The next federal election will need some real soul-searching of our political loyalties.
It is no secret that the two major contenders have failed in managing their own policies & are stumbling over broken promises.
We must acknowlege that the opposition’s primary purpose is to make the incumbent responsible but in reality it is mere sabotage at the expense of the citizens.
Citizens too are very rarely supportive of a Government’s strategies & policies, particularly when it is a matter of curbing their own demands. Politicians telling us “don’t do as we do, do as we say” don’t cut it either.
That’s just not good enough just as it is not good enough for citizens to demand benefits they clearly don’t earn but the politicians don’t earn either yet still receive.
Then there is the matter of distribution of wealth. The wealth of tax revenue is at the forefront. It is not unreasonable for the average taxpayer to believe that a large percentage of that revenue is rather unwisely & irresponsibly distributed. News & reports about wastage abound.
Welfare rorting is another constant news content as are the antics of welfare agencies.
Govt projects awarded to contractors & end up wasted to the tune of many millions too are not rare reports.
State & Local Govt performance are perpetually fertile ground for conjecture. The matter of incompetent CEO’s misappropriating huge sums yet still getting their contracts paid out must be addressed immediately. Then there are the regularly publicised ex-politician over-the-top benefits whilst the workers of industry are being told that “there’s not enough money” for a slightly better pay to create a level economic playing field.
Law & Order have become victims of their own policies to the point of being as immoral & criminal as the acts of the perpetrators they’re supposed to convict. The victims don’t even get a mention.
Insurance companies reward the frauds but the genuine claimants are denied compensation.
A change is needed.

Political 'loyalties’ should be a thing of the past seeing that politicians daily demonstrate their total lack of loyalty to Australia and Australians; their loyalty is to themselves first, then their on-the-nose parties.

We have a grim choice at the the next election; we have 2 major parties running; one thinks electorate is stupid; the other thinks the electorate is a cash cow to fund their hair brained schemes.

If Australian voters want to regain some of the dignity they have lost, they will write 'None Of These’ on top of the ballot paper, and see what happens.

And a word on 'independents' who are no such thing, but merely stooges for the Turnbull family.

We conservatives should also remember, as we stand in the polling booth, that the Coalition sold us out via Turnbull and the Black Hand faction. I cannot see how it is possible for us to cast a formal vote this time, apart from the AC in the Senate. 'Slightly better' than Labour is not good enough.

Policies matter a great deal to me. I prefer
to go with what I think is good for me, my
family, and the country. I'll be looking for
leadership, and long-term planning. Will I find
anyone of that calibre? I guess we shall have to
wait and see. Not looking too good at present.

Foxy Quote "Policies matter a great deal to me. I prefer to go with what I think is good for me, my family, and the country."

Interesting putting yourself first.

Problem is policies are used to get elected BUT only kept if convenient to do so.

Gee Gillard was good at breaking them.

Philip S.,

Again with the slurs.

I only put myself first because I'm the one giving
my opinion here. Goodness me. Give it a rest you nasty
old coot! You're beginning to piss me off big time!

I was hoping to get suggestions for what people believe is important for the benefit of all.
My personal suggestions are laying the foundation for an eventual national service, a tax rate that encourages people to spend more as an economic stimulus, less generous public service salaries, more focus on victims of crime & bureaucracy, demand accountability from public servants, particularly in Centrelink, stop fleecing us for assets that are in fact liabilities etc.
Let's see if any of those larger Independents can come up with at least some answers.

Individual,

I agree with most of what you say, except for national service, and a different tax regime. Military type national service is fine in times of emergency, but at no other time. The military structure is for professionals to be constantly in training for the defence of Australia. Conscription into civilian duties would only bring resentment, which is understandable.

Taxation is fine as it is. People just need to pay it.

Foxy Quote "Goodness me. Give it a rest you nasty old coot! You're beginning to piss me off big time!"

If this comment by me is enough to set you off something is wrong,
"Interesting putting yourself first."

