Well I for one would like to vote for a political party whose factionism is productive and an acceptable part of the internal democracy of the party. But it seems there are many who feel the internal dysfunctions of the Labor party are somehow attractive and redeemable characteristics. That "Its not a Dead Parrot" disease is obviously very contagious.

* Shonga, How dare you suggest I was referring to Bill Ludwig and his boy Joe in another post. Wash your mouth out with soap!

I think that all political parties have a shortage of good candidates because most candidates these days have their own agendas.

When you get people like EX PM Malcolm Fraser saying this about the party he loves and served even Liberal voters should be stopping to listen.

See : http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1520049.htm

The Labor party should represent all Australians.... not just the workers and unions. That is where the problems lie. I have said it before that all parties have to represent the Australian people first and their parties second.

I think that a Gillard/Rudd team would get the Labor party back on track. Having a woman leader of a major party would help the 51% of women to feel more represented and Rudd is a tireless worker who is doing a great job.

As I have said before it would require the "men" in the Labor party to quell their own personal ambitions and place Australia first, and it would also take a magnanomous gesture from Kimbo to step aside so there was a smooth transition. Kim can't lose another election... Does his leadership make the opposition look weaker than it really is?

Faction problems occur in all parties ... the Gillard/Rudd could put Australian voters first, where they belong, above all other pressure groups.

Whilst I am impressed by Rudd I still see Julia Gillard as a better choice of leader at this stage. They experimented with Latham last time unwisely .... but they are still in the same boat... they have nothing to lose. At present they are well on the way to another loss.

I worry that Beazley sees the new IR legislation & the AWM enquiry as his last chance ... when he should be seeing it as a fabulous opportunity to give the new leadership team of Gillard/Rudd something to get their teeth really stuck into... to make their mark, to win back public support for Labor.

Is the Labor Party grown up enough to put the Australian People first and put Gillard/Rudd in the top jobs? It would be a new beginning if they were!

Student politics is a worthwhile learning ground. Unfortunately, many of these young upstarts haven't had the "life experience" to know what they are being political about. Thus, the distraction of power struggles and internal conflicts set in, ultimately patronising the potential of young activists.

Considering the above, student politics can be valued for it's educational offerings -- debate, public speaking, political stucture. But, because of the excesive immaturity and lack of realism one absorbs, it should not be a definite route to government. Proven talent, world experience and passion must take priority over mindless loyalty on the list of future Labor candidate requirements (if we want to win an election for the right reasons).

Basically, the future decision makers of our increasingly complex world need to thoroughly appreciate the factors and consequences of what they are deciding, and student politics does not teach such abilities.