31 August 2014

Political dilemmas

| miz
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As a person who likes to be involved in my community, and indeed am, politics has become quite a frustration for me lately.

I feel really compelled to join a particular political party on a federal level – happy to disclose, the ALP – because I am completely unimpressed with the various agendas of the other federal players, particularly those that were only ‘clarified’ after the election.

However, on a local level, the ALP appears to have completely lost the plot. I feel that I have personally been enduring years of pathetic attempts at ‘consultation’ about things that have a massively deleterious impact on amenity and quality of life (when it is clear that such consultation is purely a ‘tick in the box’ afterthought, as those decisions had already been made). I know I am not alone! More recently, and to illustrate, Canberrans have been presented with our local government’s crowning non-glory, i.e., the obviously completely daft yet unbelievably costly light rail that will simply duplicate, and still be slower than, the most efficient bus service in town.

Yet it appears that the only way to join political parties is at a local level, which I do not want to do.

I feel my enthusiasm for political involvement is completely devalued in this context. Am I the only one that feels completely disenchanted with politics in general, and local politics in particular?

IMHO, Canberrans who actually live and work in Canberra clearly do not get ‘value for money’ from either sphere. While my best suggestion to heal the ongoing disaster that is our local government is to split the State and local level functions – so we actually feel our vote means something for our local area – present MLAs will be unlikely to take this seriously as they have an obvious incentive to maintain and entrench the status quo.

How on earth have things got to such a low point, and more particularly, how can we fix it?

Miz

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HenryBG said :

Was there any discussion about the benefits of paying for yet more Canberra politicians?

If a party comes along vowing to
– dismantle the idiotic Westminster posing and replace it with a proper city council
– defund all “staffers” and “advisors” and other political cr$p
I’ll vote for them instantly.

No you wouldn’t. They’d be branded in an instant as ALP or Lib stooges. Any threat to the 3PP status quo doesn’t last too long in this town.

That said – you’re right about that being exactly what’s needed.

John Hargreaves Ex MLA said :

However, my suggestion is to try before you buy, You are welcome to come to our sub-branch of the ALP anytime. The last meeting, Tuesday night, was vibrant. it had discussion on such a variety of subjects. These views are transmitted to the pollies and the policy makers..

Was there any discussion about the benefits of paying for yet more Canberra politicians?

If a party comes along vowing to
– dismantle the idiotic Westminster posing and replace it with a proper city council
– defund all “staffers” and “advisors” and other political cr$p
I’ll vote for them instantly.

John Hargreaves Ex MLA said :

I declare a partisan position in that Labor has been for me the REAL THING as opposed to the others.

However, my suggestion is to try before you buy, You are welcome to come to our sub-branch of the ALP anytime. The last meeting, Tuesday night, was vibrant. it had discussion on such a variety of subjects. These views are transmitted to the pollies and the policy makers.

If there is something you want to get off your chest or contribute to, my lot is open to hearing you.

If the others offer the same, go and look. For my own, I believe that the ordinary person in the community has a contribution to make and we are idiots not to tap into them.

anyway, the invitation stands. I’m in the phone book.

Will you check him first out on those special electoral rolls you have, John?

John Hargreaves Ex MLA7:27 pm 11 Sep 14

I declare a partisan position in that Labor has been for me the REAL THING as opposed to the others.

However, my suggestion is to try before you buy, You are welcome to come to our sub-branch of the ALP anytime. The last meeting, Tuesday night, was vibrant. it had discussion on such a variety of subjects. These views are transmitted to the pollies and the policy makers.

If there is something you want to get off your chest or contribute to, my lot is open to hearing you.

If the others offer the same, go and look. For my own, I believe that the ordinary person in the community has a contribution to make and we are idiots not to tap into them.

anyway, the invitation stands. I’m in the phone book.

justin heywood9:28 pm 02 Sep 14

‘How on earth have things got to such a low point, and more particularly, how can we fix it?

I wonder the same thing. In America, crowds of people turn up at rallies and conventions with little flags and funny hats with their favoured candidates names on them, and I can’t imagine ANYONE doing that here. I reckon all but the most rusted on have been just been voting for the ‘least worst’ for quite some time.

Our media has to share some of the blame. Shallow, utterly partisan, each one accusing the other side of bias and doing their best to ‘correct’ the bias through biased reporting of their own. Barely a pretence of objectivity from either the Murdoch or Fairfax presses and most shamefully, the ABC. Everyone can have their own preconceptions confirmed by choosing media which confirms their own world view.

And who could be inspired by any of our politicians?

If you agree with the direction which the federal ALP is taking, but don’t agree with the direction the ACT branch is taking, isn’t joining the ACT branch the right thing to do?

Besides, if attacking Tony Abbott is your thing then ACT Labor is definitely for you. I’ve lost count of the number of things Gallagher, Barr and co have blamed on the Coalition.

Perhaps you can join the party but direct your input towards the Feds i.e. Local MP & Senator. That way you can blissfully ignore the activities of the ACT Government.

HiddenDragon5:11 pm 02 Sep 14

Sounds like the RiotAct is the best way to have a say – which might, just, be noticed by the right people – on local matters.

pierrehuetter3:12 pm 02 Sep 14

There’s actually nothing wrong with politics. Its just messy in its nature because everyone and their dog has a view….on everything. And everything is contestable.

The only cure is to get involved! 🙂

And on splitting state and local functions in the ACT….I suspect that would merely add to confusion and cost for taxpayers.

You may be aware, there will be more local MLAs soon and they will represent smaller geographic areas which should help MLAs focus more on local issues.

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