'I think you understand "die du mir so ich dir". If they want us to treat them with more compassion then shouldn't they do so to us ?'

That's a bit circular.

If they want? I see lots of people on this site going on about the state of political discourse, all the while luxuriating in personal insults about the politicians.

I see more of 'us' wanting more respect form 'them', so this new found desire for respect and civil discourse may as well start with the people wanting the change.

It's all a bit 'after you Sir, I'm right behind you' isn't it.

'I think far too many in high office do not have the integrity to hold their office.'

I just think the game is stacked against them. I also think we influence greatly the rules of the game.

Come off the grass Hoully, Gillard wanting to achieve something for someone other than her self, pull the other one mate.

Had to buy the Green vote, what rubbish. Just when were the Green likely to vote with the liberals? She had them over a barrel, not the other way around

I find your whole argument nothing but an attempt to justify the unjustifiable, & not worth bothering with. Try again some time, after a bit more thought.

Houellie,
no wonder you're puzzled. I just noticed I'd made a typo, should have been wie instead of die.
Re respecting authority. yes by all means but when can we get to experience some respect from them ? Like pensioners having to cop it sweet with burglars, assaults, council stupidity etc. Where are those respectable Magistrates & Judges ? Youth crime, where are the respectable upholders of the Law ? Crook operators & con merchants, where are the respectable authorities ?
Yes I agree with you that many of us greatly influence the rules of the game & so we should because the respectable in authority perpetually fail to allow the decent to continue on the track of decency whereas the crooks instantly get the benefit of the doubt. I think respectable has different meanings in different circles.
I can foresee an emergence of vigilanteism entirely due to the miserable failings of the bureaucrats in high office.

'Come off the grass Hoully'

Haha, I must confess when I wrote that original post, well, ... hehe

'Had to buy the Green vote, what rubbish. '

It was just an example of giving some kind of frank explanation that would be politically unsound.

But, speaking of Greens, I see this as very aligned with the Green's attitude to things...

'If that meant I was chucked out quick time so be it. I would be chucked with my principles in tact, & my flag flying.'

ie all or nothing, and happy to achieve nothing of their goals, and keep their hands clean.

Sittng on the sidelines, happy in the knowledge they can keep their integrity, with zero risk of ever having their pie in the sky idealism put to any kind of real world test.

I think it applies to a lot of our arm chair analysis.

As I said at the start, it's easy isn't it.

those who lobby also,..stand and serve
i couldnt bind to any party..so i lobby those in power
i have talked with a few who managed to 'get it'...then found the couldnt change much..

like the poker machine..law was a lay down missere
till party numbers changed..and his work results in a nice 35 million subsidy to try iy in alp clubs in act..much frequented by the lobby.

it dont take power..in govt
it take an affective lobby..ongoing persistant lobby..on their homeground..or in their relaxation areras/hobbies..intrests..of the lobied in the off hours.

catching them with their pants down
just ensures you got the dirt on a loyal partier..PARTIES is the error

LOYALTY TO PARTY>>.. OVER STATE?
thats treason..right there.

or in the case to the 'lawsociety'
big pharma/private imprisonments industies ..loyalty to brand
is treason to the state../mate*

H I am no Angel so my comments refer to me too.
I think we let our selves be lead, by both sides of politics.
To blindly and often wrongly, ignore the issues, and target, unfairly the person/people.
It, after a couple of days combative posting, is my opinion, this is the best thread of 2012.
I try, very hard, not to target people without reason.
Try just as hard to target ANY side that needs it.
Those I target Gillard and Abbott,anyone, are in my view much as I say they are.
But we are, all of us, being lead like sheep, and it is ours and the country,s loss.
Any superstition put before Parliament is bound to have eight out comes, eight different groups of people wanting their out come.
It is simplistic, in the extreme,to not seethe whole, to think only what suits us,is good.
A few of us come armed with pit bull terriers to loose on THEM the other side.
And that is blindness