Election day today

[alias_sqbr]

I support all of you's right to vote for whoever you truly feel is best to run this country, as long as you don't make your decision based entirely on selfishness or scare tactics etc.

That said, if you help the Liberals win(*), I will hunt you down and kill you.


(*)This includes not voting, or voting above the line without realising where your prefrences go on a two party preferred basis. I realise that this puts my foreign readers in a difficult bind but that's just the price you pay for being sneaky dirty foreigners isn't it? If I have any underage readers you should go put on a fake moustache and vote anyway.

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This message was authorised by Dr Sophie on behalf of the OhGodNotFourMoreYearsOfThis organisation, Perth. Spoken by Dr Sophie.

Further small print: since it seems to have escaped some people: I didn't say that voting Liberal is neccesarily anything other than a reasoned and thoughtful decision made in accordance with that person's values. I have met many intelligent and decent Liberal voters.

...and they will be sorely missed when the revolution comes. (That and the entire CEC. No political party that promotes geometry over algebra can be allowed to survive)

Comments

[stephiepenguin.livejournal.com]

Davyd says to tell you that it is a three year cycle, not four.

I'm so sad that we won't be in Perth for voting and all the parties etc! We voted last week, though, which was exciting in its own way.

ALSO I'M REALLY EXCITED. When we left Perth, Grahame was all (apparently) "See you in the dawn of a new era!"

*hopes*

[alias_sqbr]

Davyd says to tell you that it is a three year cycle, not four.

Pfft, petty details :)

[evil-megz.livejournal.com]

My favorite part of this post is that you aren't contradicting yourself at all. Nobody truly feels the Liberal Party is the best to run this country, without making their decision based entirely on selfishness or scare tactics.

[alias_sqbr]

See I'm not sure that was true in earlier elections, but at this point, and with the people who read my flist, I feel reasonably confident I won't have to bring out the axe :)

[greyreviews.livejournal.com]

To suggest that people voted liberal in the past elections only because of fear or selfishness, is both disingenuous and effectively just an excuse for the failure on the behalf of previous Labor oppositions to present a coherent or viable alternative.

Rudd on the other hand has and will win this election because of it.

[alias_sqbr]

Oh, no, I agree that many people voted Liberal in previous elections for entirely sensible reasons (to them, not so much to a dogmatic lefty like me) And I'm sure some of them still voted that way today. I was just saying there wouldn't be any on my friends list (since they're almost entirely a bunch of lefty treehuggers, not becuase I am unwilling to befriend people who's politics don't match my own).
Which, as it turns out, was still silly of me..

I actually do dislike the way people (of every political persuausion, but the ones on "my side" bug me the most) tend to demonise everyone on "the other side", completely ignoring the many non-evil reasons for voting that way and ignoring the numerous major flaws on "our side".

I must admit, I'm less inclined to defend conservatives very vigourously on election day, when they've won every year I've voted. I'm only human :P

*edits post to make clearer*

[(Anonymous)]

I actually do dislike the way people tend to demonise everyone on "the other side", completely ignoring the many non-evil reasons for voting that way and ignoring the numerous major flaws on "our side".

I heard a lot of comments yesterday about "the loony left". Being at work I had to keep my mouth shut about it. But I did listen to Roy and HG's coverage, when it was obvious Labor had won they said we can all go on strike tomorrow.

[tevriel.livejournal.com]

Someone I Know told me she voted informal.

In one of the most marginal districts in the country.

I am so horrified.

[greyreviews.livejournal.com]

See whereas i believe it is their right to do so and fully support their action.

If someone for whatever reason (ignorance/disinterest/dissatisfaction) decides that they are unable to make an informed decision about who they personally want to vote for, it is better that they make an informal vote than one they didnt think about or just made because it was the shiniest form some idiot shoved in their face on the way to the station.

So im all in favour for someone getting their name ticked off, scribbling on the ballot "all these people are wankers" and leaving.

Donkey voting on the other hand, of just mindlessly 1,2,3 ing down the page i hate with a passion, as it still has to be counted as a valid vote even though it is unlikely to bear any relationship to that persons actual political preference assuming they had one at all.

[alias_sqbr]

If you genuinely don't care and haven't looked into it, or genuinely have no preference, then I agree that an informal vote is better than a random (or god forbid donkey) vote.

But: I think it's the responsibility of every member of a democratic country to care, and look into it. Once that's done I doubt there'd be many people left with no preference at all (or a strong desire to not vote as a protest against the system etc).

In my opinion informal votes are largely a way to for people to avoid having the party they vote for come in and turn out to be crap, making them feel responsible. But not voting makes you as responsible for the outcome as voting. (If someone accepts that and chooses not to vote anyway, then, well, fair enough)

You know, I think we've had this discussion before...

