I was walking my trusty sidekick George the other morning and, as we passed a job site, I could hear the well-informed, dulcet tones of MIX FM’s Caroline Hutchinson banging on about how much better our political system is compared to the US and that our voting system is the envy of the world.
Her speech stopped me in my tracks, so I could get a handle on her reasoning, and I stood there that long that I looked like I was trying to get a job.
On her last point, on the voting system, I beg to differ.
I am guessing she didn’t include local government voting systems as I am still mentally scarred over the March election.
The voting was best described as Third World, with queues, running out of ballot papers and staff having no idea.
If it was Third World, there would have been riots.
In Australia, it seems apathy can sometimes be a good thing.
It got me thinking, though.
Are we that different to the US?
I have been amazed by how many people I know – some very successful – who are Trump supporters and get quite indignant with me when I mention what a lunatic I think he is.
Their stock response is that it is not him they like but his policies and his party’s policies.
Now, as I mentioned, these people are all way smarter than me (as most are, you say) but they are talking about a bloke who nearly caused a civil war when last defeated, and let’s not get into his court appearances.
But, apparently, he has good policies?
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
Where I disagree with Caroline is, are we actually that different to the US?
You only have to look at the upcoming federal election in 2025 and look at the history on the Sunshine Coast of voting conservative to see what we are prepared to put up with from a party because apparently we support a majority of its policies.
Wow!
For decades, we have been treated like the naughty boy in the corner: just sit there, shut up and don’t complain – we will tell you what to do.
Former Member for Longman Mal Brough may have been the exception.
The rest have been underwhelming but we put up with it.
I must say, though, Trump does have one interesting idea: he has 10,000 people ready to go into government jobs so he can get his policies through.
Is that clever or is that a dictatorship?
Folks, I hope you enjoy the policies and, closer to home, it could even be nuclear.
Ashley Robinson is Chairman of Sunshine Coast Falcons and Sunshine Coast Thunder Netball and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.
