We can, almost every one of us, line up on election day, noting the lady in front has that other mobs how to vote but stay silent.
But we get hot under the collar at some who differ with us here in print.
Should we.
Is it just another lie,all views have value.
Or is it true in a group, with a problem the answer can come from the person sweeping the floor.
Right now, forgive me, but our country seems to be in the wrong hands, on every side, in trouble.
But is it, well yes and no, we need something we have not got leadership, on both sides.
The whole world needs direction and leadership and right now.
So is our talk just whispers in the dark, about the wrong subjects, or just maybe some one out there has an idea we never even thought of that can change every thing.
Lets talk.

I think, sadly, that it's times like these that the average man in the street becomes even less interested in politics than usual. He stops listening to the news, stops reading the paper and doesn't talk politics unless he's complaining about what the 'guvment' has stuffed up this time. And, unfortunately, there's a lot to complain about.

I don't know what we need. Neither of our big two leaders is particularly inspiring, but do we need an inspiring leader? Hitler was inspiring, as was Mussolini. Mugabe was inspiring, and many others could adorn this list. Obama was briefly inspiring, but was stifled by Congress and turned out to be (shock horror) a mere mortal. I have a lot of time for Angela Merkel, but she runs a faraway land and I don't have to live with her. In short, inspiration is great but is usually a product of novelty rather than value.

Is our disenchantment really a result of incompetent leadership, or is it a product of our national tendency to see the worst in all politicians and power-brokers? I know our PM is a bit of a disappointment (and, judging by conversations with rellies overseas, an international embarrassment), but is she - and the party she leads - really driving our country into the ground? Despite the prophecies of doom and gloom, our economy is still strong (though I base this on the say-so friends and family who work in financial planning, so I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the statement). We're not rioting in the streets and even the Convoy of No Confidence was an exercise in self-control and politeness, when you look at what other unhappy citizens are doing elsewhere in the world.

I'm not saying I would vote for this mob next time round (and I wear it as a badge of pride that I didn't vote for them this time), but I'm mindful of the fact that things could be a lot worse.

Belly
Many would agree there is a lack of leadership on both sides as you say but the problem really lies in a much bigger picture. Word limits won't permit a lengthy post.

Much has changed over the last 30 years which makes strong leadership less likely and they include in brief:

- the 24 hour NEWS cyle (including polling) and the pressures that brings to bear on political parties (often of their own making);
- CELEBRITY politics or PR spin that means often those with the best PR consultants win. It is all about perception. Ideology comes a poor second to winning elections.
- GLOBALISATION means countries no longer sit in isolation and leaders find themselves less 'free' to make bold choices for risk of offending perceived economic and security allies. Not all aspects of globalisation are negative but unfortunately this depends on who is pulling the strings; and
-GREED: not just corporate greed but personal greed and the rise of consumerism to feed economic growth; and
- the biggie - the rise of CORPORATISM and ability of mega-corporations to influence public policy often to the detriment of citizens.

Strong leaders are difficult to find with all this baggage weighing on policy makers but it is not impossible. Even those who harbour more altruistic and democratic ideals may ultimately find themselves manipulated and pressured by these factors. We all sat and watched the effects of the GFC and economic collapse in other countries and for many the penny has not dropped.

Strong leaders are a threat to the status quo. Many are quickly dispensed with via various influences (at best) and at worst as US history shows via assasination (at home and offshore).

That is the extreme end of it but there are much more subtle influences that are not so easily discernible.

