what should be of concern

What should be of concern to the electorate at this time is that:

1. The format of the campaigns is more interesting than the content
2. It doesn't matter what is promised by whom as the electorate seems to have doubts that either side will or can deliver
3. I have seen my local MP at least once every Saturday, sometimes twice...but for the last three years I haven't seen him at all
4. Of even more serious concern is that we, the electors, apart from being bored by this actually seem to tolerate this total and utter bastardisation of democracy
5. We are hard-pressed to articulate what either of the main-stream parties actually stands for.

Thank God for the Greens!

At the bash with Tim Costello the other night (here) it was good to see at least two politicians there. Costello made the interesting point about World Vision that some aid agencies say they are "not political". He said that he made no such claim and that he thought such statements were incorrect...overseas aid is essentially political and will always be so. I agree.

Costello made the point that what he thought such agencies meant was that they were not partisan.

Any way, back to the function, present there was local Federal member Andrew Southcott. I was bemused, but pleased, to see him there...remembering that two elections ago he was teed up to come to a forum that local church members were organising and obviously decided at the last moment that he couldn't be bothered. Throwing us rather into a spin I suggested to the organisers that they should just tell him that they would go ahead without him!

He actually capitulated!

Last election a similar meeting was held and there was a lot of talk about the fact that he could lose!!! So he was there feet forward.

I was entertained by the fact that many, many questioners opened their questions to him by suggesting that he was only seen in his electorate when he was on the run!!

That may or may not be true, but it was good to see him there. And it allowed Tim Costello the cue to say something about growing up in the Australia of Robert Menzies!

Also there was the spectacularly short Sarah Hanson-Young, South Australian Greens' Senator. I took the opportunity to thank her for her outspoken support of the refugee cause.

At a time when it looks as though the Labor Party is going to commit another act of treachery against the most vulnerable her voice has been steadfast. As an idealist, I recognise that they are few and far between.

Thank God for the Greens. Thank God for Sarah Hanson-Young

Andrew Southcott-blah! blah!

What passes for federal Opposition these days seems to be talking down anything that the Government days. Trucking magnate, Lindsay Fox, is looking to repeat a trick he did in the days of 'the recession we had to have' (see here) which is to try and encourage relctant employers to defeat the unemployment temptation. This is not only economics but is also about confidence and reassurance, which Fox has in abundance. Basically the roadshow, former union boss Bill Kelty, Fox and others will try to talk this up.

As far as I can tell, this laudable suggestion (remarkably successful in former times) is surely worth ago. At least Fox thinks so.

The Opposition's response? Surprise! Surprise! Only criticism and political nay-saying from Opposition Participation spokesperson Andrew Southcott.

It is not a good look. Better by far to throw yourself in and make the program better than to whine and flap about like a wet fish, saying "This will never work!"

As I say, this is as much about confidence as anything. Less of the gameplaying, more of the statesmanship, leadreship and initiative.