DEMOS how truly likely are we ever to see your stated wishes come to pass?
If we send the ALP and both coalition party's to the sin bin, hold a federal election that sees them unable to stand what do you think the result will be?
Factions all over the place, ten family first policy's last party's and a new government coalition every few months.
It is a fact of life we , all of us, will never be content with what ever party rules us, what ever system we use.
Of the choices God not Howard! Rudd is the best, not until after he rules for a while will we know for sure.
I value one vote one value but you may find conservative Australia fears it.

No Demos. The compulsory system STEALS your vote, if you wish to specifically not vote one for the major candidates.

You have to mark every box. Your vote must end up counting for one of the two major candidates, even if you want to make sure that it doesn’t count for either of them, and you put them last and second last.

Compelling a vote to officially count where the voter does not want it to is the absolute antithesis of voting in the first place. It is now a long-standing huge and blatant dilution of democracy.

I have mentioned this quite a few times on this forum and gone into it in detail. Other posters agree. But the amount of interest shown is always small.

For years now, ever since I ran as a state candidate in 1995, I have been just completely blown away by this rort of a voting system, and how the community can accept it. It indicates to me that the general populace really doesn’t care too much about the quality of our governance or the principles and rules therein.

Now this is where I can agree with you – us “mugs just swallow and swallow”. We cop the most absurd bullsh.t with hardly a whimper.

But for as long as this country has such a disinterested majority, the direct election of ministers and implementation of citizen-initiated referenda is not likely to improve things. I like these ideas. But a voter base with a bit of nous and broad interest in our nation and future has got to be there first.

I detest the poor quality of our political process. But I detest much more the terrible lack of responsibility in the general community as far as ordinary people meaningfully doing their bit for our governance goes.

The first line of m' last post shoulduv read;

"...if you wish to specifically not vote FOR ONE of the major candidates."

Ludwig, I'm quite certain there are many people who have a great desire to see massive reform on the political front. I'm one of them, Demos is another, but we're not just "stand alone" enterties. There are many small political parties in Australia all trying to change the system, but without coercion, their ideas will never see reality. If you could join some of them together for the greater good...... ah, but I dream!

I envision a National Peoples Party where all the major horrors that await our future are dealt with in a practical and timely way. Resource depletion, unsustainable population, an unsustainable economy, the injustices to the ordinary person on the street (and "out on the street")and those who struggle to achieve a semblance of a lifestyle enjoyed by previous generations. I could go on and on, but alas! It's only a dream, a dream that will never come to fruition whilst those with the power to implement change are too distracted by all the worldly toys huge corporations throw at them like lollies in a playground.

If only, in my youth, I'd had the fire and passion that my aging heart now possesses. If only I'd had the charisma to attract and retain a force of equally determined people, but I spent my youth in rebellion and indulgence just like much of our youth today. Yep! Even in my day, the corporations knew how to sway young minds.

Aime, I had a fire in the belly. I tried over a period of many years to get people involved in just the sorts of things that you and I are most concerned about. But it failed.

I have been the president of three non-government organisations, given lots of presentations, produced and presented a radio program, etc. But is has all been to no avail.

I come to the conclusion that the number of people who give a damn is pretty damn small overall. Sure there are plenty of us around, but as a percentage of the whole community, it is tiny.

Be thankful that you didn’t have this passion in your youth….and end up as bitter and twisted as me.

Ludwig, you haven't failed to reach the people and I don't think the "fire in your belly" has died. Smothered a lot, but not "out." That shows in the fact that you still care enough to continuing posting at this site. You still have a message that needs to be heard. Because it hasn't been herd in the past, doesn't meant it won't be in the future.

Our world is heading for a massive brick wall that includes diminishing resources, over population and technological boundaries. Already, I see few heads that were, not long ago, buried in the sand, beginning to take a cautious look around and their once closed eyes are starting to see a very different world to that which they once were promised would go on forever.

No matter how disappointing our crusade is at present Ludwig, we must go on until we get enough people on board to make a difference to the corrupt Governments that are currently hell bent on removing our children's future by their association to corporations and the ridiculous notion of an ever upwardly expanding economy. The only thing that will defeat us, those who are like minded and those who will join us, is to sit back and do nothing. These are issues I feel strongly about and I'll preach them to the grave.