Not sure how accurate this is, but stumbled across this little quiz this morning, based off one previously developed by John Humphries and coded by Sam Ward and Kirk Fletcher.
Give it a go - I was surprised where I ended up
Australian Political Party Quiz - http://ldp.org.au/quiz/index.html#test
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Politics is like sport
I haven't undertaken as much in-depth research into our political parties and their belief systems as I may have initially intended, but I have realised one thing.
Politics is just like sport: it's all about the team until something goes wrong then it's the coach's fault.
I've always had an issue with coaches getting sacked for poor team performance. They're not the ones constantly dropping the ball, giving away penalties, missing goals and ultimately losing the game, so why do they suffer the consequences?
I apply the same logic when voting for political parties.
Now of course the leader of a political party has to have a certain amount of gumption, be believable, partly likable and not sound like a flanno-wearing bogan when they talk (sorry J-Gill but it's true) , but what we really vote for on election day isn't the person, but the policies.
At least it should be.
One person does not a government make.
Think about it. Like a sporting coach, the leader of a political party needs to be aware of what each of their players is doing at any one time, and they need to make sure that those actions don't a) impede the subsequent/concurrent actions of their team mates, and b) don't give the opposition the chance to make a break and score.
And this doesn't just apply to the elected members of the political party, remember that all federal government public servants essentially become part of the party in power's 'team' following a election, so suddenly the coach becomes not just in charge of the top 11, but the support staff, hangers-on and #1 fans.
Bear in mind also that when you see a political leader delivering a speech on a chosen topic, the speech will have been written by someone else, and the work the speech is based on undertaken by different people again - generally specialists in the particular field - , plus the work may even have been started and commissioned when the opposition was in power.
At the end of the day, the more I consider it, read about it, and am exposed to it, the more I want people to vote for policies not people, because at the end of the day, it's the policies that impact our lives not the people -
The same way we remember that grand final game instead of the all the people who played it.
Politics is just like sport: it's all about the team until something goes wrong then it's the coach's fault.
I've always had an issue with coaches getting sacked for poor team performance. They're not the ones constantly dropping the ball, giving away penalties, missing goals and ultimately losing the game, so why do they suffer the consequences?
I apply the same logic when voting for political parties.
Now of course the leader of a political party has to have a certain amount of gumption, be believable, partly likable and not sound like a flanno-wearing bogan when they talk (sorry J-Gill but it's true) , but what we really vote for on election day isn't the person, but the policies.
At least it should be.
One person does not a government make.
Think about it. Like a sporting coach, the leader of a political party needs to be aware of what each of their players is doing at any one time, and they need to make sure that those actions don't a) impede the subsequent/concurrent actions of their team mates, and b) don't give the opposition the chance to make a break and score.
And this doesn't just apply to the elected members of the political party, remember that all federal government public servants essentially become part of the party in power's 'team' following a election, so suddenly the coach becomes not just in charge of the top 11, but the support staff, hangers-on and #1 fans.
Bear in mind also that when you see a political leader delivering a speech on a chosen topic, the speech will have been written by someone else, and the work the speech is based on undertaken by different people again - generally specialists in the particular field - , plus the work may even have been started and commissioned when the opposition was in power.
At the end of the day, the more I consider it, read about it, and am exposed to it, the more I want people to vote for policies not people, because at the end of the day, it's the policies that impact our lives not the people -
The same way we remember that grand final game instead of the all the people who played it.
Friday, 23 March 2012
The best laid plans...
So I had to go walking through a shopping centre with hubby tonight and while he browsed the aisles I followed checking prices for him, but not really paying attention as I sort of felt like I was already cheating on the whole no shopping thing.
Then while we're in Target, I see the new book series 'The Hunger Games' and mentioned that I wouldn't mind seeing what all the fuss is about and reading them. On sale for a 'good price' hubby decided he would buy them for me as therefore I wouldn't be breaking my no shopping vow.
Things are going swimmingly, we get to the check out and wouldn't you know it, hubby runs into a woman he used to work with.
I should point out now that like his shopping ability, my hubby also gasbags like a woman and before I knew it, the snake-like queue had disappeared and I'm at the front of it with a blonde,over-mascara'd 16 yr old tapping her foot impatiently calling out 'next!'
