View Full Version : Political parties in agreeance?
If two political parties in direct competetion agree on an issue, does one have to relent just becuase it's the done thing to have them never agreeing on anything?
wagstaff
20 Jun 2002, 22:51
Originally posted by Squeak
If two political parties in direct competetion agree on an issue, does one have to relent just becuase it's the done thing to have them never agreeing on anything?
In Australian politics, the two main parties agree on virtually all the key issues affecting the general population. When it suits them they will present themselves as a different alternative but the differences are minor at best.
Take the issue that dominated the last federal election, aslyum-seekers. The detention policy that the Howard government made as its central electoral platform was initated by the Keating government in the early 1990's. That's part of the reason why the Beazley oppositon was so helpless against the Howard detention policy; they didn't have any genuine alternative.
I'd say that it's a truism of modern politics, not just in Australia but in other Western 'democracies', that the greater the problems afflicting a society, the greater the convergence between the major political parties.
And when that happens, the democratic system ain't so democratic.
Originally posted by Squeak
If two political parties in direct competetion agree on an issue, does one have to relent just becuase it's the done thing to have them never agreeing on anything?
I recall being informed that about 95% of the legislation that is passed is totally agreed upon by both parties.
It is the other 5% that makes up the news, and the policies at election time. We only tend to hear about the stuff they disagree on.
ian_rocks
1 Jul 2002, 09:06
Well when you have a Plutocratic quasi-democracy it's inevitable that two parties are going to excel and in an attempt to take votes from the other party by mirroring their popular policies. In the end it become a vote between Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum
Steve Bracks
1 Jul 2002, 20:21
Yes, you're absolutely correct there. The Labor Party here in Victoria try to work with all the other parties to do what's best for all Victorians and I think we're doing a pretty good job so far.
Pessimistic
2 Jul 2002, 17:39
Howard is picking issues which he can use to drive a wedge into labour. It's nothing new and I'm sure labour have done it too.
The big problem I see id Howard has not much interest in other issues (Insurance crisis for example) and those issues get no priority
dreamkillers
2 Jul 2002, 23:53
and unfortunately neither party look much further ahead than 4 years to the detriment of long term issues that will continue to hurt this country.........
like health, education and employment....
vision with leadership doesn't appear to appeal to either of them.......:mad: