Where can I hide for the next eight months?

[Sebastiaan56]

I all seriousness we are about to be subjected to a continual eight months of propaganda, blame shifting, embarrassing gaffs by back benchers, name calling, and deep dark history being uncovered to create ever more elaborate smears. Then there will be the massive lies and recriminations, rumours of infights and leadership spills, endless polls and commentary. All of this spew will come from the major parties with their well oiled spin machines and certainly in large quantities. So the real question will be "where can a bloke hide?".

I was going to set up my blankie tent in the living room and get my crayons out, or refurb the shed, grab my timber stash and lock the door. But I will still need to get out for food and beers, conjugal visits, relationships with the kids, earn a living etc, etc.

Where to hide brains trust? where to hide?

[FenceFurniture]

I all seriousness we are about to be subjected to a continual eight months of propaganda, blame shifting, embarrassing gaffs by back benchers, name calling, and deep dark history being uncovered to create ever more elaborate smears. Then there will be the massive lies and recriminations, rumours of infights and leadership spills, endless polls and commentary. All of this spew will come from the major parties with their well oiled spin machines and certainly in large quantities. So the real question will be "where can a bloke hide?".

And this would be different to the last two years how exactly? :U

[tea lady]

Don't turn telly or radio on? :C It will be torture for me too. I just wish they would actually do their job. And please no one start trying to tell me Abbot would do a better job. He is a jumped up little *^%$^&.

[Chesand]

Fortunately we will be overseas for six weeks of it but will be PITA for the rest of the time.

[FenceFurniture]

And please no one start trying to tell me Abbot would do a better job. He is a jumped up little *^%$^&.

So, ah, does that mean his wife's campaign to imbue the women of Oz that Tony really does love you all hasn't worked for you TL?

*^%$^& is a six letter word, and I can't think of a match (even with my rather errr, "rich" vernacular).

EDIT: waidaminit, think I might have it, ends in "ker"

[Sturdee]

And please no one start trying to tell me Abbot would do a better job. He is a jumped up little *^%$^&.

Maybe, but I'll vote for him for at his worst he is a thousand times better then the current lot.


Peter.

[enelef]

Where to hide? :no:

There is no place to hide - they will find you! They will hunt you down faster than a telemarketer on a bonus scheme.


No matter what you do; no matter where you go; no matter who you are - they will get you.

There is no hiding; no shelter is tough enough to sustain the battering that will come.

Prepare for the worst: budgy smugglers and ordin-airy orstraleeans;
pork barrelling on a scale to make deliverance look like a walk in the park;
smears enough to keep iced Vo Vo's covered in jam until the next century.

We are approaching armageddon, ladies and gentlemen, and just when you thought it safe to peek out of the fallout shelter - the politicians will start their perfectly polished performances, honed from years of pretending they haven't had their noses stuffed well and truly in the trough of the public monies.

And then it will start to get bad........


It is time to be afraid.

Be very afraid
mwahahahahahaha
:scareboo:

[Greg Ward]

Seb,
I'm retired now as well.... seems to be a trend.
Up in the bush, there are no politicians, there are only fires and floods and poor market prices, life is too difficult for farmers to get het up about Canberra.
In the old days, the fences and farm infrastructure would be covered by income, now there is no income, and I can't get slaves or cheap Chinese labour.

SO.... I have fencing, I have roofs to repair, I have weeds to spray, I have fires to light in Spring, I have cattle to brand and timber to harvest.
Come Come. No TV, No radio, No politicians and in exchange for post holes... you get free beer. I'll look after you.
Greg

[Chesand]

Seb,
I'm retired now as well.... seems to be a trend.
SO.... I have fencing, I have roofs to repair, I have weeds to spray, I have fires to light in Spring, I have cattle to brand and timber to harvest.
Come Come. No TV, No radio, No politicians and in exchange for post holes... you get free beer. I'll look after you.
Greg

Very tempting, Greg, except I don't drink beer.

[A Duke]

The Mad Monk Vs. the Ginger Ninja
Round 6001
:((

[tea lady]

Seb,
I'm retired now as well.... seems to be a trend.
Up in the bush, there are no politicians, there are only fires and floods and poor market prices, life is too difficult for farmers to get het up about Canberra.
In the old days, the fences and farm infrastructure would be covered by income, now there is no income, and I can't get slaves or cheap Chinese labour.

