The Real Will Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 My new least favourite word - mandate.It's a stupid word used by overly optimistic politician in the hope that they can shame other politicians into letting them do whatever they want. If someone in government has the power to prevent you from doing exactly what you want, then they were probably given that power by voters, and thus have and obligation (or what might be referred to as a "mandate") to check your policies and moderate or oppose the crazy ones.Besides, as far as I can tell, the only real mandate Abbott has is to not spontaneously turn into Kevin Rudd. I don't think the swing voters who elected him actually care about anything he said he was going to do. As long he doesn't become white haired, moon-faced, and bespectacled between now and the next election, I think he can rest assured that he's done precisely what he was elected to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karaddin Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 :rofl:Perhaps that's the only thing I'm confident of. As big an asshole as Abbott may be, he is a completely different form of asshole to Krudd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horza Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 When I said "poo-flinging crazy" upthread, I meant it as a joke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karaddin Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 See the poo flinging while distasteful didn't necessarily seem crazy. Then I read that he's a truther as well, crazy noted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brook Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 Sigh, good work Australia http://www.news.com.au/national-news/federal-election/six-people-you-won8217t-believe-could-be-elected/story-fnho52ip-1226715178383 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillio Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 But Brooke, they have a MANDATE!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brook Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 They all have mandates! It would make watching the negotiations to pass stuff through the senate amusing if most of them were not so crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillio Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 Maybe we should put sedatives in the water...Nah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karaddin Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 It's merely a sign of a robust democracy. Or something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gears of the Beast Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 They all have mandates! It would make watching the negotiations to pass stuff through the senate amusing if most of them were not so crazy.That's a contradictory statement, I think you mean watching the negotiations to pass stuff through the senate will be amusing because most of them are crazy. :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubby Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 Abbott will be gone after the next election because he will not be able to achieve anything in this term with all of these fingers in the pie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 Sigh, good work Australia http://www.news.com....p-1226715178383I love the fact the Sports Party guy seems to have almost no understanding of politics or even an actual political platform outside 'sport is good', and seems to be aware he shouldn't have realistically won. There is hope for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karaddin Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 I love the fact the Sports Party guy seems to have almost no understanding of politics or even an actual political platform outside 'sport is good', and seems to be aware he shouldn't have realistically won. There is hope for him.Agreed, he's the one that has some potential to turn into good as he's aware of his ignorance and is taking it seriously. The motor enthusiast on the other hand... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 This has to be the craziest out-there Senate ever elected, and now we're stuck with these weirdos for 6 years! The chances for a double dissolution are low, but I'm pretty sure these Senate crazies just added to the temptation. Apart from gross misconduct I don't see any other way to get rid of them.Heck I would have run for a Senate Seat if it was this easy. Called myself the Labour Party (instead of Labor) and I probably would have had multiple seats to play around with and hand out some jobs to my mates too.Definitely need to change the way the Senate votes. And no, it's not just because we should squeeze out the minor party crazies (although in this case it would be a good reason), because a purely two-party Senate would be a bad thing as well. As it is, someone can get a pretty low primary vote and still get elected as a Senator. Maybe something first-past-the-post would work, although it goes against the electoral office's preferential voting system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brook Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 That's a contradictory statement, I think you mean watching the negotiations to pass stuff through the senate will be amusing because most of them are crazy. :lol:Sadly no, knowing they are nearly all crazy in ways that make them especially offensive to me detracts from the amusement value.ETA I think above the line preferential voting would help with the senate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 In other good news, Sophie Mirabella is trailing. Her media appearances were a constant cringeworthy, self-inflicted wound by the Coalition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brook Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 It really is heartwarming the way almost everyone on both sides of politics have been coming together to rejoice in the prospect of no more Sophie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karaddin Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 I think first past the post would be a bad move. I don't see any reason you can't impose a small primary vote requirement to go into preference allocation. 1 or 2 percent would have been enough to block these micro parties without stifling real candidates. Combine that with above the line preferential and you are getting somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 Well, first past the post wouldn't have protected the Liberal Democrat guy from getting through, but if you allocated seats proportionally based on first preferences, that would probably be a more accurate reflection of the public's wishes than this byzantine preferential system in the Senate.I don't mind the preferential system for the House of Reps, because at least parties and backroom deals aren't as much in control of those than in the Senate, and everyone votes preferentially. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gears of the Beast Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 It might just be because of where I live but I literally know no-one who voted for Tony Abbott... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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