Here is me thinking we were getting on so well.

ttbn,
>We have a grim choice at the the next election; we have 2 major parties running; one thinks electorate is stupid;
>the other thinks the electorate is a cash cow to fund their hair brained schemes.

More like EACH of them thinks the electorate is stupid AND is a cash cow to fund their harebrained schemes!

Foxy you gave me good advice
I think such threads are best avoided, know both sides are not the same Neither will be perfect
One side is *going to win* my side
It will not be perfect but it will care far more than the rich mans union we call LNP
By that very victory, by people saying no more!
That party the LNP will be reborn
see you in another thread
IF the abuse continues total retaliation would only harm OLO.
Not worth it

Phil,

Sometimes even the nicest of people can only
take so much. And there are moments when
a black-eye is warranted.

Dear Belly,

Good advice.

Foxy Quote "And there are moments when a black-eye is warranted."

One knows who is the most rational in a disagreement when one side has to resort to violent actions.

Philip S.,

So true.

However to stick the knife in without leaving
a telling gash - do it with words. The scar will
be that much deeper - right "Dear".

Lol.

Philip,

Black eyes now! The nastiness of the left always comes out when they are being done like dinners.

ttbn,
do you not see the social & economic benefits to society from a National Service ? Of course those who need it most desperately will object because it is in their mentality to object discipline & respect. Many haven't developed the mentality of responsibility because they have been allowed to grow up without it. It's always others whom they expect to care for them. A national Service has proven to work as a society-building tool. Just look at Australian society before & after Whitlam removed National Service. The negative effects of this decision were immediate & snow-balling into the "you owe me" mentality that is now crying out for reintroduction of a national service. It would not necessarily need to be military but it does need a community service base. I speak with a lot of people of all ages about this & I found that the support IS out there. We simply need Govt to start a discussion about it. I can see a lot of boredom related crime reduced. Once the mentality off responsibility takes hold it'll go from good to better very quickly.
I believe that at least 75% of mentality related problems will be reduced & positively impact economically right from the start.

ttbn The only amazing thing is how could anyone think "Interesting putting yourself first." is an insult.

Belly needs to look at his past history of abuse to others before he cries.

The same Belly that was supposedly avoiding certain peoples threads.

Wonder who said this.
I have left before to come back would prove me weak. So after this thread it is a firm goodby from me. Posted by Belly, Thursday, 6 March 2014 1:19:54 PM

Foxy Quote
"Philip S.,
So true.
However to stick the knife in without leaving a telling gash - do it with words. The scar will be that much deeper - right "Dear". Lol."

You may not like the truth but YOU are a hypocrite you jump up and down at perceived insults BUT ignore direct insults by your dear friend to others quote "You are an apologetic goose who can't read."
Lets see if you go and reprimand him for that if not try keeping your self indignation to yourself so as not to absolutely provide evidence of hypocrisy and bias

Individual,

Sorry mate, but I am opposed to conscription unless there is a state of war, when both males and females would be called up, unlike the discriminatory males only practice of old. As well, I think you will find that the military does not want the responsibility of trying to straighten out brats who are already beyond the pale by the time they are 18. Young people, mores, values and beliefs have changed so much since conscription was acceptable that reintroduction of any form of conscription in peace time would be a recipe for disaster; and politicians know they would never get away with it.

ttbn,
I'm against conscription too but that's not what national service is about. National service is education, much needed education before adulthood.
I'd like to see people pull their weight & get satisfaction from doing so. There's nothing worse than not having a sense of belonging and/or achievement such as has been sold out by Whitlam & Co in exchange for the votes of those who'd lost that sense of belonging.
It's the removal of that service that has put a stop to the development of culture in white Australia.

