Oh no......... not another 4 years

[ernestodekam]

I live in Australia and we just had a election. The party that one was a right wing conservative party called the Liberals (ha ha). It is disgusting that the reason they won the support of our nation is because of thier stance on two main issues; illeagal imigrants and the "War on Terrrorism". Little Johny Howard believed that Australia should turn away refugees (people) from Afgahnistan that are trying to enter our country. We let in around 6000 refugees a year and turn back thousands more. We have a huge country that is barley inhababited and we still turn them away. It makes me sick to think how the government doesn't seem to care that there are 60000 poms over staying their visas here but they turn away people in desperate need of asylum. Are our leaders Humans???????? The other so called left wing party the ALP follow little Johny on his plans so that the Australian people have little to choose from when it comes to election time. Oh well... what could I expect, I do live in a free, capitalist society (unfortunatly not a capitalist free society). When it is my turn to vote ( I just turned 17) I will vote either the Greens (concerned with the environment and social justice) or the Communist Party Of Australia (who will need no intriduction to thier beliefs).

[Chancho]

Well, that would be 3 years, not 4, but anyway...

Yes, Australia's political scene at the moment is dominated by racism and unethical fear-mongering. John Howard is on the wrong side of history and it is a sad, dark time for everyone in Aus.

But thankfully, the election showed that not all Aussies are racist and ethically backward - humanitarians expressed themselves by voting for the Greens in unprecedented numbers - who showed their firm humanitarian stance on the asylum seekers issue. Disenchanted Labor voters seem to have added to that number by turning away from Labor and to the Greens.

What a shame that Labor didn't try to appeal to the best in human nature - they would have been rewarded. Now their strong domestic policies have bitten the dust because of this significant weakness.

[Maaja]

I would like to know how is the situation of Aboriginals in Australia. I think that they have been quite much ignored. Is that right? As much I've read and seen films about Australia I think that you don't talk there about Aboriginals. It seems even worse than to say bad things about them. Maybe I am wrong... I'd love to know what does an Australian think!

[Dreadnaht1]

Yeah, I think you should vote for the Communist party when you can vote. Who knows how long before there will no longer be a communist party in Australia?

[celticsocialist]

Quote: from Maaja on 7:18 pm on Nov. 12, 2001
I would like to know how is the situation of Aboriginals in Australia. I think that they have been quite much ignored. Is that right? As much I've read and seen films about Australia I think that you don't talk there about Aboriginals. It seems even worse than to say bad things about them. Maybe I am wrong... I'd love to know what does an Australian think


Maaja, I was in Australia about 18 months ago and was angry at the attitude of a lot of people with regards to Aboriginals. The general feeling seemed that they were scrounging drunks who got everything handed to them on a plate.
A local I spoke to said that when he was at school in Queensland he had a school book that referred to aboriginals as wild creatures. He was about forty this guy and swore he was not joking.

[gooddoctor]

yes, very ignorant opinions about all ethnic minorities in australia for some reason are the general concensus, even amongst fairly progressive types. that alp, is that the fascist party lead by a woman? they are fucking evil, so is howard. there is no competition and so much overlap and collusion. in a few years they will be obsolete comrades, fear not, you have very powerful and consoidated sociailst forces operating there today.
but comrades, i urge you, please do not vote communist or green. the greens will never be able to reform capitalism, they simply aren't strong enough. as long as capitalism exists, the green debate will be second on the agenda. communists are even more of a threat to the anti-capitalist movement though. the day has gone when they were the most viable alternative for the left. now there are far more powerful and democratic parties available and the communists are a relic and try to divide the democratic left for their own purposes; they are stalinist and their day has gone. they know nothing of how to win an election, and are too theoretical and their agenda is not based on real life circumstance. learn about the socialist alliance and the democratic socialist party before you commit yourselves. communism has been resoundly defeated and will never return. it doesn't feature in the new anti-capitalist movement at all, nominally or willingly. all other socialist parties have consolidated under the socialist alliance banner, but for some reason the commnuists have not (atleast those that do are a tiny minority compared to the dsp). you must ask yourselves why. you cannot get stuck in the past, we are about a brighter future for all, not just the "revolutionary elite". the environment, minority rights and democracy are all subordinate to the dictatorship of the proletariat. the communists are just a joke for my comrades in the scottish socialist party. they have nothing to do with the broad-based anti-capitalist movement and will not join us against the common enemy, and have historically failed to do so. their voice reaches no ears and they just preach to the converted, no links to the real world. i can assure you that it is the same case in australia, i have seen it. they are irrelevant and a great danger to us.
broad-based socialism is the only way forward and the new international. they have just as radical a political agenda and the fact that democracy is spread to the grass roots ensures that it remains so. this alos means that they are more "electable" and there is less scope for corruption. i was at the founding conference of the socialist alliance in australia which was proclaimed on m1 (the english have an equivalent party, and i am a member of the scottish socialist party which is, in my humble opinion the most advanced socialist party in the whole of the western world) and it was the single most inspiring moment of my life. there was no going back for me after that. all of these parties, as well as many across the western world are less than one year old. they have emerged as a direct result of the recent protest rounds (from seattle to melbourne to genoa) and respond to the needs of today. there are strong links between each party through the ongoing protest movement. the socialist alliance incorporates all people who realistically wish to give the world to the people so that it will be run in their name: socialists, anarchists, democrats, ethical journalists, environmentalists, trades unionists, ethnic minorities especially aboriginals, workers and students. at the founding conference in may (i was at the brisbane branch) there were hundreds of people there and speakers on behalf of most of these organisations were present. never have i been in a room full of so much hope and radicalism, i made many good friends that day. their paper is the green left and is the most superior leftist publication i have ever read. you aussies are very lucky.
all i ask is that you learn about the alternatives before you commit. it is a difficult decision, but i know that communism is not what you truly want, and there are more viable alternatives out there. you will make the right choice.

