Greens?

[Mr_Wall]

Just wondering would anyone here vote for the greens this election? p.s I'm not a member of the greens or an advocate for them in anyway

[Mephisto2]

No I wouldn't, even if I had the vote (non-citizen resident here).

Their politics are a mess and whilst I agree with a lot of their environmental beliefs, they are really a "one topic" party.

Mr Mephisto

[auswegian]

I don't particularly like the Greens, as I am pro-GM and pro-Nuclear. But as they represent a party that is closer to my own political beliefs than any of the other parties, they'll get my vote. The only other party that I don't find personally offensive in some way is probably the Democrats, and I've lost faith in them so I guess I'm stuck with the Greens.

[slimshaydee]

Their policies will only win over a small minority of potheads, but hey at least they try

[Meridae'n]

While it's refreshing to see a party actually think of their own crap to peddle, the fact that their agenda is stuck on ideals which are mostly questionable, and sometimes downright fiction, means that they will remain the posterboys for left-wing detainee-huggers and other groups who prefer romance over research. Happily I can report that they will do no damage whatsoever come October 9th... but with the 2 party prefferred system they might have a small say in some inner city marginals.

At the very least they will provide us with our 79th thread. :goesbacktowatchingtehsimpsons:

[Mr_Wall]

they're getting my vote as I don't understand the major parties willingness to give tax cuts to the rich. The whole idea of business welfare scares me too.

I still don't understand what policies people are saying are to out there can someone give me one?

[spindles]

Seeing that our local greens candidate is 18 years old, I'm pretty sure that is a no vote for me. No offence to 18 year olds but that is just too young to be running the country.

[slimshaydee]

Originally Posted by spindles

Seeing that our local greens candidate is 18 years old, I'm pretty sure that is a no vote for me. No offence to 18 year olds but that is just too young to be running the country.

Isn't that discrimination though?
Obviously he/she had to show their worthiness in order to get to where they are. That person could be just what your electorate needs

[Meridae'n]

Originally Posted by Mr_Wall

they're getting my vote as I don't understand the major parties willingness to give tax cuts to the rich.

Er, they pay the most tax. The bit I don't understand is why people think the rich should automatically get punished for being successful. I wonder how the rest of us would feel about getting up and going to work if we were all getting taxed 49 cents in the dollar...

[slimshaydee]

Once the rich start earning over 60k alot of them piss off overseas to avoid the ludacrisly high tax rates. Btw the rich use alot of income splitting and create bookeeping to lower their tax rates.

[spindles]

Originally Posted by slimshaydee

Isn't that discrimination though?
Obviously he/she had to show their worthiness in order to get to where they are. That person could be just what your electorate needs

Isn't every election discriminatory?

Seriously, my personal opinion is that you need a bit of life experience before going into politics. I just don't think anyone that young is ready for the responsibility.

Besides, I'm in Phillip Ruddock's seat - It has been Liberal for ever, so I'm not sure my vote (which is definitely anti-Liberal) is going to have much of an affect.

[Mr_Wall]

Originally Posted by Meridae'n

Er, they pay the most tax. The bit I don't understand is why people think the rich should automatically get punished for being successful. I wonder how the rest of us would feel about getting up and going to work if we were all getting taxed 49 cents in the dollar...

I wonder how people would feel getting up for the two years I was an apprentice to earn my $6.60 then a great $14.10 I get now as a personal carer in charge of a aged care facility. Thats alot of money for the job i do aswell. plus everyone knows rich don't pay as much tax as they say...

[Meridae'n]

Originally Posted by slimshaydee

Once the rich start earning over 60k alot of them piss off overseas to avoid the ludacrisly high tax rates. Btw the rich use alot of income splitting and create bookeeping to lower their tax rates.

For starters, 60K isn't really that much money. I'm on around 60K myself and I'm only working at a factory until I finish uni. I have been, however, working as an accountant for the previous 2 years in Wagga and was privvy to alot of information on the 'rich'.

Firstly, we can forget about the old notion that the rich use 'creative accounting'. The ATO has an absolute stranglehold on everyone these days, and I mean EVERYONE. They know exactly what you should be claiming and every cent that you earn, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. There's an act in the Tax Legislation that outlaws all forms of 'aggresive tax planning', which means if you manipulate your affairs in any way whatsoever to lower the amount of tax you pay, you're theirs. These people pay extremely high taxes, believe me. Even if they live overseas every cent they make from affairs on continental Australia is taxed.

I don't mean to sound condesending in any way, it's just that their has always been a misconception that the rich are getting away with murder, when in fact, they are serious contributers to this country's economy.

[almostaugust]

Meridaen, are you turning tricks at the factory or what? 60k is a shitlload to me. I guess it all has to do with your expectations. Ive got mates who have a similar outlook toward their income. You must be really working your arse off to fit in uni aswell.
The sad reality is that the gap between the rich and the poor is really expanding at the moment. In the 1970s Australia had one of the most egalitarian and balanced systems in the entire world. Howard is really making things worse. And Education is a good example of this growing class divide. Im glad latham has taken the stance he has on it.