Australia is about to vote for a new Prime Minister. When it comes to campaigning, both Captain Underpants and The Ranga (and their respective parties) pander to the selfish vote. We want more stuff, less tax, more money, less inconvenient boat people, more comfort, less travel time. It’s all about me. Show me that you’ll maximize good stuff for me and minimize bad stuff for me… And you’ve got my vote!
Maybe it’s time to stop and think about someone other than me! I need to.
Hey politician, tell me what you’re going to do to:
- make the world a better place
- help alleviate world hunger & poverty
- fight for the rights of the unborn
- put an end to the trafficking of girls as sex slaves
- give Indigenous Aussies the same opportunities as Anglo Aussies
- stop the state government preying on the weak & vulnerable addicted to poker machines
I was really glad to see the way that the Micah Challenge crew have been asking politicians (from both sides) to “ask the poverty question”. Good stuff. Looks like it has been effective too.
It seems to me that the policies being made are more about winning popularity votes, instead of leading well by offering real solutions to the problems facing our nation.
Then, I stop and look at photos from Pakistan and Russia at the moment, and I’m thankful that our main problem at the moment as a nation is a bunch of pollies.
It’d be nice to see some more compassion from the policy makers though.
Bravo! Again, agree completely. I’m not trying to sound pious, but ever since my first federal election (1993) I have tried to think about how a government will affect those less well off than me, rather than thinking of my own pocket. I earn a good income, frankly I should be prepared to share the load and pay higher tax than others. The 1993 election was the GST election and I felt GST would not be good for the less well off (now that we actually have one, I don’t think to be honest it has been all that bad, but that was my thinking back in 93 at least). So John Hewson did not get my vote.
This election really was appalling. Not only were they both appealing to popularity, but it was a very narrowly defined version of popularity i.e. what will make me popular to a handful of rednecks in marginal seats!!
andy m – thanks for the comment. you must be pretty old if you voted in the 93 federal election!
;)