Get up to that Senate

I have been interestedted to be included on Get Up's mailing list largely because I am pretty disillusioned with traditional party politics.
Get Up is an interesting phenomenon (and may yet prove to be more partisan than it claims to be), in our two party system neither of the major parties likes the suggestion that there should be a genuine third, fourth or fifth voice.
This seems to me be undemocratic!
Democracy is not about hearing two voices, it is about hearing the voice of the people who comprise the democracy. Some of those voices are easy to hear. They are articulate, dominant, rich. They are privileged, educated and entrenched.
Some, many certainly, perhaps even most, find it difficult to make their voice heard. The infamous Richard Nixon used the term "silent majority" and perhaps that is a good way to characterise what is a political reality.
In such a system a bicameral (two chamber) parliament has its part to play. In Australia the Senate has been touted as protecting States' Rights. Though in latter years it has perhaps given a voice to the disillusioned, who find that neither of the major parties adequately expresses their position.
The two major parties seemingly hate the Senate, because it has so often stood in their way. Such a possibility occurred when the Coalition fluked a majority in bth houses at the last election. They then presumed to pass their raft of IR laws which they had not (it would seem to me) put to the people!
This, I suspect, will play no small part in their downfall if and when the next election is called.

Pray it may be today or tomorrow...but surely no longer!

Any way, into this comes the innovative Get up. Who have with innovative aplomb invited us to share in the democratic process in a way never before seen. Explore their site and see if it apeal to you (here) It must have the Rudds and the Howards quaking.
So we might just go along on Friday:

You're invited GetUp's "Save Our Senate" Town Hall Forum at the Adelaide Museum
at 12:30pm this Friday 5 October, including Senators Natasha Stott-Despoja and
Bob Brown in a frank discussion of the importance of our house of review and how
it has changed since the Coalition won control. Seats are limited so be sure to
RSVP now - and invite your friends and family: