Mega Thread The Random Thoughts Thread Part 1

[Prison bar Pete]

I'm getting Norman Gunston vibes from Richard di Natale on the TV at the moment

 

[Janus]

Amazes me how many people don't know what electorate they're in.

Electoral Officer must've spent her whole day clarifying this for voters. Except her clarification lacked clarity. "Before or after the train line" determined whether you were in Wakefield or Port Adelaide.

But as one bloke pointed out, before or after depends on what side of the train line you live on. That completely rocked her world... confusion reigned. "Before or after the line in relation to the polling booth" would've been too painful, I guess.

F@%k, now I'm confused.

Lots of angry people in line, too. As I left the polling booth, they were getting ready to shut up shop. And the line was still pretty long.

F@%k not having their vote count: the possible $20 fine had them foaming at the mouth...



Cracks me up every time I vote. In this day and age, we still rely on the honour system. How quaint.

Seriously, would the AEC be arsed to cross-reference the rolls at polling booths?

People don't know their electorate because people think the whole process is a joke and the country is ****ed no matter who gets in. Labor is great at spending other people's money but can't raise any of its own without taxing the **** out of business (mining tax), crippling the economy as mines close down because it has now become too expensive to run, which affects a company like Arrium in a multitude of ways. Or you can talk about the insulation scheme - what a lemon that was.

BER was a great idea executed horribly. It should have been buildings that were on the cutting edge, with the NBN network being pumped straight into those classrooms to enable students to have video conferences and lectures with teachers from Ivy League universities. That's what would have happened if they hadn't wasted $800 per person on "stimulating the economy" - it was just a feel good strategy from a government that knew they were ****ed because the money earmarked for the NBN and creating the new economy now had to shift to the BER and saving the old one.

Had Labor done that - foregone the $800 payment - the government would have better schools AND the NBN in pure form. Hell, even taking off $300 and making it a $500 cheque would have been enough. But they couldn't, cause they wanted to buy votes for the next election.

And don't get me started on negative gearing - making it harder for those who can actually afford the bullshit loan requirements to get a home that they can rent out will force tenants into those shitty union backed apartment buildings that the RBA says we have a glut of.

Liberals? Smart in terms of actually managing the economy - lowering the company tax rate is a great idea and will encourage employment and innovation. But just heartless ****s - like Ebenezeer Scrooge. There is more to life than just money. That being said, they are rat shit at selling what benefits they do get - they pander to the upper class when the reality is you need to do both like Howard did. But that takes money, so even if they wanted to they couldn't because it opposes their ideology.

As for Greens - anyone who votes for them needs a lobotomy. They have a few feel good policies that appeal to the disenfranchised Labor supporter who is pissed off that the party went more centre to win some seats off of the Coalition, but the majority is sensationalist claptrap.

So most did what I did:

D) None of the above

 

[charcolechaddy]

I think i voted for the greens, they are the marajua party..right?

 

[charcolechaddy]

I'm getting Norman Gunston vibes from Richard di Natale on the TV at the moment

Channel 2 is great watcing Morrison get schooled by that Wong bloke.

 

[Magpiespower]

FMD. "The Crusher" on Nine's election coverage. Where do they come up with this shit?

 

[Papa G]

Although Queensland is the redneck capital inner Malbun proving to be the dickhead capital. The Greens vote in many of those inner city seats is stupidly high.

 

[Andre]

Although Queensland is the redneck capital inner Malbun proving to be the dickhead capital. The Greens vote in many of those inner city seats is stupidly high.

But still likely to only have the one seat in the lower house despite that. Where as if they'd spent more time attacking the ALP instead of the Liberals and had been willing to do a deal to outright preference them in marginal outer suburban in return for inner cities they'd likely have 3 seats tonight. And as Melbourne (the seat) is showing once in, they are going to be hard to dislodge. They should have thought long term and copped the short term flak to start seriously putting themselves as the party of the left in the House, not just the Senate.

Though looking at seat by seat results, once again the Coalition were complete idiots by not putting up optional preferential voting for the House of Reps in the last parliament. As one of the double dissolution triggers if need be. If they'd knocked out even 20% of Greens / others, just voting 1 in the House they'd be winning 5-10 more seats.

 

[Peck]

Liberals? Smart in terms of actually managing the economy - lowering the company tax rate is a great idea and will encourage employment and innovation. But just heartless ****s - like Ebenezeer Scrooge. There is more to life than just money. That being said, they are rat shit at selling what benefits they do get - they pander to the upper class when the reality is you need to do both like Howard did. But that takes money, so even if they wanted to they couldn't because it opposes their ideology.

This is a myth. Howard had a negative impact on Australia's economy, and surpluses/defecits have literally no positive (or negative) impact on a country's economy.