Individual- I'm not sure that Ttbn has experience in the military so it could be a hard sell. I'd have to go back over previous posts. Or perhaps ttbn's objection is more that the military could be damaged by bringing disruptive people into the organisation. The reserves would probably be sufficient to do what you are suggesting and give people a sense of discipline and cohesion- but there are many sources of fragmentation now compared with 40 years ago- many divers-ive groups. In the military you are expected to fit in and act as part of the team- otherwise you get to do pushups or spend time in a cell. Teamwork seems to be sadly lacking but is necessary for any group activity. Individualism needs to be adjusted for the best interest of the team goals in certain contexts- the advantage of rules is that it's not just you that has to obey them- without approapriate rules there is no freedom. You can be free to pursue your individuality in your own time. Individualism is different than having individuality one is an ideology the other is healthy. Too much individuality in a team creates chaos- losing the benefits of working as a group. A good team produces more than any individual could produce on their own- a bad team produces less than an individual can produce on their own. What sort of team is Australia?

In old times those that controlled resources could not run away with them after they had exploited the community- as they were dependent on the community- they wouldn't be accepted in another community- the resources may not have been in a readily movable form such as gold. You can't run away from your family or your culture because it's always in your heart

Mass culture damages identity- lonely in the crowd- alienation- psychopathy. People need tribes. There needs to be a balance between the level of the world and the level of the family- If all power is held at the level of the world there is tyranny. That's why Communism (and mass Capitalism) is a psychological disease. Monarchy is a hierarchy of families- Conservatism is similar- with similar duties- power and duty.

In reference to the original topic of the thread...

The most important policy in the world is population- in Australia it is immigration. Multiculturalism has failed- just as the leaders of Europe have said- it just creates complexity- and disenfranchises Australian's from Australia- and draws idiots to the bright lights of novelty. Some diversity of thought is useful- too much is confusion. Focus is important.

Australian's need to vote for anti-immigration senators in the senate as a first step- then we need to demand pre-selection of anti-immigration representatives in the major parties and penalize parties that refuse.

Immigration is a tax on Australian's- it dilutes our cultural ownership of Australia.

Canem Malum,
What so many people now don't get is that this lack of discipline is actually the cause of so much dysfunction. The perception of many is that being in a national Service is all about killing . They don't seem to grasp that it is about social cohesion & aptitude & literally finding themselves. To hide yourself away in this digital & entitlement cocoon is a trap as soon as reality hits. All it needs is power outages for a week & these people will be crying for help. The lack of social skills has already made them targets or rather victims on their social media.
Somebody trained in a National service would acquire the mentality to deal with such nonsense instead of just bleat bullying.

CM,

Multiculturalism is certainly a huge drawback in Australia. Before the 1970s, Australia had a very successful immigration policy based on assimilation and integration.

Nothing has contributed more to the breakdown of social cohesion in Western societies than multiculturalism. The meaning of the word has been manipulated and changed by the usual suspects. It originally described the simple fact that the community was made up of people with different cultures; it has now come to be about imagined 'rights’ of immigrants to carry on just as they did wherever they came from. The are virtually forced to do this by the Far Left and diehard ratbags in their tribes within Australia.

The mania for diversity has split Australia into disparate tribes who never connect. These tribes are interested only in what they can get for themselves. Combined with the increasing acrimony in our society, thanks to self-loathing white Leftists, Australia is in a big mess. There are too many people pulling in too many different directions. We have become a dysfunctional 'family’.

Conservatism, which, despite the claims of the loopy Left, we have not experienced for decades, and populism rather than globalism is the only way back. No matter how much nationalism is jeered at by the Left white ants in our society, we need to reassume it to get back the successful country we once had. This will not be achieved while we have only a choice between two centre Left parties, the Coalition and Labor. So called 'independents’ thinking they are doing us a favour by attacking the very few conservative politicians still left are just dilettantes, better suited to anything but the serious business of politics. So, there is not much hope; not in my lifetime at least.

Investing in the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults.

That is the gist of my conversations with average people whom I discuss the need for a National Service with. I have yet to find more than 1 in 20 who are not in favour of this service.

Here's another example of the self-destructive stupidity that is making Australia pathetic:

A taxpayer funded 'thing’ called the “Gender & Disaster Pod" has decided that there is a need for special training in case of natural emergencies for LGBTI-identifiers. The training is all about better understanding of “discrimination” based on “sexual identity in the context of emergencies”!

Try working that one out.

Apparently there is a 'need’ to employ ‘professionals’ to “ support and update household guides for emergency preparedness with a ‘GENDER LENS’ to ensure the different needs of women, men, and everyone of diverse gender and sexual identities …… are covered in preparing for an emergency”.

Unbelievable!

ttbn,
I refuse to believe that the average Australian is that stupid. Australian Academics, Yes !

What you all seem to have missed while having a go at Foxy is that
elections ARE about putting your interests first.
That way when all is counted the country adopts the policies the
majority wanted. If everyone put the country first then that would be
the applied policy.

Where things do go wrong is when policies are not put to the people
but are snuck in after elections, or hidden in the fine print.

yep Bazz the most selfish voters hide behind health and education where more money is wasted than anywhere else. Many of them are on the gravy train themselves. Imagine schools stuck to teaching kids how to read, write and more inmportantly to think. Imagine tuck jobs,boob jobs, baby killing, fat operations and multiple useless drugs had to be paid for by the consumer. Imagine the billion dollars or so a year given the the abc was spent on real news instead of promoting male hate, homosexuality and the gw religion. Imagine we discouraged immigrants who just want to bludge on the welfare system. Yeah just imagine!

runner,

Are you of British ancestry?

the most selfish voters hide behind health and education where more money is wasted.

runner,
That's why I have long been in favour of public servants being exempt from voting.
Unless of course, they've done their time in National Service.
I'll never forget when listening through the window of an indigenous school when the snow white teacher said to his class "tell your parents they must vote Labor".

'runner,

Are you of British ancestry?

The surest part of my ancestry Foxy is the same as you. We go back to Adam hence our adamic nature. My recent ancestry is the second or last Adam. I suspect somewhere along the line I had relatives in Scotland however I have never really gone into to much. Seems like a lot of the corrupt union movement who Shorten was/is so tied to were very corrupt poms.

runner,

A hint of racism there from Foxy, quizzing you on your background.

So, anyone out there with ideas as to what the contenders for the next election should be focussing on ? I mean real issues not pointless back-forth insults !
What do OLOer's expect from the candidates they'll give their support to ?

Individual,

I expect the worst from our politicians; they are just not up to the job, but what I would like to see is:

The cessation of all immigration except for that which Australia needs.
No more multiculturalism. Do as we do, or leave.
A return to nationalism. Without it, you don't have a society. You either have a nation state or you don't.
All working age people to actually work, including people on welfare. Traditional mothers exempt until children start school.
An end to compulsory voting, and an end to preferential voting, which just benefits two parties.
Dumping of the Paris Agreement, which is costing us a lot of money and has nothing to do with anything except transferring wealth to failed states
Leaving the United Nations, which is a threat to our sovereignty.
Getting back to cheap, coal powered energy and recovering our competitiveness.
Transferring many functions (too many to list) from Canberra to the states. Decentralisation.
Meritocracy in all employment, public and private. No feminist sexism.
History taught using facts, not emotionalism and judgements of past eras.
Universities privatised and responsible for their own funding through fees and research.
Free education only to matriculation level.

I could go on, but I know nothing will change while we have the same sorts of dead heads we have always had lining up to get into politics

This sums up more succinctly what I think of the Australian political class, and why I don't expect anything from them.

"Shorten is offering the Venezuelan alternative for Australia” (Ex- Liberal politician and wit, Neil Brown). With more or less the same breath Brown said that “the Liberal party does not have the gumption to carry through on any of the conservative principles it claims to avow”.

What worries me that we don't even hear promises let alone policies so close to the election.
The Australian Conservatives seem to be the only party that actually outlines their policies. Of course, implementing them is another story. I would like to hear the PM discuss his own past failing policies when Treasurer, Centrelink & old age pension asset test in particular.
Labor hasn't uttered a sound on the subject. I suppose as per usual, because we still have the same incompetent, uncaring bureaucrats, more money will be wasted on the so-called "professionals" in Education, Health & Law.

