inline (but not const) On Tue, Nov 5, 2013 at 4:46 PM, Grant Maw <grant....@gmail.com> wrote:
> Just to be clear - my previous comment was not about the merits or > otherwise of a FTTP NBN, nor was it about the legitimacy of petitioning. > > Petitioning is legitimate, obviously. I was commenting on whether or not > this petition reflects the will of the electorate and whether it will make > any difference to policy anyway. It doesn't (there are too few > respondents), and it won't. > > The coalition went to the election with a clear policy based on the FTTN > model. For better or worse, they got elected, and that's what they're going > to implement. That's not going to change. Do I wish they would implement a > FTTP NBN? Of course I do. Are they going to? No. > > Whether you like it or not, you have to work within the country's > political system. It's not perfect, but it's the best we've been able to > achieve so far. "Forcing the govt to listen to the will of the people as > issues arise" simply isn't practical, but hey, if you want to change the > system so that the government makes decisions using alternative methods > (irrespective of whether they are made of straw) then I wish you the best > of luck in your political career. > > > OTOH, the 'squeaky wheel getting the most oil' model works too. And that is the basis of petitions. Make a lot of noise, and they will do what you want to shut you up. > > On 5 November 2013 14:02, David Burstin <david.burs...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> >> On 05/11/2013 2:10 PM, "Grant Maw" <grant....@gmail.com> wrote: >> > >> > "I find your version of democracy very entertaining." >> > >> > Well the only alternative that I can see is getting people to vote on >> every single issue. Is that what you are advocating? >> >> I imagine that if you think about it you will find that there are many >> other alternatives, not just the strawman you presented. One that is quite >> close to the reality is that as issues arise, the government is forced to >> listen to the will of the people and at least reexamine its policies. Fear >> of losing marginal seats has this effect. So, how do the people make >> themselves heard? Signing petitions is one legitimate way. >> > > -- Meski http://courteous.ly/aAOZcv "Going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex. Sure, you'll get it, but it's going to be rough" - Adam Hills
