Comments on: Politics is broke. Let’s fix it

By: Dave Liberts

Dave Liberts — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Being a lefty who’s reached that age in life where I’m moving rapidly towards the centre, I’d agree with Carrie that the lack of a credible third party is not helping modern politics. The Dems, back in the days when they were more about common sense than being Greens wannabees, did a lot to maintain a higher tone of national discourse than we currently see. If they’d stayed a party of Janine Haines and Andrew Murray rather than Andrew Bartlett and Natasha Stott Despoja, they might have enjoyed more success. Or maybe not. In any case, the Gruen Transfer did a great job the other night of coming up with some Democrats advertising campaigns, but it’s all too late.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I agree. We do have a stuffed political model because it’s geared to parties. Two parties. Australia’s bi-partisan arrangement with only 1-point-5 of it actively on deck leaves national debate more than ham-strung. Half of us are lumped with second best which is no way to run a country when 50% of voters are defecting on policy. In a complex society that demands diverse and flexible reasoning, Australia is stuck with Brand A or Brand B - generic government. The one-size-fits all arrangement is dead in the water democracy. And with a fading-fast Rudd/Beattie-style spin machine, I’m open to a more healthy, energised public administration model.

By: Philip Armit

Philip Armit — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I think this was a good article. It has done its as the author intended: it has pointed to a major problem in our political system. I’m glad to read that Crikey intends develop the ideas in future articles. I found the writing even-handed, which is a welcome change from the personal sledging that passes for commentary in most print media. Thanks Bernard.

By: mpo

mpo — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Australian politics and media are run by multinationals. There is no longer any difference between the ALP and the Libs - it’s all one big samey mass, so it makes no difference who you vote for anymore. This is the case not just in Australia, but the world over. In the coming severe economic recession, you will see the ALP behave like idiots and socialize the losses of banks. Had the Libs been in power, taxpayers would also take the hit for idiot banks. Money talks and pollies listen; it makes no difference what party they align themselves with. Any “new political model” would have to seek out ethical people and diminish the influence of multinational cartels in our economy. But that is not going to happen.

By: Carrie Morris

Carrie Morris — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Here’s the evidence that any debate on how to fix a broken political system is near futile.
This week on the day former Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough is elected State President of the Queensland Liberal Party, his side-kick State Liberal Leader, “wide-of-the-Mark” McCardle whacks this release out to the media - Beattie-Bligh Still Failing Indigenous Queensland !. http://www.qldcoalition.org.au/news/article.aspx?ID=2544. As Brough chortles about being ‘focussed firmly on a proposed new party… the Liberal National Party of Queensland” (a merger) “that would give the blueprint for a single, united federal Opposition” mega LOL, McCardle is beavering away evidencing he’s still head-butting a ghost and doing what every politician in that northern governance wasteland has done since the year dot (aka) Federation - dragging Queensland forever backwards into irrelevance. Sure it was the official start of a program aimed at combating welfare dependency in four Indigenous communities, but ‘way-off-the-Mark” sends out a release slagging a long-departed Premier’s superseded policies. And yes, we know what you really meant – but if you can’t say something sensible, say nothing Mark! No wonder Beattie’s puerile spin spun this lot off their foundations. And Brough’s got buckleys of ever making headway while McCardle shadow-boxes with the past. Hasn’t anyone in the Queensland Liberals got a hat to pass around?

By: The Kid From Bondi

The Kid From Bondi — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Bernie, Bernie, bubi, please preface your articles with the following warning ” I am paid to entertain and rewarded for the more entertaining I am and debate I generate. You know I don’t mean most of what I write but hey, we all have bills and have to eat and if you want to call me a journalist instead of an entertainer, well that’s OK with me”. With such a warning you can write what you want and have it judged as entertainment and not as serious journalism. Please don’t be offended I am not blaming you for being an entertainer, all your colleagues have morphed from hard bitten (read bitter and bolshie) reporters to Logie seeking entertainers. Nothing wrong with that provided the written warning is at the head of each “piece of so called journalism”. In memory of the great Art Buchwald.