After yet another 13 people killed by Rudd's boat policy, (cheered on by those in the lunatic asylum called the green party) there seems to be no let up in the stream of boats. Obviously the smugglers recognise the Dudd's incompetence and recognise that Dudd is more likely to fall pregnant than implement a successful policy.

SM, it is typical of you with comments like "After yet another 13 people killed by Rudd's boat policy, (cheered on by those in the lunatic asylum called the green party)" No one is more appalled by the deaths of innocent men, woman and children at sea in what are terrible circumstances than members of The Greens.
The truth is, you the bigoted raciest has nothing but contempt for people seeking asylum. You care naught for these people, to you they are non whites of no economic value, and their lives are expendable in the context of political advantage for your conservative side of politics. You rejoice in their deaths seeing their lost lives as another vote winner for Abbott. Shame on you, fortunately not all members of the Liberal Party are tared with the same brush.

Belly,

If you think that first past the post with no preferences is a great idea, take a look at the US. Your proposal would make it impossible for a third party to get its candidates elected, as is the intention. It takes time to build support, and until the support becomes very large, a vote for such a party would be wasted, so the temptation exists to vote for the major party that is perceived as the lesser evil.

In such a system, the big corporations end up owning both major parties, because there is really no alternative, with each of them throwing out a few crumbs to the groups that support them. Change can only come through violence, through making the elite afraid for their lives as well as their property.

For an example of such a thing, you might consider how the first era of globalisation was shut down in the US after World War I, amid violent labour disputes, bloody race riots, which often started with conflict between American blacks and the immigrants who were displacing them from their jobs, and Anarchist bombings, with individual politicians, high government officials, and business leaders targeted for assassination.

http://archive.archaeology.org/1201/features/blair_mountain_coal_activism_west_virginia.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_of_the_deed

Paul,

There is another thread that claims that the moment left wing activist start hurling the terms racist, bigot etc, you know they have no facts to support their views. I know that I have you rattled when you resort to unfounded abuse. Firstly I have neither said anything that is racist, nor anything to indicate that I am white. Earlier you claimed that I was fundamentalist catholic.

I guess it is up to the racist bigots of this world to stop people dying at sea, and leave the Greens to do stuff all except complain about everything. Under Howards heartless pacific solution, no boat people were drowning and in 2007 only 4 people were in detention.

Kevin Dudd, can come up with 4 smart new ideas before breakfast, and stuff up each one by lunch. The coalition is by comparison very boring, relying on tried and tested policies that work.

Divergence yes I am aware of that and for that reason stand by my thoughts.
Today I itched for a phone.
Moving a campaign office from one to another saw me caught short.
A green supporter rang in #saying our current system is unfair#
She figures as she votes but is not represented [not enough votes]has no representation it is wait for it!
Un Democratic!
Another woman supported her view what madness!
America is all the bettor for having fewer choices that lead, *see NSW to less Democracy*
To think and know, like it or not rude or crude,*for every green voters 6 or7 exist who want them gone, who truly hate them.
Why would majoritys want to be sidelined by a few mad small, anti majority party,s.
Labor or Liberals voters should if they cherish true Democracy never let a single vote slip to minority's ever.

Belly,

I am not a fan of the Greens (at least at the Federal level) for a number of reasons, but I don't think that the people who vote for them should be disenfranchised. If they are as bad as you say, there is nothing to stop the major parties from putting the Greens last in their lists of preferences. If they choose to preference the Greens over each other, then they have no one to blame but themselves when Greens are elected.

Similarly, the Greens can do nothing in Parliament unless one of the major parties is willing to vote with them. Why do you blame the Greens alone for irresponsible behavior and not the party that provided a majority of the votes for it?

The US system (first past the post, no preferences) is profoundly corrupt. Why would you want it here? In addition, what you are proposing eliminates checks and balances. The Liberals were able to introduce Work Choices when they were in government because they had control of the Senate. Do we really want to lurch from one abuse of power to another? The good guys won't always be elected.