SO.... I have fencing, I have roofs to repair, I have weeds to spray, I have fires to light in Spring, I have cattle to brand and timber to harvest.
Come Come. No TV, No radio, No politicians and in exchange for post holes... you get free beer. I'll look after you.
GregOK. Some time in August then? You can pay me in wood. :D

[Greg Ward]

Bring the trailer and a shovel and curry paste.
For those who don't drink beer, there will be wine or oranges and figs to crush
For those who don't eat beef, there will be tomatoes and celery sticks to chew on,
For those who can't dig holes there will be tractors to drive around spraying parramatta grass and bracken
Fo those who want to wash there is a waterfall
For those who want to play with wood there are enough trees to carbon credit NSW for a year
And for those who just want to be alone, there is a mountain to climb.
And in October you can all go home and I'll have some nice new shed roofs and fences that will last me out.
Greg



OK. Some time in August then? You can pay me in wood. :D

[jimbur]

Maybe, but I'll vote for him for at his worst he is a thousand times better then the current lot.


Peter.
You can't unless he's your local member Peter:D
ps member is a nice euphemism

[FenceFurniture]

ps member is a nice euphemism

:roflmao2: That was the six letter word that TL meant!

[wheelinround]

Bring the trailer and a shovel and curry paste.
For those who don't drink beer, there will be wine or oranges and figs to crush
For those who don't eat beef, there will be tomatoes and celery sticks to chew on,
For those who can't dig holes there will be tractors to drive around spraying parramatta grass and bracken
Fo those who want to wash there is a waterfall
For those who want to play with wood there are enough trees to carbon credit NSW for a year
And for those who just want to be alone, there is a mountain to climb.
And in October you can all go home and I'll have some nice new shed roofs and fences that will last me out.
Greg

I'm in where do I sign up.

[Greg Ward]

Wheelin.....
I forgot to mention
There are ticks , some paralytic
There are spiders that seem to want to sleep with you
There are snakes of both black, brown and other colours
There's a lot of cow manure and the cows have horns
It rains a lot and floods twice a year, so you can't get to town
When it's not raining, it can be so dry the lantana dies
In winter there are severe frosts
The nearest shop is 30Km
The nearest pub is 20km
There is a piggery that smells when the wind comes from the north.
Then again.....set against listening to JG's voice for 8 months, it doesn't sound too bad........
Greg

[wheelinround]

Wheelin.....
I forgot to mention
There are ticks , some paralytic
There are spiders that seem to want to sleep with you
There are snakes of both black, brown and other colours
There's a lot of cow manure and the cows have horns
It rains a lot and floods twice a year, so you can't get to town
When it's not raining, it can be so dry the lantana dies
In winter there are severe frosts
The nearest shop is 30Km
The nearest pub is 20km
There is a piggery that smells when the wind comes from the north.
Then again.....set against listening to JG's voice for 8 months, it doesn't sound too bad........
Greg


The above in Blue is all that worries me Greg as I have been in bed with spiders in the past :oo: yes I am phobic now days. As for the rest been there done that no worries.


What no leaches oh yeh were are talking of them blood suckers from Canberra :p

[Bushmiller]

OK. Some time in August then? You can pay me in wood. :D

:rolleyes: Do you mean timber? (My son says.....Well, I won't say). Apologies if that is being pedantic :-.


Regards
Paul

[AlexS]

Reminds me, I must update my prices for listening to campaign phone calls, and re-send the letter to all parties.
I think this year, $50 will get them 2 minutes of my time, after that they get 1 minute or part thereof for $20 - plus GST of course.
I was accused of being unreasonable last time, but if they don't ring me they don't have to pay. What say the wise counsel here?

[Vernonv]

This coming election is a no-win situation ... whoever wins, we will be no better off. Sad state of affairs indeed.

[jimbur]

Wheelin.....
I forgot to mention
There are ticks , some paralytic
There are spiders that seem to want to sleep with you
There are snakes of both black, brown and other colours
There's a lot of cow manure and the cows have horns
It rains a lot and floods twice a year, so you can't get to town
When it's not raining, it can be so dry the lantana dies
In winter there are severe frosts
The nearest shop is 30Km
The nearest pub is 20km
There is a piggery that smells when the wind comes from the north.
Then again.....set against listening to JG's voice for 8 months, it doesn't sound too bad........
Greg
Tell you what Greg, we'll stay at home and you invite the politicians - though the pigs might object:D

[Greg Ward]

Wheelin, forgot the dingoes as well as the leeches....

I don't really need JG and TA in hi-vis and hard hats running around the farm talking up mining or agriculture thanks all the same.
The best thing we ever did as a country was to build Canberra for the Politicians, for much of the year we are safe.
Greg

[A Duke]

Yeah you lucky baskets.

