| Author | Message | ||
     Bruegelpie1 Unregistered guest |
A good article detailing what Lindy has been up to and her new run for political office: A different beat, September 11, 2004, Sydney Morning Herald, Ex Go-Betweens drummer Lindy Morrison is set for the gig of her life, writes Catherine Keenan - a shot at federal politics. Lindy Morrison will tell you that, since her daughter Lucinda was born 12 years ago, she has been trying to be more, well, normal. "Trying to settle down. Trying to be respectable. Which is hard after all those years on the road, particularly with what's been written about all that stuff." She is referring to the implosion of her band, the seminal '80s outfit the Go-Betweens, and her romance with singer/songwriter Robert Forster, which was famously messy. "I've tried to normalise as much as possible. And I have. I've really brought myself down. Levelled out." It's true. When I arrive at her house, she is glued to the telly because John Howard has just called the election. "Come in," she yells from deep inside. "Don't shut the door." I wander in and find her sitting in a perfectly neat room, on a green leather sofa, in a floral-print dress, her mobile phone bleeping furiously as friends rush to tell her about the impending poll. "Do they think we don't follow the news?" Labor may have Peter Garrett but Morrison is the rock-star recruit for the Democrats and this is the moment she has been waiting for. The former punk and Go-Betweens drummer is pitting herself against Peter King and Malcolm Turnbull for the seat of Wentworth and, as of now, her campaign has started. Of course, Morrison knows she has no hope of winning - her aim is to poll 2.5 per cent - but then she is hardly your run-of-the-mill politician. She's a single mum who moves mainly in the arts and music community and, in contrast to her opponents, is refreshingly un-spun. This is not for lack of trying. All through our lunch, I sense she is working hard to stay calm and on-message, talking earnestly about the Howard Government's treatment of refugees and the pillars of her campaign - the running down of the health and public education systems, the need to have a Democrat in the senate "to keep the bastards honest". She believes in all these things, I'm sure, but I've met Morrison socially before and know she is also louder and less predictable than she is allowing. I keep waiting for this side of her to pop out, as if from an over-tight corset, and every so often it does. This, for instance, is how she reacts when I ask how long she was with the Go-Betweens (always a touchy subject): "I was with them for 10 years but if you listen to their" - meaning songwriters Forster and Grant McLennan's - "history, there was a conga line of drummers," she shouts into my tape recorder. "I keep thinking, 'Well, if there was a bloody conga line of drummers, why aren't journalists going to all those other bloody drummers and talking to the bloody conga line of drummers! Where are they?!?" Then in a normal voice she adds: "But I'm over it." And laughs like a drain. Nyahahahahahaha. Morrison grew up in Queensland, the daughter of an eccentric doctor father and a conservative stay-at-home mother. After a two-year stint in England, she moved into acting in political theatre, travelling all over Queensland in a red truck and putting on "didactic theatre" at factories. "I thought the only salvation lay in art. I still believe that for many people."Then she moved into punk music. "That was a deliberate choice, because punk to me was a way of making a political statement." She must have stuck out wildly: a nearly six-foot blonde female punk in stultifyingly conservative late-'70s Brisbane. But then she joined the Go-Betweens and soon she was able to get out of Queensland, to tour Australia and the world. The band was especially big in England and records such as 16 Lovers Lane, Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express and Before Hollywood were regarded by critics as some of the finest Australia has ever produced. "We simply lived to play," she says. But all that was a long time ago. Morrison, 52, still plays drums once a week with a band that hasn't left the rehearsal room and which she jokingly calls her "book club". In all other ways, however, since the Go-Betweens broke up in 1990 and she decided to have Lucinda, her life has changed completely. She hasn't become a nine-to-fiver but she is busy with lots of project-based work, much of it related to community music - she has worked with seniors, kids and, for 10 years, has managed an intellectually disabled group, the Junction House Band. She also teaches contracts and copyright and music business modules, at a couple of TAFEs, something that grew out of her 12-year "hobby" of campaigning for performers' rights. Actually, it's less a hobby than an obsession. "As any record company that deals with me will know, I'm totally obsessive. I'm obsessive about the royalty statement. I'm obsessive about the contracts." And yes, this does stem from a feeling that, in so many ways, she didn't get her due after the Go-Betweens split. "That's how, I guess, I'd sublimated it." It's also what led her to the Democrats. After all, their present leader, Andrew Bartlett, used to play in I Am Vertical, a punk band that supported the Go-Betweens in the '80s. Morrison realised that by getting involved, she might have a chance to change things: about copyright and then about other issues, too. She stood for Coogee in the last state election - polling a respectable 2.5 per cent - and found she liked politics. And what it gave her. "I've never been very good at arguing or debating. I've never been logical. I've never been anything but emotional in the way I talk. So if there was a benefit for myself, it's that I'm learning to speak and debate using logic and facts, rather than emotion. And that's a great, great thing. God, I just wish I'd known that stuff five years ago. Then I wouldn't have got into so much trouble with the record companies." Politics may be helping her to "normalise", but even so, Morrison is such an original it's hard to imagine her abiding by the discipline of any party. Isn't it hard? "Not in the Democrats." She reckons she hasn't once found herself off-side with party policies. What will happen when she does? "Obviously I'll have to take the party's line," she says primly. Then she grins and hoots: "But I can't imagine they won't agree with me!" Nyahahahahahaha. | ||