I'm super pissed off right now because allegedly my local Labor candidate Michael Danby preferenced the liberals above the greens, meaning that if he is in 3rd place he will hand the liberals the seat, and for what? I'm not sure if it is really true, because from my memory the how to vote cards had the greens first (though after nearly all independants) but even the consideration of that option is just plain shit.

 

[Andre]

I'm super pissed off right now because allegedly my local Labor candidate Michael Danby preferenced the liberals above the greens, meaning that if he is in 3rd place he will hand the liberals the seat, and for what? I'm not sure if it is really true, because from my memory the how to vote cards had the greens first (though after nearly all independants) but even the consideration of that option is just plain shit.

The ALP knows it can't fight on two fronts seriously. The Greens are annoying and cost them in the Senate, but they don't want them to get to the point they'd only win power again as a minority government with Greens support in the House. Libs are a lesser evil politically for them, even if further away policy wise as they shifted to the Left.

 

[charcolechaddy]

Did i mention Scott Morrison is a jerk.

 

[Peck]

The ALP knows it can't fight on two fronts seriously. The Greens are annoying and cost them in the Senate, but they don't want them to get to the point they'd only win power again as a minority government with Greens support in the House. Libs are a lesser evil politically for them, even if further away policy wise as they shifted to the Left.

If the LNP were win the election by one seat because of it - though as I said its not confirmed that it happened - then it would clearly be a tragically bad decision for Labor.

I would probably prefer the LNP candidate over Michael Danby, and I'm hardcore to the left, but obviously I would prefer a Labor government. It makes me hate being in this electorate because I'm stuck with voting for a true campaigner due to party affiliation. It would be awesome IMO if Steph Hodgins-May got up, like really, really awesome, but who knows!

 

[CharlieKelly]

Pauline Hanson is back, ****s sake

She offers absolutely nothing and just appeals to redneck populism who wouldn't be satisfied until there's apartheid in this country. Putting aside the racist shit, her economic policies are a joke, like a 2% flat tax or printing more money to pay off debts

 

[Byrons Firen]

This is a myth. Howard had a negative impact on Australia's economy, and surpluses/defecits have literally no positive (or negative) impact on a country's economy.

I'm super pissed off right now because allegedly my local Labor candidate Michael Danby preferenced the liberals above the greens, meaning that if he is in 3rd place he will hand the liberals the seat, and for what? I'm not sure if it is really true, because from my memory the how to vote cards had the greens first (though after nearly all independants) but even the consideration of that option is just plain shit.

You've every right to be pissed off. More than bizarre. Cutting off his nose to spite his face over personal grievances with a candidate.
Postals might get him over the line as the Jewish community don't vote on Saturdays. Still it's unforgivable.

 

[I Dont Care]

I don't even know what parties I voted for on the Long White I think one of them was the Left Handed Boat Builders or something

 

[John the Butcher]

These campaigners are campaigners.
Needa get #malcom trending

 

[Ant Bear]

I genuinely used the phrase "I'm just here so I don't get fined" in perfect context today.
Get around me.

 

[JimmyBeerCans]

Rupert, Georgette & Clementine lol

 

[Magpiespower]

Senator Derryn Hinch.

Lawd, we can only hope he rises to lambast a bill/senator/party and bellows:

"Shame, shame, shame."

 

[JimmyBeerCans]

This is hilarious coverage on 7 we've got tour de france cam in a comical police escort following #malcom Bogan Lambie saying he should step down, Kennett cracking bad jokes.. it's gold lol

 

[CharlieKelly]

y'know, I've never actually heard of anyone being fined for not voting, has anyone else?

I think it's only compulsory to vote if you're enrolled and I don't think it's compulsory to enroll. I could be wrong. Even still, I think Australia's one of about 11 countries which has compulsory voting.

 

[Portia]

I'd like to thank the seat of Higgins for giving me that "I could win the lottery" high for a couple of weeks for free.

 

[John the Butcher]

This is hilarious coverage on 7 we've got tour de france cam in a comical police escort following #malcom Bogan Lambie saying he should step down, Kennett cracking bad jokes.. it's gold lol

#malcom just ran a red light!

 

[Portia]

y'know, I've never actually heard of anyone being fined for not voting, has anyone else?

I think it's only compulsory to vote if you're enrolled and I don't think it's compulsory to enroll. I could be wrong. Even still, I think Australia's one of about 11 countries which has compulsory voting.

My Dad would rather whinge at me about getting letters and fines from the AEC than just vote, but I can tell you from experience that it is pretty easy to get out of those fines.

If you're overseas for an extended time, you can suspend your entry on the roll for a few years too IIRC.

 

[John the Butcher]

Geez how much Photoshop does #malcom want on his posters

 

[I Dont Care]

And may I just add while I think of it, how glad I am that the milk companies give us permeate for free in our milk