Is anyone else clueless? Am I the only one?

[SweetSerenity]

Okay I will admit it...I'm honestely clueless when it comes to politics/elections.

I have no idea who stands for what and everything else that goes with it.

I want to make an informed vote but to be honest I don't understand half the things they go on about.

Anyone else as clueless as I am when it comes to the election?

Anyone care to give me a pretty simple explanation of what Labour and Liberal parties policies are?

Thanks, :confused:Clueless Nat!

[our little treasures]

Well I have actually been reminded of a lot while on this forum! Things that happened years ago like the children overboard etc. Things that mattered at the time but have actually been pushed to the back of my mind with the new headlines. I have my reasons to vote but I love having such an open forum to actually learn more than I actually would on TV etc!

[SweetSerenity]

Well I have actually been reminded of a lot while on this forum! Things that happened years ago like the children overboard etc. Things that mattered at the time but have actually been pushed to the back of my mind with the new headlines. I have my reasons to vote but I love having such an open forum to actually learn more than I actually would on TV etc!

See I think that's my problem, I really don't have the attention span when I'm on here to read all these threads and take it all in LOL:o

I just see SO many threads pop up and I get lost in them... I just have no interest in politics so I get bored I guess reading all these threads about it but at the same time I'm one who doesn't want to do a donkey vote or just vote for whoever...

So does some politics guru want to give me a simple run down and shed some much needed light for me??? :o :laughing:

[sockstealingpoltergeist]

Labor's enduring policy objectives include:


a fairer distribution of political and economic power;
restoration of full employment;
greater equality in the distribution of income, wealth and opportunity;
equal access and rights to employment, education, health and other community services and activities;
more democratic control, ownership and participation in Australian industry;
maintenance of world peace; and
an independent Australian position in world affairs.http://www.alp.org.au/about/index.php
Hope this helps - sounds good to me

[SorenLorensen]

head to both liberal and labour web sites and you will find their policies,
you can also search for interviews and news articles, they seem to tell you a bit aswell (just remember though the "news" is done by the media and we know how much fact they can base their stories on :rolleyes: , thats why i prefer interview transcripts (sp))

[RedPanda]

I'd advise you to look at current policies rather than the founding philosophies of the parties. They've both strayed a fair bit from their beginnings, so it's probably not accurate to look at their original purposes.

[melfunction]

Anyone else as clueless as I am when it comes to the election?


:wave: completely clueless.

I am doing my research though. I have learnt a bit from here but it doesn't help when parties are slagged off all the time. Gets confusing.

[spoon]

I would suggest doing your own research. Watch the debate today at 12.30 between the two men wishing to run the economics in the next term. Peter Costello is Liberal, Wayne Swan is Labour. See what you think of what these people are saying, and make decisions based on how what they say make you feel.

Lots of issues are important in this election.

Off the top of my head...

Education
Laws affecting us at work
commerce for the country
environment
international relations etc.

Just remember that news stories are OFTEN biased, one way or the other.

Make a decision that means something to you. In the end, we are a fantastic country.

[SweetSerenity]

I would suggest doing your own research. Watch the debate today at 12.30 between the two men wishing to run the economics in the next term. Peter Costello is Liberal, Wayne Swan is Labour. See what you think of what these people are saying, and make decisions based on how what they say make you feel.

Lots of issues are important in this election.

Off the top of my head...

Education
Laws affecting us at work
commerce for the country
environment
international relations etc.

Just remember that news stories are OFTEN biased, one way or the other.

Make a decision that means something to you. In the end, we are a fantastic country.

Thank you everyone for your advice and help :)

I unfortunately dont have a working tv outlet, so won't be able to tune in, and which is half the reason why Im clueless. I only see dribs and drabs on the news when I visit my parents and just have no idea.

I might do my own research on the net tonight and try and suss it out.

Thanks ladies :thumbsup:

[mum2bubba]

I am clueless too. You're not alone.

[Phyllis Stein]

Just thought I'd outline a few of the parties broader beliefs - their actual policies can sound very similar if you don't know what ideology underlies them.

Liberal is very much focused on the individual. They believe that in general, the 'market' can distribute resources, so it should be left largely unregulated by government. They'd prefer to give money back in tax cuts for individuals to decide how to spend, rather than "interfere" in the market by directing the money to infrastructure development or welfare programs. They rely on private, for-profit entities to provide what the government won't, so there's more emphasis on user-pays infrastructure (private hospitals & schools etc). Publicly owned resources (like Telstra, the Commonwealth Bank, where profits go to government) are sold off.
Individual's are seen largely to create their own success, so welfare for low-income earners is minimal, and Industrial Relations law is deregulated (in the belief that individual's can mostly look after themselves in the workplace). In the 'free market' (i.e. unregulated) economy, businesses are seen to need more "flexibility" (i.e. the ability to hire & fire workers at will etc), hence, deregulation of IR laws.
They believe that issues like climate change/ water shortages are best dealt with by encouraging private business to invest, often through providing incentives/ subsidies etc. This is instead of government spending the money directly.

