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The Forum > Article Comments > The real lesson from NSW: stop trying to govern forever > Comments

The real lesson from NSW: stop trying to govern forever : Comments

By Dennis Glover, published 30/3/2011

A short and glorious life is to be preferred to a long and uneventful one, particularly for governments.

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It would be interesting to see a list of Western governments that are generally agreed to have been effective after, say, their tenth year in office. I suspect it would be a fairly short one. But there are indications that the problem might fix itself. Fewer and fewer voters are 'rusted on' to a particular party any longer: more and more are showing themselves willing to make a rational assessment of the alternatives at election time. Faster turnover of governments may become the norm.

Personally I was appalled at the results of the NSW election. Who were the idiots who voted 19 Labor MPs back in?
Posted by Jon J, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 6:27:01 AM
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yes JonJ, what are these people thinking, voting in anyone from the ALP after what has been done to the state. 19! Talk about rusted on voters, what on earth do they expect them to do, apart from poisoning each other.

Perhaps we should check before each election, are parties running because they have a plan for the state or country, or for themselves.

If there is nothing beyond winning an election apart from having a job as an MP, and nothing else - then we should not be voting for these people.

That's what we have now in the federal arena, a party who is government for themselves, not for the country 0 they have no plan never did have, beyond being in power, for power's sake.

I wonder if the opposition boycotted parliament, whether there would be any difference in the bile and vitriol they spew in the chamber, except I suspect they would start to attack each other. The coalition can be nasty too, but nothing like the hypocrisy and bitterness of the ALP.

I agree with the author, if the parties, particularly the ALP do not give up the news day driven management, they are useless to us - they are just a circus with no point, and occasionally even accidentally do something for the country, amongst the self interest driven debacles.
Posted by rpg, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 7:10:13 AM
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"are parties running because they have a plan for the state or country, or for themselves."

The ones without grand vision may be the less dangerous. It's the reformers who think they know how others lives should be lived who do the real damage. The others don't do as much damage, if we could curb the tendency to increase costs and to be seen to be doing something we might all have more peaceful lives.

Some people want government to govern, to reshape society (normally someone else's part of society though), to bring in grand visions (at someone else's expense), me I'd rather then do the least we can get away with and let the rest of us get on with it.

The track record of government getting it right is not all that impressive. The saying goes something like this - the scariest words in the english language are "I'm from the government and I'm here to help"

Governments seem to be hell bent on outsourcing a lot of the big stuff that's traditionally been seen as their role so the real need for them becomes less and less.

R0bert
Posted by R0bert, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 7:35:19 AM
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I'm with Jon J. Who are those fools? Anywho, what I find truly interesting about this article is the notion that courageous government is almost always put to the sword by the deep seated desire to hang onto power, at least until the travel gold card and pension is assured!

Human nature is obviously the root cause.

Parliamentary democracy permits all the shenanigans that give rise to this problem, though as we've seen last weekend it also provides the mechanism to end it fairly emphatically.

So, no real solution exists apart from what happens when people get truly annoyed with an incumbent government.

Compelling TV but all a bit tragic for the governed.
Posted by bitey, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 8:52:44 AM
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I'm with you RObert, the last thing we want is pollys with a vision. Those visions are always so bright they blind their owners to any & everything else they should see.

What I want is an inveterate brain picker. The only thing they need is enough common sense & savvy to be able to sort the wheat from the chaff. You know the type, the one who can smell bull S at five miles, but will have a little listen to the "ratbag" who says that stomach ulcers are not caused by stress.

Just watching Tony I have seen him moderate some previous statements, which shows he's listening to advice, & picking up the points he believes are correct. I have hope for him.
Posted by Hasbeen, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 9:57:42 AM
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I believe we gain nothing by leaving the same party in power for long periods of time. History shows that both parties suffer when this happens. After Mr. Menzies there were years of unstable government, the same as Mr. Howard left.

In NSW, the reason for Labor's long term was unattractive Oppositions. I have not seen any great love for Mr. O'Farrell, but if was impossible to vote one more time for Labor.

The Americans have it right on allowing a President only two terms.

Mr. Whitlam, the much maligned PM, faced two elections, economical downturn and hostile senate in three years. Many of the changes he introduced have stood the test of time. He probably bought more changes to our culture, beliefs and way of life than any other PM. Definitely more that Mr. Menzies did over his, I think sixteen years.
Posted by Flo, Wednesday, 30 March 2011 10:18:17 AM
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