Individual,

Although I'm a paid up member of the Australian Conservatives, I have to say that their policies can be relied on about as much as those of Clive Palmer. The AC is running candidates in the senate only, and all they can do is block and negotiate - if they can get independents to agree with them!

AC is a great idea, but I don't think they will get much support from the Australian electorate, which has a Nanny State mentality and likes getting stuff for nothing, without responsibility, and without effort.

I noticed the Nanny State at work last night on TV, sticking its nose into the 'buy now, pay later' schemes that have popped up lately. It's ridiculous, of course to always owe money, but let's face it, many people are ridiculous, and if they want to spend their lives in hock to lenders, that's their business. The lenders are well within the law. But, of course, the Nanny State wants to take idiots under their wing so that they are obliged to government, which will do them more damage than the lenders ever will. It's called Marxism.

The Harvey Norman business model has been adopted by federal Govts of both colours & we can now see the effects. But, will people wake up ? Don't think so ! Instant gratification, pay later is exactly what's paralysing our economy now.
I firmly believe that a national Service would put a big dent into this insidious mentality.
Govt also needs to change to a tax system that is based on incentive to earn instead of the frustration of paying tax to keep the non-performing in comfort.

Individual- I agree with your comments. When army personnel go bush if they want some convenience they have to take personal responsibility for carrying it- you quickly learn to minimize your wants and needs. I remember a guy that wanted to eat baked beans (8 cans) that's an extra 4 kilos of food- I think his pack was 30kgs in all- I'm sure some carry more especially on patrol- but he was pretty broken at the end of the day after hill and rock climbs.

Those that have spent time going bush would get an idea of how to avoid burdening themselves unnecessarily- say by running up credit card debt.

There was a movement called "ultralight backpacking" where advocates carried 2kg packs- there was even a crazy woman who crossed the Alps with little more than an army blanket in winter- amazing.

http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ultralight-backpacking.html
http://www.greenbelly.co/pages/ultralight-backpacking-tips
http://andrewskurka.com/2012/is-lightweight-backpacking-label-dead/

Canem Malum,
What a great idea. I wonder if this could be applied to Govt bureaucracy ?

TBN I can't see much in your suggested policies I wouldn't vote for.

When arte you standing?

I wonder if our politicians read OLO ? Plenty good policies offered for free here.

Hasbeen,

Thanks. But too old and still enough self-respect left not to be a politician.

I'd have thought people would jump to putting their ideas forward for others to read. Just goes to show the disinterest of people about working towards a common good.
I suppose we'll get the Govt the uncaring deserve.
I'm starting to think why should politicians care if not even the people do.

Individual,

Haven't you noticed that many people on OLO generally wait for someone else to say something for them to agree or disagree with? They are reluctant to put up their own thoughts and ideas to be tested. It is easier for them that way. And, of course, some people don't want to cop flak from the lurkers who are interested only in putting other people down for what they think or believe. You know who I mean. I'm not criticising people who don't want to make “suggestions” but I understand your disappointment; and, yes, the apparent disinterest is frustrating, but there's nothing you can do about it. Hopefully they will have their say in the privacy of the polling booth but, even there, what can they do with the useless dopes they have to choose from?

I have accepted the 'voters get the politicians they deserve’ idea in the past; but our politicians have become so shallow and self-serving that I don't think that anyone deserves them. You also say that you don't know why politicians should care “if not even the people do”. Well, I'm 99.9% sure that the politicians do not care, and have not cared since politics became a career.

The only way to improve our situation is to change the way politicians are selected for nomination, and that is not possible under our present system. The way it is done now, with selection of hacks by parties and different party factions is most undemocratic.

ttbn,
Unfortunately, you're right. There really is no point in trying to help people, they're just not interested in helping themselves. The rest are simply callous opportunists.
Cheers & all the best.

