On 14/08/2013, at 11:49 AM, Kerry Webb <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 14/08/13 10:02 AM, Jan Whitaker wrote: >> At 07:17 AM 14/08/2013, Frank O'Connor wrote: >> >>> In Australia the figures are probably about 15 million voters and >>> the politician count is up because we have a Parliamentary rather >>> than a Republican system of government ... but conversely we have >>> less Separation of Powers so the risks are higher for what, in the >>> US, would amount to our Congressional elections. >> >> There are more factors involved, procedural and cultural. >> >> 1. As a population, we don't have any option to influence at the >> 'candidate selection' level in Australia. Parties rule -- either >> local branches or power brokers in head office. We get what we're given. >> > > A little bit of hyperbole there: Join a political party and you'll > (probably) be able to influence candidate selection for that party. Hey > - if you're keen join all the parties and influence the selection of all > candidates. > Yeah ... all that kerfuffle about 'branch stacking' and the fights between the factions mean that an individual's gonna have a real voice in an Australian political party. Nowadays policies are proposed and validated by pollsters and machine-men, candidates are chosen by factions, fanatical ideologues (rather than moderates) and 'think-tanks' from around the nation and state fight it out for broad direction, and local party members hand out how-to-vote cards at poll booths. I'm thinking you’re a bit of an stars-in-the-eyes optimist, Kerry. :) Just my 2 cents worth ... _______________________________________________ Link mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
