Non Footy Chat Thread II

[Gary Gutful]

That's the wonderful thing about the senate ATM. It may have it's flaws but the diversity it currently offers ensures that one dominant party can't dictate policy without consultation.

Soon I fear that merkins will have the "mandate" to do whatever the f**k they want.

I see it differently. The way that the greens and independents are able run interference and delay the progression of sensible policies is a concern. It stops genuine reform and results in everything being watered down to keep all parties happy.

Besides, No-one ever truly has the mandate to do whatever the f**k they want. All governments are accountable to an Australian voting public that is pretty good at voting merkins out.

 

[Gronk]

I see it differently. The way that the greens and independents are able run interference and delay the progression of sensible policies is a concern. It stops genuine reform and results in everything being watered down to keep all parties happy.

Besides, No-one ever truly has the mandate to do whatever the f**k they want. All governments are accountable to an Australian voting public that is pretty good at voting merkins out.

Abbott/Hockey would have done whatever the f**k they wanted. Their first budget indicated that.

I agree with you however that there has been a bottle neck in the upper house. Change is needed but not in way that kills off minor parties.

The current attempt at changing the upper house is a joke. Merkins use the small number of votes that Lazo got (for example) to somehow justify a stance that he should not hold a seat.

Did you know that Michaelia Cash got less votes than Ricky Muir & secured a senate seat via LNP party vote transfer? She's now the Minister for Something Something.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Agreed. Minor parties have a role to play and Governments should ultimately be held accountable.

However, the role of minor parties and independents is far too prominent at the moment given the quality of the people in those positions and the critical nature of the issues that they are debating.

I want to see less of idiot merkins like Lazarus, Bandt and Larrisa Waters.

 

[Suitman]

Agreed. Minor parties have a role to play and Governments should ultimately be held accountable.

However, the role of minor parties and independents is far too prominent at the moment given the quality of the people in those positions and the critical nature of the issues that they are debating.

I want to see less of idiot merkins like Lazarus, Bandt and Larrisa Waters.

I want to see less of all the idiot merkins in the major parties.

Suity

 

[Kornstar]

All politicians = idiot merkins

 

[Gronk]

Agreed. Minor parties have a role to play and Governments should ultimately be held accountable.

However, the role of minor parties and independents is far too prominent at the moment given the quality of the people in those positions and the critical nature of the issues that they are debating.

I want to see less of idiot merkins like Lazarus, Bandt and Larrisa Waters.

I propose that the President of Australia appoints 5 independent senators. Hand picked from all walks of life. They would be smart and talented high achievers in their own fields. Pay them handsomely and ensure that they are truly independent* and take their job seriously.

* Good luck with that Mrs President.

 

[Twizzle]

anyone who does interviews in their footy shorts is OK by me

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

This is why my position has always been that it should be a vote in the parliament.

If it's actually an election issue, where each candidate puts forward their personal preference, thus allowing voters to switch (if it is a deciding factor for them) then a conscience vote in parliament would be fine.

We would have taken it into consideration when voting and so we have no reason to cry if it falls against our personal preferences.

However, it wasn't an election issue last time and plenty of candidates were elected without having to state their position. Considering a conscience vote allows members to vote outside party lines then the very fact that it wasn't an election issue means that it shouldn't be a conscience vote in this term of parliaments the members wouldn't be doing what we elected them to do - represent us.

So, if it has to wait until next term, then why not just let us vote for it?

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

That's the wonderful thing about the senate ATM. It may have it's flaws but the diversity it currently offers ensures that one dominant party can't dictate policy without consultation.

The Senate is a piece of shit at the moment.

I have no problem with independent candidates getting elected. I have no problem with minor parties. But this getting elected with 0.0000001% of the vote bullshit is ridiculous.

Preference whispering needs to stop.

 

[hindy111]

I have never clicked on this thread before..... I doubt I will again!
Ciao amigo's

 

[Gary Gutful]

Preference whispering needs to stop.

Yep.

 

[Gronk]

If it's actually an election issue, where each candidate puts forward their personal preference, thus allowing voters to switch (if it is a deciding factor for them) then a conscience vote in parliament would be fine.

