9 August 2007

Help Norvan and Save the Democrats - TONIGHT!

| Ntp
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I got this from a good friend last night. If I had time I’d write my own spiel but I don’t and his words convey the message well;

My dear friend and rablerouser Norvan Vogt, a long time Canberran resident, has decided to have a go at influencing the upcoming elections from within the ACT in the legally prescribed manner of running for office.

His request for people to lend a hand in small but helpful ways is below.

While I have not consistently voted Democrat, I do believe in Norvan, and would be if I was still living in Canberra. If you have any questions, I invite you to send Norvan an email, perhpas invite him out to buy you a beer, and put your quetsions directly – he’s a lot of fun to boot;)

FYI – fast action is required to keep to Democrats alive in the ACT. They need new members ($20). their AGM is tonight! August 9th @ the Belconnen Community Centre, Meeting Room 1, 7.30pm

The membership website is https://secure.democrats.org.au/join/

From Norvan;

As you know a long time ago I began to look into the different political
parties and found one that made sense, the Australian Democrats. They weren’t biased by wealthy groups like big business or big unions and their policies were created by ordinary Australians just like me. As I dug deeper, I discovered the extent to which they had influenced legislation in areas such as the Environment, the Economy, Industrial Relations, Human Rights, Privacy, Superannuation and Youth Affairs just to name a few. In the end there is only one party that fights for the middle ground. I didn’t really want to be to actively involved in a political party for another 2 years. Working and studying fulltime means that I don’t really have to time for it. The plan was to settle in to the party and have a look around, and then slowly build a power base of volunteers.

Unfortunately things have conspired against this plan . for the better. I
have been down in Melbourne organising the national youth wing conference for the Dems. After the 30th anniversary dinner on my way back to the Hostel I met up with Aden Ridgeway someone I greatly admired when I was on the youth roundtable. So we went off and had a beer at the esplanade hotel in St Kilda by 3am he had convinced me to get involved. One of the more inspiring night of my life. Long and the short of it is that it looks like I’ll have the number one spot on the senate ticket in the ACT. I know that I don’t have a Snowballs chance in hell but that’s not the point the idea is to get into the debate. Make a mark and fight for the big issues.

ACT Electoral committee has put a spanner in the works. We have grown the party from 41 to 52 members this year. But this is not enough, we need to get 100 members to stay registered. So why am I telling you this, well I need your help! I may have spoken to you a few times about the idea. I was wondering if I could call in a favour and ask you to consider joining the Democrats, if I could extend that favour to maybe being actively involved in the party or my campaign that would be fantastic. At a minimum I need you to sign up and pay the $20 and come along to the AGM 7:30pm next Thursday 9th.

How much time and effort you can spare from there I’ll leave up to you.

Don’t get me wrong I don’t really want to force you into a party that you may ideologically oppose but if I remember you once voted democrat so if you are a fence sitter or not a member of another party would you consider it? I’ll leave it there for now. Let me know what you think. If you know any one else that can help let me know

Norvan

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I’ve already thought up a slogan: I’m young, I’m educated, and I’m a Democrat.

Held up on placards domino’s pizza style by young hotties with buxom fiery biscuits.

Poolroom!

Guess what sam sam, the people have Australia have decided that the Democrats are no longer relevant.

Let the ACT electorate decide whether Norvan is as well.

I know what the outcome will be.

Thanks for keeping the seat warm for me Norvan, I’ll take over next year once I’ve convinced enough of my mates to go Democrats.

You can use the fiery biscuits idea though, free of charge.

Well I thought that I better start posting, my mate told me that ntp posted my email up here and I’ve been stoked by the comments. When I wrote this email I didn’t expect that it would get posted here I probably would have done a better job of writing it :-). I’m new to this politics game and its going to be a crazy run in the next few months. I’m surprised how many people have commented on this post though. Thumper sounds like you done lots of good stuff, love to have you onboard with the Dems, if its not your thing, then thats cool. Ether way I’d like to have a beer some time because I can do with all the advice I can get. Anyway the FYI – the AGM went well, I’ll find out in a week or so if I get the nod, after the candidate committee makes their decision. I’ll let you guys know how it goes . .. norv – P.S my sister is cool …go Greig 🙂

CraigFromCurtin11:58 am 11 Aug 07

> (plus his older sister is kinda cute).