What a dilemma I'm in. My first thought was simply to tell her to get over herself as no-one with the patience to apply that much eye make-up should have an issue waiting for a slightly unawares customer to get her bearings together and find her purse, but common sense took over and I wandered forward, looked around guiltily, dug out my purse, dropped my FlyBuys card, paid with cash and made a hasty retreat out of the store, receipt flailing behind me.
Hubby appeared at my side 10 minutes later blissfully unaware of the turmoil he put me through - damn him!
Then while we're in Target, I see the new book series 'The Hunger Games' and mentioned that I wouldn't mind seeing what all the fuss is about and reading them. On sale for a 'good price' hubby decided he would buy them for me as therefore I wouldn't be breaking my no shopping vow.
Things are going swimmingly, we get to the check out and wouldn't you know it, hubby runs into a woman he used to work with.
I should point out now that like his shopping ability, my hubby also gasbags like a woman and before I knew it, the snake-like queue had disappeared and I'm at the front of it with a blonde,over-mascara'd 16 yr old tapping her foot impatiently calling out 'next!'
What a dilemma I'm in. My first thought was simply to tell her to get over herself as no-one with the patience to apply that much eye make-up should have an issue waiting for a slightly unawares customer to get her bearings together and find her purse, but common sense took over and I wandered forward, looked around guiltily, dug out my purse, dropped my FlyBuys card, paid with cash and made a hasty retreat out of the store, receipt flailing behind me.
Hubby appeared at my side 10 minutes later blissfully unaware of the turmoil he put me through - damn him!
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Life getting in the way of progress
Halfway through the month and only now do I get around to updating the lovely folk on my progress with this month's challenge.
Between visiting Senators, travelling for work, cricket semi finals, netball trials, getting my nails done and being bailed up with a rotten cold, I haven't undertaken too much research on my quest to make fully informed decisions and opinions around politics. I have however been fortunate - if you can call it that - to have a front row seat to a political process at work which is part fascinating, part mind-boggling.
Recently, the Federal Government announced that the agency I work for will be extended beyond it's 'sunset clause' to continue the work we're undertaking across the country, albeit with slightly different roles and functions to how we currently operate. In order for this extension to legally occur, amended legislation needs to be tabled, and passed through the Senate.
What I hadn't fully appreciated before now, is that not all pieces of legislation are written by pollies, Ministers, or Senators trying to get their own agendas on the public scene: no, some are written by the men and women who actually have to undertake the work the legislation is putting in place.
My colleagues in this particular instance.
So before you criticise something new that has been passed by those in power, stop and think about where this may actually have come from? Did it come from Politicians trying to get one up on their opposite number, or was it developed by people who do something beneficial for the country, and although you may not fully understand it, this new piece of legislation will actually help them do their job better?
On the flip-side, no shopping has been surprisingly easy. Probably because I've had so many work functions I've had to buy stuff for I haven't had the time, patience or inclination to shop for pleasure or necessity.
I'm pleased to report though that hubby has managed to follow my shopping lists with high accuracy and hasn't actually made a phone call to me while doing it. Progress? I think so, though just because he isn't calling me to check something doesn't mean he isn't calling his mother...
Hmm, best check the phone log I think ;-)
Between visiting Senators, travelling for work, cricket semi finals, netball trials, getting my nails done and being bailed up with a rotten cold, I haven't undertaken too much research on my quest to make fully informed decisions and opinions around politics. I have however been fortunate - if you can call it that - to have a front row seat to a political process at work which is part fascinating, part mind-boggling.
Recently, the Federal Government announced that the agency I work for will be extended beyond it's 'sunset clause' to continue the work we're undertaking across the country, albeit with slightly different roles and functions to how we currently operate. In order for this extension to legally occur, amended legislation needs to be tabled, and passed through the Senate.
What I hadn't fully appreciated before now, is that not all pieces of legislation are written by pollies, Ministers, or Senators trying to get their own agendas on the public scene: no, some are written by the men and women who actually have to undertake the work the legislation is putting in place.
My colleagues in this particular instance.
So before you criticise something new that has been passed by those in power, stop and think about where this may actually have come from? Did it come from Politicians trying to get one up on their opposite number, or was it developed by people who do something beneficial for the country, and although you may not fully understand it, this new piece of legislation will actually help them do their job better?