We would have taken it into consideration when voting and so we have no reason to cry if it falls against our personal preferences.

However, it wasn't an election issue last time and plenty of candidates were elected without having to state their position. Considering a conscience vote allows members to vote outside party lines then the very fact that it wasn't an election issue means that it shouldn't be a conscience vote in this term of parliaments the members wouldn't be doing what we elected them to do - represent us.

So, if it has to wait until next term, then why not just let us vote for it?

Well the problem is that:

a) there is the "no vote" vilification issue that I raised yesterday. LGBT people have enough on their plates than to have to deal with homophobic slippery slope arguments that have been dished up already. To link a same sex civil union to bestiality, paedophilia, increased drug use, sexual diseases, unemployment and even a new stolen generation is simply horrific. The no vote brigade backed by Christian lobby groups have no conscience and will print any slur to get a vote. LGBT people are not second class citizens and should not be the centre of a character assassination campaign. The suicide rates amongst LGBT youth are thrice the national average.

b) The conservatives in the LNP have ensured that the plebiscite is non-binding. So really it's an opinion poll and will not oblige your elected representative to vote in that manner anyway. Cory Bernardi and outgoing WA senator Joe Bullock have already indicated that those pollies who are against the principle of same sex marriage won't be voting in favour of it notwithstanding the results of the $180M poll. Just what Abbott had planned in the first place. So if you are in favour of a plebiscite HJ, how about we make it a binding result ? What is the point of going down this path if parliamentarians can ignore the result ?

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

Hey, I'm cool with a conscience vote in the next term of parliament, too. Get candidates to speak on their personal position, let that be a part of our decision making, and no one has the right to rage against the result of the conscience vote, whichever way it goes.

Having said that, the crazies righties aren't alone in pushing bullshit agendas. As I have clearly explained before, the use of the term "marriage equality" is bullshit and nothing more than moral hijacking by the left.

For the record, if the pro argument is based around the term "marriage equality" then I will be voting against it, simply to oppose the moral hijacking.

 

[Gary Gutful]

Moral hijacking gives me the atomic squirts.

 

[The EELiminator]

putting politica and morals together :lol:

 

[phantom eel]

So George Pell, what a merkin... more concerned with the damage that child abuse does to someone's catholic faith, than the damage it does to the person (and its plain illegality and immorality).

The merkin probably freaks out thinking of the possibility of gay marriage too.

merkins like Pell (and all the rest) really give organised religion a bad name, and (rightly or wrongly) create the perception that active followers of organised religion might be quite easily led, lovers of "authority". Faith is more than just a hollow church structure.

Unfortunately church structures often appear more concerned with authority, hierarchies, rituals than the actual word or message of their deity. Imo churches should be made to pay (more) taxes, like the corporate companies they truly are (assuming we can even make companies pay decent amounts of tax, which seems a struggle!).

 

[Eelementary]

So George Pell, what a merkin... more concerned with the damage that child abuse does to someone's catholic faith, than the damage it does to the person (and its plain illegality and immorality).

The merkin probably freaks out thinking of the possibility of gay marriage too.

merkins like Pell (and all the rest) really give organised religion a bad name, and (rightly or wrongly) create the perception that active followers of organised religion might be quite easily led, lovers of "authority". Faith is more than just a hollow church structure.

Unfortunately church structures often appear more concerned with authority, hierarchies, rituals than the actual word or message of their deity. Imo churches should be made to pay (more) taxes, like the corporate companies they truly are (assuming we can even make companies pay decent amounts of tax, which seems a struggle!).

Translation:

f**k George Pell with a Eucharist dunked in Holy Acid.

And I agree.

 

[phantom eel]

He seems like a man with misplaced priorities, and sadly the religious structures in which he (and his contemparies) exist also seem misplaced and open to potential evils that cause harm (Including division and exclusion) to people.

A long distance from where it was all meant to be... Faith can be personal, but churches are an invention that have very little to do with the original words and teachings.

 

[Kornstar]

What a piece of shit he is!

What an upstanding religion millions follow!

 

[Gary Gutful]

Spot on Phantom. He is a merkin.