Marty_d

Being a federal politician can't be easy. Imagine the protocols, rules, how policy is developed, getting information from the APS, what to declare, how to bargain with all the others without getting screwed over, your every mistake and misstep scrutinized by the press, working and networking all hours of the day and night. So if we don't want professional politicians, then we want "normal people" from all walks of life who can also be media experts and able to understand the implications and anticipate consequences of complex legislation. Which means that in most cases they will be heavily dependent on, and guided by, their staff. Who elected them (the staff?)

Ukraine probably offers really cheap flights to Australian soldiers looking to take a working holiday.

Definitely not. Just the most visible.

This is scary. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-02/the-nerd-reich-silicon-valley-fascism-war-on-democracy-abc-2026/107091034 These are the people supporting Trump, PHON, AfD and other far right "disrupter" parties and politicians around the world. The people who vote for these parties may want to simply shake up the system, but the people funding these parties want to end democracy.

Pocock is (or appears to be) on the correct side of most issues. The trouble is, for every Pocock there's a Bob Katter, a Clive Palmer, a Barmy Joyce or a Pauline Hanson. Well that puts them in front of PHON then, who have thought bubbles instead of policies and can't even agree amongst themselves as to what they are. Look I know the Greens sometimes seem nutty. My point is that if you want to park your vote with a protest party, at least give it to the nutters who have the best interests of the planet at heart, instead of the nutters who want to destroy it.

There's my point. You start by saying you'd only vote for them if you had a lobotomy, but end by saying the environmental destruction in your area would have been less if they'd been in power. So people vote against their best interests... why?

Actually - I don't buy it. The biggest reason things go downhill for blue collar workers is inequality. More of the pie goes to the massively rich and trickle down economics is the same joke it's always been. Even if they blame the major parties, they're voting for the fringe party that's bought and paid for by the same rich fucks that are already ruining their lives. If they truly wanted to change things for the better, they'd vote Green or progressive independents like Pocock.

If they think things are bad now, wait until the oligarchs are directly in charge (as opposed to the current proxy by bribery).

What, they're better for the planet driving a diesel LandCruiser or G-Wagen?

Good job it was an Offenhauser and not an Oppenheimer. That would have been a bomb.

Unless you get the supreme Court to absolve you and your crooked family from any crimes you commit.

Great. Instead of funding paid positions for road workers, use prisoners to save a buck. What are we, the deep South of the US?

And "A lie travels around the world before the truth gets its boots on" Which is what liars like Trump and Pauline depend on.

I kind of agree but only where the holder of such views influences others with them. If it's just your average idiot on a forum, no. If it's an influencer with 10,000 followers, yes.

But back to topic - yes I think Jerry has it but it's damn depressing. The fact that people are angry at the status quo I get. The fact that they don't care that things can get a lot worse for them, that's the sad bit. Looks like the lessons we should be learning from the USA are not being learned. Dark times ahead.