Every three years Australians go to the polling booths to cast votes and elect a group of ‘nincompoop’ people to govern us. To some naive believers; regular federal elections are a proof that the system works, and every three years the nation gets an opportunity to reset and redefine its goals. For the more cynical, federal elections is another season of the soap opera ‘Days of Our lives’ where just like the drama characters, the dead policies are repackaged and relabelled, unreal promises are made using forward estimates of revenues that are unlikely to be generated, the nation is reminded about the threats that could be teleported from another ‘galaxy’ and made to turn a blind eye to the more immediate social threats that exist. It is a season of handshaking, selfie taking, kid kissing, pollies discovering hard hats and fruit and vegetables markets, shopping centres, seasonal spike of ‘boats’ on our shores, last but not the least security raids and 1800123400 advertisements. And so the circus continues.
It is distressing to note how poorly our political parties rate the nation’s I.Q and even more depressing to know, how time and again they have been proven right!
Lot of noise and lot less content, somehow remind one of the ‘Seven Commandments of Animalism’ in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. It is difficult to establish who is right, who is wrong, who is real and who is fake, who is visionary and who is vision deprived.
To me, one of the solution of this dilemma is to make up a list of things that are near and dear to us and we believe are essential elements of our society in Australia and gauge the parties and their policies against these ‘Non-negotiable’. Though introspective, the approach safe guards the Real, what is; against what will be (la promesa!).
The fact is; we don’t have inspirational leaders such as Obama, Trudeau, Merkel and the like to choose from. While Australia deserves better, what we have is; what we have and once again we need to choose between the lesser of the evils. The lucky country cannot afford a Donald Trump look alike. Equality, humanity, diversity and multi-culturalism, and a fair go for all is non-negotiable.
So whatever you’re political persuasion is; Red, Blue, Green or Grey, whether you are one of disgruntled member of ‘whatever’ generation that votes only to dodge the fines, or naive supporter of the system or simply lured to the polls by the smell of barbeque sausage and onions rolls, you and I have a role to play in shaping this country’s future.
- Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
- We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
- To make this Commonwealth of ours
- Renowned of all the lands;
- For those who’ve come across the seas
- We’ve boundless plains to share;
- With courage let us all combine
- To Advance Australia Fair.
- In joyful strains then let us sing,
- Advance Australia Fair.