If the Federal Election were held tomorrow, how would you vote?

[Jamie]

There has been much talk recently about the impending election - depending on who you believe, to be held some time between mid-September and the last weekend in October :)

Recent polls show the Coalition ahead on primary votes, while the two-party preferred is pretty much anyones guess (last weeks polls are calling it for the Coalition, 51-49)

People make constant reference to the fact that, for whatever reason, members of this forum are not the average citizen, and Im wondering if polling those who post on this forum will show a different result to that reported in the media.

Please note: This is an anonymous poll - nobody can see how you voted.

(By the same token, anyone who would like to divulge why they voted the way they did would similarly be welcome :) )

Thanks,

Jamie.

[Aceyducey]

Jamie,

Is it compulsory for all forum members to vote? :D

Cheers,

Aceyducey

[qaz]

Im not suprised the Liberals are ahead here given the economic/entrepenuerial biases found on this forum as opposed to maybe a forum on health care where there is likely to be more Labour voters. Though I cant stand the bickering and name calling the major parties (Labor and Liberal) seem to do between eachother and I get really pee'd off when the government misleads the country (Iraq, children overboard), I think generally they have done a good job with the economy. At the end of the day, I beleive you can help alot more people through intelligent sound economic policy than by simply giving more money to the public services and trying to make them more efficient with their money.

[Andrew]

Where is the option for informal?

andy

[Ray Brown]

I would go and see the film Fahrenheit 9/11 tonight if the Federal Election was to be held tomorrow.

[Bill.L]

Hi all,
Politics.... Here is something that we could really get into a heated debate about if we tried :eek:

I'm generally of the opinion of "a plague on both your houses" as the lies that they all tell mean that policy statements are useless.
The best explanation I have ever heard for a broken promise from a polly has to go to little Johnie, "non-core promise". Like they give us a list before the election for core or non-core.

After a couple of terms in office times up(for both sides).

May you all be lucky enough to live in a marginal seat. Hmmm... I wonder if anyone has any stats on the cap growth in marginal seats. I mean afterall the infrastructure is almost always better.

Bill now tries to turn cynic mode off. Nup didn't workbye

[Jas]

This is a big question for me. My entire voting life, I've been a democrate voter, but given what they've done since the last election, I'm off elsewhere.

the problem is, I'm not sure where.

Jas

[Jamie]

Where is the option for informal?

andy

Hi Andy,

My opinion is that, when you vote informal, you are basically saying "I dont want a say in how my country is governed"...

I dont think there needs to be a separate option on the poll - just dont vote on it :)

Jamie.

[Andrew]

What I'm actually saying is three things:

1. There's nobody worth voting for.
2. I resent coming out here when there's nobody worth voting for.
3. Nobody ever wins by just one vote so my vote isn't important anyhow.

Now if everyone thought 3. then we'd be in trouble but since they don't
the rest of you are safe from people like me.

andy

[see_change]

I'm with you Jas, have been a democrat voter ( not that it matter in lower house where we live )

They have really self destructed and current leader is a nothing , but I'm not convinced that the Greens are enough based in reality, and I think Latham is too much of a loose canon.

I used to have the poster " make sure brain is engaged before opening mouth " ( or something like that on my wall). I think Mark needs one of those.

I think Latham will make a good PM one day , but a term learning some restraint as leader of the opposition will do him the world of good.

See Change

[djsherly]

On a different note, wife and I both think that while you should have to present at the polling booth, there should be a box labelled "I choose not to place a vote".

That way, you're forced to think about the issues (ie turn up at the polling place), but if you don't think you're well enough informed, there's a box there just for you.

What do you guys think?

[Baloo]

How about a "Don't Know" option. If it was to be held tomorrow, I would probably decide when I have the ballot in hand.

While I would tend to lean towards the Libs, I still haven't forgiven Howard for stealing the Republic away from Australia. I still don't know who will get my vote.

[qaz]

But you can simply place an empty ballott into the box and that counts as a no vote...............thats as good as a "dont know" box.

[Thommo]

But you can simply place an empty ballott into the box and that counts as a no vote...............thats as good as a "dont know" box.
Did that in the latest state election. Just couldn't bring myself to mark the paper, the options were so awful!

T

[Splinter Wood]

Hi yall,

I will Vote for a Party which has the brains to 'DISTANCE' Australia from the USA and their moronic and corrupt administration.

Am afraid that we (Australians) will be dragged along to become enemies of MOST other nations, especially very angry ones whom have been dupped and bombed by the USA.

I would rather be poorer but SAFER - and have a country that is OK to raise kids in. The way we are going with the Howard government is NOT conducive to my wishes.

Aussies should do more homework about world politics and the history of US atrocities over the past 40 years. The new USA is NOT the same the the one who helped out WWII.

I wish Helen Clarke was standing. She'd get my vote.

SW

[Glebe]

I'm a traditional labor voter (via greens preferences). But I'm leaning Liberal. Help me. This is despite the fact I despite Howard for depriving the people the republic they wanted.

[plainsong]

Agree with you 100% Splinter Wood,I said to someone the other day I'm going to live in NZ if Howard gets back in-fawning all over a fool like GWB
and getting Australia involved in his debacle. and worst of all he's lied to us,
over and over again about so many things,
Whenever I see him on TV I just think Liar Liar pants on fire -

[Glebe]

Hypothetical:

Is it better to have a liar as Prime Minister, leading a government with good policies, or an honest Prime Minister with bad policies. Something to think about but don't forget this is purely a hypothetical - I'm not suggesting one party's policies are better than anothers. In fact I think they're almost identical anyway!

