Darron CharlesworthGreens better option
June 7th 2010 22:24
Category: No Category
The rise of the Greens is not so surprising. Now that the Democrats are no longer a strong voice where are the people to go? There is a need for choice and, with the two major parties, there is very little of that.
Some importance can be placed on distinctions between the two major: Labor and Liberal. However, this is not a clear cut as it once was. The move to the middle ground has dominated the past 20 years of Australian politics. The parties, once clearly divided on key issues, are merging in their interest. The hope is to claim victory by appealing to a broader audience. This is the reason why the minor parties are often segregate by voters: they appeal to a distinct set of values.
It was the Green’s adherence to these values that prohibited their passing of the Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). The introduction of the scheme would have locked in useless limits and rewarded those who the scheme should be aiming to penalise. There is not doubt that the Greens were remaining consistent to their values by not backing down. The Government’s refusal to negotiate with the Greens is more telling of the Government’s agenda: to satisfy the big polluters not to address Climate Change.
As Glenn Milne points out, in The Australian yesterday, the lack of commitment to values, ideals, or anything else for that matter, could severely tarnish both Liberals and Labor coming up to an election. That the Greens stand fast on their beliefs and refuse to compromise says a great deal for the Party and their integrity.
With Tony Abbott promising that his promises cannot be believed and Kevin Rudd failing to fulfil any of his the voters are starting to look elsewhere. For the firmly committed Greens this is a godsend. The voters, sick of being lied to and deceived, are looking for someone they can count on. And, while the policies may be perfect, the chances are that they can be believed. Conversely, the major parties have shown little in recent times to display any probability of their promises being fulfilled or even attempted.
For the Rudd Labor Government there is now a history of failure and broken promises to argue when they bid for another term. It may well be too late. No true political pundit could argue stalwartly their case. Yet Abbott is not presenting as a viable alternative.
As a third Party holding the balance of power the Greens could hold the key to reinstalling some trust and accountability to government. With the Democrats dead and buried there is a need for someone to give some positive direction. The two major parties are incapable of doing this. A strong Green vote at the next Federal election will show both Liberal and Labor that enough is enough.
Some importance can be placed on distinctions between the two major: Labor and Liberal. However, this is not a clear cut as it once was. The move to the middle ground has dominated the past 20 years of Australian politics. The parties, once clearly divided on key issues, are merging in their interest. The hope is to claim victory by appealing to a broader audience. This is the reason why the minor parties are often segregate by voters: they appeal to a distinct set of values.
As Glenn Milne points out, in The Australian yesterday, the lack of commitment to values, ideals, or anything else for that matter, could severely tarnish both Liberals and Labor coming up to an election. That the Greens stand fast on their beliefs and refuse to compromise says a great deal for the Party and their integrity.
With Tony Abbott promising that his promises cannot be believed and Kevin Rudd failing to fulfil any of his the voters are starting to look elsewhere. For the firmly committed Greens this is a godsend. The voters, sick of being lied to and deceived, are looking for someone they can count on. And, while the policies may be perfect, the chances are that they can be believed. Conversely, the major parties have shown little in recent times to display any probability of their promises being fulfilled or even attempted.
As a third Party holding the balance of power the Greens could hold the key to reinstalling some trust and accountability to government. With the Democrats dead and buried there is a need for someone to give some positive direction. The two major parties are incapable of doing this. A strong Green vote at the next Federal election will show both Liberal and Labor that enough is enough.
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