Our democracy is failing us. Badly!
David G,
I have looked for four decades to find a democracy here but haven't been successful.
Lots of people talk about & some even get passionate about but I have yet to find someone to show it to me.
Thanks to the minority of DECENT australian folk & hard working migrants & I mean HARD WORKING as in the Snowy scheme & the cane fields, coal mines & building our generation got a good start in life. Problem is that today's academic background politicians backed by an insanely huge Public service have taken away all the goal posts.
Only a minute ago Julia Gillard's gobbledygook on meet the press was all about what could be. She never got anywhere near stating as to what is. And, you know what saddest part was ? None of the journos asked any relevant or intelligent questions.

Hi Jen,

I am taking out my frustration with a blog.

Tony is such a poor alternative PM what hope have we got.

Still we can have a laugh. Feel free to add a tip off or comment at my blog. I hope you find it entertaining.

www.tonysatool.wordpress.com

The sad part is, the "Two party" belief most people have that results in actually weighing up the lies and misdeeds to find which of the TWO is better, it will ensure that Liberal and Labor members KNOW that as long as their own crimes are even marginally less severe than the others, they will NOT mean anything.

START VOTING FOR SOMEONE ELSE YOU LAZY SODS!

Here, let me help
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Australia#Registered_for_elections_with_the_AEC

Also check out candidates for your electorate and type their names (and electorate) into google- there will likely be a party page.
You will not have to do an ounce of study for another three years, if at all.
Get cracking!

Jennifer,

Your metaphor is impeccable. I, used to few words, would have stopped at the end of paragraph six.

What was the sense of going on writing when you had said all there was to say.

The readers need to pose and reflect that we are in the grip of power-hungry politicians.

The only escape for the ones in your boat was assuaging the snake until safe ground came at hand, and then jump.

We have no option but voting a politician and if such option is against our conscience we should not take it.

Jennifer seems to forget that all are born of corruption. What we find that it is often the media are are slimy, inconsistent, manipulative and often straight out lying. With many journalist displaying these badges it is no wonder that politicians of all persuasions often slip up.

If we were to have some 'fair dinkum' journalist among the National Broadcasters and other stations we would not have slimy people asking slimy questions about politicians children's virginty and demonizing anyone with any decency. Kerry O'Brien is happy to attack Tony Abbot about his faith and yet leaves Mr Rudd alone about his. Hypocrisy rules among journalist.

Probably the greatest defect among pollies is that they cave in to these deviants who often have an agenda. Look at how they demonized anyone questioning their little gw dogma. Instead of apologizing the media at large are still desperately trying to demonize anyone with half a brain who knows what crap it is.

The public at large is happy to tolerate a media full of deviancy and corruption and then somehow expects the pollies to be above that. It won't happen.

How sad Jennifer Wilson,

Your article can be discounted because it's spin overlooking a fundamental aspect of our electrol system.

Political parties during election campaigns issue Manifestos. ie written statements of their promises.

Jennifer lampooned Abbott because he's said, you might not always be able to believe what he says, while she has ignored his comment, we can believe anything he puts in writing. Jennifer doesn't dispute the latter comment.

Jennifer excludes any comments Rudd and the Labor Party have broken nearly every promise they made in verbally and in writing in their election manifesto at the last election. So you cannot believe anything the Labor Party says ... or writes.

So who's the snake ... Rudd his broken promises and reckless policies (Not promised)put us in debt and threatening our economic future.

Who's the croc ... Julia ... she'll eat the snake.

Tony ... the tinnie's skipper will throw the bloody snake out of the boat ... with the help of the crew.

You know Jennifer logically if you take Tony's statement about not always speaking the truth and say you believe him then you also have to believe his statement about his written promises. That's consistant.

Equally if you accept Rudd as a liar, as you suggest, then you must agree his written promises are also likely be lies ... as his past performances indicate. That's logical and consistant.

So given choices do you trust someone who says if it's written it's the truth or do you believe someone who has proven his spoken and written word is lies?

It isn't people in the media who will decide the election it's voters who understand the issue Abbott raised and importance of the substance of election manifestos.

The media in highlighting only part of Abbott's statement overlook oters will know the full context. The media and Labor Paty are only highlighting and causing people to focus on the shortcommings of Rudd and Labor.

How grand a media intent on electing the Liberals.