I hate it when I find out my uniqueness is not all that unique. Either a large percentage of the readership copied my survey reply or I'm so bog standard on OLO as to make it hardly worth making a post.

Maybe it just means that all us terrible greenies are actually more interested in real information and debate than the hardheads who just write us off as silly treehuggers.

I want my personal freedoms, I don't want a nanny state looking over my shoulder telling me what to do everday, but I also don't want a dog eat dog type of American version of capitalism. I don't see any realistic alternative to capitalism if I want my freedom, but I don't want my freedom sold to the only power that rivals the State, ie. the big corporation. I want small business. I buy from the family owned shop.

If the so-called Liberals could offer this I'd support them. Similarly Labor. But both the big parties are too locked into the money provided by the corporates to really do anything against their interests. I used to have a lot of time for the Democrats, but lost interest as soon Meg Lees tried to make the party more like the big boys. So the Greens it is for me, at least for now that is....

Thanks Graham for the work you do and the way you run this site. Spot On.

And to everyone else, whatever festive season greeting works for you, please enjoy. Hope you and yours have a safe and happy one.

Cheers, from Chilli.
The Australian and Crikey reader, who doesn't bother with the Courier, lives in SE Qld, works for government and votes green.

I'll join the love in too.

Merry Christmas to everyone out there in OLO-Land. Looking forward to another year of hearty debate.

Graham - The Greens voting patterns of the OLO patrons doesn't surprise me. I think these kind of people spend more time analysing society than actively participatiing in it. I suppose it would include a large number of bureaucrats, public service and people who work at universities (don't know about Perseus' assessment about welfare recipients but it may have something to do with it as well).

However, this voting pattern clearly shows this site is not representative of the public at large. Any forum where the Greens vote is almost double the Coalition vote is hardly a cross-section of our society as a whole. Again it probably comes back to people analysing society as opposed to those who are busy participating (or the chunk of us who forego sleep or lunch breaks to have our two cents worth online).

On a lighter note - the issue of pseudonyms has always intrigued me. I use one because I don't want my family to suffer as a result of what I say and because this is an informal chat. I would love to see an article or survey on why people choose certain names. Maybe categorising people as using movie characters or philosophers or some self-described attribute etc.

The Usual Suspect

Chilli

Great post, agreed with every word. I too am someone who "doesn't bother with the Courier, lives in SE Qld, works for government and votes green." Nice to meet a kindred spirit and others too in OLO.

The Usual suspect

Count me out of your love-in but I will happily debate the issues with you.

Like most greens I analyse society AND participate in it. I do part-time paid work and unpaid work on the domestic front for a good proportion of the rest of my time. I resent your unfair categorisation of greens voters. In Chilli's words "we are actually more interested in real information and debate than the hardheads who just write us off as silly treehuggers".

Wow, this is fantastic. Look at all the people who've turned up.

The pseudonym question is really interesting but the reasons people are giving are a bit ominous.

On one hand I'm not surprised that there are an inordinate number of lefty readers given the leanings of media in Australia, including The Ozzie. We need to find balance somewhere and OLO supplies that. I'm one of those SE Queenslanders who wouldn't line the cat box with Qld newspapers for fear of offending the cat. On the other hand the responses to sensitive issues, particularly if there's a racial or cultural element in there, led me to expect a higher number of One Nation types.

Mostly I read without contributing and find it interesting that so many others do the same. Sometimes it's just too scary.

Lovely to meet you all.

Merry Christmas.

This thread is starting to read a bit like a personal add in a contact magazine - 53 caucasian, social drinker GSOH, likes bush walking etc etc.

As for me: 50, 4 kids, live in rural town, health professional, favorite food - japanese - favorite color blue.

But having said that I must add my congratulations ot the OLO team for maintaining a site of this nature - and to all those like minded or otherwise posters who provide the online infotainment.

As for the face to face meeting (wot was I thinking!!??) I proposed some time ago I will plan for something in the New Year - far too bvusy at the moment.

If you like Christams have a happy one. If you expect to be here in 2006 have a good one

Chilli,

You said "I don't see any realistic alternative to capitalism if I want my freedom, but I don't want my freedom sold to the only power that rivals the State, ie. the big corporation. I want small business. I buy from the family owned shop."

Perhaps you should do some reading about civil society. Here is a link to get your intellectual juices going:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_society

Regards,
Terje.