| David Matheson Unregistered guest |
I would have loved to see Lindy stand in the nearby seat of Kingsford Smith. Then she would have been up against former Midnight Oil singer, Peter Garrett. | ||
| Cassiel Unregistered guest |
Hmm. Who would get my vote? Lindy or that big, shaking goon banging on about burning beds? It looks unlikely she'll be asking Robert and Grant to campaign alongside her.... | ||
| Jo Bjelke Petersen Unregistered guest |
Robert votes Labor anyway and Grant votes for the Nationals ... maybe. | ||
| steve connell Unregistered guest |
Hey, Cassiel! Peter Garrett's band may have been crap, but that doesn't mean his politics are, although abandoning the Greens for (what should be) a safe Labor seat is a bit tacky . . . Also, the word "goon" (I think I can safely put quote marks around that) hardly seems right in this context, since it suggests someone who doesn't think -- and surely his worst enemy wouldn't accuse the big baldy of that! | ||
| david nichols Member Username: David Post Number: 3 Registered: 09-2004 |
Actually, Midnight Oil's first two albums were... I don't really need to finish this sentence, do I? I'm surprised actually that Lindy is such a committed Democrat - I would have imagined her politics would be a lot pinker than that. | ||
| lindymorrison Unregistered guest |
David, I am proud I stand for the Democrats,the party that introduced legislation this year ensuring same sex partners receive super payouts and fought the hypocrisy of the major parties that denies the legal union of these partners. | ||
| Anonymous |
I hope that's not Mark Isley in drag! | ||
| Michael Member Username: Michael Post Number: 1 Registered: 08-2004 |
Lindy, when you and Peter Garrett get into parliament, (maybe you should think about the Labour party), can you play something nice and loud over the top of John Howard | ||
| Dusty Unregistered guest |
Please forgive my ignorance here - but I'm not really too familiar with the Australian political parties - I know you've got a mainstream right-winger in at the moment (Howard - Liberal Party? - I'm getting confused here because the Liberals are the most Left-wing party in UK)). 'Labor'I assume are the mainstream centre-left opposition party. Who are the Democrats that Lindy supports? Who are the Nationals? | ||
| Catherine Unregistered guest |
Just heard a report on Irish radio about a female Australian Politician, who has damaged tendons in her hand from all the handshaking on the campaign trail. She’s had to have a temporary cast fitted. Not Lindy I hope? I know zilch about Australian Politics, but judging by the legislation you describe above, it sounds like you’re on the side of the “good guys”. Good luck with it. | ||
| Michael Member Username: Michael Post Number: 4 Registered: 08-2004 |
The two main parties are Liberal (Tory, Republican) and Labour (Blair, Democrat, Centre left), you get the picture. The Liberal party has an association with the National party (old farmers, landed gentry, descendents of free-settlers etc) which is in decline but can get them across the line against the reds if needed, so green and blue beats red for the last few years. There are two houses, the upper one is the senate where the minor parties like the Democrats (Australian) or Greens or Independents, can hold the balance of power which is their only real muscle but not they're only voice. Dusty, John Howard is liberal and quite a reactionary leader, and like Blair, fairly sycophantic when it comes to Bushy. Unfortunately for Lindy the Greens have been getting more of the minor vote than the Democrats have in the last few years, as they have had leadership woes and a new party called One Nation caused a neo-fascist far right xenophobic distraction in the late 90s, until they were found to be a political sham and internally corrupt. | ||
| Cassiel Unregistered guest |
"Actualy the first two midnight oil albums were...'' ponderous, dull, dad rock, bereft of colour or beauty. I'll finish it for you, David. And I'm sorry about the word 'goon'; it was wrong. The guy's politcs are cool; but his dancing, sweet Jesus... What makes the Democrats minor by the way? Tribalism or radical policies? | ||
| Michael Member Username: Michael Post Number: 5 Registered: 08-2004 |
Minor equals less votes, smaller party numbers and lack of depth in the experience of managing the responsibility that a government takes on, which creates the the freedom to be more radical, although this last bit may be chicken and egg, however because the impetus for a minor party is to arrive on the scene to make change | ||
| Michael Member Username: Michael Post Number: 6 Registered: 08-2004 |
Cassiel, don't you have your own dance style too. I would be particularly pleased if I could get away with PGs sort of carry on in public even it was just the dancing, however epileptic, spastic, whitey, birdman it looks. Wedding Cake Island and Place Without a Postcard are the earliest good points I think. | ||
| Cassiel Unregistered guest |
Michael, you've touched my achilles heel: on the floor I make Garrett look like Nureyev. I am the typical carper on the sidelines, taking the p*** out of everyone on the dancefloor. But after a few drinks, stand back..well back. | ||
| david nichols Member Username: David Post Number: 4 Registered: 09-2004 |
