Voters need to take back the power in politics

We grew up in an era that allowed us the freedom to grow up at a pace that was fantastic, but importantly to take responsibility for ourselves and our actions even at a very young age. What we see happening in politics in Australia is totally unacceptable and it is giving such a bad impression to everyone as to how our country is being run, not to mention our Aussie character. There seems to be one and only one rule that operates in Canberra and this modern-day world — Look after yourself first. One thing is for sure when we grew up, there were many rules that we lived by that may seem foreign today,  such as:

1. You do not discuss politics or religion
2. You respect your elders, the law officers and public officials
3. Your word is your bond
4. A commitment could be done on a handshake
5. You take responsibility for your own actions
6. You do not go out to intentionally hurt others
7. You support your friends and work colleagues
8. You aim to get the best education
9. You work hard to get a head, and build a secure life for your family
10. As a boy or man, you do not hit another on the ground.

It sure has changed. We have politicians who on the government floor and on national TV pledge their allegiance to a colleague only to rescind it later. What is this saying to our young people and more so to everyone in the electorate? Politicians will say anything at the time to achieve what they want for themselves or their party. How can they be trusted to do what is best for the people and for Australia as a whole?

Who is at fault in allowing this to happen?

I hate to say, but we are. We are the silent majority and we have sat back and not really have had a say and have allowed the smaller minorities to have their say and push through legislation that we have not been happy with. Even worse, we have allowed a situation to develop where governments have become incapable of governing and approving legislation they were voted to do. We no longer have Leaders we are having Pleasers, who are so preoccupied in winning the public opinion polls (probably being the minority group opinions anyway). We often refuse to give our opinion as we want our privacy.

Never forget that we were the era of people who have been through so much in our lives. For the greater part of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s the economy was a  roller coaster ride, with the ups and downs, house prices going with it. We survived by tighting our belts and working through the issues and often rebuilding. Who could ever believe that interest rates got into the 20 per cent range? We can, and we survived.

We had our offices and businesses invaded by the computer. We accepted it and made it work, to allow our businesses to grow. It was not easy, but we achieved it and our businesses did grow because of it. We accepted that changes were needed in our office and that much innovation was created by us in the work place of building successful work teams within the workplace.

We are now going through a period of understanding that we are living longer, but for how long is the big question. It is no longer enough to simply retire at 60, we need to be more active and have a larger say, offering our wisdom, to our communities, instead of sitting back accepting what others are prepared to hand out to us.

How do we fix it?

We must be prepared to be more active in our communities, not accepting that it is over for us. It isn’t. We are the elders of our communities, with a wealth of knowledge and experience that should be called upon to lead our communities through difficult times, such as now. What has amazed me is that since the mid-’80s our businesses have been needing to operate in an environment of constant change. If businesses were not prepared to accept change, then they were not around for long. Change today is ongoing, so how is it that our old political system can just keep operating as it has for over 100 years. It is not possible and it is about time it changes.

What changes do we need?

We should ban political parties. They are the cause of the problems, the men behind the scenes in all party rooms, directing what happens for their own benefit. If too difficult to ban the parties, no problem, we only vote for independent candidates. However, when we vote for a independent candidate in an electorate, that member of parliament will do what is best for his electorate no longer following party policy that overrides our vote. Our member will ensure that they are pushing the best policies for the whole electorate. It may not please all, because that is impossible. Accept it.

Separately, we vote for the prime minister at the same time. We vote a leader who will have the foresight to understand what is needed to be done to secure the best future. Without the political parties, we would not be having this fiasco that is occurring at present, and has been going on since Julius Caesar. 

Simple changes, but it would bring the changes we need. We have the power, we have the vote, but we can no longer sit back, we must at long last start to be active, for the future of our communities and  families.

What do you think voters need to do to change the political landscape? Do you agree with what’s written above?

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