The Forum > General Discussion > Rudd resigns. The end of an error.
Rudd resigns. The end of an error.
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Posted by chrisgaff1000, Wednesday, 20 November 2013 10:51:28 PM
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Dear Chris,
We have restraints on government power. They are formal restraints such as laws limiting the exercise of power, constitutional arrangements for the impeachment of officials and guarantees of free criticism by voters, the press, and other media. What is more important than the formal restrictions on the abuse of government power are the informal restraints. These restraints, expressed in widely shared norms and values, set limits the public officals dare not violate. These underlying assumptions about the "rules of the game" are an invisible but vital part of any democratic system. Also a tolerance of criticism and of dissenting opinions is fundamental to democracy. A democracy requires its citizens to make informed choices. If citizens or their representatives are denied access to the information they need to make these choices, or if they are given false or misleading information, the democratic process becomes a sham. It is therefore important that the media not be censored, that citizens and their representatives have the right of free speech, and most importantly that public officials tell the truth. Otherwise the people cannot use their rights in a meaningful way. Posted by Foxy, Thursday, 21 November 2013 9:59:47 AM
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Foxy,
I am sorry. I did not realise that you actually believe that we are living in a democracy. A democracy is where the majority rules. Here in Australia the only rule come from the minorities. Posted by chrisgaff1000, Thursday, 21 November 2013 12:16:38 PM
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Dear Chris,
I recently came across a comment from a reader on another website that struck a cord with me. I hope that it will with you as well: "If we want real solutions we have to work together. We have to collaborate. We have to respect each other. We have to be bigger human beings than to conduct ourselves by the lowest common denominator of behaviour." Cheers. Posted by Foxy, Thursday, 21 November 2013 12:22:40 PM
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" Oh where, oh where, has our KRuddy gone? "
" Oh where, oh where, can he be?" " With his tale cut short and his nose grown long, oh where, oh where can he be?" .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI-Nx8aEkfE Posted by DreamOn, Friday, 22 November 2013 1:07:53 PM
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Foxy, the lowest common denominator is and always has been the gun.
It has also been the great arbiter otherwise democracies would not have adopted it as a national pacifier. Posted by chrisgaff1000, Friday, 22 November 2013 3:22:09 PM
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Again I say to you the government can govern any way they choose. We gave them that right. If they choose not to be transparent or they gag debate in the parliament because they have the numbers it is the right we gave them under our system of democracy.
The only time their accountability comes into question is at the next election when you can vote for your choice.
Now there might well be a moral question and a point in ethics here in this methodology of government but it does not alter Abbott's right to govern any way he feels.
There are two ways we can change government
One through the ballot boxes which will never return Labor to power again and secondly through revolution and Australians are too lethargic and under armed to do that.