"Then there are people
with a deeply ingrained sense of social justice and
a fierce desire for equality. The belief in government
helping those who can't help themselves. They believe
that the government is there to guide society and see
that there is an equitable distribution of the country's
wealth. There are also those who are very concerned
about our environment and the planet's future."

And there is the rub. From my perspective the majority of those who think that the government can or does deliver anything like social justice or equality appear to have little interest (or a strong opposition to) anything that looks like like social justice or equality (of opportunity) to me. All to often they are supporters of profoundly unjust systems and narratives based on their own ideology.

Often the most unjust and least interested in genuine equal treatment of people before the law that I'm aware of in any current grouping.

Terms that have been used to create a false veneer of compassion over what is a passion for authoritarian brutality against those who are not in the in group and by the looks of it a neat cover for what are often brutally racist and sexist views of the world.

My vote is to some degree influenced by a rejection of any party or politician who thinks that they can solve the worlds problems by the heavy hand of government, by unfairly treating one group for the benefit of another on the basis of a set of arbitrary criteria.

R0bert

Dear Foxy,

For me it is always having a look to see if there is a halfway decent independent standing and put them first if there is. I really feel our democracy would be a darn sight healthier with more of them around. Besides that it keeps the money from going into the pockets of the mainstream parties. I then apply my preferences based probably 60% on local issues and 40% on federal issues.

However the threats to the ABC will be hard to shift me anywhere within a bull's roar of the Coalition this election as much as Shorten annoys the hell out of me.

Jayb-

Good hearing from you again. It's great that others also read Plato- Raphael Sanzio's painting is one of my favorites. The Republic the first chapter is a beautiful gentle talk between two respectful old men- the second is the discussion between Thrasymucus and Socrates on "Might Is Right". I tried reading Aristotles Nicomachian Ethics. Thanks for your reading list I will add it to mine. You mentioned Plutarch- A long time intent to read more of the Roman's- very influencial in western culture- read Gibbon's- Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire- hard to get through. The best overview of Roman culture is Plutarch, Tacitus, Gibbon? Let me know if there are any others you would add. I've been reading classical and early modern Military / Political Philosophy from different cultures also Ayn Rand and some Nietzsche.

I've read about the technology leading British tidal power- very interesting.

Energy will probably always be geo-political. But storage is the bigger issue not production. Elon Musk's TED talks have interesting discussion on energy and engines- "everything will become electric with the exception of rockets". There are electric plasma rockets for low thrust applications not Earth launch capability. It's some way off but electric Earth launch capability may eventually come using space elevators.

Bazz- Very interesting about the 12 multiplier- I expect there are a few unstated assumptions in the model.

R0bert- Thank you for your sincere comments.

SteeleRedux- I support your view on Independents. The classic argument against this position is based on political efficiency- this can have declining validity. The ABC- Well... I've come full circle on them. There are some good programs but sadly I've become disillusioned with them recently. I've come to the point where I find that my 10 cents per day has been used to attack myself- and so I feel that I would like to withdraw my funds. The SBS even more so. Maybe if we withdraw our support from those that attack us with our own resources they will adapt their programming. As someone else here said "no tax without representation".

CM: read Gibbon's- Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire- hard to get through.

Yes, I read that about 20 years ago. I still have the Book in my Library. My interest in the Old Myths was pricked when I was a youngster. Richards Topical Encyclopedia Vol 14. I still have it. Then on to the Harvard Classics The Odyssey & The Iliad. I think I was about 12 years old at the time. Kierkegaard is interesting. I have always been a avid reader of that type of literature.

I get my Downloads from the Library of South Australia. My library is stacked with Electrical & Mechanical Technology Manuals. How to do things sort of stuff. I suppose that's why I have multiple Trades & Tickets for just about everything. Nobody will play Trivial Pursuit with me.

With Political Parties I apply the 20/80 rule mostly to all Party's. Coalition 80% I like 20% I don't. ALP 20% I like 80% I don't. Greens 90% I don't 10% I do. Pauline 90% I like 10% I don't & The same with most Independents. That's why I go with, 1 ON, 2 LMP, 3 IND, 4 ALP, 5 Green.

Here's a link on the real differences between Liberal and
Labor that some of you may enjoy.

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/the-real-difference-between-liberal-and-labor-20130910-2th8s.html

Dear SteeleRedux,

Did you by any chance watch "Q&A" last night on the ABC?
It was on the NDIS. I found it very emotional and it just
confirmed for me why our ABC is worthy of our support.

I wonder how many more supporters Trump has picked up since the self righteous owners of the restuarant refused one of his workers service. You know the same hypocrites who took a Baker to court for not baking a cake with adam and adam on. The depth of hypocrisy from Hilary dummy spitters know no bounds. Oh well!