The interesting point both in respect to the views raised by Mr Evans and responses received is not so much the sour grapes attachment but the underlying message as a result of the Howard Government majority in the Senate.

At the end of the day political democracy and the doctrine of responsible government as demonstrated examples of checks and balances are basically, as per current arrangements, null and void.

This is not want I voted for in the last Federal elections - incidentally the above arguments should be separate from ideology, however, under the Howard doctrine ideology is a major point.

Towing the party line and complying with Liberal ideology appears to be more important to the Coalition Government in a comparative regard to the representation of their constituents.

Pretty shallow Mr Howard. Thus, certain issues as explored by Mr Evans do have an element of truth regardless of one's political views.

Cheers,

Brendan

hedgehog "Col, face it mate your just selfish and probably have no friends. That wouldnt concern you though because your a rugged individual."

Quite wrong, yet again hedgehog.

Several years ago I returned tro living in Australia from overseas after a failed marriage.

I found I had more than 12 "friends" who loved me enough to put themselves out to ensure I received the emotional, material and financial support to successfully re-integrate into Australian work, social and professional life.

Such an experience was profoundly humbling.

Not that I would wish you to need to endure the pain of a broken marriage to experience it but just maybe, oneday your network will be so tested. Then Hedgehog, you will have some idea as to what I mean.

Until then, you sound like an abnormally negative example of the sort of excuse for humanity which can only see the worst in people. The sort of person who is sickly envious not only at what other people have but also at what other people are. The sort of person who continually plays the blame card to makeup for their lack of courage, enthusiasm, inventiveness, individualism and ethic.

As such - there is little in my life which you could ever empathise with, so your small minded slurs come as no surprise - they are to be expected from someone who already knows they are, patently, socially, intellectually and morally made of inferior substance.

I feel sad for you, your wasted life will remain a wasted life - empty, shallow, bereft of friends and envious (as your statement clearly confirms) of those who have them.

In the light of the VSU issue, and the FF candidate stealing power away from Barnaby Joyce, it becomes clear that our democratic system is open to:

"TYRANNY OF THE MINORITY"

I don't have any real problem with Steve Fieldings decision, because Barnaby Joyce was only holding out for a compulsory fee in regards to sporting activities which I totally support. The federal government is allocating 80million towards this lost funding, and I presume it means the students will not now be hit with a 'fee' but WILL have access to some of the important services they would otherwise have lost, if, that is the universities actually keep that funding in a SEPARATE ledger.

The potential for a 'bad' holder of balance of power... like Bob Brown or the relevance challenged...... Andrew Bartlett(had to think 30seconds to remember his name) just imagine the social havoc possibly wrought.

This illustrates the political dangers of large numbers of ethnic people moving into areas which are politically differently flavored.

It was said prior to a Vic State election around.. 1986 "Box Hill will become an Asian power centre within 5 yrs" but these claims were written off as " bigoted racist political propoganda".... Has anyone been to Box Hill lately ?

Just ONE indpendant of a particular culture or religious faith NOT compatible with Australian mainstream could also have a tyrranical effect.

LEFT..GREENS.. 'see RED' (THEIR TRUE COLORS)

I believe we also saw a classic example of 'Radicals driving the agenda' in the vicious hate filled racist attack on Steve Fieldings office. The 'Left' who yesterday were protesting 'War' today are defacing his office and DECLARING WAR. But then, Lenin ordered the machine gunning of striking workers too..nothing new.

THE ROOT of the ANGER is LOST POLITICAL TOYS

Yes, sorry lefty atheist student activists.. you will now have to WORK for those funds that you wish to use for political protest..and fares to remote places to protest at. Perish the thought.

David_BOAZ – I agree with your view.

The issue is about the left has demands for a socialist model on which to poison the thinking of formative minds – eg young university students. Such entryist strategies are manifest when I listened to Senator Nettles (Greenies) foaming and salivating over the airwaves on broadcast of her rabid speech demanding we kowtow to her “MINORITY” view of social order and collectivist mediocracy.

Oh what absurdity she spewed. If she were younger I am sure she would have been diagnosed suffering colic.

Barnaby Joyce is now a pariah of the first order, his political career over almost before it began.

The whole thing about “voluntary” unionism is this – if the “essential services” the left claim "compulsory unionism" provides were worth a brass razoo, students will still pay for them. However, diversion of compulsory subscription into leftist slush-funds will no longer be a matter of the usual subterfuge and corruption – they (the left) will have to “fund” their anti-social and asinine causes through their own efforts and maybe even get a job at MCDonalds to finance “the cause” - instead of relying on the "conscription" of monies from a captive population of students.

Number of times Labor "rammed" through senate legislation when last in power. Almost 300.

Number of times Coalition has since 1996. Almost 100.

Keeping tugging at it Chris. Government exists to govern. Do you honestly think the outcome of any of this legislation would have been different if more debate would have been allowed.

t.u.s

Hello I have just discovered this site and I am quite interested in the views being put forward and would like to add my own.
Senator Evans speaks about the tyranny of the majority in the Senate however I dont see it as any different to the Victorian Labor Government having big majorities in both houses, or the Queensland Government having a huge majority in a single chamber Parliament,
I take the view that the real danger is this iron-clad party discipline in both Labor and Coalition M.P.'S vote on party lines on almost every issue,whatever happened to the notion of representing the views of their constituents?