Dear Yuyutsu,

I wrote: <<As inadequate as Abbott and Shorten are I prefer either of them to Lambie and Clive.>>

you wrote: "I disagree."

Are you saying I don't prefer Abbott and Shorten to Lambie and Clive?

Have you taken to reading my mind?

Possibly, you prefer Lambie and Clive to Abbott and Shorten, but that's not what you wrote.

As far as Israel goes if other people's sons have to serve in the army why shouldn't sons of the ultra-orthodox? Why should they be free of the obligations of other citizens? there are a great many issues in Australia, Israel and every other country. I am very much against chaplains in public schools. However, if a party made that that the main issue above other issues I would not vote for it because there are many other issues to be considered. The stabilising factor that a single issue party in government provides is purchased at a great cost. The cost is that a blank check is given to the government to do what it will in other areas. That is a negation of democracy. I think Israel would do better without the "Torah Judaism" party in government.

On TV there is a series about the National Party. It was torn apart by the "Joh for Canberra" push. Outside of a demand for a flat tax rather than a graduated income tax Joh had no other proposals besides getting power for himself. Australia rightfully rejected such a party.

Labor, the Libs, the Nats and the Greens all have platforms. PUP and Lambie have only the particular interest they are pushing.

David f: PUP and Lambie have only the particular interest they are pushing.

Actually that is no different to what the other parties are doing anyway. Except with the two Major Partys it all about, "One upmanship." They really don't have the welfare of the Australian people at heart.

That's why I support Minor Partys & Independents in the Senate. They can force the two Major Parties to make decent Legislation or risk getting the Legislation knocked back.

Dear David,

You are correct, it is I who prefer Lambie and Clive over Abbott and Shorten, not you. This is what I was trying to convey.

The difference between us is that you are still an optimistic, as you seem to believe that any good may come out of the major parties, whereas I do not hold any such hopes and therefore only believe in damage-control.

It's not even that either Clive or Lambie represent me, but I like the trend of breaking the back of the big parties.

Regarding Israel, of course nobody should be forced into the army - there could be no blot worse than conscription and a state that does it should not continue to exist. For some, however, conscription is even more painful than for others, so I see the "Torah Judaism" party as a role-model for standing for the freedom of its people. I even know a youth who was not from an orthodox home, but managed to avoid the army by joining an orthodox Yeshivah. I can only hope that following the failure of the acrimonious "Yesh Atid" party and with "Torah Judaism" again in coalition, Israelis will get the sense to equalise by lifting themselves out of the water rather than by trying to drown the Ultra-Orthodox along with themselves.

You claim that "That is a negation of democracy", but the existing electoral system was never democratic to begin with (not that I believe in democracy, but that's beside as we don't even have a democracy in Australia), hence all I can hope for is damage-control.

Jayb,
That's how UKIP in the UK and FN in France operate, they are pressure groups who are pushing the major parties to adopt their policies or face losing seats. Having MP's defect or losing by-elections and local council seats is hitting the majors where it hurts as holding the balance of power and keeping their jobs are the only concerns of mainstream politicians, the bulk of whom stand as candidates to serve themselves and their clique or caste, not the electors.

It’s coming up on nine years since we had a lower house that controlled the upper house, and because of it we have rule by single digit percentages......what do we do?....we (collectively) voted for it.
Does the “average” voter understand what the upper house does, and that their vote for the lower house can be neutered by their vote in the upper........probably not.
We elected Lambie, who is exactly the type of politician we ask for, one from “the masses” rather than a house trained political animal from the big two, and we crucify her for sticking it to Palmer and the “ can’t believe a word I say, unless it is in writing” Abbott.

The big two have to educate their suppoerters on relevance of one house to the other.

Sonofgloin,
"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."- Winston Churchill
The only way a democracy can work is if suffrage is limited, the young, the thick and the mentally feeble should not be allowed near a polling booth.
The best way to limit suffrage is to end compulsory voting, the undesirable voters will simply not turn out and the undesirable candidates will not be nominated.