Good question DR, and I think the answer is that no single party reflects the ideals of the general population, and most people see policies of worth from both the major parties, as well as policies they cannot go along with.

I see many posters here that would be seen as being "Liberal" supporters, whose opinions I agree with in many areas, and who usually post intelligent arguments to describe why they support certain policies, even if I disagree with them.
Posters like Verge, Gizmo Aussie Free, etc. can hold these opposing views, without resorting to the ridiculous idiotic far right fanboy antics of the likes of some other members here who merely oppose any and all policies that do not originate from their party of choice, and the same can be said of those holding the opposite political views, with those who can happily approve of Bi-Partisan support for policies they think will benefit the country, irrespective of who proposes it first.
So I think that there is a solid core of centre left, and centre right supporters, that could happily vote for any major party that adopted true centrist policies, while the loony left, and right, will always have their advocates banging on, creating a disproportionate amount of noise, which tends to see both current major parties, hanging on to extremist policies that even near centre voters, cannot condone, and so the divide continues.

I have long hoped for the Liberal party to split, and reform as a true centre party, ejecting the extremist elements, and I strongly believe that if they did that, they would gather the majority support, very quickly, by becoming exactly the sort of option that so many aussies are looking for.

I would like to think that Labor could do that also, but I fear their union ties would prove to large a barrier for them to overcome, and so my best hope lies with the Liberals, and the jettisoned extremists could form a minority Nationalist type of party in the mould of One Nation, to provide representation for the 10% or so that currently adhere to the more far right policies.

It will need to be a move from within the party to begin with, but if it ever happens, I know that I will not be alone in supporting them, because I get the feeling a lot of aussies are sick of the pandering to extremist views from both parties, and are just waiting for a real centre option to arise.

Quote:


I'm not unhappy, I'm more amused.

I hated John Howard with a passion, but do I think either him or his govt did a bad job overall?  nup

Let's face it, most of us are just on here to sook, bat for our team, abuse the opposing team or say sh!t simply to rile others.

If there are some on here who actually care that much about politics - geez, that must suck and can't be good for your blood pressure.

djrbfm wrote on Dec 30^th, 2010 at 5:48pm:


we DO have stable systems. your definition of stable is obviously incorrecnt. and the police ARE not a political force. Im not exactly sure what your problem is.

... wrote on Dec 30^th, 2010 at 5:57pm:


They dont 'draft' laws at all. they make suggestions and the parliament drafts the laws. Thats hardly making them a 'political force' anymore than a social service group making similar suggestion s.

You'd have to be in WA to see for yourself.

... wrote on Dec 30^th, 2010 at 6:08pm:

See what? Senior public servants drafting bills (proposed legislation) ? Go into any government department on work experience and discuss drafting bills for the minister with senior public servants... It ain't no secret.

That's one of the many functions of the public service.

NorthOfNorth wrote on Dec 30^th, 2010 at 6:06pm:


Not only that every senior public servant has technical and legal staff that do the bulk of the drafting of the bill which the senior oversees.