[LINK] Democracy and bit rates ...

[Frank O'Connor]

On 14/08/2013, at 11:49 AM, Kerry Webb <kwebb at grapevine.com.au> wrote:

> On 14/08/13 10:02 AM, Jan Whitaker wrote:
>> At 07:17 AM 14/08/2013, Frank O'Connor wrote:
>> 
>>> In Australia the figures are probably about 15 million voters and
>>> the politician count is up because we have a Parliamentary rather
>>> than a Republican system of government ... but conversely we have
>>> less Separation of Powers so the risks are higher for what, in the
>>> US, would amount to our Congressional elections.
>> 
>> There are more factors involved, procedural and cultural.
>> 
>> 1. As a population, we don't have any option to influence at the
>> 'candidate selection' level in Australia. Parties rule -- either
>> local branches or power brokers in head office. We get what we're given.
>> 
> 
> A little bit of hyperbole there:  Join a political party and you'll 
> (probably) be able to influence candidate selection for that party.  Hey 
> - if you're keen join all the parties and influence the selection of all 
> candidates.
> 

Yeah ... all that kerfuffle about 'branch stacking' and the fights between the factions mean that an individual's gonna have a real voice in an Australian political party. Nowadays policies are proposed and validated by pollsters and machine-men, candidates are chosen by factions, fanatical ideologues (rather than moderates) and 'think-tanks' from around the nation and state fight it out for broad direction, and local party members hand out how-to-vote cards at poll booths.

I'm thinking you’re a bit of an stars-in-the-eyes optimist, Kerry.         :)

Just my 2 cents worth ...