Australian Election - At the Polling Booth!
Blogging From The Frontline
Today in Australia (Saturday 9 October) is the Federal election. Somewhat against my better judgment(!!), I once again did duty at my local polling station, handing out leaflets for the Liberal party. Now, it's a fascinating experience to watch people as they come into vote and, of course, you get a first hand snapshot of public opinion. It's actually a good opportunity to chat with people of different views as well. In our electorate, at least, the rival party workers are pretty good natured and generally we have a chat as we are waiting to press our "how to vote" leaflets into the hands of the local citizens!
There was one unpleasant incident, however. A man came up to the entrance and when the Labour party worker offered a leaflet he very pointedly refused it and proceded to comment that Labour's policies would cost him another $4,000 a year in school fees for his young daughter. As a result, he was very definitely not going to be voting Labour. The Labour party worker somewhat rashly made the comment that he was lucky to have the $4,000 to spend on school fees. This prompted a very angry tirade from the man concerned!
Now, it was very interesting to observe this and the implication of the comment that the man was lucky to have the money. When I heard that, it certainly struck a raw nerve with me and obviously it did with the person involved! I wondered if the lady who made the comment really understood the implication of what she had said. That is, the implication was that anyone who had money was somehow "lucky" and that they didn't deserve to have it. They might even have come by the money dishonestly! An example of the "lack thinking" that is so common and which is endemic among people who hold "collectivist" beliefs.
The other thing that was pretty clear was just how much the Prime Minister, John Howard, is utterly despised by a wide range of people. For myself, I can't stand the man but "held my nose" and voted Liberal because the alternative is so much worse. I imagine there are quite a few people like me. Probably the best result tonight would be a Liberal win but Howard loses his seat!
What's the result going to be? I'll stick with my earlier forecast of a Liberal win. As the election campaign has progressed, my sense is that the core Liberal vote has firmed up and people will vote for their "hip pocket". The issues that so excite the left wing commentariat ("Truth in Government", the Iraq War etc) simply aren't what matters most to people. However, I think it will be very close.
Today in Australia (Saturday 9 October) is the Federal election. Somewhat against my better judgment(!!), I once again did duty at my local polling station, handing out leaflets for the Liberal party. Now, it's a fascinating experience to watch people as they come into vote and, of course, you get a first hand snapshot of public opinion. It's actually a good opportunity to chat with people of different views as well. In our electorate, at least, the rival party workers are pretty good natured and generally we have a chat as we are waiting to press our "how to vote" leaflets into the hands of the local citizens!
There was one unpleasant incident, however. A man came up to the entrance and when the Labour party worker offered a leaflet he very pointedly refused it and proceded to comment that Labour's policies would cost him another $4,000 a year in school fees for his young daughter. As a result, he was very definitely not going to be voting Labour. The Labour party worker somewhat rashly made the comment that he was lucky to have the $4,000 to spend on school fees. This prompted a very angry tirade from the man concerned!
Now, it was very interesting to observe this and the implication of the comment that the man was lucky to have the money. When I heard that, it certainly struck a raw nerve with me and obviously it did with the person involved! I wondered if the lady who made the comment really understood the implication of what she had said. That is, the implication was that anyone who had money was somehow "lucky" and that they didn't deserve to have it. They might even have come by the money dishonestly! An example of the "lack thinking" that is so common and which is endemic among people who hold "collectivist" beliefs.
The other thing that was pretty clear was just how much the Prime Minister, John Howard, is utterly despised by a wide range of people. For myself, I can't stand the man but "held my nose" and voted Liberal because the alternative is so much worse. I imagine there are quite a few people like me. Probably the best result tonight would be a Liberal win but Howard loses his seat!
What's the result going to be? I'll stick with my earlier forecast of a Liberal win. As the election campaign has progressed, my sense is that the core Liberal vote has firmed up and people will vote for their "hip pocket". The issues that so excite the left wing commentariat ("Truth in Government", the Iraq War etc) simply aren't what matters most to people. However, I think it will be very close.
posted by Kevin Francis at
4:53 pm
