Peter, I do feel that a major change in baseline thinking and political expression has occurred, but I’m not optimistic that it will go anywhere under Gillard.

It seems that even if she does desire a sustainable society and policies that will take us towards it, she’ll be overwhelmed by the overwhelming number of old-school growthists in her government and by the hugely powerful continuous-growth-vested-interest Twiggy Forrests of our world.

Yes, that word sustainability is open to abuse, and it is nonsensical for governments to talk about it while upholding rapid never-ending continuous growth, but I don’t think that its meaning is really all that vague.

It is a pretty easy concept for the average person to grasp – that we should be living within our means and not constantly adding stress to our environment, resource base and essential infrastructure.

Given that Gillard has mentioned it, I think it is a crying shame that Abbott, political commentators and the general public aren’t strongly bearing down on her to elaborate and turn it into a meaningful platform.

Colinsett, I think that if there was this high level of discussion about sustainability in this election campaign, the Andrew Forrests and Clive Palmers would have to listen and either come out swinging or adapt their philosophies to the new paradigm of sustainability. But currently, there is just no pressure on them. They are free to go for broke in terms of advancing their own vested interests.

Foyle asks

'So "the church knows the truth".
Peter, which truth is that? '

The fact that sleeping with someone else's husband and stabbing pm's in the back is wrong. Any other standards of basic decency you need to know about Foyle?

Peter
Your first paragraph expresses well what is a disappointing state of political affairs.

The state did not marginalise the Church. The Church proposed secular society to remove government interference. Churches still have a place with parishioners - Church is not The Government.

The State has not interfered in that relationship at all. The Church on the other hand continues to seek influence in policy and indeed strong lobby groups like the ACL still wield influence to the detriment of those who might seek compassion and equality for same sex couples.

“I am not overly concerned about Julia Gillard’s atheism, I am sure we share disbelief in the same god. What does concern me is that her atheism signals that she is closed to the alternative society that the church represents. This is one reason that she does not have an inspiring vision for the country.”

This statement appears contradictory. For one the religious politicians are not inspiring any grand vision.

Atheism does not share disbelief in the 'same' God. An atheist merely questions for lack of evidence. This can be any God, yours or the many number contrived to understand the world.

Then you further contradict by arguing you would expect more from Tony Abbott due to his beliefs. This is the arrogance of the Church that inspires heated debate from atheists like Dawkins which many Christians like to malign. When Dawkins behaves in kind, he is deemed an 'enemy'. The Catholic Church can hardly be held up to the light as the paragon of virtue.

Christian beliefs may help many to understand the world but I hope it does not make them prejudice, arrogant and unwilling to accept that some people believe the foundation for human beings is their own natural inbuilt sense of love,sense of justice and community spirit in amongst the sometimes selfish nature of humankind.

I refuse to believe humans were created in sin and are inherently evil and would never preach this to a child I wish to raise as a well rounded, well adjusted and good person.

One of the best written and more thoughtful articles that I have seen on this Site. I totally agree with the observations about this and all such elections.

However , it is such a shame , that the author believes that , only Religion , is the answer.

Sorry , civilation over the past 500 years has passed well beyond Mythology and a Belief in there being something greater than themselves.. as directed my our religious Leaders.

This Election truely is rubbish , the choices are miserable, the " meto..ism ' is bloody annoying as are the slogans and the lies. One is almost tempted to protest by not voting at all.

But then the political Buggers win.. don't they?

At last, and inevitably, the ancient exoteric rulerships have failed, and "official" Christianity, along with all the other "great-world-religions" of merely exoteric worldly power, is now reduced to all the impenetrable illusions and decadent exercises that everywhere characterize previously privileged aristocracies in their decline from worldly power. Exoteric Christianity has been reduced to a chaos of power seeking corporate cults (all competing for market share), and Barnumesque propagandists that "rule" nothing more than chaotic herds of grossly bound consumerist religionists.

Therefore, the myth of the "cultural superiority" of "official" Christianity has now come full circle. The now archaic "world-religions" are not only now waging global wars with one another (like so many psychotic inmates of asylums for the mad, each confronting the other with exclusive claims of personal absoluteness), but the public masses pf religion bound people--who, all over the world, for even thousands of years, have been CONTROLLED in body and mind by ancient institutions of "religiously" propagandized worldly-power--are now in a globalized state pf grossly bound "religious" delusion and SOCIAL PSYCHOSIS.

There is certainly a 'nothingness' about Australian politics and politicians; but I'm no sure that the cure lies in Peter Sellick's faith-based solution.

Tony Abbott is staunch Christian, and look a the flack he cops for that!

Only a certain type of person - not the ideal person by any means - wants to be a politician. The current problems can be fixed only by voters, who are simply are not taking enough interest in politics or our badly damaged politicians.

Just look at the rubbish and promises coming to your letter box daily in pre-election pamphleting. How much of the party-generated 'must haves' are of interest to you personally? Write or email the candidates about things YOU want dealt with, not the hum drum garbage that they are going to have to attend to anyway.