This is a very interesting article. I agree - the Greens haven't been asked the hard questions, and the media does need to do more work here.

To me, it seems that the Greens are very good at managing the media. If you want someone to wave a protest banner in front of a tv camera, the Greens will be there every time. They're at their best when they're instinctively saying "No!" to any proposal put forward. Beyond that, though, they find it very hard to negotiate and reach a satisfactory conclusion for both parties. They just seem to thrive on conflict.

Their record in the Tasmanian parliament shows this, I think. Even during the Labor-Green accord, when they had the balance of power, they found it very hard to reach agreement with anyone, and it didn't last very long. From memory, Bob Brown and Christine Milne (both now Senators) were in state parliament for that period.

The Democrats, on the other hand, haven't been so good at getting attention in the media - they're more willing to talk than fight. As
Malcolm says in this article, the Democrats have achieved quite a bit, but haven't been recognised for it.

I think it would be a sad day if the Democrats lost their seats to the Greens, even if it would mean more drama on the nightly news.

Ho Hum

To somehow suggest that the Greens and/or Democrats are more compassionate than others when it comes to world poverty is an absolute joke. We can see how much Mr Brown cares about the sexual abuse of children in Aboriginal communities by trying to score political points from the Government. Even Mr Howard's shadow (Mr Rudd) had the decency to see something done about the abuse. The Greens/Democrats policies/philosophies on illicit drugs and the free availability of pornography has done nothing but increased the rate of abuse among black and white girls and boys. Congratulations! It is also ironic that it is often 'environmentalist' who are the most violent and seem incapable of holding a peaceful demonstration. Who r you trying to kid?

The Democrats value hard work. The Greens value being loud. That is their difference.

It's time to recognise the work the Democrats have achieved, it's time we start giving a damn about what happens to this country and start really looking at the lack of the contribution from the Greens.

I don't even know if Brown has been carrying the party, he's been carrying soundbites, an image, but what has he done? I don't believe he has ever got an ammendment passed and has only proposed 6 or so. The Dems propose almost 300 a year in recent years and of course, got a fair few passed before losing the balance of power.

They know how to work with other politicians, they really know compromise and that's important when you don't have a mandate from a majority of the population. Until everyone votes progressive, that's an important quality the Democrats have that the Greens don't.

Runner, you still do not get it do you - what it means to be an environmentalist?

Read my lips, IT...IS...NOT...ABOUT...POLITICAL...IDEOLOGY.

Liberal, Labor, Martian - can all be environmentalists.

You must know about 'light' and 'dark' greens, the latter more radical. The same can be said about 'small "l" liberals' and 'neocons', the latter radical fundamentalists and a new world order.

It is also ironic that 'fascists' are the most violent and seem incapable of holding a peaceful demonstration, remember Nazi Germany.

Runner, please do some homework on what it means to be a true environmentalist then come back and make some comment that I can value.

Thanks O&A, you've saved me saying what I was going to say. Reckon if Runner really got het up, he'd probably get a look in his eyes like a Nazi stormtrooper.

And probably like to have all the so-called Loonie Lefties banned from politics in the bargain like the Commos.

As most Lefties are academics who believe in a thorough knowledge of history, while rightist corporate cultists like Runner have never learnt the lessons of history, one can only conclude with go for it you study-minded lefties, because we need your acquired knowledge of the true tests of history so much.

Cheers-BB, WA

The Greens have a strong track record of providing a voice that balances the big, old parties. The Greens have experience in balance of power at a state level (in WA, Tasmania, NSW and Victoria), and have a track record of using this position wisely.

I'd like to see hard questions asked of the Greens about balance of power and I think that Australians will like what they hear - it's high time that the Senate can be a conscience for Australia's parliament and not just a rubber stamp.

The Greens are about so much more than environmental issues, they have a strong track record on human rights and social issues as well.