Lizzy's comments

By: willy*bach (Registered ) on 17-10-2007 05:30

I think that Lizzie is well intentioned in her explanation of how a democracy works, but this society cannot claim to be a fully developed democratic system. Regrettably this is a flawed model of democracy and most people know that. This may be part of the reason for the low 65% turnout in Brisbane Central for the recent by election. In the USA 65% would be regarded as high. That is even worse. 
 
Taxes should be democratic, but governments often subsidise major industries, like coal and wood chip and fail to invest in education. Even the collection of tax allows high net worth individuals to pay at an incredibly low rate. Kerry Packer was believed to pay 3c in the A$. 
 
You say that "taxes are to help pay for the general infrastructures needed and demanded by the citizenry". I would add that our political elites regularly squander our money building the infrastructure that their business associates and donors want. If this is 'popular' it is often ill-informed. The toll way tunnels being built under the Brisbane River are an example.  
 
You also believe, as I do, that our tax money should be there to care for supporting disadvantaged groups. Anglicare, The Brotherhood of St Lawrence and others say that has not happened under the Howard government. This wealthy country has huge discrepancies of wealth. The poorest can barely afford shelter and food. This is not democratic. 
 
It is our duty as voters to ensure we uphold democratic standards in politics and take an interest in who we elect. Lying and bullying are the kind of behaviour we should not reward with the respectability of office. Strong leadership is admired by people who want to take the back seat, these people are often psychopaths. 
 
If this means we should avoid voting Liberal it also behoves us to choose carefully if we decide to change to Labor. They will also need to be checked by plenty of Greens, Democrats and progressive independents in the Senate. 
 
Willy Bach 
Greens candidate for Griffith

» Report this comment to administrator

Mr Bach

By: Lizzy (Registered ) on 17-10-2007 06:09

I agree with you , Mr Bach. 
I was trying to be even handed in my approach to how I was feeling toward this recalcitrant Government. 
I have been feeling left out, ignored and vilified by them. 
As a carer of my disabled husband I am becoming weary of being angry all the time. 
So what I was trying to do was reconcile my beliefs in this 'flawed' democracy with being a realist. 
 
Working through the lies and hatred that have been whipped up by our recent leadership has been an exhausting task. I endeavour to be reasonable but it is coming at a price. 
 
Whenever there is talk of the disabled, pensions, allowances etc there is always those who say; "Get off your bum and get a job". I have a job. 
It pays me $220 a week plus $98 a fortnight. How many of those who resent my 'handout' would care to live on that? 
 
It is something to ask for help when you need it, it is another thing to be thought less of because of it. 
 
For all those who talk about 'their' taxes, of their investment portfolios, of their private health cover/private education etc...there may come a time when you too may look for services and financial support that just isn't there. 
 
Take away taxes and you end up having to go to your relatives, cap in hand, to ask for support. Would you like to do that or worse still would you like to be the one to have to give it to all your near and far relatives, just because you want to 'get back YOUR taxes'? 
 
Hopefully the future will be fairer and brighter for us all, not just for the greedy, manipulators of power and the apathetic voter.

» Report this comment to administrator

Local roads

By: AlanK (Registered ) on 17-10-2007 11:58

With all of the road congestion being suffered in and around Brisbane, when is one of the parties going to say that they WILL allocate ALL of the fuel excise to the funding of road works? We pay 38c of the cost of every litre of fuel as excise, [used to be 45c], and only get 2c returned for road works. 
Just think of it, 19 times the road funding we have now. To be actually spent on roads. I would not mind if some got sidetracked to the provision of additional public transport.  
How long has it been since an additional kilometre of passenger carrying rail track has been laid? 
For places like Redcliffe, the argument of right of way and it's cost is used for the delay. To that I say that the right of way already exists. It is called a road! What is wrong with an elevated passenger rail system? Brisbane had a vastly superior public transport system at the end of World War 2 than we have now. 
If some of this is too difficult for the politicians to work around, how about a subsidised public transport system out of some of our excise taxes we pay on fuel? 
Some of this may sound radical, but, let us get outside the square, and indulge in a little lateral thinking. What has happened over the last 50 years is not good enough. I am sick of pollies telling me that they know exactly what is best for me. They don't even know me from a bar of soap.

» Report this comment to administrator