[Thommo]

Hypothetical:

Is it better to have a liar as Prime Minister, leading a government with good policies, or an honest Prime Minister with bad policies. Something to think about but don't forget this is purely a hypothetical - I'm not suggesting one party's policies are better than anothers. In fact I think they're almost identical anyway!
Replying hypothetically: Would a lying Prime Minister who did a lousy job economically and allowed his nation to reach such a parlous state as the one in my recent post in http://www.somersoft.com/forums/showthread.php?p=112691#post112691 be worthy of your vote?

Thommo

[Glebe]

Thommo I notice you've replied hypothetically but not answered hypothetically. So, if I were to answer 'no' to your hypothetical how would you answer mine?

[Kevin Hockey]

My question is who are you going to vote for and feel assured they won't lie to you. They all lie, build a bridge guys. Name a Govt that has never lied.

Mark Latham doesn't make me feel too assured about being particuarly honest.

Little Johnny gets my vote for making tough decisions no-one else had/ has the guts to make. Taking on the gun debate, refugees and the Iraqi war have all been unpopular in certain areas but he was prepared to make the decisions, rightly or wrongly, to make what he believes is a better Australia. Labor still hasn't thrown up a better Leader, just like the Qld Liberals haven't come up with anyone capable of running the State for a long time either.

I feel sorry for the media, there'll be no " I don't like it" and "Please explain" this election. :D

Just broke my rule of never talking politics, damn. :rolleyes:

Kev

www.nundahrealestate.com.au

[bkw319]

All I'm going to say is that i HATE John Howard. He disgusts me.

[Peter 14.7]

Hypothetical:

Is it better to have a liar as Prime Minister, leading a government with good policies, or an honest Prime Minister with bad policies. Something to think about but don't forget this is purely a hypothetical - I'm not suggesting one party's policies are better than anothers. In fact I think they're almost identical anyway!

Dishonest with good policies. Anyday, Anytime.

So why? Well it is simple. Life is not black and white.

In Utopia we would all speak the truth and we would all accept the consequences. But as the movie goes "we can't handle the truth".

Examples:

I believe the majority of Australians would support, with controls, euthanasia where the pain and suffering is too much. But heaven help any pollie who does. Despite the fact it is naive to believe it does not happen at the moment. Officially it does not exist but it does. A lie.

OR what about Bob Hawke years remember being heckled by that aged gentlemen on a street walk, who with all due respect most probably had no idea , Hawke called his a "silly old bugger" and got canned. He probably was, I don’t know, the media failed to report the argument, just the “abuse”. Well if he was fool why cannot a pollie say it. Because pollies must be nice in public despite how we privately can act.

OR all this debate about grass/pot smoking. Did you inhale, didn’t you. Would I have grass smoking pollie with commonsense versus a puritan with no idea? Any day. But again, heaven help a pollie who admits it then and even more states “ I smoke it now and I like it”. Yes studies say an estimated 25% of us do the same.

Regarding Iraq, I supported it and now I am not so sure. From today’s media release it would seem they stuffed up. But a friend who works in Defense has told me that this action whilst flawed will reap long term benefits for the world. He states for instance would have Gadaffi given up his WOMD is the USA had not been so gun ho? Does the ends justify the means? Only history will tell.

And now onto something close to our heart (our pockets) Negative Gearing. ACOSS would have it banned as an evil, NSW labour is already hitting us rich fat cats. Latham bagged it in his backbench days. So why has the Latham not announced its end/amendment for social equity. It would be popular to many? Where the leadership?

Because he knows NG is essentially a key ingredient in providing cheap and affordable rental housing in Australia at a low risk to Gov. But there is no way a pollie on either side will say that to the average Joe. Tell them “we help wise investors because if we provide social housing instead you lot with trash it and have to live on the streets?” Better the façade than the truth.

And lastly. IMO The biggest ever truth in politics was the GST. The truth was we were told without it this Country would not have a decent tax system in 10 years time when the boomers started returning and not paying PAYG. It was good policy but not popular.

Result?......It only just scrapped in. Labour opposed it. Said it was evil. Would repeal. But secretly was very happy. Labour has never said the Gov was right. So if it is still wrong they should announce it’s end. 10% saving to all. Very popular! Reality, they know it is good policy and want the cash. Do go there baby.

That is why I will vote Liberal at this stage. They might be honest but they are not hypocritical.

Peter 147

[billy IV]

My very first post here...bizarre that it is on politics considering I hate the topic :rolleyes: .

Firstly...can you imagine how much money it would cost the country to can GST now? I would love to see the end of it...but not because it's bad for the country - only because it's bad when you run a restaurant and your quarterly GST bill is so high :eek: .

I have a bit of a thing for Latham because he's such a loose cannon, and because I hate Little John so passionately. Personally I would love to see someone with a bit of passion and honesty get up there - I think they'd make more friends than all these jerks trying to win a popularity contest (which I know it is...but it's beyond a joke). Bring on Peter Garrett...but then it would be a shame to see him corrupted the way he probably would be.

So, the answer? I don't know either - lol.

[PT_Bear]

I would go and see the film Fahrenheit 9/11 tonight if the Federal Election was to be held tomorrow.

All that would do is replace one lot of propoganda with another. Michael Moores works are hardly unbias and factual.