QUIET PLEASE
POSTS to Tasmanian Times are outstanding examples of high-level literacy. Obviously the site is patronised by well-educated, well-informed readers who like to indulge in an intellectually precise rant, but they don’t nominate themselves as political contenders.
With so much obvious intelligence and apparent contempt for greedy politicians and their grasping sidekicks, wouldn’t it behove TT contributors to quit wasting their time complaining in Sheakespearan prose, and seriously throw their hats and ideas in the ring where their (very clever) mouths could apply some positive action?
Australian States are all in decline because new-fashion fuzzy feel-good foolishness at decision-making levels has, over recent decades, replaced old-fashioned, tried and true maintenance of social cohesion through implementation of no-nonsense policies.
I’d like to dig up a few Aussie Diggers and put them in charge for a term or two. We’d all see a heap of arses kicked and the smart-arses of this place humiliated out of existence. Unlike the ego-maniacs of today, they gave their lives for a pittance. So while you complainers do nothing but talk, you and the entire population receive the shafting so deserved. Tasmania requires a people’s hero. Please stop raving and step forward.
Stephan
August 2, 2009 at 12:30
Why thank you for the, however backhanded, compliment. May I point you to two things Mr Quiet Please?
1. Buck’s post above yours?
2. I think you’ll probably acknowledge that politics is more about popularity and charisma than it is about intelligence and “common” sense.
Most people who post here will have had some engagement in the community and politics. So they’ve “stepped forward”. I won’t do so because I grew up a “Nerd/Geek” and I was taught the facts of life young.
The face of politics today looks for all the world much the same as the face of politics yesterday. To borrow a phrase from a very popular movie though, entering politics today is like going over to the dark side. All the good intentions in the world won’t save you from its taint.
Valleywatcher
August 2, 2009 at 16:30
VOTE #1 GUY FAWKES – THE ONLY PERSON EVER TO ENTER PARLIAMENT WITH HONEST INTENTIONS
Annie
August 2, 2009 at 21:01
Quite, Please – I know of a few of the type of people you seem to be referring to in this article who have toyed with the idea of putting their names forward to enter parliament – state or federal. Putting their money where their mouths are, if you will.
When confronted with the thought of the kind of people they would have to deal with and the appalling level of debate in our halls of government, these people have scotched the idea immediately, preferring indeed to work from outside the slime-pit.
Django
August 2, 2009 at 22:59
Wasn’t Bartlett supposed to be the People’s Hero?
Mark
August 3, 2009 at 01:42
Karl, that would be Judge “Dredd.” Might be a toon in that with the Wasteland.
Mark Duffett
August 3, 2009 at 02:58
James Crotty is, in general political philosophy and level of articulateness (?), just about the quintessential Tasmanian Times contributor. He just had a red hot go at getting into Parliament. We can all see how well that went.
So, sorry, Mr/s Please, but it appears most Tasmanians aren’t all that taken with your typical TT contributor. Indeed, I’d go so far as to say that most of them wouldn’t agree with most of what is written here. Nice fantasy, but it ain’t gonna happen.
Mike Adams
August 3, 2009 at 12:55
#7 Most of them find reading anything unenjoyable and those that have computers have them for the kids.
The votes for Mr Crotty would have come largely from TT readers and as we’ve seen there aren’t very many of them.
As I’ve mentioned before Fred and Marge vote Liberal when Labor is on the nose, and Labor when the Liberals are on the nose. They determine the result. Greens, Democrats, Independents are irrelevant.
Over to Dr Bonham.
Simon Warriner
August 3, 2009 at 13:01
Mark, I refer you to the time honoured dictum, stupidity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result.
There is also a phrase trotted out from time to time about people getting the government they deserve.
Put the two together and the nature of tasmania’s problems may come into focus.
Quiet Please.
August 3, 2009 at 13:37
It’s sorrowfully apparent that TT minds far greater than Quiet Please are fixated on political commentary.
People’s heroes rarely emanate from the tainted, distrusted community of politics. We could rightly adjudicate that apathetic public reliance on the costly institution of politics has facilitated a tsunami of societal decline.
A decline that will require much, much more than two-timing opportunist politicians would even attempt to turn back.
Come on TT commentators. You know better, so you can do better.
Politicians do not, and never will, present the heroic values of integrity, courage, foresight, honour, logic and compliance that are pre-requisites for management of a stable and cohesive society. And that’s without the task of rectifying the errors of judgement that got all of us into what could be described as a damned mess.
I would prefer to be part of a new and impatient people’s force for change and betterment — with the emphasis on — force.