I am positive that the rumblings of a Global Spring will eventually eradicate some of the rot and maybe even produce a few good leaders who will stand for greater accountability and adhere to the democratic principles, often articulated but not always honoured.

funny that mate
i was just thinking the same thing

as i just finnished posting in two parts on your other topic

here is the second part..*
[cause its allready in my pasting option]

""...but here goes the link
yesterday i note allready 75 posts?
today it runs 10 pages
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=12558&page=0

the initial aerticle was this one
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=12558

but i had to pass on reading them
TILL I READ THE NEWS LAST NIGHT..and ONLY heard of the carrot

ie NOT THE OTHER SIDE
ie those NOT represented by govt..of any level

THATS both the reason and the danger inherant in having two houses
[that serve a certain adgenda....RECALL mate that other topic..re the masons..that too was ignored mate}

it all relates
they wanted more woman in the two party parlement
[as you know they are loyal...to the party line...as well as easilly sold to green things..and fighting off them horrible men..that made their lives hell..[to wit us who easilly could pass as masons]

men like you and me
that are too opinionated
and must be ignored and oppressed at all levels

cause to an unwed homo greenie..we all look the same
ie mustr be ignored and cast out
and thats how it is

im nearly out of web acces mate
4 december you wont hear me no more
then i will leave it to the kids..to figure things out by themselves

and be able to ignore the spin
and the carrot and the moralising stijch'e

[stick make johan9 sick]"".....*

the first bit is on your other..IGNORED topic
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=4680&page=0

heck mate im over the lot of them
i see no reason to waste my limited savings on getting any more web acces

or indeed going 'digetal'
i got a libery of 23 000 books i can read
im over trying to save a world gone mad..[i dont want to play spin the car/rot anymore either]

i hope im strong enough not to by anymore we acces
no dodo..no posting..that will make them feel better
even if it makes me feel worse

im over giving a damm

Oko/Pelican, Brilliant posts OUG ok every one has right to think as they will, I often agree with you.
I have a question.
While humanity sounds like the tower of Babble, are we ignoring chances to actually fix issues.
I have hope, and despair, all based on our current world.
The Arab spring, who could have guessed or even hoped it would come.
We, most of us, still fear a fall back to past dictatorships.
But modern communications and ability to see a better out come, with not the west forcing it down their throats bought it about.
I think power prospers and the status quo if we do not verbally role issues over.
Given my view, we are a product of our ancestors leaving the caves.
And that community came about for defense and common interests, I wounder what our future holds.
I remember past civilizations, and their fall.
Both hope and fear our future but if now, we found leadership, statesman like leaders,would we still push pull and undermine them.
Note I am afraid my reference to statesmen is not applicable to our current leaders.

yes mr bell the world needs leadership
but all we are getting is ever more moralising laws
[that are not only unconstitutional...they are actually against the high courts definition of legal..to wit illegal/unlawfull]

kids making moral rules
while pushing an athiest adgenda
[making morals into law]..

but lets reply your questions

""are we ignoring chances to actually fix issues."'
the easy way..is to make the tax payer pay
by issuing a new law..

[recall mate her main point is
BUT we pased 180 new legislations..

we got 200 enquiries
then will release bits..as we see best fits
our JOINT adgenda's..and hide the rest in my hairdressers drawers]

""I have hope, and despair,""
mate...dont sweat on it...just wait..
the courts will/may..in time..nullify these bad moral;rules one by one]

""all based on our current world."'

mate we ARE spirits..undergoing a life sentance
dont despair in this world's vile

the next world is perfcet
no boys club..no tax
just equals doing the things to themselves..for themselves

im told repeatedly..the words of jesus
let the tares[bad]..GROW with the wheat...till harvest
and our time of harvest is fast comming mate...[let the meak inherit their 6' of earth]

lets be strong
and let them

""The Arab spring,"'

mate thats only so they can do THERE
whats now bing done here
[to wit the boys club running the girls club

""most of us, still fear
a fall back to past dictatorships.""]

mate put on a glove
under it all..STILL LIES the same hand..!

its the same masonic order
only now its their secretaries..[wolves in sheep skins]

""But modern communications
and ability to see a better out come""

ionly selling us the dream mate
NOTE THE 180 NEW laws..new taxes
its the same/same..new face..with..tyhe same/insane game

THE SAME faceless men..chosing the patsies
now wearing pasties..and bleached hair..and high heels

""I think power prospers""

money influences patsies..to make more money
[in the end...its let them eat inflated paper
cause the powers that were

own everything else*