tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post5093056169696891608..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Saturday Morning Musings - confidentiality, confusion and Australia's electionJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-63338327228727105072010-08-02T08:34:08.520+10:002010-08-02T08:34:08.520+10:00I do understand your frustration, LE! However, I d...I do understand your frustration, LE! However, I did strike a more optimistic note in the post I have just brought up. <br /><br />Even in an efficiency/effectivness world, ideas and values still underpin policy. An interesting question that I am mulling over at the moment is just what current policy proposals actually have a longer term importance? It's quite interesting, because it actually forces perception shifts.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-1273850688315134772010-08-01T12:33:24.764+10:002010-08-01T12:33:24.764+10:00For that reason, The Green's policy positions ...<i>For that reason, The Green's policy positions become more important than they have been in the past. I, for one, do not know enough of those positions. They need to be subjected to the same type of forensic analysis that should be applied to the main parties. </i><br /><br />I totally agree with that.<br /><br />I am so disappointed about politics at the moment. I want intelligent policy debate, with details and figures, not spin.Legal Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01096038577529334966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-81523364175699769882010-07-31T17:48:39.109+10:002010-07-31T17:48:39.109+10:00Interesting that I would generally agree with you ...Interesting that I would generally agree with you on points 1 through 10. And on the top/bowl!<br /><br />I accept that I am being a little unreasonable in my expectations about the level of debate. After all, at one point I was making quite a decent living from Government relations advice because things weren't explained/discussed! But there is a degree issue, I guess.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-17058809044963526142010-07-31T15:02:56.806+10:002010-07-31T15:02:56.806+10:00Jim
I don’t think you are being sour. I can see ...Jim<br /><br />I don’t think you are being sour. I can see that, for a person interested in policy and rational outcomes, you must be disappointed in the lack of detailed discussion/debate in the present campaign.<br /><br />Bearing always in mind that my particular vote isn’t worth much – given the “safe” state of my Federal seat – these are the stray thoughts I have had:<br /><br />1) A complete lack of differentiation between the major parties in most areas. 2) The disgraceful way Labor has abandoned its principles on the so-called “boat people”. 3) Disappointment with Gillard PM, as opposed to Gillard pre-PM. 4) The almost complete lack of attention to the Greens; they will probably hold either government to ransom in the Senate; have we all forgotten Harradine? 5) The concentration on the personality and performance of the leaders, as opposed to policy - but I am guilty of this in 3 above. 6) Climate change is an issue for me. Labor’s proposed congress is fanciful; Abbott seems to move every time he talks on it. 7) NBN is an issue for me – so a disappointment that Abbott seems uninterested. 8) Defence, or more particularly Iraq/Afghanistan. We should not be there, but being there, I object to our troops being used as sort of placeholders, until either of our parties make up their minds. 9) Indigenous affairs: both sides of politics should hang their heads in shame – as should we all. 10) Most important last: the GFC is not over yet. Labor has done quite well thus far, but I suspect so would have the coalition.<br /><br />And you wrote on that word ‘spin’, which itself has been spun. When I was a kid it referred to the motion of a top which rotated in a wobbly fashion over the tabletop, and to a type of bowling whereby the ball was deliberately diverted from its natural straight through course, and to telling a tale or yarn.<br /><br />But now I look at what I’ve just recalled, and maybe the sense has not changed that much? Only the object of the ‘spin’.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com