(Edited by gooddoctor at 12:00 am on Nov. 13, 2001)

[Naive]

Quote: from gooddoctor on 11:38 pm on Nov. 12, 2001
. that alp, is that the fascist party lead by a woman? they are fucking evil, so is howard.

I think you mean Pauline Hanson and her One Nation Party. And yes they are completely racist and I can’t understand how anyone can vote for them.
The ALP is the Australian Labour Party and it was lead by Kim Beazly, but since he lost to little Johnny Howard he’s resigned as head of the party.

[Chancho]

Re aboriginals - they were massacred and enslaved when the English 'settled' Australia - they were not regarded as human, but as fauna - and have suffered from the worst human rights abuses imaginable from the time of European occupation to this day. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the policy towards Aboriginals has varied only between active and subversive attempts at genocide.

Howard's government does not represent the views of many Australians, who call for reconciliation, an official apology and positive assistance constantly. Under Paul Keating's Labor government land rights were recognised - but the progress made by the High Court and Keating then has been completely eroded by Howard. Remember, Australia in the 50s had an official 'white Australia' policy.

Most Australians have never met an Aboriginal person and have absolutely no understanding of their reality. The story of Aboriginal Australia is one of the saddest and most unconscionable you could imagine in the history of human oppression.

[Maaja]

Hello again,
Everything that I read about Aboriginals made me think... about the stupidity of developed countries, how they treat minorities and how they hope to press their views to everybody,they don't want to understand that diffrent people need different lifestyles. I prefere a not so developed country with it's traditions and freedom than a *doll-country*.
Is that true that Australians did *take* Aboriginals children because they did want to give them a diffrent life without understanding that maybe they don't need different life,that maybe they want what is in their blood?
Maaja

[Naive]

Maaja and Chancho I totally agree with you. I find it despicable that the Howard government refuses to apologise for the stole generation. What’s even worse is that some people claim it was all for the “good” of the aboriginal community. It was all done under the guise of “welfare intervention” so aboriginal children could be taken at random from their families and relocated into white families so they could be “brought up the right way”.
The problem with Howard is that he’s staunchly refused to apologise in the past, so even if he were to do it now, I doubt it would be well received. I hate this double standard where it’s all right to cheer on and aboriginal athlete, have them in the opening ceremony for the Olympics so you can send a nice cosy image of unity to the world and rake in the tourist dollars, but god forbid the government should have to take responsibility for destroying peoples lives and ripping their families apart.

[Moskitto]

i was on the Communist party of Australias website. I clicked Join Us but it said I needed to be over 16 and a resident in Australia.

I can't decide which party i'll join. I can't find any council communist parties but the closest match to me is the probably the Socialist Party.

[ernestodekam]

I certainly hope the Aboriginals don't react in the same way the Zapatista movement has in Chiapas, Mexico in regard to stolen land.

[Drifter]

Don'tt fool yourselves,
labour would not have any better, what did they do when they were in power, and if they were so wonderful, why did they get kicked out.
anyway, most of you are in favour of democracy, how can you whine when the majority make the 'wrong' decision in your eyes.

[Chancho]

Drifter, another quote from George Bernard Shaw is something close to: 'Democracy is a device that ensures that people are governed no better than they deserve'.

Democracy is not necessarily the best way - well, not the way it's set up in Aus. Personally, I favour democracy but feel that voting should be licenced - one would have to successfully complete courses in the fundamentals of government and politics. That way, you could also reduce the age to be eligible to vote. It would be a step towards a more educated and conscionable vote, rather than 'mob rule' - which is what the last Australian federal election showed democracy can often degenerate into.

[Drifter]

basically though, the parties are so similar that it doesn't really make to much of a difference either way who gets voted in.
i liked the sound of the system you proposed at first, but i'll have to have a think about it before i make any rash comments.