Watch it “VY” – that’s my woman! Back off man! 🙂

To Ralph, Thumper and all the other haters and self opinionated gits out there – you have probably never given anything out side your comfortable little existence a go or a second thought. You have probably never done any thing that you or anyone else was proud of? Besides thinking you make a difference by making smart-arse comments on a anonymous blog? I worked with Norvan at the Dept Defence a few years ago, admitting at the time he really use to annoy me. You have to have it to the guy, at least he is having a go! and that’s what it’s all about right? If you look on the internet, he has done lost of crazy things not for any other reason that it seemed a good idea at the time. Too many of us, and I am guilty of this too, take for granted the fantastic country that we live in – especially the democratic processes that glues it all together. The only thing I can say if he does end up running, is at least going to be the most interesting election for a long time. I don’t think that any of the other parties have any idea what Norvan is capable of and that makes him a precarious catalyst.

The AEC is online. Feeding somebody elses details will be guesswork, but it is possible.

How the hell are you going to know if Norvan is on the ACT electoral roll are you telling us that you went into ACT Electoral Commission especially and check the roll out – seeing that it is not online, or where you feeding his details into the ‘Check Your Enrolment’ page on the AEC Website? that’s a bit illegal ??kimba you are so full of it! You really are.

Respeck Maelinar’s authorit-eh?

A coup of the Democrats party ?

Between the 2 of us and another 46 mates we can take over their ACT branch legally.

Any groups of 46 mates spring to mind ?

Thumper, you can be my deputy. 46 members to go.

Out of interest I just checked the electoral roll and Norvan is not there unless he has ‘another’ name. And he plans to run in the ACT. GO DEMOCRAPS!!!

Hmm 52 members.

So potentially I could bring 48 members to the party, take it over, and become Maelinar the Democrat.

Greener than the Greens
Critical of wasting taxpayer dollah
Not scared to tell it how it is

I’ve already thought up a slogan: I’m young, I’m educated, and I’m a Democrat.

Held up on placards domino’s pizza style by young hotties with buxom fiery biscuits.

If Hilary shows more clevage I’ll vote for the Democrats.

I worry a lot about the Democrats. They started so well, ran well for years and have now fallen over so badly. I keep wondering whether their future is as a faction within the Greens – I doubt that they could survive in a big party. The political system needs them – and I’ll probably give them a first or second preference, always remembering to Put Humphries Last and get the complacent critter out. I’d be delighted to see him replaced by a Democrat (in fact, did the late great Rick Farley stand and come within cooee of beating Senator Reid as a Democrat in the ACT – or was he a Green?). Best of luck Norvan and the Gang of 53.

point well made Spectra, and yeah, before Gunghalin Al sees this, I’ve (just) read your comments in the Kerrie Tucker thread. I guess voting for something I *don’t* believe in is more of a waste than voting for a candidate that won’t get elected.

It’s disheartening to think that so many people don’t realise the impact of the choices they’re making when it comes to electing leaders. Worse is the realisation that most politicians aren’t in it to do good, but to gain power.

Still, there is always hope. People are basically good, right?

Right??

fnaah: You do understand how preferential voting works, right? This isn’t the US – voting for a “third party” is not throwing your vote away.

Sounds like an Amway spiel.

DarkLadyWolfMother4:23 pm 09 Aug 07

“next Thursday 9th” doesn’t give a lot of time…

I did an interesting little “which Australian political party matches your values” test online a while ago, and was surprised to see Democrats pop up, so I’d be happy to join, but their online signup doesn’t take AMEX. :/

Have to wonder though, with so few members, wouldn’t i be throwing my vote away?

Sounds like spam to me. Why the chinglish references to reference based occasions in the temporal future ?

(I didn’t really want to be to actively involved in a political party for another 2 years)

At least the spelling is ok, and it’s not advertising V1agra or Pen1s extens1ons.

I miss the democrats

Good on you Norvan for standing up for something that you believe in.

I’m not sure where the $20 figure comes from though – a quick glance at the site suggests that membership ranges from $25 to $100. (Guess that’s GST for you)

What is Norvan’s email address?

VYBerlinaV8 now_with_added grunt4:04 pm 09 Aug 07

Cool! I used to work with Norvan years ago. He’s a good guy (plus his older sister is kinda cute).

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