Winners are Grinners!
Friends, after 17 days of negotiation, the socialist-leaning Labor Party has been re-elected with the help of two Country Independents. Yes, Julia Gillard has been elected Prime Minister in her own right and the sun is shining once more.
I can’t tell you how stressed I was by the prospect that the Conservative Coalition was going to get back into government and continue on with their program to advance capitalism, to further enrich the wealthy, to further increase the gap between the rich and the poor, to get back into bed with the Big Corporations, to allow the MSM to promote greed and right-wing policies, and to continue with their toadying to the American warmongers, etc.
I feel as though a tremendous load has been lifted from my shoulders, as if the world is cleaner, brighter, more full of hope.
Mind you, Julia’s grip on power is rather tenuous. She has 76 seats and the Opposition has 74. If someone dies or resigns, the situation could change. And her seats rely on some Independents being true to their promises.
But the interesting thing that has happened in Australia is that government, because neither of the two major parties gained a majority, may revert more to a collegiate model where consultation and consensus will become more important.
Of course, this is how Parliament should work. After all, in a democracy, each member of Parliament supposedly is elected to represent the interests of their constituents not the interests of the two major parties. I know in Australia this has not been the case until now.
What happened in Britain recently is a similar thing with Cameron joining with another minor party to form government. And what will happen in America when the November elections are held will be interesting to see given that the Democrats and Republicans are locked in their traditional life and death struggle for power.
The bottom line is that two party governments don’t work especially when each party represents wildly conflicting ideologies. It’s time to drop some of the stupid and extreme political positions and work towards developing more consensus and doing what is good for the country and all its people.
The two party model is anachronistic and divisive and is too open to manipulation especially by those with pots of money like Murdoch, Big Corporations, Mining Barons, etc.
Let’s return to each member of Parliament representing their constituents and voting as individuals rather than becoming robots controlled by extremist party bosses!
I feel the same David..
I also think that the hung parliament has been a blessing in disguise really. It’s about time our MPs stood for what they believe in…rather than follow all their parties ideals blindly they should compromise and tweak policies to bring about fair reform..
I think that has been the problem with Labor. They need to acknowledge that they have talented free thinkers within the party in order to get around the issue of factions..as it’s not the factions and groups within labor that causes problems, but I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they don’t understand that all are in there to make Australia a fair nation to live in and a good neighbour to others…and need to put egos aside. Factions and a party that argues and questions policies is a good one. Much better than the sheep in the coalition.. There are a few people within the party I do not really like the sound of, but let’s hope that Julia and the others see through them soon! What I find disturbing is the backlash from this decision from people I now, educated and intelligent people who are hell bent on seeing a Liberal in power. Scary!
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David G Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 4:43 am
Yeah, Billykat, Liberals (who are really conservatives) are a scary lot. Most of them have only one thing on their mind: making money then making even more money. Look at Murdoch! He’s got billions and he’s still trying to make billions more. It’s sick!
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Yay for Australia!!
Oh gawd, don’t hold out the same hope for America! The Dems and Repubs have this game locked in. It may take having – the World speak up – and stop standing for American hegemony. Dems and Repubs are too wealthy, too tied in to the money people and poor people want to be rich too badly for actual change to happen.
I will say, that Obama’s pledge to spend money creating jobs and rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, is the best news in a long time.
Let’s enjoy these moments.
Cheers!
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Problem is, Grace, that Obama is spending borrowed money. America is being crushed by its debt. One day, some country will pull the plug.
We can but hope because that will end America’s militarism!
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I like the fact that in 10 months no legislation will pass the houses without having a GREEN influence. However in the senate there is still one Christian Fundamentalist who seems adamant to block anything and everything of the minority Governments legislative aspirations for the next 10 months. If the minority labor government can hold power till Fielding is no more then it should be happy times ahead with a more social and environmental agenda rather than just economical. Oh yeah……big multinational mining companies you will be paying your share for the countries resources you steal and along with that a tax on the carbon you produce…….Ourraah!!!!
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David G Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 1:56 am
I agree with your last sentence, Kemosobi, but people with lots of money will be trying to stop this happening and they will also be trying to get rid of the Labor Government. We have a long way to go to next July!
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