I have been disheartened over the past few months in the realisation that Liberal and Labor seem to be championing much the same, if not identical, policies.

The Australian Labor Party was created by the unions and are meant to represent the working class. If this is still the case, it is a very bourgeois working class. The Labor Party has failed to make any real promises to reform the IR laws.

I perceive their proposals as a slightly softer version of the Liberal laws. Rudd mentioned that his tax plan meant people earning over $180 000 a year would be paying more taxes, he then went on to say that was people like himself and John Howard.

Great he earns a lot of money, how about giving some back to the community? No this isn’t some crazy idea I just thought up. Anne Boccabella, the Green’s candidate for the recent Brisbane by-election, pledged 20% of her weekly income to community benefit funds if she won. If the Green’s can do it then why cant the major parties?

The debate confirmed that neither of the major parties are willing to act on the really important issues. Kevin Rudd stumbled when he was questioned on how and when the Labor party was going to measure their environmental success and John Howard didn’t give to much away on the Coalition’s plans.

I had to laugh when he said we were in a position to influence the US in regards to their environmental policy. I highly doubt that George Bush, who considers himself to be the most powerful man in the world, who will bulldoze a country for their oil, and who will completely disregard fundamental human rights and the environment to benefit the US economy, is going to listen to his little lapdog, which is exactly what Australia has become.

It is much like an older sibling stringing you along, promising to do something if you do something for them first. This continues and nothing ever eventuates.

Of course terrorism got a mention, after all we need some sort of justification for being in Iraq no matter how tenuous it is. I think the governments anti-terrorism scare campaign is dividing the community and creating racism. How many people have regarded a Muslim with suspicion? How many people have seen a bag and nervously looked around for the owner? How many people have heard a plane fly over and felt a jab of fear? And how many terrorist attacks have there been on Australia?

The debate last night left so much unanswered. John Howard avoided actually answering questions like the plague and I didn’t hear him give a single clear answer all night. Kevin Rudd just looked plain smug, although I think this is his natural look so I won’t judge him on that. However all of his answers seemed rehearsed. What happened to the passion and actually believing in your policies?

The most inspiring speech I have ever heard was from Bob Brown. He truly believed what he was saying and never tripped up when questioned, he knew the policies inside out. I believe this is because the Green’s, and the Democrats, have policies that actually make sense. They don’t complicate things like the major parties do.

To combat global warming use renewable energy, accept refugees based on situation and not their race, involve Indigenous people in decisions that will affect them, respect human rights, and show compassion and passion. The most important thing is to not pretend you know everything, I know I don’t expect anyone (not even the PM to know everything), instead be willing to listen and learn.

The word leadership was thrown around last night, as it has been throughout the last week. The PM and opposition can use phrases like “the right leadership” and “new leadership” but what this country needs is REAL leadership.

Someone who is willing to make changes even if the rest of the world won’t. Someone who is willing to implement a Human Rights Bill. Someone who doesn’t support useless wars in foreign countries. Someone who will invest in things Australia could use instead of the army. Someone who will accept refugees based on their situation NOT their race. Someone who remembers that there are people behind the corporations that run our economy. Someone who realises that everyone is different and that there is no one way to define what it is to be Australian. Someone who will stop the fear-mongering. Someone who will notice human rights abuses overseas and do something about it. Someone who will stand-up and tell the world that Australia is an independent nation. Someone who will act and not just talk. Someone that will listen to us all the time and not just once every three years.

I am going to vote Green. I suppose my preference will go to Labor and not much will change except that now I have lost faith in democracy. It kind of reminds me of that Simpson's episode.......

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