[Handyjack]

It will be easy to find a page in the newspaper to clean the paint brushes.
Politics on the front pages and football on the back pages, with the finals of both in September.

[Master Splinter]

Don't vote, it only encourages them!

I 'fell off' the electoral roll years ago and I'm not looking to get back on in a hurry!

[Sebastiaan56]

Great idea Alex, and whichever push poller rings violently agree with them. Then tell them you are all excited and are only wearing your budgie smugglers and ask what are they doing when their shift is over :-)

Great idea Greg, all I need is someone to manage my life while I'm hiding.

Here is the spoiler, the winner will claim to be humbled and promise to serve the people of Australia faithfully. Three years and half a dozen scandals later we get to do it again. Hmmmm

[Scott]

SO.... I have fencing, I have roofs to repair, I have weeds to spray, I have fires to light in Spring, I have cattle to brand and timber to harvest.
Come Come. No TV, No radio, No politicians and in exchange for post holes... you get free beer. I'll look after you.
Greg

Chuck in a tent and a bit of grub and I'll be there in a flash :D

[wheelinround]

Ah crap have just worked out why Sept the mongrels (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/election-date-suggests-best-helper-will-win/story-fncynkc6-1226565339676) have done it again its peak snow season. I recall what took place back in the 80's? mid snow season it was a shambles.

I thought it also school holidays but its not for Public schools although private might be on holidays already.

[enelef]

HI wheelinround
I am flabergasted (always wanted to use that one) with the insight those numerpologists you referenced came upon.

"The election winner will be the candidate who reaches out to people and appeals to people," he said.

It is astonishong they can identify such obscure elements as winning tactics. Hope the parties were reading....
:sigh:

[damian]

This coming election is a no-win situation ... whoever wins, we will be no better off. Sad state of affairs indeed.

The first alien vs predator movie, the slogan was "whoever wins you lose". I always think of it when I see politicians on TV.

Fencefurniture: you beat me to to.

Viewing it as theater helps I find, just imagine it's all a soap opera...and try to forget they are spending our taxes...

My vote does not count and most of yours don't also. If you live in a safe seat like mine the incumbent party will retain no matter what. Only swing voters in marginals really matter.

[Bushmiller]

Don't vote, it only encourages them!

I 'fell off' the electoral roll years ago and I'm not looking to get back on in a hurry!

I understand the sentiment. The only downside of opting out is that you can't really have a good bitch when the government makes a nonsense.

Regards
Paul

[Bushmiller]

My vote does not count and most of yours don't also. If you live in a safe seat like mine the incumbent party will retain no matter what. Only swing voters in marginals really matter.

Ain't dat de trufh. Except after the latest QLD debacle I suspect the Labour party will be reluctant to regard any electorate as "safe."

Regards
Paul

[Sturdee]

Ain't dat de trufh. Except after the latest QLD debacle I suspect the Labour party will be reluctant to regard any electorate as "safe."

Regards
Paul

I doubt that they are that smart for the federal health minister kept on smiling while she ripped millions out of the Victorian health budget. :((


Peter.

[AlexS]

My vote does not count and most of yours don't also. If you live in a safe seat like mine the incumbent party will retain no matter what. Only swing voters in marginals really matter.
Quite so. In both state & federal parliaments, I am represented by do-nothing paperweights, because I am in a safe seat. When their party is in government, we are ignored because they will be re-elected anyway; when it is in opposition, we are ignored because no matter what the government does for us, it will never get a candidate up here.

[Big Shed]

One of the many good arguments for proportional representation rather than the current feudal system inherited from dear old England.

[wheelinround]

Quite so. In both state & federal parliaments, I am represented by do-nothing paperweights, because I am in a safe seat. When their party is in government, we are ignored because they will be re-elected anyway; when it is in opposition, we are ignored because no matter what the government does for us, it will never get a candidate up here.

Your right Alex its strange tho how those do-nothing paper weights seem to enjoy the privileges the voters keep giving them for the little they seem to do.

Like the years Liverpool put up with the strong and corrupt members it had/has of the opposition side.

Fred we already have proportional thats why out laying regions of major metro regions are suffering with lack of decent public transport, decent medical, decent employment, decent roads. This isn't one state this is every state, major town and city. Now with the combining of councils into mega councils, those smaller towns are suffering even more that proportional enough for you. Got to remember if you live outside a city wall your taxes still pay for what happens with in those walls not in your own area cause you don't matter.

