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Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 18, 2014, 2:08 pm
by Cranky Old Man
That Leyjonhelm (sp?) bloke is a strict believer in minimal regulation of any kind, which is why he believes gun regulation is bad.
Blokes like him will never admit it, but Somalia is the practical result of policies espoused by minimalist libertarians like he and his fellow travellers.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 19, 2014, 6:43 am
by Green eyed Mick
Our current system is ok but we need an adjustment IMO. I would like to see ballot initiatives at State and Territory level and perhaps even Federally. Voters would need to petition the government with the signatures of 2.5% of the electorate. Each initiative would go before a constitutional panel to ensure the laws if enacted would be constitutional. Provided this criteria was achieved they would go to a ballot where a simple majority would see the initiative passed into law.

It would not be a perfect solution but it would add something much needed to our current system where the deep pockets of a few have far more influence than the electorate. It is absurd that issues that enjoy considerably more than 50% support from the community can't get passed into law because our elected representatives are more concerned with representing the interests of their financial supporters.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 19, 2014, 6:45 am
by The Nickman
That stinks, GeM!

I prefer the papabear system

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 19, 2014, 8:17 am
by Green eyed Mick
The Nickman wrote:That stinks, GeM!

I prefer the papabear system
But with ballot initiatives you could petition the government to make voting voluntary. You wouldn't have to waste your precious time drawing male genitalia on your ballot paper.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 19, 2014, 8:23 am
by The Nickman
Green eyed Mick wrote:
The Nickman wrote:That stinks, GeM!

I prefer the papabear system
But with ballot initiatives you could petition the government to make voting voluntary. You wouldn't have to waste your precious time drawing male genitalia on your ballot paper.
Yeah... that was brilliant, wasn't it??


Good times.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 19, 2014, 5:54 pm
by Dr Zaius
So you voted for Abbott then? No wait Gillard? I'm so confused.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 19, 2014, 6:01 pm
by The Nickman
I voted for you, Zaius

I voted for you

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 19, 2014, 6:02 pm
by Dr Zaius
So you're saying you drew quite a large picture?

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 19, 2014, 6:25 pm
by The Nickman
It was the entire green sheet, yes

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 19, 2014, 6:42 pm
by Raider Bell
:lol:

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 19, 2014, 6:59 pm
by Manbush
Green eyed Mick wrote:Our current system is ok but we need an adjustment IMO. I would like to see ballot initiatives at State and Territory level and perhaps even Federally. Voters would need to petition the government with the signatures of 2.5% of the electorate. Each initiative would go before a constitutional panel to ensure the laws if enacted would be constitutional. Provided this criteria was achieved they would go to a ballot where a simple majority would see the initiative passed into law.

It would not be a perfect solution but it would add something much needed to our current system where the deep pockets of a few have far more influence than the electorate. It is absurd that issues that enjoy considerably more than 50% support from the community can't get passed into law because our elected representatives are more concerned with representing the interests of their financial supporters.
Be good for some issues that are black and white like gay marriage but some other issues the devil is in the detail, whoever comes up with the actual laws could sabotage them quite easily.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 25, 2014, 9:09 am
by Schifty
Merry Xmas from Tone!

Image

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 27, 2014, 10:18 am
by T_R
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion ... 7167348098

It HAS been an oddly polarised year in the media, with loathing for the nasty Right replacing contempt for the incompetent Left. I wonder if there has ever been a time that the Australian media, newspapers (and the ABC) particularly, felt so free to blatantly pick sides?

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 27, 2014, 12:07 pm
by Schifty
This isn't entirely about Politics.. It's a look at 2014 which sadly I agree a lot with.. Will give a warning that some of it is pretty dark as indicated by the title.

2014: **** Was **** Up and Bull

https://medium.com/@asher_wolf/2014-shi ... e1e700601b

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 27, 2014, 12:24 pm
by Manbush
Schifty wrote:This isn't entirely about Politics.. It's a look at 2014 which sadly I agree a lot with.. Will give a warning that some of it is pretty dark as indicated by the title.

2014: **** Was **** Up and Bull

https://medium.com/@asher_wolf/2014-shi ... e1e700601b
What a heart warming and cheery read that was :lol:

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 27, 2014, 12:38 pm
by Shadow Boxer
GST on Internet purchases, I think that guarantees a one term government.

