Dear Kev,

People are becoming more and more vocal in their
dissatisfaction with our current political system.
Perhaps because in the past voters had a better
idea of what each of our major parties stood for.
They had specific programs, which were contained in
policy documents issued before elections, and their
differences over policy were usually clear cut and
significant. Voters knew (more or less) where they
stood.

However in recent years things changed - and apparently
transparency, accountability, and honesty, seems to have
gone by the wayside. Scandals, corruption, lies, came
to the fore - and trust has been lost.

It's a sad day for our political system - and a sad day
for the country. The current state of affairs has many
voters wary - and they are beginning to vent their feelings.
The view is apparently being formed that our political
process sees power as being held by, and exercised
primarily in the interest of, a privileged few.

I certainly don't have the answer to our current problem.
Except to make our feelings known to our MPs and the Media.
However, sadly, I think that an awful lot of damage can be done
in the next couple of years that will cause this country
and its people a great deal of grief.

I don't think the political System itself is bad. It the present two Political Parties & the self-interested people they attract (Lawyers & Accountants) that is at the crux of the problem.

The corruption is endemic to both of these Political Parties. They both need to go.

The corruption is endemic to both of these Political Parties. They both need to go.
Jayb,
reading OLO everyday I am more convinced now more then ever that Australians are a greater problem, than the Government.
Greed & selfishness are now so entrenched here that those who contribute to the wealth of this nation are simply giving up. Why put in a effort when only the morons get rewarded ?

Hasbeen

your post is brilliant and spot on but to many turkeys have been brainwashed into thinking that Governments need to be social engineers, fix every mess people make and provide for every bludger who does not want to pay for things themselves. Look at the absolute wastage on the gw scam that even those knowing it was crp still played along with.

Hasbeen – you old fart (your words). Your post includes good points but you choose to ignore a large part of the story. You do not address those who have plenty who have not earned it. You do not address those who have earned much and have not been rewarded for it. What about the Vet’s that have served and suffered as a consequence of their service. What about those that are disabled by industry and religion. I could go on and on you old fart, but I reckon it would be trying to fill a bucket with holes in it.

Runner – Government is supposed to be the representation of the collective “US”. Your blue team is not and the previous red team wasn’t either. Hasbeen’s post was far from brilliant and only hit a couple of spots, it just suited your rhetoric.

True to form neither of the above offered any solution to “improve our government system”.

To Jayb and Individual I say hear, hear

There is NO solution and there is NO final answer regarding good government. The "fact" always remains one person's good wine is another person's poison.

For the past 100,000 or so years that homo sapiens has existed, people have ALWAYS squabbled and disagreed. No one, perfect way of government or rule of any type, acceptable to all, has ever existed. It never will. Why? Because homo sapiens is no different whatsoever to the animal kingdom. We "think" we are ever so intellectually superior, yet we fight, war, squabble and disagree just like the animal kingdom. Why? Because biologically we are just that ... animals (mammals to be precise).

Conclusion: Homo sapiens is biologically programmed (survival instinct), at a most primitive level, to fight and squabble. There is NOTHING that mankind can currently do to change that biology.

Conclusion regarding government/politics: There will ALWAYS be 2 or more sides to EVERYTHING that's proposed ... often dozens and even hundreds of sides. One person's great solution is ALWAYS another person's disaster. ALL systems of government are destined to change over time via squabbling, fighting, enforcement, wars, invasions, coups, democracy, non democracy, dictatorships etc etc etc.

Government and rule systems have ALWAYS been in flux for the past 100,000 years, remain in flux and will ALWAYS be in flux. Homo sapiens is just way too primitive, with a very constrained intellectual biology, for things to ever be acceptable to all people .... at any stage in the present or future.