How I voted...

This picture is not a reflection on how I voted. Rather it's just the first Duncan Kerr advertisement of any kind I've seen this campaign and thought it was picture worthy.

I voted early this year cause I'll be away. I take voting pretty seriously and make an honest attempt to think though the issues. It annoys me that people often vote along the same lines as their parents without thinking the issues through. "Uh I vote Labor cause my parents did" or worse still "I just donkey vote cause I don't care". Both these attitudes I find frankly pretty irresponsible. In Australia we're pretty big on whinging but pull up short when it comes to acting on something.

Being an informed voter (I use the term broadly) isn't difficult. Usually I talk to a few of my green, lefty and righty friends about what they think the issues are. I try to watch a bit of TV (I watched the Howard-Rudd debate and also their address to Christians early in the campaign) I then make my decision taking as many of the issues into account as I can (including my Christian world view).

Having said that last time I voted I succeeded in annoying most of my friends. While I'm not going to post now on who I actually voted for, I will say that my vote probably will again, succeed in annoying nearly all of my friends. What I can say is I gave it my best shot.

 

15 comments:

The Borg said... 11/21/2007 12:45 am  

There's no harm in posting on your opinions on various policies. :) I, for one, would like to hear your thoughts.

mike said... 11/21/2007 8:51 am  

Here are some personal reflections for you Shy...

The pulp mill was and is a big issue for me (especially the process). I was especially disappointed that Family First who I have voted for in the past came out in support of this.

Worse still I was angered to get a letter from the exclusive Breatheran in my letter box telling me that by voting Green the world was going to end, and a link to what I'd describe as one of the most disappointing websites I've seen on the internet. (Don't get me started on the Timber industries Ad on TV).

I was disappointed at the lack of real difference between Labor and Liberal on a number of issues. Most frustratingly the "me tooism" on tax cuts.

My view is the economy is good so why not pump the money into health, education, roads, public transport, universities etc where it's most desperately needed rather than my hip pocket... it smacks of vote buying.

I'm also not particularly happy with the current federal government as I think that while they've managed the economy well they've done so at the expense of... well a lot of things.

After all that I'm a Christian and it's important that my Christian beliefs are well represented but having said that there's more to voting for a party that is anti abortion and anti gay marriage.

So how did I vote? In the house of Reps my First vote went with my head then second with with my conscious. In the Senate I went with independence (not major parties).

mike said... 11/21/2007 8:54 am  

Now watch my critics pounce...
"You didn't think of this issue..." "You didn't think of that issue..." "You say it's important to think stuff through but yo haven't done that."

Hey I tried my best and my conscious is clear.

Anonymous said... 11/21/2007 9:59 am  

With all due respect to any such critics, f*ck 'em. It's *your* vote.

Anonymous said... 11/21/2007 12:22 pm  

PS - I believe that the anti-greens flyer was courtesy of the Liberal party, not those wacko EBs.

Courtesy of your tax dollar!

The Borg said... 11/21/2007 1:43 pm  

1. There was a letter yesterday "to the citizen of Tasmania" or some such, that was the EBs trying to clear their name, I think (I didn't read it properly). This letter mention Bob Brown.

2. There was a pamphlet earlier in the week, or last week, outlining the Green's present and past policies. The style of the pamphlet was quite fear mongering, but the content of it was pretty much true. This pamphlet was courtesy of the Liberal party.

The Borg said... 11/21/2007 1:44 pm  

Oh, I meant to add, which one were you referring to Mike?

And thanks for sharing your views. :)

I'm thinking of doing a blog post on mine.

mike said... 11/21/2007 2:12 pm  

Probably the first Shy. The site in question that was on the paper can be found here.

The Borg said... 11/21/2007 2:41 pm  

Ok... yep...

Bron said... 11/21/2007 2:47 pm  

That website is disgusting. Frankly, I'm glad I voted green last state election!

Robbo said... 11/21/2007 5:33 pm  

Citizens Electoral Council is where its at. If they were to get elected, much hilarity would ensue.

mike said... 11/21/2007 5:53 pm  

Bron I dare you to leave the same comment on that anti Greens site... double dare.

Anonymous said... 11/22/2007 9:04 am  

How long do you figure it would stay there before they deleted it?

You just can't reason with psychos like that mob, so why even try... It would be more productive to get someone to hack the site.

mike said... 11/22/2007 12:25 pm  

I'm not sure that they'd delete it... my feeling would be that I'd get flamed as a dissenting voice.

While I don't like the site I'm not sure that hacking it is particularly the best course of action.

Anon, don't you think it's better not to respond in kind to attacks like this?

Anonymous said... 11/22/2007 3:37 pm  

Shutting them down is hardly responding in kind. There is a limit on free speech and they have clearly crossed the line, many times over! If I were to letterbox drop people with similar stuff I'd end up in jail, but because it's online (and they are in bed with the Liberals) it's apparently ok.

I do agree though, hacking the site wouldn't be the best course of action.

The best course of action would be firebombing the houses of the people responsible for it. j/k

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