Talking Of Democracy & Free And Fair Elections

Posted by: Berlin Fritz on 09 October 2004

As our Honourable member from the beautiful New Zealand recently pointed out to
me, Pitcairn was a British Colony, like his own land and that beloved little
island next door as well. As you are mostly no doubt aware as well Kiwiland
although having had a few probs with the Queen not paying the Maoris any dosh
for doin them mischiefs in her name (her Office) in the past, it also can very
proudly boast as being the first Country on earth (or rather in our little
corner of it) to give Women the vote, and that was a very long time ago, in
contrast to good old squeeky-clean? Switzerland having only recently given thier
largest population group that dubious honour?
Mr Blair will no doubt be very
interested in the incredible historic re-election (with yet another bigger
majority) of the Aussie PM just a few hours ago, and wondering how on earth he
can pull off the same (Freudian slip me-thinks?).
As you also are no doubt all
aware being a bunch of clever trevors, Aboriginies with serious drinking
problems have recently been banned from buying booze, though white/Euro/Asian
Australians with the very same problems haven't been. Irrespective of the why's
& wherefore's of their Culture being buggered up by us (Whiskey & Sioux Indians
also comes to mind)as do some of their Northern Brothers & Sisters in Canadia,
etc, etc, re-allocation of kids, etc, etc, it's RACISM PURE AND SIMPLE, THOUGH
SPONSERED BY THE STATE. We know there are many good people out there (White) as
was the case in Rhodesia & South Africa previously, but that doesn't alter the
facts today. Mr Howard (or his opposition if he'd won) are voted in by an
electorate that like Belgium are required to vote by Law, under threat of a fine
etc, by not doing so. Democracy is like people, not perfect ( I happen to agree
with this policy to remind folk how precious a free vote really is, and as I've
ranted afore, it they're all wankers as many often are, irrespective of where
you are, you may strike through your paper, but have actually cast your vote as
it were, innit.
So, in all honesty, If Iraq, USA, UK, etc, etc, were put to this
ultimate test (without electrial intimidation obviously wether they be subtle or
violent (Floridan Black voters? eg.) would we see a large difference ? That is
the Question once again, Whack, proportionally reperesented or not !


Graham George Von Mattt'sdadwenttoschoolwithpaulmccartney


N.B. Sterilize all Cockney's said the Eggman, and he should know, yes
infertility that's the true demise of the human race, we'll just stop
reproducing, even in Pierhead, innit. Red Face
Posted on: 09 October 2004 by John Sheridan
quote:
Mr Howard (or his opposition if he'd won) are voted in by an
electorate that like Belgium are required to vote by Law, under threat of a fine
etc, by not doing so.


not quite. Nobody can force you to vote - it's a secret ballot after all - you're just required to turn up and get your name crossed off.

Also, I'm not 100% sure you're right about a law banning Aborigines from buying alcohol - that sounds like a decision made by local elders to me. Please post links if you know otherwise.
Posted on: 09 October 2004 by oldie
John,
I'm not sure if there was a total ban across Australia but when we were in Alice a few years ago aborigines were certainly banned from buying alcoholin town[ and as the next off licence was about 400 miles away it made obtaining it a bit difficult Winker] as I stated it might of only been a local thing, but the bed of the Tod was the place to be if you were an indiginious Australian with a thirst so it may have been banned but that didn't take into account the ingenious "Fellas".
oldie.
Posted on: 10 October 2004 by Berlin Fritz
I had the experience of watching some Aboriginies slowly killing themselves by drinking petrol in WA, both male and female, strangely enough the local shop quite happily sold it to them without any probs, I WONDER WHY ?

Graham George Von It reminded me of seeing kids etc years ago drinking methalated sprits at liverpool st station in London, something I've never seen in Germany, as the famous quote by a Jock friend of mine once went "In Berlin Yee'dinnee get Wino's Yer gits Champano's" and we should know shouldn't we Chief ? innit !!!


Actually going to strike your name off is as good as voting in my book (What happens if you don't go there to strike your name off, you get fined I presume ?). Do Aboriginies enjoy this honour as well (I mean all of them).

