[bread man]

Not sure if there are still many Australians around here, but the election is tomorrow and I was wondering how other people are feeling about it. Personally, I feel slightly upset that I have to participate at all, given how much I dislike all of the parties at the moment. I'm probably voting Greens in the lower house, which I'm not particularly excited about but I just can't bring myself to vote for either of the major parties.

[ICTHUS]

Refused ballot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Can you do this, in Australian elections?

[farouk]

I'm not Australian, but it seems that some of the polticians down there have been spending most of their time fighting among themselves. There was the man who was in for a few months, then his own folk stabbed him in the back, now his replacement goes to the polls and wonders why the electorate won't return the compliment.

Trust the Lord, people, not politicians.

[ICTHUS]

Originally Posted by farouk

I'm not Australian, but it seems that some of the polticians down there have been spending most of their time fighting among themselves. There was the man who was in for a few months, then his own folk stabbed him in the back, now his replacement goes to the polls and wonders why the electorate won't return the compliment.

Trust the Lord, people, not politicians.

Because the Lord seems real eager to step down and tell us which party He supports, amirite?

[bread man]

Originally Posted by ICTHUS

Refused ballot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Can you do this, in Australian elections?

I don't think so. You have to go and get your name ticked off the electoral roll; you get a fine if you don't. Once you are there you are given a ballot and you can do what you like with it but if you turn it in blank or whatever then it's just counted as invalid and discarded. That's why I prefer to vote for a minor party, because even if I don't like that party very much, at least it tells the two major parties that I don't like either of them.

I'm not Australian, but it seems that some of the polticians down there have been spending most of their time fighting among themselves. There was the man who was in for a few months, then his own folk stabbed him in the back, now his replacement goes to the polls and wonders why the electorate won't return the compliment.

Trust the Lord, people, not politicians.

I do trust the Lord, and I do not trust politicians. However, I'm still required by law to vote, which means that I have to endorse a party I don't like. Your assessment of the situation is accurate, though the man you're talking about (Kevin Rudd) served almost a full term as PM. Both parties have run very negative campaigns with very little policy. It's just a really disheartening situation.

[Giga Hertz]

Have you been watching "Yes We Canberra"? A lot of their comments about the election (in particular, their finale song on Wednesday) sum up the election quite well.

This is the first election I'm voting in, and it seems like a tough choice. They're all pretty lame. =/

I'll probably vote for some Independants, and then Liberal.

If you haven't voted yet, this may help:
Compare FEDERAL Party Responses :: Australia Votes

[bread man]

I haven't seen that show at all but I should probably get around to watching it. I've heard a bit about it.

It's kind of a shame that the number of candidates in my electorate has halved since the last election. I only have four options; Labor, Liberal, Greens, Family First. Anyway, my vote doesn't matter too much because I live in a very safe Liberal electorate.

[bread man]

Voted Greens > Labor > Liberal > Family First in the lower house. For the upper house I voted Democrats > Carers Alliance > Socialist Alliance at the beginning. I can't remember what I put after that but at the end I had Christian Democrats > Family First > One Nation > Australia First > Climate Sceptics > Sex Party. I also put Wendy Francis dead last because she's mean.

[Giga Hertz]

Originally Posted by bread man

Voted Greens > Labor > Liberal > Family First in the lower house. For the upper house I voted Democrats > Carers Alliance > Socialist Alliance at the beginning. I can't remember what I put after that but at the end I had Christian Democrats > Family First > One Nation > Australia First > Climate Sceptics > Sex Party. I also put Wendy Francis dead last because she's mean.

Really? Greens and Labor? I mean, I know CDP and Family First are pretty stupid, but Greens and Labor are very ungodly.

[ICTHUS]

Originally Posted by bread man

... if you turn it in blank or whatever then it's just counted as invalid and discarded....it tells the two major parties that I don't like either of them.

Pssst. Refusing your ballot/turning it in blank accomplishes this too.

I'd probably vote for the Sex Party. Just because I'm sexy like that. (Also because they're for overturning a blatantly racist ban on aboriginal people possessing pornography in NT, and I despise racism).

[bread man]

Originally Posted by Giga Hertz

Really? Greens and Labor? I mean, I know CDP and Family First are pretty stupid, but Greens and Labor are very ungodly.

What makes a party ungodly? Kevin Rudd is an Anglican. Were the Labor party a godly party under his leadership?

Originally Posted by ICTHUS

Pssst. Refusing your ballot/turning it in blank accomplishes this too.

I'd probably vote for the Sex Party. Just because I'm sexy like that. (Also because they're for overturning a blatantly ban on aboriginal people possessing pornography in NT, and I despise racism).

I know, but it makes feel too apathetic . My brother just drew pictures on his ballot but I couldn't bring myself to do that this time.

I sort of see what you're saying but I think the Sex Party are representing the interests of the sex industry more than they are representing the interests of indigenous people.

[Giga Hertz]

Well it's more the fact some of Greens policies could force Christian organisations to employ non-Christians, they're pro-same-sex marriage...

But then this is all a matter of personal opinion of whether Christianity and politics should mix.

[bread man]

Originally Posted by Giga Hertz

Well it's more the fact some of Greens policies could force Christian organisations to employ non-Christians, they're pro-same-sex marriage...

I don't think much of the first policy you mentioned. As for marriage, I tend to take a view similar to a lot of CGRers, that the government should butt out of it altogether.

On the other hand, I think the Greens have far better policy when it comes to things like support for refugees and opposition to wars like Iraq. Not to mention that they're the only party who seems to care at all about environmental responsibility.

But I still don't like them all that much, disagree with them on a lot of things, and think it'd be pretty bad if they were in power.

But then this is all a matter of personal opinion of whether Christianity and politics should mix.

I'm not sure it's that exactly, but I suspect there are some fundamental things we disagree on. Which is fine, of course.

[bread man]

Wow, this is insanely close.

[Giga Hertz]

Out of the two, I insanely want Abbott more than Gillard.