Re: Lindy the Democrat, I agree the party has done a lot to be proud of. I also would have thought that if Lindy Morrison went into politics, she would prefer to be in the fray rather than negotiating and nudging the major parties this way and that. I'm not sure I agree that being a Democrat (or a Green for that matter) helps keep your principles intact - but in politics principles are not the be all and end all anyway. I would like Lindy's response to the suggestion that Grant votes National Party...! If Howard gets in again at this election I don't know what I'll do. I like 'dad rock' (as a description of something I'd never want to have to listen to). I think Midnight Oil up to the Bird Noises EP were pretty good - they fit into that angular Gang of 4 or early Killing Joke kind of sphere. After that they became patchy and successful. | ||
| Randy Adams Unregistered guest |
Is Grant really a reactionary? I guess it's not a good thing to know anything about people whose music you like. Stuck as I am in the U.S., I tend to have a bit of a jaded view of third parties. That's how we got Bush--with no serious competition the worst President this country has had since I was born (1956). Nixon was better. The third party thing may get Bush a second term. Here Bush uses the "danger" of gays gaining legal recognition as a bogeyman to bring together all of the nimrods in this country to forge his electoral majority while the Greens, with their candidate Nader, peel off just enough votes from the Democrat to make a fatal difference. If Bush wins again, I'll need to be moving to Australia. Will they let me bring in my left-hand-drive vintage Lancias? I still haven't quite worked out what "dad rock" is, but then I've never listened to Midnight Oil. | ||
| david nichols Member Username: David Post Number: 5 Registered: 09-2004 |
I actually don't think Grant is conservative politically. At least, he was very anti-Joh Bjelke Petersen in one interview. There is a wonderful pic in Andrew Stafford's Pig City of David McCormack (of Custard etc) with Joh. A great anecdote to go with it too. | ||
| lindy morrison Member Username: Lindymorrison Post Number: 1 Registered: 09-2004 |
I won't discuss Grant's politics but would love to hear more analysis from Michael on the Oz poltical scene, that's interesting stuff. | ||
| Jo Bjelke Petersen Unregistered guest |
Michael (and others), it's Labor. Spell it right or don't bother to spell it at all. It's not that hard. The Democrats are are bunch of Liberal Party splitters (ie mostly right wing) with an appalling record on backing the Liberals in their anti-union agenda. The Liberal/National coalition have frequently been able to get their extreme right policies through the Senate with the backing of the sell-out wets in the Democrats. Never mind though. The Dems will not win a single seat in this election and will be wiped out entirely after the next election. And that is just what the awful sub-tories deserve. | ||
| mark-E-mark Unregistered guest |
That Natasha Stott Despoja can have my vote anytime soon. Oh, and she's smart as well. The Democrats are the preeminent vehicle for the further empowerment of women in this country. Equal representation of women in the houses of government is the holy grail in both the emancipation of women and on the wider australain polictal landscape. It's natural that Lindy should be alongside Natasha. Her energetic character and dynamic strength is perfect for the supporting role in this quest. Good luck Lindy, we deserve you. | ||
| lindy morrison Member Username: Lindymorrison Post Number: 2 Registered: 09-2004 |
http://media.theage.com.au/?category=&rid=14786&rate=300&sy=age&source=int14788r &player=real&ie=1 | ||
| Catherine Unregistered guest |
Relax Jo. Labor/Labour - You say "tomayto" I say "tomahto". Personally I imagined that Australia would be more inclined towards the "european" as opposed to the "american" spellings. You learn something new every day, I suppose... | ||
| Michael Member Username: Michael Post Number: 7 Registered: 08-2004 |
Hey Joh, wasn't Joh's surname hyphenated? Catherine, I was sure there was an f in tomato, I spell it ftomahto, others I know are more promiscuous and spell it phtomahto. I never say ketchup, it's always phtomahto sauce. Thanks for the correction on Labor, I've been living in Blairsville rather than Lathamtown. It would be interesting to know why we in Australia lost the U, I suspect it was a thrust towards republicanism. | ||
| Anonymous |
Re 'Labor'. No Australians generally use non-American spellings of the labour type words. The Aus Labor Party introduced its spelling right from the start (1912: oldest party in Australia) as a sign of being a progressive modern party. The non-u spelling was seen to denote this. | ||
| Jo Bjelke Petersen Unregistered guest |
Anonymous is talking nonsense. The Australian Labor Party was named after the US Labor movement of Joe Hill etc. Labor first had members win elected office in 1891. The naming of the party had nothing to do with modernity and everything to do with history. | ||
| bradders Unregistered guest |
Never mind labour/labor, I always thought Joh was spelt with an 'h' on the end, or am I getting you mixed up with another Joh Bjelke Petersen. I suppose it is quite a common name, there must be thousands of you. Sorry, my mistake.......... | ||
| Randy Adams Unregistered guest |
Who are the people playing behind the Senator in the clip Lindy gives the link to? The vocals are bad, sure, but the rest is great. | ||
| Jo Bjelke Petersen Unregistered guest |
Bradders, I'm a female Jo. Of course it's a common name in Queensland and, er, the Northern Beaches of Sydney! | ||
| bradders Unregistered guest |
Ah, well, you see how these misunderstandings can occur. I'm glad we can all be adult about these things and not start WWIII like certain, ahem, currently banished members of our commune. I'm sure you're much nicer than the JBP I was thinking of anyway. | ||
