whilst i'm interested in politics, i mainly see it as a negative force for the advancement of the welfare of the citizenry (both economic and social advancement).
naerly all economic advancement is better handled by the private sector. this is where the drive and innovation and teamwork and high morale and "get things done ' attitude will always reside.
so in matters economic, i see the role of government as setting the rules and being the umpire and letting business get on with it (competition policy).
on social welfare, the environment, health, education, again i see that these things are better handled by empowering people at a community level.
local volunteer organizations (meals on wheels, salvos,)in social welfare, landcare groups in the environement (clean up australia day etc), in health local doctors , nurses and local hospital boards (which canberra can fund, but must then remove its clipboard mentality), in education (local school boards with a voucher system so the federal money follows the child and teachers have to "tout for business".
i see no evidence that either side of politics is serious about reduced the size and influence of government. it seems obvious with maternity schemes, disability schemes, child care schemes, proposed dental schemes, carbon schemes,...etc etc . that canberra sees its role as being ever more all-embracing.
this , i feel, is the wrong path.
people prosper when they run small businesses and fail and learn and try again.
people prosper socailly when they solve their social problems themselves, be they unemployment, disability, health.
learned helplessness and government separation anxiety only lead to a frightened, anxious electorate with no self esteem, no self worth and no self celebration.
how can people develop a sense of achievement if they are constantly mothered and , dare i say, badly parented by our political masters.
i once hoped the liberal party would be the party of small government, supporting small business and individuals. a party to be kind to people, to encourage people and to challenge people.
i see now that i was wrong. they are filled with career politicians and people with no life skills . they seek big government and grand centralised visions. they should have checked their egos at the door , but this has not been the case.
so, no, i would never join a party. i would join landcare, teaching english to assylum seekers, horse riding for the disabled, volunteer marine rescue, rural firefighters.
if i had spare time ( i'm actually a member of 2 of those). these give me great personal satisfaction as we "get things done" clipboards, focus groups, think tanks....no thank you
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