When did politics become all about winning?

A very muddled article indeed. What experience do you want a Senator to have Zoya? You want politics to more egalitarian with people from all walks of life… I would have thought David Pocock is one of those people with a background in community involvement. If you put up your hand to enter the election of course you want to win. Maybe take the time to meet David and see where he would like politics to go rather than being a cynic. I agree with Jack D there is a real buzz in the air and people are talking about issues and how we want to be represented in the ACT in the Senate.

Great to hear you will never be running for politics Zoya Patel! I really don’t know where to start with this muddled piece of so-called journalism! For the first time in years there is a real buzz in the air. This election will have Senate candidates of real calibre who have the potential to knock out the light weight, do nothing Zed Seselja. Zed has bludged on above the line Liberal votes at every election since stabbing the popular Gary Humphries in the back in 2013. And not to forget the vocal support and undermining directed he had from Canberra Lib notables including Jeremy Hanson and Giulia Jones. Zed is so unpopular he couldn’t even reach a quota at the last election. Professor Kim Rubenstein and David Pocock have walked the talk and can be commended for putting their hands up to stand as candidates in the Senate rather than undermined by an ignorant journalist. Both have commendable backgrounds. I wish them good luck!

My dog would make a better senator than Zed. So if Pocock can knock him out of a spot, more power to him.

Putin knows how to win elections and make meaningful change.

As an independent in the Senate, Mr Pocock could be required to make deals to either support or block legislation (depending on the makeup of the Senate).
Independents often end up forming alliances; to create a voting block.
When you look at Mr Pocock’s causes, you have to think that his natural alignment is with the Greens.
In my opinion, if you are a Greens voter, Mr Pocock could be an option. If you are not a Greens voter, maybe another candidate would be a better choice.

The ACT could certainly do with a genuinely independent senator (not a de facto Labor/Green senator masquerading as independent) who would unashamedly use their swing vote to extract a better funding deal for the ACT, just as independent senators have done for other jurisdictions – most notably Brian Harradine and Jacqui Lambie for Tasmania.

You say you don’t think David Pocock has the experience to be a senator, but you don’t say what skills you expect to see. So perhaps you’ll allow me to tell you what I want in a senator.

I want someone with honesty and integrity, who will listen to the community and be our voice in parliament; someone intelligent and thoughtful, and whose approach to developing policy positions will be based on evidence.

Your main objection appears to be David’s existing popularity. If sporting prowess was his only qualification perhaps I’d see some merit in that, but David has demonstrated leadership, integrity and strength of character both on and off the field. He holds a Masters of Sustainable Agriculture and co-founded a not-for-profit to deliver food security programs and develop health infrastructure in Zimbabwe. Most recently, he’s been working on building resilient ecosystems and creating sustainable economic opportunities.

David’s never been a parliamentarian before but neither have any of the other independents standing for election. That’s kind of the point. Confidence in government and our institutions is eroding and I believe the best way to reverse this and restore parliamentary integrity is to elect representatives who serve the interests of their communities.

I encourage you to speak with David and find out for yourself how he plans to represent the community in the senate. He’s holding politics in the park meetings around Canberra on the weekends (next one is in Hughes on Sunday). You never know. You might like him. And if not, at least your next opinion piece will be informed opinion.

Is politics a popularity contest? No. But neither is it a spectator sport. This election, we can vote for meaningful change, or we can accept more of the same. The choice is ours.

I’m not sure what that question is ? how can you get into politics / parliament without winning. Surely if you lose you won’t be there ?

Unfortunately politics has always been about winning. The candidates (mostly) feel strongly about particular issues (not always the ones we are interested in) and put time and resources to getting elected. Political parties bend their candidates to their particular policies regardless of the individual candidates original aspirations. Independents usually have personal policies that they try to impress on the electorate. A lot of the major party candidates go through a system that indoctrinates them to aspire for higher office while the independents and smaller parties just want to get things done. If you want to change things you have to put some ‘skin in the game’ and why play a game you cannot win?

I don’t want to be rude Zoya but what skills do you have to justify writing an opinion column. You don’t provide any indication of what skills a Senator should have and yet you have the cheek to say David Pocock doesn’t have them. The skills that the encumbent has whom David Pocock is trying to defeat do not appear to be that flash, unless belonging to a major party annoints you forever. Indeed, your cynicism overlooks the fact that most voters want to have a say and want someone to truly represent them in either house of parliament.

Kathy McGowan when she entered parliament thought she had no skills. Yet, she was probably the greatest networker and strategist to ever enter parliament. Her initial aim was to turn a safe Liberal seat into a marginal seat so the electorate might get the neglected services it desperately needed. A sign if one is needed that our current system is broken.

David Pocock is a grass roots Voices type candidate. He is a real leader as demonstrated by his role as Captain of the Wallabies. He started his first NGO/charity at the age of 21. He has integrity and excellent listening skills. He is a nice person (currently perhaps a negative in politics), he has integrity and a commitment to climate change and other things that we as Canberrans want of our representative.

Get off your high horse!