| lindy morrison Member Username: Lindymorrison Post Number: 3 Registered: 09-2004 |
Randy, so glad you asked, can I direct you to http://www.siev-x.com/. You will find original version of song Time and Tide and why Greens supporter, Amanda Brown violin and I drums, joined leader of Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett on stage to perform same with Phil Mackenna one of the original writers of song from The Bloody Mckennas and Clare on piano accordian whose last name I don't recall but another strong Irish surname, with Clyde Bramley (non political) Hoodoo Gurus on bass and Phil Monsour socialist alliance on guitar at Rock against Howard, OK bad vocals, good motivation, great band, worthwhile gig | ||
| todd slater Unregistered guest |
Thanks Lindy for providing a real voice in the tawdry little battle for Wentworth. As someone who resides in the electorate it's refreshing to be able to head into a booth next Saturday and tick a box knowing that person at least has morals & ethics covered unlike the other so 'Independents'. Good luck next Saturday and thank you for a lot of wonderful music. | ||
| david nichols Member Username: David Post Number: 10 Registered: 09-2004 |
Melbournites might be interested to know that the Lindy story published in the SMH three weeks ago has just been published in today's Age. The 'conga line of drummers' is a reworking of Mark Latham's famous 'conga line of suckholes' line from last year. For some reason a conga line of drummers seems like a stranger idea to me. | ||
| Mike Frazer Member Username: Mike Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2004 |
In today's Irish Times, Padraig Collins's "Letter from Sydney" includes a brief mention of Lindy's candidacy. Nice one, Padraig, flying the flag at any opportunity. Won't include a link because the Irish Times online charges for content - I saw it in a (borrowed!) copy of the physical newspaper. | ||
| Uncle Pete Member Username: Uncle_pete Post Number: 13 Registered: 08-2004 |
Since I am one of the mugs who pays for the Irish Times online edition, I have no scruples about cutting and pasting the piece Mike is refering to. (Hope you don't mind, Pádraig  ) Cichli Promises, rockers and a 'lying rodent' enliven Australian poll AUSTRALIA: Australians go to the polls on Saturday and seem set to return the government after a typically colourful federal election campaign, reports Padraig Collins from Sydney. In Australia's 21 federal elections since 1949, the government has changed just four times. The Liberal-Country Party Coalition ruled from 1949 to 1972. Labor was in power from 1983 to 1996. By comparison, the current Liberal-National Coalition is a relative pup at 8½ years old. (The Country Party became the Nationals 30 years ago). When Australians vote to change their government it is usually preceded by a palpable anger at the incumbents. No such anger has emerged in this six-week campaign. If history repeats itself, John Howard will be returned for a fourth term as prime minister on Saturday. While the opinion polls have varied considerably throughout the campaign, they have mostly shown the Coalition ahead. A poll in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Monday had the Coalition's primary vote at 48 per cent to Labor's 39. If that is borne out on Saturday, the government will be returned, probably with an increased majority. Though Labor leader Mark Latham - looking more relaxed and energetic than the prime minister - has had a better campaign, the polls suggest the public has taken little notice. Only 9 per cent of Australian adults watched a televised debate between Howard and Latham on September 12th. Though the campaign has been mostly about spending promises, there have been some (unintentionally) humorous incidents. Campaigning in Queensland, Latham introduced Labor candidate Brian Molloy as Ivan Milat. Close enough to get away with it? Maybe not when Milat is the notorious backpacker serial killer serving multiple life sentences. It didn't help that Queensland's Courier Mail newspaper had earlier published a picture of Molloy holding a machine gun allegedly supplied by Muslim extremists in the 1980s. (Molloy, a terrorism expert, was researching the Moro National Liberation Front in the Philippines at the time). On the other side, Liberal Senator George Brandis was forced to deny ever calling the prime minister "a lying rodent". He did not deny regularly referring to Howard as "the rodent" though. He couldn't. Every political correspondent in Canberra has heard him do so. Presumably he believes Howard to be a truthful rodent. Fans of 80s Australian rock will be interested to know that former Go-Betweens drummer Lindy Morrison is running for the Democrats in Sydney's eastern suburbs (she hasn't a hope), and that ex-Midnight Oil singer Peter Garrett is running for Labor in the next constituency over (he'll romp home). The campaign always comes back to the basics of "show me the money" though. Promises made in recent weeks have left every marginal constituency barrel brimful with pork. Though the Liberals are portraying themselves as the party of fiscal responsibility, they have made $60 billion (€35 billion) worth of campaign promises. This makes Labor look positively spendthrift with promises of around half that, most of which, they say, will be funded by savings made elsewhere. Every time Latham has made a promise to increase the funding of health, education, childcare or whatever, Howard has tried to top it. As the late US senator Everett Dirksen said: "A billion here, a billion there and pretty soon you're talking serious money". Latham, with some justification, has taunted that Howard is "spending like a drunken sailor". But the latest poll has found the public believe Howard has been more responsible in his election spending promises than Latham, by 42 per cent to 34. In a