It's like they sit around thinking of ways to piss people off.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 27, 2014, 12:42 pm
by The Nickman
Pffffffft, you could say that about every year since the dawn of humanity if you just want to focus on the negatives

At least in 2014 you're free to complain just how awful your life is from the comfort of your home

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 27, 2014, 3:04 pm
by T_R
What a knob :lol:

You can almost see him sobbing into his FreeTradeMacrobioticSoyMilkLatte.

You know what he can be thankful for in 2014? In the past, he'd have been standing on a street corner trying to hand out poorly photocopied leaflets of his little manifesto to deeply bored passers-by; today, he can publish it to the world and have it actually considered on rugby league forums.

The internet has truly democratised snivelling wankerdom.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 27, 2014, 3:23 pm
by The Nickman
I know, right?? This poor guy has it so, so tough as he types his blog probably into his laptop or iPad and bemoans the loss of society. I mean, 100 years ago the poor guy would've been so free, wouldn't he??

Just before he was shipped out to the great war.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 27, 2014, 5:06 pm
by dubby
I actually think a tariff /gst on internet shopping is a good idea.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 27, 2014, 7:15 pm
by Green eyed Mick
What has been suggested is applying the GST to overseas online purchases. I don't have a problem with the idea but I can't see it working effectively in practice.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 27, 2014, 8:01 pm
by Manbush
Is it still the plan that's going to cost a lot more money than it's going to make?

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 28, 2014, 7:49 am
by Seiffert82
T_R wrote:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion ... 7167348098

It HAS been an oddly polarised year in the media, with loathing for the nasty Right replacing contempt for the incompetent Left. I wonder if there has ever been a time that the Australian media, newspapers (and the ABC) particularly, felt so free to blatantly pick sides?
Probably not. It's almost impossible to get an apolitical analysis on any public policy in the general media these days. Rubbish opinion pieces like this don't help.
"Cate Blanchett puts in an Oscar-worthy performance at Gough Whitlam’s memorial service."
Classy.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 28, 2014, 1:11 pm
by -TW-
@ABCNewsBrisbane: #BREAKING: @CliveFPalmer announced John Bjelke-Petersen as the party’s leader in #Qld ahead of the next state election #qldpol

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 28, 2014, 9:52 pm
by Schifty
Apparently Finland does not exist.


http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comme ... ?context=2

Completely rational.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 30, 2014, 9:22 am
by Manbush
A former Labor MP has suggested no contraception no dole

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 30, 2014, 9:58 am
by Dr Zaius
That's going to end badly for him

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 30, 2014, 10:55 am
by Manbush
In theory I don't mind the idea, easy to get around though just claim to be catholic since contraceptives are against their religious beliefs (hardcore Catholics).

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 30, 2014, 11:45 am
by The Nickman
Personally I think they should sterilize the whole population and people should apply for children, but I know the masses will disagree heavily

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 30, 2014, 11:50 am
by Professor
The Nickman wrote:Personally I think they should sterilize the whole population and people should apply for children, but I know the masses will disagree heavily
Apply for being allowed to have children? Absolutely!

There are rules and regulations around purchasing dogs and breeding them which do not exist for humans which I think should.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 30, 2014, 12:23 pm
by Schifty
So they would employ people to watch those on the doll ****?

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 30, 2014, 2:18 pm
by The Nickman
Hanbush will do it for free

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 30, 2014, 5:05 pm
by bileduct
Schifty wrote:This isn't entirely about Politics.. It's a look at 2014 which sadly I agree a lot with.. Will give a warning that some of it is pretty dark as indicated by the title.

2014: **** Was **** Up and Bull

https://medium.com/@asher_wolf/2014-shi ... e1e700601b
Sorry, but this **** article was **** up and Bull.

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 31, 2014, 9:49 am
by The Nickman
Couldn't agree more, bileduct. It's the classic case of the over-privileged social media soldier with the whole "oh woe is me" attitude

Posted while enjoying his soy latte and living off unemployment benefits no doubt

Re: The Politics Thread

Posted: December 31, 2014, 11:02 am
by bileduct
Asher Wolf is a woman, but otherwise yeah.

She lists her occupation as a freelance journalist, which isn't all that surprising given her **** writing.

It's probably the kind of crap that appears in Green Left Weekly.