With five days to go before polling day, it's as good a time as any to list some of the things I don't like about the current regime.
I rarely vote for the conservatives, so it wouldn't take many of these (perhaps none!) to influence my vote. However, I imagine many less committed voters are indicating their voting intentions (according to the polls) as a result of the cumulative dissatisfaction caused by some or all of the following.
In no particular order ...
- The concept of the 'non core' promise.
- The lack of support for the Republic Referendum.
- Mindlessly following the lead of the US regarding foreign policy.
- The deception used to justify joining the debacle in Iraq.
- Cynically using the populations' xenophobia for political advantage. (Refugees, Tampa, the Pacific Solution, fear of terrorism, manipulating the legal system to detain suspects on minimal evidence.)
- The abandonment of an Australian citizen to years of detainment without trial. (Until it became a political imperative to act.)
- Ignoring climate change. Debunking the mounting evidence that human action is causing global warming. Not ratifying Kyoto, particularly galling after major concessions were granted to encourage us participate. The sabotaging of promising green technologies in favour of the coal industry. (Until it became politically impossible to ignore.)
- Neglecting eduction. Increasing the funding to rich private schools by using a dodgy funding formula. Leaving public schools were left to fend for themselves. The financial squeezing of universities, and the neglect of skills training. (Until now, of course.)
- The myth of being great financial managers, when all they've really had to do is redistribute mountains of incoming cash courtesy of the mining boom. The manipulation of the budget surplus to provide tax cuts at politically opportune moments. Not using those funds for desperately needed improvements in infrastructure, education and health.
- Work Choices, or how to screw the weakest in society. (Until the next recession, when we all get screwed.)
- The lack of an apology to the 'Stolen Generation.'
- Promising to keep interest rates low while political expediency causes them to rise.
That'll do for now. It only took only a few minutes to compile. There'd be many others given more time.
I'm open to suggestions.
There's a lot of dissatisfaction baggage between Howard and an election victory.
Bring on the 24 November.
Ugh - They're all on my list Tony.
Can I add a few minor ones
Appropriating Kirribilli House for use way beyond its need 'for family reasons' and for causing vast costs to get the PM back and forth between Sydney and Canberra
APEC in all its glory coupled with the shutting down of key parts of Australia to keep foreign people safe. (Thinking about Parliament House and the Harbour Bridge here)
The Sedition laws and other travesties of so called security.
The refusal to expect any ministerial crony to take responsibility for a vast range of cock-ups and rorts.
The using of every military departure or arrival, plus a few funerals, for self puffery.
That'll do for now.