concerted play for the Liberals' "grey vote" territory, Labor has promised that no one over 75 will have to pay for any medical treatment, regardless of their income. Medicare Gold they call it. The effect was muted somewhat when it emerged at a meeting of senior citizens' lobby groups in Brisbane that while they liked the idea, there was confusion as to which party's policy it was. The latest tit-for-tat contest has been over Tasmanian trees. Labor promised to stop logging in old-growth forests on the island. The Liberals followed this by saying they would quarantine 170,000 hectares of old growth. Labor's stance is a blatant play for Green preferences in the election, but it's a risky ploy. Labor holds all five of Tasmania's federal parliament seats. But one of those MPs, Dick Adams, has condemned the move and said that it could lead to Labor losing three seats there as logging is vital to Tasmania's economy. Every vote counts, however, more so in Australia than most countries, due to compulsory voting. Tying up the smaller parties' preferences goes on behind the scenes, but is vital to Labor's chances if it is to gain the 13 seats it needs to win back power. Final word to the bookies. As of last night, Labor were 9/2, while the Coalition was almost on evens. More than $750,000 of the $1 million bet so far is on the Coalition. Mark Latham will be hoping that this is one of the very rare occasions that the betting industry gets it wrong. © The Irish Times | ||
| lindy morrison Member Username: Lindymorrison Post Number: 4 Registered: 09-2004 |
Todd, thanks for kind words. AS Padraig said in his excellent piece,I have no chance but really standing to see Indigenous Democrat NSW Senator Aden Ridgeway re-elected | ||
| Anonymous |
Oh, When is Lindy going to realise that the world is heading away from the duality of politics. It's an old game. We'd all like to see her reunited with Robert and Grant. Make music not policy. | ||
| Greg Baker Member Username: Greg Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2004 |
You could not meet a more open and honest person than Lindy Morrison. What we need in government is more people like her and less like you. | ||
| Jo Bjelke Petersen Unregistered guest |
"duality of politics"? What the hell does that mean? Anyone else out there as depressed as I am that that the evil Tories have won again? | ||
| todd slater Unregistered guest |
I'm sure there are Jo but jeez what's with your name. I spent the first 19 years of my life trying to get away from that bastard called Bjelke. This is the last place i expected to find another one let alone female. No offence intended but after the weekend just gone I think there is a lot of depressed people out there, not to mention the rise of the christian right in this country. On another note if Andrew Stafford is reading, Thanks mate for a great book (Pig City)it bought back a lot of memories both good and bad. A compulsory read for people on this site I'd say if you're at all interested in where Lindy, Grant, Robert and the other assorted band members originated from and under the circumstances. That's the thing Jo if you can survive 20 plus years of National party rule in Bris Vegas John Howard's a snack. As Keating once said 'It's the sweetest victory of all' Roll on 2007 | ||
| david nichols Member Username: David Post Number: 13 Registered: 09-2004 |
Yes, the federal election result here was one of the most depressing I've ever endured, and since I'm 39 I've probably endured around 15 of them. (By the way, I haven't been able to bear reading the papers since Saturday but since the Democrats seem to have more or less plummeted out of the picture I assume Lindy didn't poll that well.) I am trying to imagine what good could possibly come out of this government. I suppose I have less of an imagination than I thought, because I can't think of one thing. | ||
| Anthea Pitt Member Username: Anthea Post Number: 1 Registered: 09-2004 |
Lindy polled 477 votes. Which is respectable, given that she was standing in Wentworth. Having Malcolm Turnbull as a rival candidate would terrify lesser mortals, I'm sure. I'm with the person who wrote to the Sydney Morning Herald this morning, saying: "We're no longer living in a country, we're living in an economy". Too true. | ||
| Cassiel Unregistered guest |
Can I cheer you all up by telling you about a country the opposite side of the world, where it rains alot and Australian bands are forced to live seven to a room existing only on vegemite sandwiches and hearty backslaps? In 1979 a party called Labour was beaten at the polls by the Conservatives led by an unknown quantity called Mrs Thatcher. She turned out to be an evil harridan intent solely on destroying the fabric of British life. She won three successive elections due to a combination of a woeful opposition, an opportune, manufactured war, a slavish press willing to do her bidding and the cretinisation of British society. She and party were hated by nearly half the elctorate, and eventually she was hounded out of office. Her replacement, an uncharismatic, jumped up bank clerk in glasses (sound familiar) then won a fourth successive election on the back of the electorate's trust in their ability to run the economy. But chickens come home to roost, the economy, as economies do, started to rupture, the incompetence of the government, previously hidden by a lapdog press, was laid bare; and the opposition got its act together. By 1997, after 18 years of miserable Conservative rule, the electorate were fed up with the Tories, hated everything they stood for and they were trounced in an election that remains one of the most joyous, thrilling nights I can remember. It was almost worth experiencing 18 years of Tory rule just to see the looks on their faces as they were wiped off the political map. Seven years on, they are a pathetic rump, unloved and unwanted. They may even soon cease to exist (though I suppose the moral of this story is that that there time will come again, though hopefully not for a long, long time). Please bear this in mind during the dark days ahead... (Of course, we will ignore what happened when the Labour party got into power and started waging war across the world, sold its soul and became the Tories without the swivelly eyes, because it ruins this uplifting tale somewhat) | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 12 Registered: 08-2004 |
