RobbyH
It is not much of a choice, but there is something that you can do.
If there is an independent standing — any independent! — give them your first vote, encourage independents and take the funding attached to the primary vote away from the established parties.
No independent at all? First preference to anybody other than the established party! Don’t worry about their politics, simply use them to deprive the established parties of the cash.
I have been doing this for years!

Hi Petere,

I'm with you. I too have done that for years simply for the $ they gain and the big two lose. Coalition always go last and second last, I just change which goes last depending on the incumbent as one of them ends up with my vote in the end through no choice of mine. I could not vote like some but then I would have given up and that isn't going to happen.

Thanks for pointing that out so others are aware of it too. Keep hoping, I will. I think it's $2 per vote but it all counts doesn't it?

Yes RobbyH, the approximately $2 is very little, but if 1000's or tens of thousands would do it, it would begin to hurt!

So there lies the core of the problem with political modernity. Few vote on considering the effects of policy but go with the “I’m all Right Jack – Let them eat cake” approach. The self claimed spiritual vote on the lines of “The earth must be punished by Gods own Government”.

A moral government will be guided by morality. Good policy will not have negative impact on citizens, neighbours and visitors. Bad policy will have negative impact on citizens, neighbours and visitors. Where negative impact is unavoidable the government will make absolute certainty those impacts are minimised.

We have witnessed horrific immoral policies tabled of late from banning stem cell research and abortion drugs to banning gay marriages. Clearly to appease those who confuse superstition and Dark Age fiction with values. We have witnessed a declaration of war against families with new IR changes. We have witnessed repeated attacks and erosion of the Australian value of live and let live in attempts to have it replaced with American style flag fetishes and Barbie doll ideology.

Things will change when there is a change in government. Each prime minister presses his culture onto the nation. Howard’s government to date has been weighed heavily by a culture of dishonesty this reflects on the nation and is mimicked as we have witnessed with the media. Howard is a Christian and many of his cabinet are Christian. Christianity is a cult of dishonesty; it is built on a foundation of fiction, deceit and manipulation. Howard and his government cannot be blamed for it is their culture. For them the real world is not important. Rudd is likely to win the next election and it is likely we will see a repeat of this same culture as he too is self drenched in the same superstition. This cycle will continue as long as superstition rampages through our society and people vote on terms of their short term gain and religious bias.

Petere and Robby,

Is a moral course legitimized by an effective outcome? When voting, I vote for the candidate who I believe is the either the best, or least worst. I would do so regardless of whether it brought about change or not. i.e. I'd do it if I was the only one voting that way.

If the candidate doesn't get over 4 percent, then they are not entitled to any funds from VEC/AEC. The bonus here is that you've taken money away from the big two, and smaller primaries may make them sit up and take notice. Also, there's hardly a mandate if the win scrapes home on some favourable preferences. It's not emphatic if you stumble over the line with the help of every minor party that attracted a dozen votes.

What i find with interest is that those here that post keep saying that there is no choice , it is a 2 party system.

When it comes to elections it is not 2 party, so one should reflect on what you are doing everytime you say well its either liberal or labor. These are the choices that you are making, even though you know of other parties.

When you decide to make a positive change and stand up then we will get change.
With candidates why not you, have you ever thought, you say there is not anyone suitable, well you come up with the answer wouldnt someone suitable be someone from your electorate who knows and not just somebody moved in from somewhere else.

Email:swulrich@bigpond.net.au
Australian Peoples Party.

It is always good to debate but unless you really want change then debate is nothing.
Action makes change

And this moral vs national interest is why i am doing this.