[greyreviews.livejournal.com]

Probably, but that is the nature of elections isnt it. Everyone gets to repeat what they said last time, maybe with a slight twist depending on what they think they can get away with.

Also i agree that it is a civic responsibility to take interest and make an informed decision. Its just a pity that not everyone lives up to that responsibility.

[alias_sqbr]

Its just a pity that not everyone lives up to that responsibility.

Hmm, indeed *sigh*

[rabbit1080.livejournal.com]

The Australian Electoral Commission has a PDF of group voting tickets (http://www.aec.gov.au/pdf/elections/2007/gvt/WA_2007_gvt.pdf) on their website, so you can see where your preferences will go if you vote above the line.

The document is quite long, but if you're only choosing between a couple of above-the-line votes it's not too bad.

[alias_sqbr]

Oh, I was going to link to that, good point.

[elaran.livejournal.com]

Thanks for linking to that. :)

[grahame.livejournal.com]

The greens also have a couple of copies of the senate preferences in the booth kits, although the few people that asked me to look at it were bewildered and I had to sum it up for them.

[edible-hat.livejournal.com]

you should see some of the forums I'm on... some of the people hurt hardest by John Howard are saying they're voting for him "because I don't want high interest rates" or "because I remember how arrogant Keating was". Fuckheads.

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

Heh, I remember asking my parents to vote for Keating because he had a cooler name than the other guy.

[alias_sqbr]

I remember when it was Hawke versus Peacock(*). This appealed to my pun loving childhood brain, I remember drawing my first ever political cartoon about it (a peacock and a hawk at podiums. I got stuck at the point of thinking up any dialogue for it :))

(*)I think. They were certainly roughly contiguous.

[(Anonymous)]

hehe, I remember that too. A friend of mine went to bed before the election result was called and in the morning asked his mum "did Mr Parrot win?"

[alias_sqbr]

Heh.

If you see this: would it be too impolite to ask who you are? Just curious :) (Assuming that I am right in pegging you as different to the other anonymous person, who I think I have idenitified)

[trs80.ucc.asn.au (from livejournal.com)]

So, voting Liberal in Curtin is ok? :P

[alias_sqbr]

Quite possibly. I'll still have to kill you, but I may feel sad about it :D

[alias_sqbr]

...but as it turns out, the Liberals didn't win (with your help or otherwise), so you get a reprieve.

[(Anonymous)]

So all strikes are ok! and what about the need for better equipment in hospitals and uniforms ie; fire fighters - If that's being selfish, well I'm sorry but I'm voting Liberal.

GO JOHNNY!

[capnoblivious.livejournal.com]

So all strikes are ok!

*snigger* Liberal voters are funny, scared creatures.

[this person votes]

[alias_sqbr]

I know who it is, and it's an insult to the many perfectly nice, if misguided, Liberal voters out there to take her as representative of them.

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

My dad was quite happily insulting the Liberals and laughing about how awesome it would be if Howard lost his seat and mockingly "oh noing" about the unions, and then started arguing with my mum because he didn't realise she'd voted Liberal even though she always votes Liberal.

"If you're gonna vote for Howard, you're living in the wrong area!"

Willagee : KEY HOMES WEST SUBURB FOR JOHN HOWARD!

[alias_sqbr]

Yeah, my dad makes thinly veiled "The world is run by an evil zionist conspiracy" remarks and then wonders why my mum gets offended, you'd think he'd have noticed the whole "Half-jewish, hates racism" thing by now...

I'm also in a safe seat, doesn't mean I didn't enjoy voting the parties I hate last :D

(Also, total aside, but nice font work on the icon)

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

(Thanks! I've only been using this icon for 7 hours and I've already received two compliments. I don't even remember when I made it...)

[out-fox.livejournal.com]

I agree with you and other posters that there can be SOME reason for voting for any party, and about the need not to get all "nyah my ideological clique is better than yours nyah" without considering policies and issues. I would, as a policy person.

Which is why I was so vehemently anti Howard personally, not the Libs in general. His leadership style -especially once they had the Senate control - showed contempt for democratic process and the electorate that disturbed me. What good is someone offering you the 'best' car if it comes with a less overtly stated intent to reduce your rights to be the driver?

So I'm sort mixed about this election, farewell no regrets to Howard but the Senate's still iffy.

[alias_sqbr]

Well, I'm pretty far left so pretty unlikely to vote Liberal any time soon, but I'm still able to admit when they're right and Labor are wrong about individual issues (though often of course they're both wrong, in my opinion anyway) And I agree that in general such decisions shouldn't be made for reasons of loyalty to the party or it's leader irrespective of policy.