If Lindy is as open and honest as you say, Greg, it is no wonder she din't win. The worst thing a budding politician can do when trying to impress the public is tell the truth. | ||
| sfh Unregistered guest |
Politics is an alternative career path for people who don't get to rule in the corporate world. At least the actions of psychopaths of the political variety are tempered by the need for occasional re-election, albeit by a majority of the diminishing proportion of the population that bother to vote i.e. the corporate world. THE REVOLUTION STARTS HERE - VOTE BUSH OUT. | ||
| lindy morrison Member Username: Lindymorrison Post Number: 5 Registered: 09-2004 |
it's compulsory to vote in Australia | ||
| jeff whiteaker Unregistered guest |
sfh said, "Politics is an alternative career path for people who don't get to rule in the corporate world." G.W. Bush would fit that description nicely, given his track record of utter failre in the business world. But on the other hand, Cheney, president in all but name, DOES rule in the corporate world. "THE REVOLUTION STARTS HERE - VOTE BUSH OUT." Believe me, we're trying!!! | ||
| Greg Baker Member Username: Greg Post Number: 6 Registered: 10-2004 |
..and what enviable choice faced by the electorate. George "Double-yah" Bush or John "I got-a-gun too!" Kerry What a rich and vibrant democarcy Americans have. How will you ever choose? | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2004 |
Greg Baker said, "..and what enviable choice faced by the electorate. George "Double-yah" Bush or John "I got-a-gun too!" Kerry What a rich and vibrant democarcy Americans have. How will you ever choose?" well, yes, it's sad that kerry has to pander to america's middle of the road types, but unfortunately, most (even slightly) left-of-center democrats feel the need to do that to garner support. if you had watched the televised debates, which are admittedly a charade for the most part, you could still see how radically different the two candidates are from each other. kerry certainly wasn't my choice in the primaries, but his views differ wildly from bush's, and in a generally preferrable way, so the choice is a little easier than it might first appear. still a bit sad i won't be voting for the green party candidate this year, though, what with the "anyone but bush" desperation that's defining this year's election. | ||
| tyroneshoelaces Unregistered guest |
That's something I've never understood - making it compulsory to vote. It's the other side of the equation making it compulsory not to vote (ie in authoritarian societies). Anyway, as the old saying goes - if voting changed anything, they'd ban it. | ||
| david nichols Member Username: David Post Number: 27 Registered: 09-2004 |
The 'old saying', like so many, is incidentally rubbish. I believe it should be compulsory to vote everywhere. It's one of the obligations and responsibilities that go with democracy. Compulsory voting is indeed the 'other side of the equation' to authoritarian regimes - it's the positive side, as opposed to the negative side. | ||
| Randy Adams Unregistered guest |
I hadn't visited this particular thread in a long time, so I didn't see Lindy's response to my question about the band backing up the singing Senator. I vaguely remember reading something about a scandal concerning refugees seeking entry into Australia but didn't know anything concrete--very interesting. Yes, we've all had rather depressing election experiences lately. Here in the States the big motivators appear to be fear, bigotry and greed--in that order. Regarding the compulsory voting, I wonder if that is why only 9% of the electorate bothered to watch a Howard/Latham debate. People tend to get a bit mulish whenever they are compelled to do something. I certainly agree that voting is a responsibility for a citizen of a democracy, but I prefer a vote that the citizen actually decided to initiate with his or her own effort--that's a vote with some personal investment. | ||
| Padraig Collins Unregistered guest |
Damn straight compulsory voting is a good idea. It is necessary, Randy, for the same reason it is necessary to legislate that people wear seat belts in cars: some people are just too stupid to do what is good for them unless the law tells them to do so. | ||
| david nichols Member Username: David Post Number: 28 Registered: 09-2004 |
And another thing: it also prevents individuals or groups (eg employers) from restricting others' voting rights. 70% of Australians think compulsory voting is a good thing. | ||
| lindy morrison Member Username: Lindymorrison Post Number: 8 Registered: 09-2004 |
Anthea, I polled 683, yes 683 votes - 5 out of 11 candidates. Randy no one watched the debate, it wasn't a debate journos asked questions and had no right of reply so there was no depth. The format was crap. Padraig love the seat belt analogy, can I use it? Politics in Oz will be very interesting come July and the Coalition takes control of the Senate, no minor party to blame for the watering down or blocking of legislation. Of course the turmoil that will occur between the Nationals and the Liberals (who make up the Coalition) will take the edge off their victory. | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 20 Registered: 08-2004 |
