18 October 2012

So who the hell do I vote for?

| johnboy
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The Canberra Times may have already decided the winner of the election, but the specific makeup of the Assembly remains a mystery.

So who are all these people who will be crowding your ballot and which are worthy of your prized “1” in the box by their name?

Fortunately at the expense of staggering quantities time and money RiotACT has compiled a list of worthy candidates.

These are the candidates who back their creativity, can express a vision in both verbal and non-verbal forms, manage time, resources, priorities, and not insignificant amounts of exhaustion.

It was open to all, these are the candidates who answered the call. I personally would vote for any of them over the candidates who weren’t up to it.

And so, in alphabetical order (Electorate, then first name) we present:

Brindabella

Andrew Wall, Liberal

Johnathan Davis, Green

Karl Maftoum, Labor

Mark Gibbons, Pirate


Ginninderra

Glen Takkenberg, Pirate

James Higgins, Green

Matthew Watts, Liberal

Yvette Berry, Labor


Molonglo

Alan Kerlin, Green

Mark Kulasingham, Labor

Meegan Fitzharris, Labor

Shane Rattenbury, Green

Stuart Biggs, Pirate


Special thanks to the candidates who donated Lego but were unable to make the build. Rebecca Cody and Tom Sefton

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screaming banshee10:17 am 20 Oct 12

I’d love to see an assembly full of independents, collectively voting for the best outcomes for act residents, rather than the political point scoring nonsense that goes on these days.

As it happens glen, you have my vote and I wish you great success, the discourse is most encouraging.

OpenYourMind10:10 am 20 Oct 12

While it may only be a token gesture, I felt enormous satisfaction in putting Pocock last.

Pirate Party FTW! Well, they may not win, but they seem to be the only sensible party and we need some independent blood in the Assembly to ensure things actually get done. All this not crossing the floor to vote a good idea with the Government or Opposition drives me crazy. Go Pirates!

P.S. I miss the Democrats.

screaming banshee said :

Glen, would you have an issue with a commercial property operating outward facing security cameras recording footage of people walking past said property. I am aware of a rather significant crime in which one such recording proved very useful evidence to the prosecution.

There have been quite a few incidents reported recently where access to records of cars that have travelled through an area could have proved very useful.

Skip forward to a future where cars drive themselves, communicating with a traffic management system and the cars around it resulting in much more efficient and safer vehicle flow. I am certain such a system will incorporate the recording of vehicle movements, if nothing else than to maintain a record of the management systems compliance with set standards.

While I can see the potential downside, I feel the potential benefits of such data retention can outweigh the downside. Like the tech reporter that had his data wiped using find my whatever due to social engineering, there is far greater benefit to the software as seen recently locally when a citizen found his stolen iPad.

Have a read of this to get an idea why more CCTV isn’t really a good idea for fighting crime http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/cameras-eye-on-the-streets-is-little-more-than-pie-in-the-sky-20121004-2725n.html

Tracking every car movement to help solve one or two cases a year doesn’t seem like a good enough trade for me.
Even then, will it just create an increase in numberplate tampering and/or car theft in order to avoid tracking by the most serious criminals?

The difference between mass surveillance and a find my iPad app is end user control. The end user chooses to install it and enable it, and can disable it at will.

Collecting the data, whatever the safeguards, creates an opportunity for it to be misused.
You may not see the concern, because “why would anyone ever bother tracking me if I’m not doing anything wrong”?
I’ve met a number of activists now who are likely being monitored. They have haven’t done anything wrong either, yet the privacy of themselves and those around them has been compromised.

I don’t want to live in a world where everyone is tracked and monitored like a criminal.

Glen Takkenberg
Pirate Party ACT for Ginninderra

colourful sydney racing identity7:00 am 20 Oct 12

Kdowgg said :

he is always unquestionably willing to support and help any cause or personal situation .

*any* cause…

screaming banshee8:50 pm 19 Oct 12

Glen, would you have an issue with a commercial property operating outward facing security cameras recording footage of people walking past said property. I am aware of a rather significant crime in which one such recording proved very useful evidence to the prosecution.

