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Election Day - open thread
Nov. 24th, 2007 09:08 amDrop in and talk about voting, or not voting, or how impossible your polling place was. Come back later and see how things are going.
For non-Aussies, this is a big election. We have clear evidence of an old government full of stuff we don't like (the latest was racist leaflets) and that will bring in legislation we have either definitely indicated we hate (GST, anyone?) or weren't asked about in the first place (Workchoices). We can choose this government again and accept the very uncomfortable Australia it has discovered for us, or we can elect a new government. It's an amazing election in that way: we can choose to have less hate and fear if we really want. If we're not too scared of ourselves.
Put like this, voting sounds obvious: get rid of Howard's mob. For the last two elections it was almost this obvious, however, and we didn't change governments. This election too, I've heard many people say how awful Howard's Australia is and how Howard is meanspirited and cheats on promises. When we talk about how we're going to vote they say "I'll have to vote Howard - everyone else is probably just as bad." To me it's like saying "Look, someone's drowning, but I'll get wet if I rescue them."
You don't have to agree with me to comment. You don't even have to be seriously political. Or even Aussie. Just regard this as election party thread :).
The food at my place tonight is better, just in case you were wondering. Anyone coming to the tally room should either be at my place 6 ish (and if we're all gone, just join us at EPIC). Non tally room votecountwatchers will be turning up after 8. If there's a delay at the tally room (you know, queues) then there'll be snacks and chairs on my back patio.
For non-Aussies, this is a big election. We have clear evidence of an old government full of stuff we don't like (the latest was racist leaflets) and that will bring in legislation we have either definitely indicated we hate (GST, anyone?) or weren't asked about in the first place (Workchoices). We can choose this government again and accept the very uncomfortable Australia it has discovered for us, or we can elect a new government. It's an amazing election in that way: we can choose to have less hate and fear if we really want. If we're not too scared of ourselves.
Put like this, voting sounds obvious: get rid of Howard's mob. For the last two elections it was almost this obvious, however, and we didn't change governments. This election too, I've heard many people say how awful Howard's Australia is and how Howard is meanspirited and cheats on promises. When we talk about how we're going to vote they say "I'll have to vote Howard - everyone else is probably just as bad." To me it's like saying "Look, someone's drowning, but I'll get wet if I rescue them."
You don't have to agree with me to comment. You don't even have to be seriously political. Or even Aussie. Just regard this as election party thread :).
The food at my place tonight is better, just in case you were wondering. Anyone coming to the tally room should either be at my place 6 ish (and if we're all gone, just join us at EPIC). Non tally room votecountwatchers will be turning up after 8. If there's a delay at the tally room (you know, queues) then there'll be snacks and chairs on my back patio.