[A Duke]

Mind over matter.
They don't mind and we don't matter.

[artme]

Add to the list if you wish:

* No matter who you vote for a politician always wins.

* Vote 1 Guy Fawkes: the only person to enter parliament with honest intentions!!

[damian]

Ain't dat de trufh. Except after the latest QLD debacle I suspect the Labour party will be reluctant to regard any electorate as "safe."

Regards
Paul

Yes but that was extraordinary and I believe unprecedented. The biggest swing in Australian history.

Couple of observations/opinions. Worth what you paid for them...

In a democracy, assuming the elections are straight, the government is only as good as the electorate. If the people can't be bothered researching candidates and voting intelligently you get what we have got. As pointed out if you don't participate you have no right to complain.

In the 60's the PM got 1.5 the average wage. Now JG gets $400k, twice the Canadian PM and more than Obama. If you believe we are getting better politicians now then the peanuts for monkeys argument must appeal to you. I don't accept it. I have believed for a long time parliaments wages should be pegged to the national average and their super the same as the comm public service.

Tania P, the health minister is one of the most spectacular liars I have ever seen. They all play fast and loose with the truth but she will look the camera straight down and tell teh most obvious and outrageous lies. She is remarkable, literally equivalent to a 3 yo insisting they are not eating the biscuits as they stuff another into their mouths.

It helps I feel to view the whole thing as theater. Yes I know they are spending our money and making our lives harder, but we must do what we can to survive the media onslaught.

I have given our system of government much thought over the years. I have my own opinion on how to make things better but I expect no one would agree.

Optional preferential voting and voluntary voting would be a nice start. I believe the real solution is to ditch the states, establish councils based on federal seats with about 15 wards, each about 5 - 6 k voters, hold the election at fixed 3 year intervals and combine federal and local, enshrine the councils in the constitution along with the power to caucus against the feds, limit federal power and responsibility to matter of national importance, ie things an individual or reigon of councils can't do themselves, defense foreign affairs customs quarantine highways, rail, national tax collection and leave everything else to local government.

The idea is if you know where your local councilor lives, their name and face they might represent you better, or for less time :) and if you can see money being spent in your local area you might better understand where it's going and the limits of income.

Meh. No point, never happen...

[Robson Valley]

Need something done correctly? Get right in their faces and don't back down.
Our village Mayor has a reputation of raising political hell. He's good at it and it works.

Hey, you people have no "lock" on political shenanigans. You parked them in Canberra and all you could do is build a lake?

We parked the Feds in Ottawa, 2,500 miles east but they kept on a'coming.
So we built the Rocky Mountains to try to keep them out. Not perfect but it keeps them and most others at arm's length. You all just BACK OFF and let our little economy flow as best it can in these days and times.

Locally in BC, we tried our best to put our politicians offshore! Yeah, out in Victoria on Vancouver Island. Any SW wind and they blow back onto the mainland like a bunch of moths, drawn to the real economic flame. Dang, anyway.

[wheelinround]

Well the cost of this election has just been made more apparent to me.

Our local member (Labor) has seen fit to start sending out his hate mail, 4 pages worth.
This in turn has given our postie and his mates a heap of OT. He just finished telling me yesterday they didn't finish sorting till 11.30am. He did a bit over half his run having to call for back up both not finishing till after 5.30pm. He normally finishes at 2.30pm.

This of course combined with the 4 pages of glossy printed material which went straight into the recycle bin

This will be the first of a few I feel and just one electorate in Australia.

[Robson Valley]

It's a blood sport = they keep trying to kill eachother off.
When I lived in the city, I knew some guys who worked in a very popular
radio station. I tried really hard to have to sports reporters do the political news.
I fail to see the difference.

[wheelinround]

Sabastian while your down having carving chisels taken care of by Nz_Carver you could pop in and have some fun at Rooty Hill RSL and see the show Pinocchio (http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/pm-moves-into-western-sydney-in-burb-blitz-20130226-2f2n1.html)

[hp8]

I have given our system of government much thought over the years. I have my own opinion on how to make things better but I expect no one would agree.

Lets hear it. It couldn't be any worse than the shambles we have now:fingerscrossed:

[artme]

Sabastian while your down having carving chisels taken care of by Nz_Carver you could pop in and have some fun at Rooty Hill RSL and see the show Pinocchio (http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/pm-moves-into-western-sydney-in-burb-blitz-20130226-2f2n1.html)

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

[damian]

Lets hear it. It couldn't be any worse than the shambles we have now:fingerscrossed:

As I outlined above. Push as much down to local level as possible. If you don't like what your Councillor is doing you know where they live.