There have been quite a few incidents reported recently where access to records of cars that have travelled through an area could have proved very useful.

Skip forward to a future where cars drive themselves, communicating with a traffic management system and the cars around it resulting in much more efficient and safer vehicle flow. I am certain such a system will incorporate the recording of vehicle movements, if nothing else than to maintain a record of the management systems compliance with set standards.

While I can see the potential downside, I feel the potential benefits of such data retention can outweigh the downside. Like the tech reporter that had his data wiped using find my whatever due to social engineering, there is far greater benefit to the software as seen recently locally when a citizen found his stolen iPad.

screaming banshee said :

Dammit taco, you had me right up until you said you want to take out point to point.

Point to point could stay as long as it’s effectiveness in road safety aims is proven, and we put into place assurances that the data collected is discarded as long as you aren’t detected speeding.

I emailed Simon Corbell about the cameras shortly after they were announced, and the response from him was basically: we promise to not do anything our report[1][2] told us we could theoretically do with it in the future.

Pirate Party ACT and it’s parent, Pirate Party Australia, completely opposes unwarranted mass surveillance [3].

Glen Takkenberg
Pirate Party ACT for Ginninderra

1. http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/204505/ACT_Forward_Design_Study.pdf
2. http://the-riotact.com/here-come-the-point-to-point-cameras/28233
3. http://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/Platform#Privacy_Rights

Masquara said :

poetix said :

DrKoresh said :

No burgers in O’Connor these days, not good ones at least :'(

I’m sure I have witnessed the consumption of burgers at Duxton. I can’t vouch for their quality though, being a feeble muncher of soy-bean products. Their beetroot salad is nice.

Perhaps the post was referring to a dearth of good burghers in the People’s Republic of O’Connor?

Mmm, strangely, I think I prefer Masquara political to funny… (-:

Though there is still a slight political tinge to that line, a little like a smear of sauce on a very stale bun. I think it’s a variation of the sauce used in the traditional Japanese chicken dish called yakitori. Let’s call it yuckytory…

Now *that* was satisfyingly obscure.

screaming banshee6:13 pm 19 Oct 12

Dammit taco, you had me right up until you said you want to take out point to point.

thebadtouch said :

Kdowgg said :

Hopefully this isn’t an inappropriate place for singing praises, but I really want to give a brief, but sincere and hearty supporting shout out to Matt Watts for tomorrow…
At the risk of sounding trite or irrelevant I am putting political policies aside, there is an abundance of such commentary and discussion availble.
On a personal level I have found Matt to be a member of the community with such personal integrity and I have found it a pleasure to know him and will find it an even greater honour to vote for him.
In a very human capacity he is always unquestionably willing to support and help any cause or personal situation so I can only imagine the lengths he would strive to in achieving community oriented political goals.
Good luck tomorrow Matty.

Nice post Matt’s mum.

I’m not sure what my Sydney-based mum would think of having been outed as a promoter of Canberra bands…

http://the-riotact.com/benefit-a-music-spectacular-held-jointly-at-the-pot-belly-and-the-basement/82752

poetix said :

DrKoresh said :

No burgers in O’Connor these days, not good ones at least :'(

I’m sure I have witnessed the consumption of burgers at Duxton. I can’t vouch for their quality though, being a feeble muncher of soy-bean products. Their beetroot salad is nice.

Perhaps the post was referring to a dearth of good burghers in the People’s Republic of O’Connor?

astrojax said :

or maybe no votes – he might stuff up his paper and it be counted as illegitimate – wouldn’t that be funny! 🙂

He’s not as funny as Kevin Philips BONG.

johnboy said :

Anyone voting for Pocock is robbing me of the satisfaction of seeing him get one solitary vote.

Do you really want to rob me of that satisfaction?

or maybe no votes – he might stuff up his paper and it be counted as illegitimate – wouldn’t that be funny! 🙂

johnboy said :

Anyone voting for Pocock is robbing me of the satisfaction of seeing him get one solitary vote.

Do you really want to rob me of that satisfaction?

Well he’s already got one guaranteed vote ….Mr.G!