David, that's only 70% of Australians who are willing to express an opinion. Ask any non-voter if he/she thinks anything you'll struggle for any kind of answer. The right not to vote is just as valid as voting! if the majority of your nation choose not to vote, then that says a lot about the lack of choice. | ||
| Padraig Collins Unregistered guest |
Lindy, after all the pleasure your music has given me over the years, I would be delighted if you were to use my seat belt analogy (and it is mine, I didn't borrow it from anywhere else, it just popped into my head as I was writing that reply). | ||
| david nichols Member Username: David Post Number: 29 Registered: 09-2004 |
The seatbelt analogy is also good in that compulsory seatbelt wearing required a major public education campaign in the 60s to make the people understand its importance. Similar to the anti-litter campaigns of the 60s/70s which also fostered a sense of social responsibility. Many felt there was simply no way that such a thing could be enforced Although it's worth clarifying that we do actually have the right not to vote - it's turning up to the polling booth to have your name crossed off that is compulsory. I can't remember if I mentioned this here but I heard Lindy in discussion with other candidates and Phillip Adams on Late Night Live in the week before the election. She was terrific (the Greens and Labor people were really good too). | ||
| Randy Adams Unregistered guest |
Geez, I'm glad Go Betweens fans aren't right wingers. Yes, I know that's stupid. But I'm still glad. | ||
| Peter Collins Unregistered guest |
Can't help agreeing about the right not to vote. I don't think the seat belt analogy holds water, if that's not mixing metaphors. If the choice you're given in a vote is - to take the UK example - between the Tories and the slightly milder conservatism of New Labour, then there's no choice at all and it's hardly worth voting. You're suggesting that all those who choose not to vote do it out of apathy or ignorance - those are reasons for some, of course, but others do it for positive reasons. Another example is my London borough council, Merton: in my ward there's a strong residents association that always wins the three seats from the Tories (from whom they're indistinguishable). Labour puts candidates up, but will not canvass, preferring the residents to get in to help shore up its own majority on the council. What's the point of me voting when Labour, my preferred choice in this instance, doesn't want to win? | ||
| lindy morrison Member Username: Lindymorrison Post Number: 24 Registered: 09-2004 |
Could you run that by me again.... er, on second thoughts.....(sic) | ||
| Malcolm Webster Unregistered guest |
I don't get this not voting lark at all. It may make little difference to people who already have a comfortable middle class lifestyle but it still makes a massive diiference to people at the margins - the labour govt in the uk has introduced a 10% tax rate for low wage earners which gives them more in their take home pay, given old people a massive increase in thier winter heating allowance and given all school leavers the right to high quality and meaningful further education and training - all things that have made a massive difference to people of all ages and which the previous govt never delivered. I always thought voting wasn't neccessarily all to do with a selfish "whats in it for me" attitude - the voter should consider all of society. No party can ever hope to have a policy list that suits every persons wishes so even if it for the best of a bad lot - VOTE! People without a vote throughout the world realise how valuable it is and many are still fighting for it, just like we had to do in the 1940s. Remember - fascism starts where voting stops. | ||
| Peter Collins Unregistered guest |
Oooh, Lindy - you're so sarky. Malcolm, I'm not sure about your last point. The Nazis got in by doing consistently well in the polls in the Weimar republic. It certainly needed something more than voting against them to keep them out. As for the right to vote - I'm all for it, and it's worth fighting for. The corollary is.... the right not to vote. I've always voted, but that doesn't mean I think everyone has a duty to do so. And, as I say, there might be positive reasons people choose not to do so, as well as negative ones. I certainly don't believe in compulsion where it's not necessary. And by the way, if you think in decrying new labour I forget its very real achievements, some of which you list, then you have got me wrong. However, there are a great many other policies I detest (the Iraq war, its stealthy privatisation of the NHS, the appalling PFI, to name but three), so I simply can't bring myself to support them any more - nothing to do with being selfish on my part. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Unregistered guest |
Peter, just vote for the Lib Dems then and stop complaining. That's what your vote is for, it gives you the opportunity to make a difference. Anyone who does not relish and use that right is an imbecile (I'm not calling you that as you said you do vote). | ||
| Peter Collins Unregistered guest |
I'm not complaining, Padraig. As you noted, I do vote. I just don't believe it's democratic to enforce voting. I loathe the Lib Dems - all things to all people and. Last few times I've voted Green. Yes, it's also my right to throw my vote away on a no-hoper. Interestingly, in 1992 my father in law, voting in Hammersmith and Fulham, got to the polling booth to find someone had already voted in his name. I've always thought there was something dodgy about 1992. Are you a Cork Collins, by the way? | ||
| Collum Collins Unregistered guest |
Did all the Collins's met up at their great uncle Edwyn's gig in Cork before Christmas. Didn't manage to make it myself. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Unregistered guest |