On the flip-side, no shopping has been surprisingly easy. Probably because I've had so many work functions I've had to buy stuff for I haven't had the time, patience or inclination to shop for pleasure or necessity.
I'm pleased to report though that hubby has managed to follow my shopping lists with high accuracy and hasn't actually made a phone call to me while doing it. Progress? I think so, though just because he isn't calling me to check something doesn't mean he isn't calling his mother...
Hmm, best check the phone log I think ;-)
Saturday, 3 March 2012
Political window shopping without the shopping
Welcome to March! Can you believe we're two-thirds of the way through the first quarter of 2012?? Me neither. After my abysmal efforts with my mission last month, I'm looking to redeem myself.
Giving up: Shopping
I'm not a compulsive shopper. I'm not even a particularly 'good' shopper because unless I'm visiting somewhere new I can't just wander through shops aimlessly: I need to have something specific in mind.
Hubby on the other hand is the daughter his mother wishes she had.
He LOVES to shop and can do it for hours without looking for anything in particular.
But he can't do the groceries.
He cannot walk the 20m across the road to our local IGA without calling me to double check he's getting the right thing, even if the shopping list consists entirely of tomatoes, sausages and Pepsi Max. Once, he made me visit three different supermarkets to find the best deal on tissues. I understand shopping around for a car, computer or mobile, but tissues??
That has been the only time I've questioned our relationship.
Hubby will try to tell you the reason he calls so often - despite the separation anxiety - is so he doesn't "get in trouble for buying the wrong thing."
I cod understand this if I ever had gone PMS on his ass for buying the wrong colour grapes or the wrong brand tea, but I haven't: EVER.
So unless it's work related I'm giving up shopping for the month and leaving it up to him to do. We started this morning and 10 minutes into the venture, the first call came, though admittedly it was to gauge my preference on favoured health bars.
Taking up: Politics.
I should point out that I'm not actually going to become a politician (which my mum seemed a bit disappointed about), but given the current political environment in Australia I figured this would be a good time to fully immerse myself in political goings-on of our country and get a thorough understanding of all the different pieces.
Because if there's one thing I hate it's people making public statements for or against something when they have no bloody idea how the process works.
I'm fortunate enough to have studied public affairs at uni, and am currently employed by a federal government agency so I've had reasonable exposure to government processes, but I think it's time I work out once and for all where my allegiance falls.
Who knows, maybe it will lead to a career change??
Giving up: Shopping
I'm not a compulsive shopper. I'm not even a particularly 'good' shopper because unless I'm visiting somewhere new I can't just wander through shops aimlessly: I need to have something specific in mind.
Hubby on the other hand is the daughter his mother wishes she had.
He LOVES to shop and can do it for hours without looking for anything in particular.
But he can't do the groceries.
He cannot walk the 20m across the road to our local IGA without calling me to double check he's getting the right thing, even if the shopping list consists entirely of tomatoes, sausages and Pepsi Max. Once, he made me visit three different supermarkets to find the best deal on tissues. I understand shopping around for a car, computer or mobile, but tissues??
That has been the only time I've questioned our relationship.
Hubby will try to tell you the reason he calls so often - despite the separation anxiety - is so he doesn't "get in trouble for buying the wrong thing."
I cod understand this if I ever had gone PMS on his ass for buying the wrong colour grapes or the wrong brand tea, but I haven't: EVER.
So unless it's work related I'm giving up shopping for the month and leaving it up to him to do. We started this morning and 10 minutes into the venture, the first call came, though admittedly it was to gauge my preference on favoured health bars.
Taking up: Politics.
I should point out that I'm not actually going to become a politician (which my mum seemed a bit disappointed about), but given the current political environment in Australia I figured this would be a good time to fully immerse myself in political goings-on of our country and get a thorough understanding of all the different pieces.
Because if there's one thing I hate it's people making public statements for or against something when they have no bloody idea how the process works.
I'm fortunate enough to have studied public affairs at uni, and am currently employed by a federal government agency so I've had reasonable exposure to government processes, but I think it's time I work out once and for all where my allegiance falls.
Who knows, maybe it will lead to a career change??
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