Party politics has us where we are. Will we never learn from the past? That, under our democratic system, 'he/she who has the most marbles, wins' and power is simply abused and becomes more & more unaccountable.

If, for whatever reason, it is too hard to change constitutionally, the recent "conscience" vote re; RU486 may have given us a lead as to how both houses could become truly democratic. I'm suggesting a conscience vote on all matters! Elected representatives would then become more answerable to their respective electorates and people may or, would possibly take a keener interest in becoming a part of the democracy, as a result.

The party line is now so obviously undemocratic and certainly not the voice of the electorate. Never has been. It's simply the voice of the caucus, being just a few members of the ruling party, who happen to control the numbers. Lately, on some matters considered of extreme importance, the PM seems to have singularly made those very critical decisions! WMD's? National security? And it's called democracy? To me, it's looking more like nothing whatsoever to do with the wishes of the "people of Australia's".

When are we going to get any level of Government that is fair dinkum, fully accountable and truly interested in the welfare of the Nation and all our people? I'm not so sure I'll see it in my time.....

The ALP isn't reforming itself anytime soon, so don't hold your breath.

If/when the ALP next wins government, they are unlikely to re-write the Senate rules to give minor parties a lot of power in committees.

Romany, there are other checks and balances in our society. We have a strong culture of rights - that is to say, people _believe_ in their own guts that they have rights, which means they are more likely to try and stop something they don't like. That tends to matter more, I think, than giving Senator Evans back his influence

Also, the Prime Minister has to make sure he can keep all his Senators in line. Lots of people in the Liberal party room hate and distrust Howard, and he can't bully or bribe every last one of them. Some of them retain some independence and could revolt if they chose. (Of course, they tolerate him because he keeps winning elections).

If you want to know about how a Liberal Prime Minister needs to play off the different factions and personalities inside the party - and how he gets ripped apart if he fails - you could read "The Gorton Experiment" by Alan Reid.

Reid is biased - he was a Packer and Murdoch journalist who helped Menzies to create the 'thirty-six faceless men' jibe that is supposed to have helped Menzies win the 1954 election.

But he has a clear vivid style, and can explain politics - talking both about broad ideas, and the very personal and hateful struggle between real people for real power.

You might find it in second hand shops, or in larger libraries - try a University library if no-where else has it.

David Jackmanson
http://www.letstakeover.blogspot.com
http://www.lastsuperpower.net

Julius Caesar( John Howard) and his party are popular now. He has a good human face on tv when it comes to conflict morality. Its time to come clean on Iraq. No weapons of mass distruction were found. I do not care less if he lied to Costello.

"When are we going to get any level of Government that is fair dinkum, fully accountable and truly interested in the welfare of the Nation and all our people? I'm not so sure I'll see it in my time....."

Fedup2: I'd accuse you of being nothing but a cynic...if I didn't agree with you!

Personally, I think the problem with politics is politics, at the risk of sounding facetious. I think the system is fundamentally flawed. I'd suggest that anyone who gets into politics and stays there really is self-serving, but I'd also suggest that people get the governments they deserve. Would it be that difficult for the populace to really hold politicians to account? Not really. I don't think it's even that people can't be bothered to make the effort. I'm beginning to think with the way politics seems to be a big game of musical chairs that there's something distinctly masochistic about the electorate and humans in general. I mean humans have had thousands of years and a whole world to get it right, yet not a lot seems to change in the end.

As Nietzsche said, "the human situation is a bad situation because the human situation is all too human."

plerdsus,
With your limited amount of knowledge, if I were you I wouldn't be holding myself up as the be all and end all of knowledge for Romany. At times your posts can be just if not more naive.

if senator evans truly cared about 'accountable government',he and his colleagues would have instituted citizen referendum and direct election of ministers of state, when they were last in power.

he, and they, did not. i conclude his real concern is that the other gang of political bandits are in power, and his gang is not.