Peter, I am a County Limerick Collins, but our roots are in Cork, as are all Collins roots I think. There is a great Collins band to be formed I believe. Edwyn on rythm and vocals. Albert on lead. Phil on drums (but definitely not allowed to sing or contribute to the songwriting). Bootsy on bass. Mel on sax. I could be their svengali-like manager. By the way, I lived in Sydney in 1992, so it was not me that used your dad's vote. | ||
| Peter Collins Unregistered guest |
My father in law's (he was a Kilkenny man himself). My family roots are in Cornwall and, though no one's done any family history rooting around, one theory is that the name might come from Irish people coming to Cornwall to work in the tin mines a couple of centuries ago, as many did. My dad's name is Michael, though I feel it's a tad unlikely that my rather conservative grandparents named him in honour of the controversial general. I suppose I could play the washboard in your super group. Should we get our own messageboard by the way? | ||
| Randy Adams Unregistered guest |
There was a fine U.K. race driver named Peter Collins in the 1950s. He died in a crash in 1957, I believe. I wonder where he fits into all this. | ||
| Peter Collins Unregistered guest |
And the world speedway champion in about 1976, I believe. Far too many of us. I'm changing my name forthwith, or even forther. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Unregistered guest |
On Ireland's national broadcaster, RTE, the formula 1 reporter is called Peter Collins. How about that for spooky. One time I went straight from the night shift at the Dublin newspaper I worked for to the airport to get the first flight to London and Peter Collins was sitting a few rows up from me, wearing sun glasses at 5.30 am. Maybe he was hungover, but it looked very pretentious. I have a brother called Michael. But you would be hard pushed to find anyone Irish called Collins who does not have a brother called Michael. | ||
| Peter Collins Unregistered guest |
We called our son Joseph Michael Sean, the two middle names being the two grandfathers. Didn't really think about how Irish that sounded until we'd decided on it. There was a Peter Collins who played centre half for Spurs briefly in the early to mid-70s, the scoundrel. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Unregistered guest |
I take it you are an Arsenal fan then Peter. I'm a Liverpool fan myself (except when they are playing my Dublin team, Shelbourne). Yeah! Just saw that they beat the mighty Norwich 2-1 away last night! The good times will return... I have a brother called Seán too! If you have another boy you must call him Pádraig. | ||
| Peter Collins Unregistered guest |
Wrong wrong wrong. Chelsea's my team. (yeah, I know... Abramovich blah blah blah; handball by Tiago yadda yadda yadda). No more kids for me. Two's enough thanks mate. | ||
| weasel Unregistered guest |
Major Australian political parties - same shit, different bucket English football - fuck off First two Midnight Oil Albums - Great, I'm with you Mr Nichols Get yer priorities RIGHT | ||
| Pádraig Collins Unregistered guest |
Nice talk from someone who does not even have the guts to use his/her own name. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Unregistered guest |
Unless, of course, that your name actually is Weasel. Is it Mr, Mrs or Ms Weasel? | ||
| weasel Unregistered guest |
Mr Weasel | ||
| Anne Weasel Unregistered guest |
You're not by any chance related to the Weasel's of East Limerick are you? "If there's no meaning in it that saves a world of trouble, you know we needn't find any". (Unless of course one is looking for confrontation) Alice in Wonderland | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 26 Registered: 08-2004 |
By English football, do you mean World football? | ||
| Spring Rain Unregistered guest |
MORRISON FOREVER!!! BOB CARR- NEVER!!!!! | ||
| Peter Collins Unregistered guest |
Is it the English or the football bit you object to, Mr Pop Goes, or both? | ||
| James Unregistered guest |
Lindy didn't Andrew Bartlett also play in the Cutters for a while with Phill Monsour?? | ||
| weasel Unregistered guest |
Yes The Weasels of Kangaroo Point Lindy stood in the Federal election, Bob Carr is State Premier. Can you send some of that miserable pommie weather over here, its been hot and humid for a week here and i'm bored with it. Must have a few spare gray rainy clouds around you can spare | ||
| Andrew Bartlett Member Username: Andrewb Post Number: 1 Registered: 02-2005 |
Yes, I did play with Phil Monsour in The Cutters for a few years in the late 1980s. In more obscure links between the Brisbane music scene and the last Australian election, the Labor Party candidate for the Brisbane-based seat of Moreton, Graham Perrett, used to play in the band "Once I Killed a Gopher With a Stick" who were also around for a little while in Brisbane in the late 1980s. This was a winnable seat, (but he didn't win it.) His campaign manager was a guy who used to be in the rather better known (and rather better) Brisbane 80s band "Ups and Downs" - I think has name is Peter Shaw (can't quite remember at the moment). (I just popped by here because I heard Lindy had been slagging off my singing and I thought I should see if this outrageous slur was true - this telling the truth thing she does is going just a bit too far) | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 14 Registered: 11-2004 |
That I am Vertical song on the ZZZ LP 'State of Emergence' has some good vocals on it, Andrew ;) It's very Brisbane. (That's a good thing, by the way) | ||
| Andrew Bartlett Member Username: Andrewb Post Number: 2 Registered: 02-2005 |
Thanks Donat, but sadly I was on the drums for that one, not the singer - and even half of that was a drum machine :-( I'm glad you like the song though - I still do. | ||
| lindy morrison Member Username: Lindymorrison Post Number: 59 Registered: 09-2004 |
Weasel, I also ran in 2003 in the NSW state election as the Democrat candidate for Coogee. The post from Spring Rain refers to that. |
