" Instead they knowingly elect a bunch of "bastards"

As a desperate student who needed several jobs I always worked for the Electoral Office on polling day. Later I have often done the sausage sales. So I reckon I have seen it all.

I can confirm that with maybe a few exceptions - and they are probably only the occasional over-enthusiastic, overbearing scrutineers of some parties - the people who turn out for the polls are positive, optimistic and modest in what they require of those who would represent them.

The public has become exasperated with what 'Party' Government in lieu of representative government and the hordes of uniquely selfish career politicians who bounce between very narrow rails. Now long gone after doing in Don's Party (but still riding the same wagon), Natasha Stott Despoya is a good example of the self-important, stuffed-shirt, ideas-vacuum, career politician. There are many more, regrettably.

Lets take a look at the facts folks.

We're told by quite a few commentators that -

Tony Abbott and his party won office in 2013
not as a result of their popularity, but due to
the immense hostility towards the previous Labor
government.

Its also pointed out that -

The massive electoral swings in
Queensland and Victoria plus the current leadership
instability in Canberra, are all signs of the level
of disenchantment that currently exists in our
political system.

We're told that -this unprecedented volatility is
also reflected in the growing proportion of voters
casting their ballots for independents and single-issue
parties, as a means of expressing their disgust
with the entire political establishment.

It's pointed out that
there has also been an increase in recent years of
informal or spoilt ballots - instances where voters
either mistakenly or intentionally submit a ballot
that is blank or improperly filled in, which can't
be counted in the final tally.

Long-time political insider and commentator
Paula Matthewson has made an interesting observation
regarding our system of compulsory voting.
She states that if we moved to a voluntary system,
with the level of disenchantment and disengaged
voters we have now, no one would vote.

I'm not sure about that - I tend to
agree with the argument that most Australian
are quite comfortable with the current electoral
process and would be suspicious of efforts to
change it. That most Australians
do trust the electoral system (more than they
trust their politicians).

The current system also
protects marginalised groups. If we look at the
international experience - in non-compulsory voting
systems - the people who don't vote are the poor and
disenfranchised and those are exactly the people
that should be voting.

Therefore it's not surprising
that the old adage of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it,"
is something that will probably remain with us
for sometime yet.

Beach,
No doubt you never seen the cowardly founder of the Liberal Party Sir Robert Menzies, better known as 'Pig Iron' Bob to his detractors. There never was a more conceited, elitist, stuffed-shirt politician than dear old Bob in my time! Bob would make the Demo lady look like a school girl on the score of elitism.

Referring to the Queen of England "I did but see her passing by, and yet I love her till I die." Even the Queen was embarrassed! Ans as for wanting to call the Australian Dollar "Royals" no joke, he did!

Paul1405,

I have never supported Menzies and have in the past given the same quote. I am not a member of any political party, just community volunteering.

You will have to refute or accept my arguments as they stand.

Dear Paul,

We need look no further that our current PM's
introduction of dames and knighthoods.
Taking us back to the "days of yore," no wonder
there's been leadership instability in Canberra
and massive electoral swings in Queensland and
Victoria.

Dear Paul,

As far as our politicians are concerned -
Peter Coleman makes the following astute observations:

"Whatever they may say, most of them do not go into
Parliament to bring about particular reforms; they go
in because they find the life irresistible. They want
to be in it all their lives. They enjoy its exhilarating
highs and take its miserable (and tedious) lows in their
stride. They face long years in the wilderness with
equanimity. They take for granted the slander of fools.
They also believe that the voters will get it right in
the end. Their day will come. They are politicians in the
way others are poets. They can't help themselves."

Yet Coleman also makes the point that not all of them
are like that. Peter Costello (his son in-law being
one) he names who did go into Parliament to make a
difference. The others Coleman claims fit into the
categories of "seat-warmers," "hacks," "careerists"
or at best - "adventurers."

I guess Coleman should know what he's talking about.
He has been a member of the Federal Parliament (1981-87),
and the New South Wales (1968 - 78). He is a writer/
journalist, and has been editor of "The Bulletin" and
"Quadrant." His many books include a study of the
intellectuals in the Cold War, "The Liberal Conspiracy:
The Congress for Cultural Freedom and the Struggle for
the Mind of Postwar Europe," and the autobiographical
"Memoirs of a Slow Learner."

Coleman was a foundation member of the Australian
Council for the Arts (1968 - 73) and Chairman of
the Australian Film and Television School (1971-73).
And as mentioned earlier, he is Peter Costello's
father-in-law. And, in my opinion, an awesome individual
whom I admire greatly.