Pollies do believe in something; and they believe it very strongly, often so strongly there is no place for any other ideas in their tiny brains. They believe they want to get elected. Often they don't really know why, other than that it seems a good idea. In many cases, particularly on the Left, it is because they are being rewarded for the requisite number of years served as a union or party hack. The ALP gene pool is very shallow!

The Right aren't any better. Any one with rightist beliefs and an ounce of brains is out there turning themselves into multi-millionaires. Consequently what the Liberals are left with is those people who subscribe to the idea of the unfettered market economy but don't have the brains to do anything about it. Perhaps Malcolm Turnbull is the exception which proves this rule - having made a squillion he is now bored of making more money than he needs and is indulging himself playing politics. He is like an old time Gentleman cricketer - the true amateur politician. Perhaps this is a good thing?

Just how many candidates in this election have any real life experience? Damn few!

HEY MATE, THIS IS 2007! Wake up, this is like a game of chess now! You don't want to loose your best pieces early in the game? We couldn't have a train-driver as Prime Minister these days.We have all these failed lawyers, who like "Prime Minister elect"- COSTELLO, who gets to be P.M.without being elected: who says on National Radio that the highest rate in JOHN HOWARD'S TIME was 13.5% and that's the truth! Except in a COURT you have to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!Which is, that the rate was capped!The Bank's lending policy was then, we can get 22% so we don't lend on home mortgages. See! that's what you want now! an expert treasurer who can keep us all in the dark and grow like good little mushrooms!

Your suggestion of a 'Wedge register',if possible, would only be a measure of the conscience of the voters. It could not improve the quality of our politicians.

POLLIES WHO DON'T BELIEVE in anything.... don't deserve to be elected!

So, goes the headline for this thread.

I rather agree.

I'd rather see a man stand up and say "THIS....is where I stand... if you (the electorate) want me.. and my values.. then vote me into office."

A longggg time ago in a far away place, the children of Israel were faced with such a choice. Moses was late coming down from the mountain, so they said "aaah.. to heck with it.. lets build a golden calf.. then we will have a god" and the immorality which ensued.. was so debaucherous it defies all but the most inventive suspense/sex thriller author to describe.

Moses finally arrived and asked point blank "Who...is on the Lords side?"

Joshua son of Nun came forward and said "As for me, and my house, we will follow the Lord"

HAROLD ROBBINS... Author. He had it all. Money.. Power.. fabulously wealthy, used it all for his fleshly appetites. Inviting people to orgies, drug and alchohol binges... over and over like there was no tomorrow.....

But then... his end must have been one of the most lonely imaginable.
Having abandoned God in the midst of fleshly persuits, alone, in horrible pain.. suffering... all the money gone... friends...gone...to whom can such a man call in his darkest hour?

We all have 'choice'...

Its not just 'firm belief' we need from our politicians. But firm belief in SOMETHING WORTHWHILE.. and for me, and my house, that is Christ Jesus.

I can't see Christ Jesus running in my electorate.

When politicians care more about getting elected than making a change, we get poor government.

Let them speak thier full agenda and thier total vision and then let the electorate decide.

Of course people like this don't get pre-selected by the political parties.

This is why I run as an independent.