It never ceases to amaze me how many lobbyists and even individuals vox popping on the street all have this list of ways to spend "government" money. So any just don't seem to get that it our tax money they are spending, there is no magic slush fund. So every time they spend money on support services for left legged lesbians that either comes out of health and education or your taxes go up.

The other fabulously puerile argument is that we can somehow tax the rich. The fact is that at a certain income it becomes economically feasible to structure your money to minimize tax. No matter what laws you put in place the clever tax accountant and lawyers will always be ahead of you. The middle class always end up paying. Those imbeciles in the greens wanted to bring back death duties a few years back, probably still do. Made it sound like a capital idea with a floor at a couple of million. Won't affect me says Johnny envirosocialist, lets make those rich people pay. Trouble is it doesn't work. You get death duties back in, virtually no money gets raise so they either drop the floor or wait for bracket creep to trap you.

Anyway, pointless. The thieves are managing the bank.

[A Duke]

To quote some historic (I can't remember which one) US president "You don't help the worker by screwing the bloke that pays his wages."
Regards

[artme]

We've recently seen an example of the tax shuffle with the health funding fiasco in Victoria.

People need to realize that the government money pit is not bottomless and when export income
falls the bottom of the pit gets closer to the top. I think we've had too much waste and too many
soft headed ideas take control in this country. Something goes awry "the goverment (apologies to
R.J. Hawke for the pronunciation ) can fix it"". That means we pay.

I was amazed when i watched a program on ABC (Foreign Correspondent?) about the American economy.
I take my hat off to those folk for their rather sanguine attitude to life. Can you imagine that here??

[nine fingers]

I'm in Corangamite in Victoria , held by Labor by less than 1%, D Cheesman the Labor member is living up to his name, like a block of mouldy cheese, past his us by date.
Can't wait to see results in September? NF.

[damian]

To quote some historic (I can't remember which one) US president "You don't help the worker by screwing the bloke that pays his wages."
Regards

Yeah that's fair enough, but IMO it doesn't even come to that. The simple fact is people beyond a certain income level will always be able to minimize tax. Thus all tax laws end up stinging the middle class.

Consumption taxes aren't fair either because poor spend all their money every week while the wealthy have more discretion.

If someone came up with a viable plan to hit higher income earners I'd back it, but what actually happens is reforms are sold as targeting the rich and it's ALWAYS the middle class that get hit. I have been on the cusp of that for some years, where I was just about making enough to make structuring worthwhile. I was astonished at my options once income is high enough to cover setup.

We have known we are over governed for decades. We know the PS is bloated and increasingly incompetent (I got a redundancy last December and it didn't come a minute too soon) and in queensland at least corrupt and rife with nepotism. The trouble is the people running the show have an interest in the status quo and the electorate aren't angry enough to drive change.

Sigh.

[rwbuild]

If someone came up with a viable plan to hit higher income earners I'd back it,

Sigh.

Why should there be a different tax rate?
Both work for what they get.

The real problem is those who will not work, not those who cant work, and get paid by us who do work, that is the imbalance.

[damian]

Why should there be a different tax rate?
Both work for what they get.

The real problem is those who will not work, not those who cant work, and get paid by us who do work, that is the imbalance.

My partner hasn't been able to work for 10 years. Some days she can't get out of bed.

Prior to that shed worked her guts out, had a years sick leave accrued, paid income protection insurance (AXA screwed her on that), had scrimped and saved and bought her home, put herself through university.

The trouble with the disability pension is the government has been shunting people onto it for years to get them off the dole numbers. I know people who have had this done, and they don't complain. More money less paperwork. I have no beef with those with a genuine disability. I'm tempted to make a remark about refugees but we don't need another punch up do we :)

Some years I pay as much tax as some people earn, this years going to be one of them. I don't mind that 1/3 the federal budget is social security. It probably bothers me more that 1 in 3 australian workers are (or were last time I looked) directly or indirectly government employees.

One of the more provocative ideas I've toyed with over the years is weighing votes on taxes paid. We don't have universal suffrage, under 18's for example don't get a say. Why is an electoral system less valid if tax payers get a bigger say ? :) It would shunt elections very much towards the middle class, and perhaps provide an incentive to not minimise quite so much..

Incidentally voluntary voting usually shunts results to the conservative side. Envirosocialists love to whinge but ask anyone who's worked on a polling booth in a labor seat about how they complain about being made to turn up...so inconvenient....

Anyway all pointless. Those with the power won't change the system :)