With the Queensland state election due to be held this weekend, one prominent issue that should be passing through the mind of a concerned citizen, is the issue of choice.
And that is not a choice over which Android phone, Ipad or flat screen TV seems most desirable- but what do we individually believe in- and which candidate best reflects those views or visions for the future?
In a democracy, the idea is that our individual perceptions will somehow mould into a workable framework, through the range of candidates we put forward, to create or enhance the kind of system that will uphold what we believe to be right and just. It seems incredibly sad that with this election- from the range of alternatives we have been given so far- it seems to be the ultimate icing on the cake of a failed system of government.
On one hand in this two party system, we have a choice to return Labor for another turn of office, and on the other, one could choose the LNP- and what do either of these organisations really stand for?
On the campaign trail, both sides are always quick to say that they respect the intelligence of the electorate- yet what are we given repeatedly? A range of mindless sloganeering, spin, propaganda and diversionary conflict: little in the sphere of detailed policy, which would undoubtedly be provided if they really believed we were smart enough to analyse it.
Once one has distanced themselves from the adrenaline of the media spectacle for this election, it seems pretty clear that both sides stand for the same thing- with so called ‘big picture’ policies, anyway. Instead of reflecting the interests of a broad spectrum of the community, these candidates more accurately represent a composite of vested interests, largely from banking, industry and mining, and we, the people, seem to be expected to swallow this. Somehow, we have to believe that what our masters decide to do is in our best interest- and this is the reverse of what one would expect in a true democracy (i.e. we should be putting the people there who reflect our interests).
Coal and Coal Seam Gas mining should be one of the most important issues for this election.
From all of the local discourse, one can tell it is incredibly important for people in this region anyway, given that almost all of the Southern Downs has been marked for exploration- yet both major political parties are rampant supporters of its unchecked expansion, and because of this, little energy has been given to it in the mainstream- despite the destruction that these forms of mining are causing.
If the major parties had any genuine interest in the consequences of their policies- they would at least be halting further expansion, until an independent enquiry can confirm the obvious- that these policies are so bad that our own future is actually directly threatened by them.
To me, what this election really represents is the idea of contempt. On one hand we are being asked to trust the Labor party, after it has completely sold the state out (and sold out its largely working class support base) from mining policies and a failed health system, to the sale of state assets.
On the other hand, the opposition is headed by someone who is not even an elected member of parliament: if their contempt for our system of government is so deep that they would run with a leader who has never even been tried as a state parliamentarian- then how can we trust a single word they utter? What is it that they ‘can do’ that the others can’t- even faster expansion of coal seam gas and coal mining? Having said this, I know that Laurence Springborg has carefully covered these issues in his advertisements around here recently- but how can we trust the effectiveness of these promises, even if he is sincere?
So far all this party he helped create has done, is reduce his sphere of influence, and empower the same kind of unelected, faceless types who have typified federal and state Labor in recent years.
A few months ago, when I wrote a piece about Coal Seam Gas in this region, I said that any future ballot paper, without the ‘No CSG’ option would be worth about as much as toilet paper.
So far I’m still searching- in the vain hope that someone will stand up on this issue at the last minute, without clouding matters with a range of outbursts that render them completely unelectable on other matters.
Despite appearances, politics is nothing like a sporting competition. Every important decision made in government marks the future in some way- good or bad; and to support any party habitually when there are such important issues at stake, seems insane to me.
The time has come to wake up, and see that the correct decisions are made before it is too late.
This is probably the most inane, insulting election campaign I have ever witnessed, and I hope if nothing else- it will serve to see an increased participation from members of the community in any future contest, rather than foster further apathy.
If this is actually still a democracy that we live under- then it is well and truly time we started behaving like one.
by Julian Gibbs on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 9:08am ·
Editor's Note: I have taken the liberty of posting this very important document that I received this morning in my inbox. I am hoping that the people of Queensland realise that this is their one (1) chance to stop Queensland from becoming a Quarry in the very near future. Brisbane is now earmarked for CSG Mining as per earlier posts. WE THE PEOPLE of Queensland can stop this from happening on March 24.
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