- “Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the Government’s purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal well meaning but without understanding.” – Louis D. Brandeis
Normally I approach an ACT ballot box full of vim, with at least a clear understanding of who I’m going to put last.
Sadly this year that field is so crowded that I just don’t know where to begin even that dismal task.
But before we go further I’d like to thank the political parties that have seen fit to advertise with us. ACT Labor, the LDP, and Matthew Watts (the Liberal candidate for Ginninderra). Purely aside from the financial gain to us, they held the RiotACT readership in enough esteem as to court your opinion.
Moving on…
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The candidates who were willing to come before us and try their hand at Sim City deserve some recognition, in order of appearance:
- — Norvan Vogt, CAP for Molonglo
— Greg Tannahill, a Democrat running in Molonglo
— Wayne Sievers, Labor for Brindabella
— Adam Verwey, Independent for Ginninderra
— Jacqui Myers, Liberal for Ginninderra
— David Morgan, Liberal for Brindabella
— Matthew Watts, Liberal for Ginninderra
— Shane Rattenbury, Greens for Molonglo
— James Higgins, Greens for Ginninderra
— Mark Parton, Independent for Ginninderra
— Owen Saddler, CAP for Molonglo
— Dr. Luciano Lombardo, Pangallo Independents for Molonglo
All of these candidates at least proved they had the composure and judgment to stick to a demanding three hour task and cared for the good opinion of you the reader. In my view they deserve considerable credit for it.
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Candidate Questionaire
Considering how candidates belly-ache about how hard it is to get a run in the media we were surprised that so few took up the opportunity to answer your questions. Especially considering our commitment to print their answers in full. It seems a couple of niggly commenters are a bit much for the precious petals seeking elected office who did not respond.
This candidates who could be bothered answering your questions were, in the order in which they were returned:
- — Dr. Alvin Hopper, CAP for Molonglo
— Mike Crowther, CAP for Ginninderra
— Adam Verwey, Independent for Ginninderra
— Matt Watts, Liberal for Ginninderra
— Dr. Luciano Lombardo, Pangallo Independents for Molonglo
— Phil Thompson, Pangallo Independents for Molonglo
— Andrew Barr, Labor for Molonglo
— John Hargreaves, Labor for Brindabella
— Eleanor Bates, Labor for Molonglo
— Mary Porter, Labor for Ginninderra
— Norvan Vogt, Community Alliance Party for Molonglo
— David Matthews, Labor for Molonglo
— Chris Bourke, Labor for Ginninderra
— Darren Churchill, Democrat for Ginninderra
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So who to vote for?
Every single candidate running for office means well. But good intentions are what they paved the road to hell with.
There are good people in every party.
There is very little difference between the stated policies of any of the parties.
So, if you’re in the market for advice, vote for who you think the good people are. Not just the well intentioned, but the intelligent and the principled.
A possible exception to this is the Motorists Party. Between their ties to One Nation and their penchant for appearing in uniform white shirts I, personally, wouldn’t recommend letting them up near the top of your ballot. History teaches us that political parties in uniforms end in tears.
I’d also recommend voting against anyone who tells you your vote will be wasted unless you give it to them.
Good luck tomorrow, and may god have mercy on us all.
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(On a happier note don’t forget to drop by All Bar Nun after to six to enjoy watching the Canberra electorate vaporise political careers – 86 go in, 17 come out)
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UPDATE: Jon Reynolds from Canberra Votes has interviewed the Electoral Commissioner, Phillip Green, on how the ballot paper actually works. All is explained in the video below:
Mr. Phillip Green – ACT Electoral Commissioner – 17 October 2008 from Jonathon Reynolds on Vimeo
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What’s Your opinion?
Some thoughts on voting for the 2008 ACT election.
Sepi – that’s because you haven’t met me 😉
Rather than filling up the whole thread explaining it from go to whoa – are there particular questions you have?
jonathon, does he explain the prefernce system?
i am yet to meet anyone who can tell me how it works.
On the subject of voting… I undertook a video interview with Phillip Green the Electoral Commissioner this morning.
He gives an interesting (apolitical) insight in to our local voting system, the power it gives the individual and democracy in general.
If I can get it edited and up in time strongly suggest you view it before casting your vote.
Such a poor showing from the Brindabella candidates. At least I know not to vote for Burl Doble.
johnboy said :
Not a nice thing to call a premium member, thank you very much.
The morality of adblocking is better discussed over a pint tomorrow night than in an election thread.
So by all means come along tomorrow night and set me straight.
The coverage has been fun – thanks to JB and the other overlords as well as the commenters.
My thoughts on the final outcome in order of election:
Ginninderra: Stanhope, Porter, Hunter, Dunne & Watts*
Brindabella: Smyth, Hargreaves, Gentleman, Pratt & Doszpot
Molonglo: Seselja, Gallagher, Corbell, Rattenbury, Barr, Burke, Hanson*
*these final seats could go to any Lib, but these ones seem to be RA faves
8 Lib, 7 ALP & 2 Green. Greens will support a Labor government with Stanhope handing over to Gallagher mid term.
advertising that you’re a thief?
JB, I’ve read your last few posts, and I still don’t know how this would make Deano a “thief”.
I’m not saying this to be argumentative – but I think I must not understand the technicalities as to why using Adblock would make him so. Can you clarify?
But TheRA isn’t just the fruit of your labours. It’s the fruit of all our labours. The comments are where the juicy goodness lies, not necessarily the posts (and even then, a lot of posts are made by the us). Sometimes it’s durian, but that’s just life in the fruit bowl.
I’ll stop talking about fruit now.
There’s a difference between skipping an ad and automatically stripping it from the content.
Especially online where each pageview comes at a cost to us (albeit a very small one).
Basically it’s availing oneself of the fruits of anothers labour while removing the ability for them to profit by it.
Along with pretty much every web publisher we really hate it. Especially when we’ve reduced our earning potential by keeping the ads discreet and un-intrusive for the benefit of readers.
Having said that it’s not like we’re short of impressions to sell. But I’d really ask ad blockers to have a long hard think about what it is they’re doing.
I expect to be at All Bar Nun tomorrow night.
I’ll miss the SIM challenges now they have finished. Thanks for the time and effort you guys went to in putting them on. I really did get to know more candidates better that way than by any other means. I have also enjoyed meeting so many Rioters.
Apart from that, I am just glad that it will all be over tomorrow. I can’t wait to talk about bad Canberra drivers and Indidan restaurants and footballers and offal again.
: )
Aw, I didn’t expect that from you JB. Surely you’ve fast-forwarded through an ad or ten in your time? The net’s no different, and if Deano contributes through posts, then he’s giving, not leeching.
Anyways, many thanks for your excellent election coverage. It’s helped me to make up my mind.
I didn’t realise the Greens didn’t respond the questionaire at all… poor form.
*sigh*
advertising that you’re a thief?
I guess there’s always one.
Adblock soon fixed that!