Labor believes that workers are better off under a more tightly regulated IR system, and without it, many of the less-skilled or less in-demand workers will lose out. They also believe that this regulation helps the economy, by increasing productivity. They are more committed to government provided infrastructure, rather than private/ for-profit, in the belief that a user-pays system for things like health & education disadvantages those on lower incomes. They believe that spending more on the 'social wage' (things like public education, public health) helps create more equality overall. They also believe that individuals create their own success, but that opportunities are not spread evenly across income groups, so government has a role in 'leveling the playing field'.
Labor are more inclined than the Libs to spend public money on, for instance, climate change initiatives, although this is changing - they are becoming more 'economic conservative', where they will also encourage private/ for-profit entities to do more instead.

Probably the biggest disagreement between supporters of the two parties, is in how much emphasis is placed on the individual to look after themselves and how much the 'free market' can be relied on to provide for everyone's needs. Liberal obviously believe more in the individual/ free market than do Labor, although, like I said before, the difference between them has narrowed.

[SweetSerenity]

Thank you so much Mahna Mahna ... A big help and not biased either way :D Much appreciated.

Nat :)

[Acacia]

Both have terrible climate change policies! Tbh i focus on the enviro aspect of each party. I don't know much about their other policies such as welfare, education and unemployment.

[SweetSerenity]

One of biggest questions I guess is... Do any of you believe the purchasing of houses will be easier under the Labour government? Does anyone know what their policy is in regards to this?

This is one of my biggest concerns regarding the election as I am really hoping to buy a property in 8yrs or so. I'm sure its an unpredictable situtauion but would love some insight.

[Ashleigh<3]

Here is an article about the labor party and first time home buyers.

http://www.alp.org.au/media/0707/msloo300.php

[jenkinsdakota]

[Liberals] believe that in general, the 'market' can distribute resources, so it should be left largely unregulated by government. Except when it comes to farmers they just get a handout. Liberals also intervene into the marriage market and ban gay marriage. Individualism?

Individual's are seen largely to create their own success, so welfare for low-income earners is minimal,While welfare for middle-income and high-income earners is maximal. Middle-class welfare includes farm subsidies, Baby Bonus, etc. Baby Bonus of $2500 is only given to women who have a salary of $55,000 per year.

[rynosmum]

One of biggest questions I guess is... Do any of you believe the purchasing of houses will be easier under the Labour government?

To be entirely honest Nat, no I don't believe that it will be easier under Labor. Housing affordability is based on economic factors. The opinion polls already show that whilst Labor may have the 'popularity' vote, we still have more faith in the Libs to run the economy and Costello (Liberal) is still our preferred Treasurer.

Labor talks a lot about the 'broken promise' that the Liberals made at the last election of 'Interest rates to be kept at record lows'. When I was 21, I bought my first house - a new build. By the time the first drawdown from the bank happened, the interest rates were 13.5%. I tell you now that in my opinion, our current rates ARE still record lows. Yes we've had a few interest rate hikes - with international and economic pressures, we can't keep the nirvana forever but I truly trust that the Libs will keep it as low as possible. Labor has continually brought up this topic but has never shown how they would improve things, or what they can do to keep interest rates down. They can't make promises because they know that market pressures are going to affect rates as well. They just don't prove to me that they are the better option here.


Here is an article about the labor party and first time home buyers. That's a good article but note that it is for new builds only and holds no relevance if you are buying an existing home.

Oh, and it was the Liberals who introduced the First Home Buyers grant.

[Allegra]

Hi SweetSerenity,

The vote-a-matic link (http://http://www.news.com.au/feature/0,,5012863,00.html?CMP=KNC-google) has been posted several times, but I thought I would post it again because it is an interactive way of introducing the different parties policies.

Enjoy

angie

[Odessa]

SweetSerenity:

Here's a helpful vid to see through all those scare campaign ads on telly:

http://media.smh.com.au/?rid=32627

;)

[canberramomma]

Don't forget to check out The Greens website, too. You will be able to balance issues such as social justice, democracy, equality as well as environmental policies and compare them to those of the major parties.

GO GREENS!!!!

[Ashleigh<3]

That's a good article but note that it is for new builds only and holds no relevance if you are buying an existing home.

Oh, and it was the Liberals who introduced the First Home Buyers grant.


Thanks for clearing that up. :)
I could have sworn someone on this site was going around saying the labor party introduced the first time home buyers grant.

[brookeme]

Hehehe Totally clueless!!! I guess its not really funny, I should be more responsible and learn too.