DrKoresh said :

No burgers in O’Connor these days, not good ones at least :'(

I’m sure I have witnessed the consumption of burgers at Duxton. I can’t vouch for their quality though, being a feeble muncher of soy-bean products. Their beetroot salad is nice.

PBO said :

Bugger it, I will vote for Pocock just to see what happens.

Yep all rioters should vote for Poocock,even if he’s in another electorate!

Anyone voting for Pocock is robbing me of the satisfaction of seeing him get one solitary vote.

Do you really want to rob me of that satisfaction?

Bugger it, I will vote for Pocock just to see what happens.

poetix said :

Yes, thanks for this RiotACT. It was quite revealing I think.

Lego challenge

Worlds built in plastic bricks
strange innocence of blocks;
Braque exiled to O’Connor
amongst burgers and blokes and beer.
Play programmatic, but whimsy
still peeps out, from behind
hard thick walls of promise.
Dragons and Princesses frolic
with Pirates and aliens and owls.
Sharp edges and colours
cannot contain all dreams.
So the choreography of wish
dances;
glimpsed on the village green.

Karl and Meegan appearing twice in your Lego/Brady Bunch mosaic above might speak of favourites! You should have two of yourself looking exhausted instead?

No burgers in O’Connor these days, not good ones at least :'(

Kdowgg said :

Hopefully this isn’t an inappropriate place for singing praises, but I really want to give a brief, but sincere and hearty supporting shout out to Matt Watts for tomorrow…
At the risk of sounding trite or irrelevant I am putting political policies aside, there is an abundance of such commentary and discussion availble.
On a personal level I have found Matt to be a member of the community with such personal integrity and I have found it a pleasure to know him and will find it an even greater honour to vote for him.
In a very human capacity he is always unquestionably willing to support and help any cause or personal situation so I can only imagine the lengths he would strive to in achieving community oriented political goals.
Good luck tomorrow Matty.

Nice post Matt’s mum.

neanderthalsis2:15 pm 19 Oct 12

Kdowgg said :

Hopefully this isn’t an inappropriate place for singing praises, but I really want to give a brief, but sincere and hearty supporting shout out to Matt Watts for tomorrow…
At the risk of sounding trite or irrelevant I am putting political policies aside, there is an abundance of such commentary and discussion availble.
On a personal level I have found Matt to be a member of the community with such personal integrity and I have found it a pleasure to know him and will find it an even greater honour to vote for him.
In a very human capacity he is always unquestionably willing to support and help any cause or personal situation so I can only imagine the lengths he would strive to in achieving community oriented political goals.
Good luck tomorrow Matty.

Obvious sycophancy aside, I think Matt Watts was quite brave to submit himself to a grilling from Rioters. Both dorothy dixers and hairy ones were generally handled with honesty and not always towing the party line.

So given that there seems to be few others in Gininderra that are willing to do anything more than harass me at the Jamison shops, my preferences will be distributed amongst those who took the time to put themselves out there, building lego and answering random questions on RA.

Gungahlin Al said :

Aeek said :

But I hear what you are saying – the sheer numbers of signs from certain candidates around Gungahlin is ridiculous.

Perhaps we need a post-election sign law overhaul? First cab off the rank a maximum number of signs per candidate? None bigger than a standard corflute – no matter what it’s attached to?
Feel free to add your ideas for the law amendment!

And shopping centre landlords get veto rights over “stall permits” outside their entrances – like the “Occupy The Crossing” that has been driving Gungahlin shoppers and drivers crazy over the last 4 months?

I’d prefer that these ridiculous signs be banned altogether. What a complete waste of resources to create all of these and then drive around putting them in every free space in the ACT! If the Greens retain their seats, can they introduce legislation to have these signs banned?

Gungahlin Al1:55 pm 19 Oct 12

Aeek said :

I think the Liberals are “winning” the litter war.

While out “pounding the pavement” I’ve reached the conclusion that if votes are inversely proportional to leaflets thrown on the ground, then the Liberals are in big strife!

wildturkeycanoe said :

The only candidates I will be even considering are those whose names have NOT been posted on the side of the road on a picket. What an absolute waste of money and materials. Sick of it all, let’s get it over with already.

