The Random thought thread

[octave]

I have failed to vote 3 times in my life, not purposely but I just forgot. Twice I failed to vote in council elections. When I got a fine notice I just said I was working outside the area and this was sufficient. Once was a state election. I said I was unwell that day.  Just meekly paying the fine seems like punching yourself in the face to prove a point 

If you believe that compulsory voting is unjust then surely you believe surely you believe that the fine is unjust.  Unless you want to be a martyr to the cause, why play ball with the authorities?

[facthunter]

He'd lose a reason to be Grumpy and that would be a disaster.. IF I hated Australia as much as he does I'd leave and go where my Idol Rules. Fixed easy..Nev

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

There's three types of voters in the bush, the rusted-on ones who have favorite parties and would travel to the Moon to vote for them. Then there's ones who think two party democracy is better than the old Soviet Union and would travel the same distance to vote. And the ones that want to avoid paying the fine because they believe they'll end up in jail if they don't vote.

 

I'm the odd one out, I won't travel any more than the specified distance of 8km. The nearest polling booth is 37km away. Some other reluctant voters are so scared of the AEC, they meekly spend a total half day going to vote, and there's not even as much as a sausage sizzle at the polling booth when they get there.

 

Now, as well as that, the voters get nothing for their effort, nothing is done out here in the bush, it's dying, vegetation and wild critters are taking over. I can never understand why anyone would want to vote when they get nothing in return. The big cities get it all, that's where the money is spent, where all the immigrants are. If you're a traditional Anglo Aussie in the bush, you'll get nothing, it's not fashionable to spend money on us. It's a racial thing. Traditional Aussies are looked down upon, don't let anyone tell you different. Same in the UK, they're having a terrible time, they can blame Tony Blair for that. Here in Australia, we can blame Whitlam, Grassby, and a host of other Labor prime ministers and ministers. Some Liberal idiots included in that as well, Fraser for example.

 

I pay the fail-to-vote fine because it's convenient, on the computer, and I'm not really supporting the "enemy" AEC because one day they are going to have to wake up and apply their legal requirements sensibly. There's so many anomalies that if voters banded together and complained in unison, the AEC would have no alternative but to fix then all. On of those anomalies is the long distance to the nearest PO mail box, for a postal vote if your mailman can't or won't take your voting documents back to the Post Office for you. The nearest PO mailing may be, and often is, a very long way away, requiring a tiring trip in the car.

 

 

[octave]

 

Sorry, GON but I have zero sympathy for you.

28 minutes ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

Some other reluctant voters are so scared of the AEC, they meekly spend a total half day going to vote,

And some people meekly pay a fine that is ridiculously easy to get out of. As I said, I have failed to vote on 3 occasions and paid zero fines. If you are paying fines it is because you choose to.

 

30 minutes ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

I can never understand why anyone would want to vote when they get nothing in return.

It is perhaps a question of "what have the Romans ever done for us"   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc7HmhrgTuQ

We live in a country with pretty good health, although like most things in life, it has it's problems; however, it doesn't tend to bankrupt people as it does in the US.

If you believe you get nothing because you live in the bush, then move. I lived in the bush for 21 years and loved it, but I understood that in having the peace and quiet of a lovely bush block, I could not whine about not having the services of the city. There is a connection between the country life you enjoy and the 37km drive into town. If the facilities of a town were just down the road from your property, then you would be complaining about the amount of traffic. When I lived in the bush, I enjoyed the "solitude" but by the very definition of that word, services were further away. You can't realistically have both.

43 minutes ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

If you're a traditional Anglo Aussie in the bush,

So what is it that the non-Anglos get in the bush that you don't? I thought you moved to the bush so you would have to mix with non-Australians

 

46 minutes ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

I pay the fail-to-vote fine because it's convenient, on the computer

Again, why pay it at all? There are plenty of ways of avoiding it. 

 

48 minutes ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

On of those anomalies is the long distance to the nearest PO mail box, for a postal vote if your mailman can't or won't take your voting documents back to the Post Office for you. The nearest PO mailing may be, and often is, a very long way away, requiring a tiring trip in the car.

 

So, exactly what is it you want? Do you want a post office built across the road from your property? You just can't have everything, the solitude a remote property must come at a cost, it is only "remote" because it is a "remote"

 

If you think I am a city person who doesn't understand well, as I said, I have lived this life. It was great, with pros and cons, but worth it, and I never whinged about it because to me whinging about the place you live is lioke saying I have made a bad choice.

 

 

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

Mobile polling booths - what's wrong with those? That's what we need out here.

[red750]

Let me get this straight. You live so remotely that you have to drive to a mailbox, yet expect a mobile polling booth for your convenience? I suppose you want someone to wipe you butt for you as well.

[octave]

Just now, red750 said:

I suppose you want someone to wipe you butt for you as well.

That is my thought as well. 

[octave]

OK sure. I mean, where I lived, election day was a day where you went into town and meet friends, maybe have a coffee. I mean, what do you do if you need a doctor? Too far?  Most people I knew in the bush went into town once a week. How do you get your groceries? Why not combine election day with shopping day or meeting friends day (you do have friends, don't you?)

 

Apart from that, I think you are being disingenuous. You are trying to tell us that you don't vote because:

A) it is too far, and there should be a way of voting very close to your gate.

 

but also

 

B) You're not voting because there is no one suitable to vote for.  

 

Sooo, which one is it? Or is it both?

 

I assume that although much can be done online, you are saying that posting a letter?  I haven't voted in person for many years, but voting by mail has a large window that must surely coincide with a visit to town for another reason.

 

I have a question: where I lived, neighbours would call if they were going into town and ask if there was anything they could deliver or pick up. I am assuming you have no friendly neighbours.  You paint quite a sad picture of your life. I do hope things can improve for you.

 

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

Voting is compulsory, so the onus is on Electoral Commissions to make voting easy for citizens.

[red750]

You sound more like Trump with every moronic thing you post.

[octave]

Just now, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

Voting is compulsory, so the onus is on Electoral Commissions to make voting easy for citizens.

I think it is easy (even when I lived in the bush), but I am competent and able to cope with modern life. Look, there are homesteads in central Australia that rely on the School of the Air, and on the Flying Doctor for medical services. I don't imagine they whinge as much as you. I understand that you may not be very resilient and life is hard for you, but perhaps you need to look for ways to cope.