Dear Belly,

You're right Mr Turnbull did have a great deal of
support that evening. He enjoyed a generally
sympathetic reception but there was a fleeting
moment that the crowd got a bit restless when
he moved to the more contentious issue of same-sex
marriage and took credit for having it legalised.

Many viewers apparently felt it was a bit rich
of Mr Turnbull to take credit for same-sex marriage
with the postal survey, instead of simply legalising it.

One audience member even shouted "No, you didn't!" to
Mr Turnbull's claim. He was reminded that it was only
legalised in Parliament after 7.8 million Australians
- more than 60% of respondents, voted in favour of it.

Still, Mr Turnbull kept mentioning same-sex marriage
several times during the night.

He was asked a few more curly questions - and we could
see that here was a man who was very defiant - and
was not willing to accept what had happened to him.
He could not understand why? And he kept
saying it was "madness."

travel is educational
and as their parents tell them - it
broadens one's outlook. They return home, get a good job,
for which they're highly qualified,
Foxy,
Every single one of our present parliamentarians, senior bureaucrats, heads of departments, CEO's etc. has travelled the world several times over. What happened to that broadened outlook ? All I see is a Nation being held up on a shoestring by hard-working blue collar workers & overtaxed small businesses. The travelled with their suppesedly broadened outlook are mismanaging everything they lay their hands on. Is that the educational you're referring too ?

Individual,

I was talking about young people and travel and what
they could experience - not
politicians who travelled for work-related reasons.
In any case I think that almost everyone of us would
agree that life's real education happens outside the
classroom. And, travel is enlightening no matter who
you are. You learn languages, you learn about other
cultures, you learn history, today's world, nature,
and so many numerous things. When you move out of
your comfort zone you have to learn to be able to
adapt to a new learning environment in a very short
time.

As for our politicians?

If you're unhappy with the current lot - you'll have
a chance to have your say at the next election.
Make it count.

I have no doubt that we all can find the
solutions that suit us, provided that we do not
succumb to the siren calls of demagogues,
charlatans and ideologues. Provided that we stay
away from the seat-warmers, the party hacks, the
careerists, the adventurers. We need to look for
pollies who go into Parliament to make a
difference, to bring about particular reforms,
who have a vision for our nation. Can you
think of any one who fits that description at
present?

Hopefully we'll have a better idea closer to the
election next year.

If you're unhappy with the current lot - you'll have
a chance to have your say at the next election.
Make it count.
Foxy,
Democracy denies decent people to have a say !

Foxy yes as you say he hit a wall when talking about same sex
But that very issue needs looking at,given his wishes he would not have held that vote
He would have passed a bill
He had no choice, his right wing did not want it to get up!
Only by holding that plebiscite and proving to them the voters wanted it could he act.
He would have had a carbon capture tax, his right never wanted it.
Those and Rupert's insistence are the reasons he is not our PM
ScoMo is a little further right than Turnbull, but too is under riding instructions from Rupert and his right of reality Liberal faction

Individual,

Sounds to me that you have your mind made up -
Which could be the makings of a political career.
Think about it.

Dear Belly,

My husband and I will try to vote early (if we can)
today. We'll be in the area of our nearest voting
center. Hopefully our votes will count for something.