Sounds like bribery.

Mad as hell promotion: free internet available in NSW electorate

Want free NBN for three months? Just display an anti-Nationals Party corflute in your front yard for the state and federal election campaigns and it's yours.

That's the offering from the emerging grassroots political group Anyone But Nats, who are trying to push the Nationals out of country seats across NSW.

The group, a registered third-party campaigner in next month's election, is advertising on their website and handed out brochures promoting the offer last week in the seat of Barwon.

The "Mad as Hell" promotion says: "Want 3 months FREE NBN? Put up an Anyone But Nats corflute in your front yard until the Federal Election and get 3 months free NBN!"

The NSW Nationals have lodged a complaint with the NSW Electoral Commission, arguing it breaks electoral laws, which ban "a promise or offer to give or confer, any property or any other benefit of any kind...to influence or affect any person's election conduct."

The party's state director, Ross Cadell said free internet was clearly "any other benefit".

"The Nationals are all up for a robust debate on the issues. What we do not appreciate is illegality in the political process by breaching the state and federal electoral laws," he said.

"This mob should clean it up and then bring it on."

But one of the group's co-conveners, Rohan Boehm, said the commission found nothing wrong with the promotion, which is timed to run across the NSW and federal campaigns.

Mr Boehm said the offer was legal and was donated to their campaign by a supporter.

http://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/mad-as-hell-promotion-free-internet-available-in-nsw-electorate-20190208-p50wlm.html

Why haven't these people been put behind bars by now ?

Same reason Gillard is not behind bars, the senior police and prosecutors are politically appointed. The WA assistant police comm said the case was too stale to spend money investigating.

I like the Italian one where a judge can instigate prosecutions, some judges are left some are right.

This kind of stupidity-borne corruption could be done away with by the introduction of a National service. With more enlightened voters the demand on integrity would out-strip non-sensical mentality.

This one sound suspicious.

Scott Morrison ally helps French lock in submarine 'contract of the century' with Australia

A long-awaited contract for the $50 billion Future Submarine program will be signed in Canberra today by France and Australia, following months of tough negotiations and the recruitment of a high-powered lobbyist.

The ABC can reveal one of Prime Minister Scott Morrison's key political confidants was recently hired by the French state-owned shipbuilder Naval Group to help improve a rocky relationship with the Defence department, and to secure a crucial Strategic Partnering Agreement (SPA).

"ECG Advisory Solutions", a lobbying firm founded by former Liberal party candidate David Gazard, has been advising Naval Group since last year on how to handle the difficult SPA negotiations with Australia.

Mr Gazard, who was chief of staff to former New South Wales Liberal leader John Brogden, began his friendship with Mr Morrison when he was the Liberal Party's State Director for the 2003 election.

In a statement, Naval Group confirmed the arrangement but did not disclose how much Mr Gazard's company was being paid for its lobbying services.

"As an integral part of our commitment to the Future Submarine Program, Naval Group is committed to building effective partnerships with the Commonwealth of Australia and Australian industry," a company spokesperson told the ABC.

"For that purpose we are seeking external advice."

Mr Morrison discussed progress on the SPA with French President Emmanuel Macron at the G20 summit in late November, and told reporters they had agreed to elevate it "back up to leader-level to ensure it's finalised in the near term".

It is understood Mr Gazard has since helped the French broker a deal with the Australian government, although ECG Advisory Solutions declined to comment on its role.

French industry groups have described the $50 billion dollar submarine deal with Australia as the "contract of the century" and the country's Defence Minister Florence Parly is flying to Canberra to sign the crucial document.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-11/scott-morrisons-friend-hired-by-french-during-submarine-talks/10797920

How about demanding the Education departments include learning about this country's Constitution so first time voters have a better insight ?

Politicians do not want educated voters, they will see through the BS and vote buying by the big 2.

'None of the above'
http://youtu.be/MOwesWn3vU4
http://youtu.be/e6u0utMpFXo