This State and nation are politically “led” by a majority of born-to-rule weak, pathetic, greedy, self-important, self-interested, thoughtless, lazy, under-informed, pompous, arrogant, rude, incompetent bullies.
How can this be, people? How can this be?
William Boeder
August 3, 2009 at 14:36
I note your comments #10 Quiet Please.
What you say of the institution of politics in the present, has effectively been created by their predecessors, to enable the politicians of today to escape accountability, responsibility and to indulge in much self approbation.
Add to this the feckless pursuit and clamor of nearly all of todays media entities, seeking tidbits and scraps of personal political purpose, you then find how this all began.
Effectively today, (as seen in many instances,)
that a politician once elected, simply can survive for many years by keeping silent, hiding from cameras and scrutiny, then pump out ‘elect me’ material when required and all is done for another term in parliamentary tenure.
Typical of this is the conduct of some in the Liberal Party, quietly drawing their stipend from the taxpayer, an occasional grinning photo of him and the wife, kids and family dog.
Everybody featured in this sort of photo presentation are grinning, even the doggy.
rob
August 3, 2009 at 15:36
1. People are sh#t, that’s all there is to it!
But to elaborate, the majority of our population don’t seem to care about the nitty gritty of politics or the real face of individual politicians.
Some will always vote the same way or they will just vote for either major party depending on their satisfaction levels with either parties performance. Regardless of the fact that it is just like continually banging our heads against a hard brick wall [although, it’ll eventually be a softer mud & hay brick wall with the apparent growing influence of the Greens on the liblabs, not that there is anything wrong with that [most of the time].
Our parliament is a tennis court with two players (liblab) and one referee with a green bias(greens). The same players and referees are always on the same court and they are never challenged by a new & strong third party, what we need is a ‘winner plays on’ system, with a completely new challenger at the start of each game(election)
2. I honestly believe that James Crotty’s openness did him more harm than good and he would’ve performed far better had he of kept his mouth shut and appeared to be a true Labor man whilst being “independent”. That would’ve fooled traditional Labor voters into voting for him by thinking he was an unofficially Labor endorsed candidate, and that Labor just didn’t want to risk a true loss by a true Labor candidate.
You may argue that if that’s the way they think, why didn’t traditional Labor supporters vote for Honey Bacon, but the likely reason behind Bacons poor performance was because…she’s Honey Bacon!(and had previously criticised the Govt.)
James Crotty claimed to have ‘Labor values’ but I saw no real evidence of that. He would make a fantastic independent politician, but in the eyes of the public I doubt anyone can ever totally remove their links to a major party, regardless of what they say, they will always be tainted by their past.
However, I do commend him for saying it like it is and not being afraid to voice his opinion on every issue under the sun, unlike the other candidates – unfortunately I can’t see that sort of campaign ever working in your favour unless every candidate campaigns the same way.
This is why we at least need mandatory public debates, broadcast to all, prior to elections so that we know what a candidate stands for even if we don’t agree with all of it.
TerryS.
August 3, 2009 at 18:35
In response to Quite Please #10
Commendable sentiments indeed.
They would echo the opinions and views of many cerebrally driven political observers.
You put forward that, “This State and nation are politically “led†by a majority of born-to-rule weak, pathetic, greedy, self-important, self-interested, thoughtless, lazy, under-informed, pompous, arrogant, rude, incompetent bullies”.
Your statement actually lists curriculum vitae criteria for contemporary political success at all levels. Your description can be applied to Local Government areas as well.
Those who enter any political arena with genuine selfless intent and ideals must have the intestinal fortitude and relentless drive of a journeyman welterweight, plus the finesse of a mechanised but diplomatic lump hammer just to rise up and hold on while surrounded by the slimy texture and stench of a normal political environment.
Those who don’t have it usually go under very quickly, either to conform to the status quo and meld with the political flotsam and jetsam or sink out of sight beneath the scum layer into political oblivion.
The Bob Browns, the Christine Milnes and their ilk are rare and talented examples of success, but are the heavily stifled hope and intelligence on a ship that is captained and mostly crewed by ego maniacal fools.
Please, PULEEEEASE! no more bloody HEROES!!!
Along with Aussie flag guilt trips, heroism worship has also become a political tool worthy of breathless and cringing embarrassment.
Terrified terriers barking with fear at smoke and flames are now bona fide HEROES!!
Kids and grown ups of all ages and descriptions exhibiting any form of moral and/or social responsibility that was once the norm, are now community HEROES!!