Ha! I must be in with some sort of a chance then. Only had 10 to start with, and all bar three have been stolen. Even the stakes have been broken up so I can’t bring them home for the tomatoes…

But I hear what you are saying – the sheer numbers of signs from certain candidates around Gungahlin is ridiculous.

Perhaps we need a post-election sign law overhaul? First cab off the rank a maximum number of signs per candidate? None bigger than a standard corflute – no matter what it’s attached to?
Feel free to add your ideas for the law amendment!

And shopping centre landlords get veto rights over “stall permits” outside their entrances – like the “Occupy The Crossing” that has been driving Gungahlin shoppers and drivers crazy over the last 4 months?

Hopefully this isn’t an inappropriate place for singing praises, but I really want to give a brief, but sincere and hearty supporting shout out to Matt Watts for tomorrow…
At the risk of sounding trite or irrelevant I am putting political policies aside, there is an abundance of such commentary and discussion availble.
On a personal level I have found Matt to be a member of the community with such personal integrity and I have found it a pleasure to know him and will find it an even greater honour to vote for him.
In a very human capacity he is always unquestionably willing to support and help any cause or personal situation so I can only imagine the lengths he would strive to in achieving community oriented political goals.
Good luck tomorrow Matty.

That was a great way to get to know some of the candidates. I usually vote for parties, not really caring who gets my “1” as long as they are on the right team. The fact that these candidates went the extra mile makes me consider putting them first.

wildturkeycanoe6:10 am 19 Oct 12

The only candidates I will be even considering are those whose names have NOT been posted on the side of the road on a picket. What an absolute waste of money and materials. Sick of it all, let’s get it over with already.

Pirate_Biggles1:47 am 19 Oct 12

MrSnrub said :

DaveSmith said :

It will be good to get someone with an engineering background into the Assembly when some of our biggest challenges are around the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure. .

This. I’ll be voting for Karl also. Notwithstanding the hair.

If Molonglo voters are looking for a candidate with a background in engineering, that would be me.
Graduated from UC with a software engineering degree (w/economics minor)
Have worked in IT infrastructure support and design roles for 8 years.

Shameless self plug, but if you want an infrastructure guy for Molonglo, pick me!

Stuart Biggs
Pirate Party ACT for Molonglo

Riding over Hindmarsh hill this afternoon, I was impressed by the sheer number of Guilia posters in their regimented precision. Is she channelling her inner Madonna/Beyonce/Prince in going single name?
There was also a forlorn Motorist Party placard that had been blown over in the recent gales, leading me to suspect them for the discarded stake that I hit at almost full speed coming down the other side. Irony.

I think the Liberals are “winning” the litter war.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

Wait – Andrew Wall and Matthew Watts are different people? I thought it was just somebody taking their glasses off.

I don’t think Andrew would like that comment! 🙂

You guys got a pretty good turnout for Lego challenge. For all the negativity about the pollies and candidates, I reckon they’ve done a pretty good job trying to engage with the public, and there are plenty of people who’d do a decent job in the parliament (but also a few horrors).

Woody Mann-Caruso6:39 pm 18 Oct 12

Wait – Andrew Wall and Matthew Watts are different people? I thought it was just somebody taking their glasses off.

snarek said :

… Tony Abbot. A guy who believes in immaculate conception but not global worming.

i would be totally for gobal worming – astromonkey would maybe be a little less wriggly than he too often is, as would astromonkeys the world over. rejoice and pray for global worming!

who the hell do i vote for? sadly, it will be a politician…

Can’t stand the greens – they did nothing to support the Giralang community and the shops. If only Ginninderra had more exciting candidates – I like the idea of putting a professional in the assembly – can we have one for Ginninderra next please! Less lawyers and more candidates like Karl.

Labour at least came through for the community post Stanhope days and made the decision to approve the DA for Giralang shops and Libs have at least answered our questions. Love the idea of the very fast train from CBR to SYD if only more people with real life skills and experience.
So a bet each way? Still deciding.

DaveSmith said :

It will be good to get someone with an engineering background into the Assembly when some of our biggest challenges are around the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure. .

