Power and money always thwart the so-called "democratic" process we are saddled with. The process was designed by the rich and powerful to ensure just that. The present argument between government and mining corporations is just a well publicized example of the sort of thing that goes on around us every day on a smaller scale, about numerous smaller issues.

What are we going to do about it?

I think it important to distinguish between a private body - such as the mining confederation or the ACTU - spending a lot of money on an advertising campaign, and such bodies lobbing in large amounts of cash to political parties in the hope of influencing their actions. The first may be seen as part of the democratic process, the second as subverting it.

One aspect of this new mining tax which hasn't been discussed is that the Feds are going into state government territory. Kevin Rudd claims that the royalty payments made to the states don't reflect the super profits of the mining boom. Well this may be correct but so what? Surely it should be the states that make this decision to raise the tax.
Technically the minerals belong to the states and there is no obligation for royalty payments from WA or QLD to be spent elsewhere. I see the mining tax as directly attacking the tax base of the states, particularly the mining states. Obviously mining revenue is advantageous to WA and QLD but that should not matter. The states should be free to compete with each other.

Gavin and Colin,

“Why have limits on government spending on selling public policy and not on corporations spending on opposing public policy?”
This is a false comparison. It is not that there should be a maximum limit on government advertising spending. As I’m sure most Australians would agree, there should just be NO government advocacy advertising when sponsored by the taxpayer. Why on earth should Liberal, National, Family First or Greens tax payers be expected to pay for Labor Party ads? And as the corporations use their own money, there is no comparison.

“the hypocrisy of the Opposition is breathtaking”
True but there are others who have a right to complain. The miners and just the public in general.

“…and the mining corporations who are not democratically elected seek to use their power and their money to thwart the democratic process”
Aw crap. All they’re doing is giving a political speech. They might have a bigger microphone but they have no power. Everyone still has their one vote to place it wherever their whim desires. Saying that is an insult to all those throughout the world who truly do suffer from non democratic government.

“That not only weakens democracy; it also breeds cynicism in the ordinary punter who sees the decay in her power and thinks “why bother?”"
If you’re truly interested in that then what about a true instance such as the recent South Australian election where Mike Rann retained government while getting FEWER votes than the Coalition opposition.

Edward Carson wrote:

"And as the corporations use their own money, there is no comparison."

If the advertisers (corporations or individuals) have been getting an unfair advantage, it's not their own money; it's an ill-gotten gain, which they spend so as to influence policy so as to get more ill-gotten gains.

"They might have a bigger microphone but they have no power."

If they have a bigger microphone, they have more power -- power to influence public opinion, which in a "democracy" is the ultimate power.

"Everyone still has their one vote to place it wherever their whim desires."

They vote according to their opinions. And their opinions are largely determined by what they do and don't hear. And what they do and don't hear is largely determined by money.

I have offered a solution above. I offer it again:
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/18/mammon-votes-for-abbott .

STATES RIGHTS....

Wattle says:

"Surely it should be the states that make this decision to raise the tax."

Indeed.. but the point of the topic is about how power and money 'THWART' the democratic process.

Who imagines a political party who is the recipient of HUGE political donations..will bite the hand which feeds it's re-election ambitions, for the sake of 'the people' ?

C'mon Wattle.. come into the real world :)