P.S. Afore-mentioned Jock lives on Ozz now as well, say's he likes the lack of Englishmen ?
Posted on: 10 October 2004 by John Sheridan
quote:
Do Aboriginies enjoy this honour as well (I mean all of them).


no, of course not Graham, we're just all a bunch of racist c*nts who can't wait to string up the next black man we come across. for f*cks sake. S/He who is registered to vote (which is anyone who wanders down to the local p.o and signs up), can vote.
Posted on: 10 October 2004 by Berlin Fritz
Thank you for your certainty, I'll gladly pass on this information to those people concerned so that they can be in command of controlling their futures at last.


Billabong P.Office Sprung Alice Wonderland

G'Day. Big Grin
Posted on: 10 October 2004 by Berlin Fritz
Top French newspaper "Ici Paris" has reported that the Iraqi Prime Minister and
a team of observers will be leaving for the US very shortly on a mission to
ensure that Free & Fair elections are carried out in that country next month.
Senator John Kerry has lodged a protest commenting that as President Bush
installed the man in the first place he was bound to be biased towards his
benefactor. The President swiftly issued a rebuke, after turning on his pencils
in his jacket inside pocket to the tune of " The American people know in their
heart of hearts that Chad is a Country in Africa, and I now know how to say the
Pakistanis President's name without promting" Jebb agreed.


Graham George von Howard'swaysailedhometovictoryphew Cool


Will Hillary Clinton be Kerry's Vice President before becoming the US of A's first Woman President ?

Does failing to register to vote in Australia result in a fine ?
Posted on: 10 October 2004 by John Sheridan
quote:

Does failing to register to vote in Australia result in a fine ?

an interesting question, and the answer appears to be yes, but no.

quote:

from the AEC website.

I haven’t been enrolled for the last XX years. Will I be penalised?

Where a person may have overlooked the responsibility to enrol and vote, the Australian Electoral Commission’s (AEC) main interest is to ensure that eligible people do actually enrol.

Section 102 (7) of The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 states,

" Where a person sends or delivers a claim for enrolment, or for transfer of enrolment, to a Divisional Returning Officer or an Australian Electoral Officer, proceeding shall not be instituted against that person for any offence - committed before the claim was so sent or delivered."

This means that once a person gives the AEC a completed enrolment form, we cannot prosecute the person for not enrolling before, no matter how long he or she has technically been in breach of the law.

Therefore you can be assured that anyone who may have overlooked correct enrolment in the past and who decides to now enrol to vote a federal elections may do so without any fear of incurring a penalty.

Posted on: 10 October 2004 by Berlin Fritz
Thanks for that John, I didn't deserve it.


Cheers, Graham George Von Tyinmekangaroodownsport Smile
Posted on: 10 October 2004 by Deane F
Hi Fritz

A vote is indeed a precious thing though I can see Jean Jaques's point in The Social Contract that a single vote is an individual ceding their personal sovereignty to the government. Democracy allows for more participation from the electorate than just a vote ie: Select Committees etc but few people take advantage of this. Most people vote and forget until something annoys them and then they forget their annoyance when dinner's ready.

When the electorate in New Zealand was given the choice to change to proportional representation about a decade ago the result of the referendum was overwhelmingly in favour of changing from first past the post. Before the next general election, where the result of the referendum was to be binding, a rich fellow by the name of Peter Shirtcliffe threw a lot of money at TV advertising to persuade the voters to stick with first-past-the-post. This brought down support for prop. rep. and it just squeezed in with a 2% margin.

My point is that voters are susceptible to advertising and education. So forcing people to vote won't teach them how to think or how to inform their opinions or decisions.

Sorry for the long-winded explanation, you didn't deserve that either.

Deane
Posted on: 10 October 2004 by Deane F
How did you come to be aware of the New Zealand colonisation thingy with the Maori's and all Fritz? Seems a bit obsure.

Are you really a cockney or a scot?

Who are you Berlin Fritz?

Deane
Posted on: 10 October 2004 by Berlin Fritz
I'm afraid I cannie say too much at this stage.


Graham George Von Boefwellingtonandchips Winker