Men and woman who volunteer to do essential and sometimes (and sometimes not) dangerous but well remunerated and well pensioned jobs now seem to expect, and are given, public recognition, front page treatment, fake gold medals and the moniker of HERO!!
We have every Bowie listening political opportunist pushing the “you can be/we can be” heroes agenda.
Prime Ministers and State Premiers, Commissioners, Mayors, Majors, miners, team leaders and all their underlings and hangers-ons are looking for and/or wanna be heroes.
And there is staged and manipulated photo opportunity with everyone of them thar genuwine heroes.
We need strong leaders of intelligence and integrity, who have an altruistic loyalty to the community, we need Statesmen and Stateswoman with secular backbone and conscientious intent.
I have lived long enough and am experienced enough to realise that the entrenched methods of our political masters can only be overcome with a metaphorical pitchfork and axe-handle revolution at the grass roots of our society.
Good and successful business leaders have realised that changes and involvement that emanate from the bottom up are a recipe for contented and fruitful outcomes.
It should be the same recipe for successful and workable governance at all levels.
But the pessimist in me sees no solution for the moronic majority who with the evaluative thought processes of a hessian sack just do as they are told, open wide and swallow the ferrity fakers snake oil and truly believe it is the best that can be got for their votes and taxes.
TerryS.
Eagle eye
August 3, 2009 at 19:25
“This State and nation are politically “led†by a majority of born-to-rule weak, pathetic, greedy, self-important, self-interested, thoughtless, lazy, under-informed, pompous, arrogant, rude, incompetent bullies.
How can this be, people? How can this be? ”
Google “political ponerology” and do some reading. You will be much better informed as to why our world is the way it is. Seems to me the only way the meek will inherit the earth is if they wake up and take it by force. Perhaps that is what you were about?
Geraldine Allan
August 3, 2009 at 20:15
# 13. Eagle eye. So I did as you suggest and googled “political ponerologyâ€. I had a brief look at a picture of disenchantment.
I saw in one blog/forum the following
“Doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the major media destroy information and religions destroy spirituality….”–David Ellner
Any argument anyone?
Steve
August 4, 2009 at 01:31
2; Thanks for that Valley Watcher. 5th November not that far away either..
Mark Duffett
August 4, 2009 at 02:51
I’ve been thinking a bit more about what QP has said. Motivated by a manifest impatience and frustration with the representatives thrown up by our democratic institutions, s/he wants
– an ex-serviceman
– a ‘people’s hero’
– to implement “maintenance of social cohesion through implementation of no-nonsense policies”
– to lead “a new and impatient people’s force for change and betterment – with the emphasis on ‘force'”.
At the risk of invoking Godwin’s Law, who does this remind you of?
don davey
August 4, 2009 at 03:07
(14)
“Seems to me the only way the meek will inherit the earth is if they wake up and take it by force. Perhaps that is what you were about?”
The only way that take’s place is when we are starving, our children killed and or raped !etc which is unlikely , as a smart Gov’t knows just how far they can push people in the knowledge that until such a scenario , apathy will keep things under control.
d.d.
Brian.M
August 4, 2009 at 04:38
If I had any faith in the current ‘western democratic’ (sic) system, I’d probably enter the two-party politics that exists here. The fact is that the so-called democratic process is a failed one, particularly in Tasmania, where corporate donations = big dollar political election campaigns and corporate dictated public ‘policy’. See Tony Burkes recent political statements lifted out of an out-dated Gunn’s brochure to find the most blatant recent example of this ethically corrupt process. I for one don’t believe Tasmania’s insular political system can be changed from within, in it’s current form. Without true transparency of the decision making processes, referendums, and a truly independent ethics commission: not one loaded with relatives and school-mates of current M.P’s and political party members, family members of M.P’s and business folk with vested interests! (Would there be anyone left in the soup!!??) . I have little or no faith in the current political system as it operates in Tasmania. It’s a sham! So, no, I refuse to be a part of it, and what’s more, I still try to affect change where I can. Furthermore, I refuse to engage with anyone I see as a part of the problems in this state , rather than part of the solution. for example, my workplace was recently asked to be available for a ‘smiley photo-shoot’ with a particular political figure to be published in the newspaper. This was cancelled as not a single worker here was prepared to have their photo taken with this politician, and most saw it as a politician seeking pre-electoral publicity and taking credit for work they had not contributed one iota for! (and several didn’t participate because the couldn’t be arsed!). The politicians P.A. was very disgruntled when I suggested I’d be ironing my socks that day, so couldn’t possible make it. Another time? sorry, I’d rather watch paint dry!
Who in their right mind would WANT to be part of this inept political process??