests. Of course the short term 'crumbs' you will be offered in the course of this election are intended to convince you of otherwise.
I say to all Australians....don't sanction a bad system by giving your vote to either of the major parties. I personally choose not to sanction a system which is fundamentally flawed in its conception, but at the very least I implore you to consider building a viable alternative, by voting for a minority, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives. I think your vote would mean more if you used a lottery system than voted for the major parties. Never in business have we witnessed any political acceptance of corporate duopolies...why do they make sense in politics.
Take a long range view. Not voting is a strategy which will take years. Only 50% of Americans vote today, though its voluntary. This does not seem to have much impact on the legitimacy of the US administration. Currently 95% of registered Australians vote because its compulsory. I am not registered, and the government does not publish the proportion of unregistered voters.
This is why you might prefer my alternative strategy of voting for a minority. Think about it..can you even trust the system to offer real tallies? How could you ever even trust a system which is based on principle people...if reason is not the standard of value.....just numbers. Its a con.
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Author
Andrew Sheldon