This. I’ll be voting for Karl also. Notwithstanding the hair.

I am keen to hear his views on global ‘worming’ tho. Have we stockpiled enough combantrin for this initiative, and more importantly, how will it be funded? Karl?

Yes, thanks for this RiotACT. It was quite revealing I think.

Lego challenge

Worlds built in plastic bricks
strange innocence of blocks;
Braque exiled to O’Connor
amongst burgers and blokes and beer.
Play programmatic, but whimsy
still peeps out, from behind
hard thick walls of promise.
Dragons and Princesses frolic
with Pirates and aliens and owls.
Sharp edges and colours
cannot contain all dreams.
So the choreography of wish
dances;
glimpsed on the village green.

Karl and Meegan appearing twice in your Lego/Brady Bunch mosaic above might speak of favourites! You should have two of yourself looking exhausted instead?

Gungahlin Al said :

Thanks for organising all this John – stacks of work behind the scenes.

I had fun and I know others did too from our talks around the traps (yes candidates from different parties do talk to each other). And it certainly gives people a bit more of an insight into the person behind the leaflet, and their (our) thinking.

Agreed.
Thanks John, you put a lot of hours into this to give as many candidates as were willing a shot at putting their views out there to the world.

I’d also like to point out that at the end of each build, the candidates were responsible for packing up the lego and dismantling it, and at least one candidate (or their assistant) went so far as to remove the rubber from every tyre.
Stuart Biggs and I co-ordinated the timing of our Lego builds so that we could leave as much assembled together as possible for the following pirate to remix and transform, instead of destroying everything.
Stuart did leave much of his lego intact for any following candidates from any party to build from, but he turned out to be the final build.

Everything is a remix.

Glen Takkenberg
Pirate Party ACT for Ginninderra

Hi there,

It seems like only yesterday I bumped into you guys at the Duxton and you proffered this idea. I recall agreeing even before I had any idea how it would work out.

It was difficult doing it so early in the election, prior to our policies being announced, and just plain creepy that Elias was taking notes regarding a Lego Challenge.

It was heaps of fun! Can’t wait to see what the hive mind comes up with for the next election (assuming this didn’t wear you out!).

Cheers,

Matt

Gungahlin Al3:30 pm 18 Oct 12

Thanks for organising all this John – stacks of work behind the scenes.

I had fun and I know others did too from our talks around the traps (yes candidates from different parties do talk to each other). And it certainly gives people a bit more of an insight into the person behind the leaflet, and their (our) thinking.

Was also interesting to see how people’s approaches varied over time. Tricky for those who came later to differentiate their plans?

If any Molonglo voters after a bit more last-moment background info for moi, please see here.
[Sigh. Yes – a shameless plug but I have to do it…]

Well. Andrew Barr wants to put an industrial park in Macgregor. No vote for him. Yvette Berry held a meeting (well really I think daddy held the meeting) and Simon Corbell spewed forth a lot of weasel words like ‘due process’, which mean ‘vote for us now and we hope you will forget we shafted you at the next election’. No vote for him or ‘Wayne ‘speedbupms’ Berry’s little girl.

There are a stack of Liberals. But they have Tony Abbot. A guy who believes in immaculate conception but not global worming. Scary!!! No votes for any of them.

Guess that leaves Karl Maftoum. Seems pretty honest and labour could do with a shot of honesty, something about being the incumbent too long. Genuinely a guy with ideas, so he gets my vote.

BUT WAIT, I live in Macgregor. Damn, better vote Green then 🙂

It is critical for all the parties to get some new talent into the Assembly. I’m in Brindabella and I will be voting for Karl Maftoum. It will be good to get someone with an engineering background into the Assembly when some of our biggest challenges are around the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure. I don’t think the major political parties (and I’d probably include the Greens on this front – just) have done well enough on this front. It will not guarantee better outcomes but it is more likely that the right questions will be asked. Often we have to rely on our politicians being buffs to have a higher level of knowledge about these issues – we need more than that and Karl is someone who isn’t just enthusiastic but can bring his expertise and work ethiuc to the table.

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