State Election 2010

[AtD]

I vote Green, not because I'd ever want to see them in government, but because I don't think the ALP deserves my vote. There's an outside chance an extra Greens senator may sneak past the line, and if not, at least I didn't vote Liberal.

The advantage of preferential voting.

[monotonehell]

...That is however my own opinion and I am open to critism (especially since Mike Rann is my local MP).

This means that you're one of the few voters that actually get to ostensibly vote for (or against) Rann directly. Choice bro.

[Shuz]

Whats with the Liberal upswing of late? I'm very concerned...

[Cruise]

Why does everyone hate the Liberals for some reason?

how people can swear allegiance to one party or another sickens me.

[Will]

Why does everyone hate the Liberals for some reason?

how people can swear allegiance to one party or another sickens me.

People usually do not change their ideology. As such that explains why people vote for one particular party.

[Cruise]

Why does everyone hate the Liberals for some reason?

how people can swear allegiance to one party or another sickens me.

People usually do not change their ideology. As such that explains why people vote for one particular party.

Things change though.

For Example, I though Howard was a fine Prime Minister, until he introduced work choices which made me vote Labor.

I also voted for Labor in the last state election, But with their plans to replace the RAH on the railyards has left me undecided.

[rhino]

For Example, I though Howard was a fine Prime Minister, until he introduced work choices which made me vote Labor.

Well, there you go. I thought Howard was an arrogant prick who took all the credit for a bouyant economy that was handed to him on a plate by the economic conditions around the western world during his time at the helm, and through this managed to con the Australian people even though he lost all his credibility over his lies about affairs such as the "children overboard affair". When the Australian public was saying sorry about the Stolen Generation, he refused an official apology because he knew what Australians really needed. Etc, etc ... It was sooooo good to see him lose his own seat!

Having said that, there is nothing wrong with being a swinging voter if the way you vote will get you what you want, but basing your swinging vote on one issue (new hospital or new stadium, for example) is also folly.

[rev]

Why does everyone hate the Liberals for some reason?

how people can swear allegiance to one party or another sickens me.

It's swing voters like you who ruin it for the rest of us by always being undecided and waiting for some big promise. I don't understand how people can wait for the typical promises to make up their minds. Pick a party that suits you and vote for them. In the end all major parties will promise funding for this highway or that school or that hospital or that stadium. Why? Because of swing voters.

Whats with the Liberal upswing of late? I'm very concerned...

There's a surge of them on adelaidenow/news.com.au as well. Has been for a while now. Now that is what is really sickening. They flood that site under various names with garbage.
They target the poll's especially. I don't think we will be surprised and see a Liberal victory next year. Not with them being so dysfunctional and as useless in opposition as the minor parties being in existence is. Labor will carry us through beyond 2010.

[rhino]

It's swing voters like you who ruin it for the rest of us by always being undecided and waiting for some big promise.

There are two sides to this argument. It could be said that it's people who always vote for the same party no matter what their policies are, that are the ones who really can't be bothered looking at the big picture, because making a choice would involve too much hard work and they're too lazy. I'm not saying that's you, Rev, but it certainly does apply to a lot of one-party-only voters. I'm basically a one-party-only voter myself, for my own reasons.

I've also heard a theory, which I believe is true to a point, that no-one votes to get a party in, they vote to keep another party out. Hence giving minor parties all your preferential votes when they obviously cannot run the state as well as the other major party, which you've put last on your ballot paper.

[Wayno]

yep, i use the "vote in / keep out" approach when completing the ballot papers. it gets tricky with preferences...

[stumpjumper]

The Australian Fair Pay Commission has just announced pay rises of 2% for almost 1.2 million workers of between $5.30 and $10.26 per week for those on the minimum wage.

While low paid workers are toiling to deliver services that keep the country going, the hard working politicians have received a 7% increase. Generously, even the flunkeys in the plush, air-conditioned confines of the Premier's office have also received a little boost, with pay rises of up to 16.8 per cent.

Here are a few examples: Peter Chataway, principal adviser, government relations, got an extra $25,000, taking his salary to $180,090.

Nick Alexandrides, chief of staff, gets $159,563. Jill Bottrall, deputy chief of staff, is now on $141,833.

Paul Flanagan, who manages the Premier's 100 strong media unit, gets $138,690, fair enough because of the 1000 or so people who work in the Premier's Department (a splendid organisation which some of its members proudly call 'the government within the government'), the media unit is continuously occupied - monitoring all TV and radio transmissions, the internet and all print across the state. It's quite an enterprise, and it ensures that The Leader is able to respond instantly, as he has on occasion, to a comment on talkback radio, for example.

As the largest employer of media talent in the state, the Premier's Media Unit leaves in its wake the Liberal Party with its 3 journalists shared between all its MP's and MLC's.

Anyway, it's good to know that Mikr Rann's backroom drones are properly compensated for their efforts.

PS: Word from inside the Premier's citadel is that Mike is impressed with Queensland premier Anna Bligh's more or less permanent adoption of a white hard hat and orange hi-viz vest for much of her state electoral campaign is a good look. With the SA state election, expect to see Mike in his own hard hat from about February 2010.

After all, as has often been noted on this forum, development - any development at all, regardless of its quality, the ethics and legality of its procurement or its value to the community - is a wonderful thing and translates directly into votes from the witless electors of Mike's kingdom.

So just vote down the ALP card and put your faith in Media Mike, Don Farrell and the Property Council.

[JamesXander]

Missed this thread.

Firstly the states should never be abolished, shocking idea whoever said that.

Secondly I am with cruise, I hate people who vote for the same party everytime, we should become more politically active in SA and LISTEN to everyside. Not just have a midset of 'iam gonna vote labor 2010 2014 2017 etc.


Lastly, I am going to vote for the first time this year. I am still swing. Liberals I havent heard enough of their policy IMO. MHS seems like a bloke who would go into bat for SA, and I think we need that in a Premier, someone who wont get pissed on (SAS afterall).

However labor has seen SA grow over the last few years, albeit slowly, but none the less we have seen projects completed and slight improvement in our economy.


I am gonna vote whats best for SA, because frankly, thats what we all need to do. SA needs the BEST party in power, we cant afford to have 2nd best.

[stumpjumper]

Sounds good, JX. Whatever way you vote, if you cast your vote after due consideration of which choice you think is best, then you've made the right choice, and you've done your democratic duty.

[JamesXander]

The advertiser today, front page Liberals Collapse.

polling suggests Liberals losing ground. sounds scary...


then look at the sample size..500


The advertiser has no intergrity.

[Wayno]

The advertiser today, front page Liberals Collapse.

polling suggests Liberals losing ground. sounds scary...

then look at the sample size..500

The advertiser has no intergrity.

With a voting population of 1million people, 500 is a reliable sample size, and 200 will give reasonably accurate results as well. In fact, you could simply decide the election with high statisticial reliability by choosing 1000 people at random and have them vote on behalf of the rest of us!

However, it's waaaay too early to worry about the polls, neither major party has started their "election rain dance". And yes, i agree with your comment about the Advertiser's integrity - it pays to be weary.