I know. I can’t quite believe I’m blogging about politics either!
But when I came across the article “Please Explain” in the latest issue of Australian Women’s Health magazine (August 2013), I was very impressed.
Despite being a voter for nearly 30 years, nobody had ever really explained to me the nuts and bolts of the two leading parties, their philosophy and policies, in a way that was:
a. interesting; and
b. easy to understand.
Features Writer Alice Ellis and Jack Ellis (wonder if that’s her husband or brother?), have managed to do both.
Sadly, I think politics in Australia these days is more about the personalities than about the parties and their policies – still, it was good to finally have the background information.
So how have I voted all these years? Truth to tell, I seem to have adopted the political leanings of my own parents from back when I was growing up. Mind you all these years later my Dad now supports the opposite party (who says it’s only a woman’s prerogative to change her mind?!).
Reading this article may even change the way I vote, come September 7 … it’s certainly given me food for thought.
Oh, and some trivia for you, two of my former school mates are running in the next election – one is a Labor candidate, the other for the Family First party. Would you believe the Labor candidate even got voted “Most likely to become PM” in our high school yearbook – while the other was voted “Most Conservative”?! (I didn’t get nominated for anything. Never mind becoming more invisible as you get older, I must have been invisible even back then!).
Politics – love it or hate it?! Did you get voted as “most likely” for anything when you were at high school?!
Hi Janet! Thanks for this post … I really should go and buy a copy of Women’s Health and read this article; I know embarrassingly little about politics in my own country! Mmm, perhaps Alice is Jack’s mother … or maybe his daughter? 😛 I don’t think I was voted “most likely” anything in school either (at least that I know of – who knows what they voted me behind my back!). I guess I’m with you there in the invisibility department!! Have a lovely week 🙂
Well in that case only the best people are invisible!
I have really gotten into politics as I have become older. Studying economics at uni really helped me see how government affects our economy. I also learnt about lobbying and vested interests and it makes me distrust the government somewhat. I have been following articles for a while now and I do worry that both of the parties are missing the point somewhat with our economy. It does seem the media often highlights the personalities of the parties rather than the policies of the government.
I don’t think politics will ever be something that floats my boat …
I also find myself frighteningly more interested in politics than ever before – suddenly I feel like if we don’t all speak up, we will find ourselves with incompetent idiots who really belong on big brother in power for the rest of eternity! And it definitely helps to get a clearer understanding of the whys and wherefores.
I really don’t have faith in any of them, to be honest …
As I have gotten older, I have been more interested in politics. When you are younger you do make decisions similar to your parents which I don’t necessarily see as a bad thing because they have lived longer and seen the effects of having a different party in leadership and you have to make a decision based on what you find out. Generally though, one party is a big spender and the other is forced to make had spending cuts to get the economy back in order. Thanks for highlighting the article in women’s health. I will check it out. And. In relation to future predictions from school, I don’t think any of my friends would have predicted I’d be a plumber!
LOL good for you Miss Plumbette!
Funnily enough I was voted Most Likely to be Australia’s First Female PM! I must admit some days I do think that in the future I may get involved with local council. My grandmother was an alderman in her local council and was actually very good friends with Paul Keating when he was a young up and comer!
Personally I vote for the candidate in my electorate who I feel has the best interests of my local area in mind, there are some things that are important to me and if they support those things then I support them, no matter what party they are from.
#teamIBOT was here!
The hubster & I both used to work for our local Council and had been there so long and in almost every department, that we used to joke one of us should be Mayor and the other CEO 😉
I could really use this also. It all goes over my head i’m afraid and I just vote for whoever seems to be the popular choice of the extended family.
It’s hard isn’t it – none of them really inspire my confidence this year …
I actually enjoy politics – needs to get hold of this article. Many people do vote on personality rather than policy. Our year book never had a section for most likely…. but then again we were only a very small school. Only 18 in my final class.
Wow my graduating class was about 120 at a guess … I’m sure I wasn’t the only invisible one, there’s only so many gag awards you can invent!
in the states i was very political as a Democrat (am very lefty) here I have no clue. i will get that mag though as we are now citizens and this will be my first election eeeek!
OOo how exciting for you Deb! It will also be Mr 19’s first time voting too 🙂
I’m a bit jaded when it comes to politics. I too get disappointed and annoyed that it seems to be about the leader of the party rather than the parties beliefs or policies. I have also seemed to pick up on my parents’ political views which I guess is fairly normal.
As for being voted anything I got voted ‘best smile’ in year 12, but it was a joint win with another girl. Ripped off!
This is a tough election for me, so thanks for the article suggestion, I may need it! As far as the Big Two go, I’ve had enough of both the head honchos this time, but I also think there are good people amongst the front bench on both teams. The two parties’ policies aren’t different enough for one to stand out from the other, but if too many independents get in, we’ll be back in the hung parliament zone. I’m well and truly still a swinging voter!
I can’t remember what I got voted most likely as. I know it was something.
I find myself more and more disillusioned with politics these days. No idea who I’m voting for
I don’t enjoy politics at all, unfortunately it permeates any committee that exists – school or work or govt. cannot wait till the election is over!
Politics surely is a complex issue, especially over here, in NZ it’s WAY different, we voted in a system years ago called First past the post – which meant you got the votes you got, there’s no such thing as preferences, much fairer IMHO xx