Paul, you bloody idiot. I do not live in a nursing home, and I don't need nursing or any other help. I live independently, and intend to do so until I stop breathing. You are the one who should be in sheltered accommodation, with a access to mental care.

Hi ttbn,
"What can we do about it? Probably nothing."

Let's say you had the power to change any or all government policies.
What would you change?

What changes would we need to make so that you felt the country was back on the right track?

Has liberalism, globalism and multiculturalism changed the country so much that the citizens will never agree again?

I don't know where the country - or even the planet for that matter goes from here.

How about you Paul?

Hi AC,

I would agree with ttbn, non compulsory voting is reasonable, and I would add optional preferential voting to the mix. A three way representation per electorate is another possibility. The Senate is undemocratic and needs to be abolished or reformed.

A bit of history; the Constitution and system of voting was formulated by the members of two dominant political parties at the time, Protectionist Party and Free Trade Party, both ceased to exist after 1909. They were state based parties and were very much concerned with states rights, particularly in the area of trade. Sir Henry Parkes (1815-1896) a Free Trader (NSW Premier) was a major influence in early Australian politics, and a strong supporter of States rights, those of his state NSW over its major rival Victoria. The founding fathers of yesteryear could never have envisaged the modern Australia of today. They believed the states would remain the dominant force shaping the direction of the country, and should control the purse strings as they very much did in the early days.

Dear Ttbn,

While I fully agree that compulsory voting is utterly wrong, I disagree that preferential voting is only for the major parties.

Preferential voting goes towards ensuring that every voter is at least somewhat represented - without it, people will be afraid to vote for small parties and have their votes completely wasted.

Preferential voting should continue - however people should be able to number in only some of the parties, not all, as is already the case when voting for the senate above the line.

AC

Australia has plunged from being the most resilient economy in the world to 20th. on the list. And competitiveness is below the Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States. Even behind New Zealand!

Since 2004, the following slumps have occurred:

Entrepreneurship from 11th in the world to 62nd
Energy infrastructure 21st to 52nd
Public policy
adaptation to change
in the economy 4th to 20th
Regulatory framework
to encourage
competition 3rd to 19th

Private investment is now a mere 12% of GDP.

Productivity since Albanese has decreased by 4.6%.

You need to ask someone other than me what needs to be done to fix rooted Australia. It's certainly beyond the idiot politicians we are forced to put a number against when we don't want them at all.

There’s hardly a problem facing Australia that has not been caused by a failure of political leadership.

Family First lists just some of the results of lousy leadership over one week:

. Weak and woke judges on the High Court released hardened criminals into the community, including a paedophile and several murderers. Not citizens. No visas to be here.

. Labor MPs, the Greens, Teals, Muslim leaders, universities and much of the media continue siding with those seeking the destruction of the state of Israel.

. For the first time in our history Jews don’t feel safe in Australia.

. The energy market regulator is again warning of summer blackouts despite Australia supposedly being a first world country.

. Hobart City Councillor, Louis Elliott is the latest to be dragged before a government tribunal for seeking to protect the welfare of women and girls by telling the truth about gender.

. A leading banker says home loans are now the preserve of the rich and out of reach for lower income people.

“How on earth did the lucky country, Australia, get to the point where free speech is punished, blackouts and expensive electricity are normal, our social cohesion is threatened by people who hate our culture and the Australian dream of home ownership is out of reach unless you have wealth?”, asks Family First.

It's no good putting that question to an extreme Left government intent on destroying families. Families are one of the biggest threats to Marxists