May you live in interesting times…..
22 Aug 2010 1 Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Election, history
And for the next few weeks I think we will be. I have been thinking this over since last night when it became apparent that it was going to be highly unlikely that we would know the name of our next Prime Minister anytime soon.
I watched the election coverage until the pretty much end – watched Stephen Smith growing more uncomfortable in his chair, Antony Green trying to madly predict outcomes until he was able to concede that there would be no outcome, Kerry O’Brien trying to get reactions out of Nick Minchin and Stephen Smith, George Brandis starting his campaign to convince the independents to support his party, Sarah Hanson-Young’s glee grow as the success of the Greens became apparent, Penny Wong trying to defend a campaign gone so horribly wrong, Maxine McKew taking the first knife out on the ALP factions, the surprise in Tasmania of the success of Andrew Wilkie and the leaders speeches. It was fascinating TV to me, an election night junkie, and so very different to the night in 2007 and also the night in 1996.
Again, I do not want to post of my political views or take any sides in what is going to happen in the next few weeks. But it does concern me that the decision as to who will govern our country is going to come down to 5 men elected by a very small percentage of the country. 5 men who are going to make a significant impact on what will happen over this term of government – 3 conservative independents from rural/regional seats including one who does seem a little bit mad (but fun in a strange kind of way), 1 green from the centre of one of our biggest cities and 1 green leaning ex public servant and whistleblower from a small city. Very interesting times indeed.
As someone who grew up in a regional area I understand the frustration of the lack of services, the lack of consideration given by governments to areas far away from the centre of power, the lack of money being thrown around in rural safe seats (which is certainly the case with the 3 conservative independents). So rural and regional Australia could be big winners from this situation. I just hope that these guys not only try to obtain some benefits for their constituents, but also benefits that will assist all Australians who live outside major cities in this country.
I would also like to see a stable government, not a government subject to the whims and hair-brained idealism of a small group who have ended up with power (Steve Fielding? The Greens in Canberra?). After hearing all of these 5 men interviewed last night they all expressed concern about ensuring stability of government – I only hope that they stick to that aim.
Here in the ACT we have been living with minority government for the last 2 years. It has put some brakes on some of the stupid ideas and arrogance of a previous majority government. So far it seems OK – not ideal but OK. We have fixed terms so the government can not choose to call an election to deal with the lack of majority. But on a Federal basis this could be a very real proposition. I can see another election looming up in the not so distant future.
The other thing I have been thinking about is how a government led by the Greens would actually work. They have made a lot of election promises that realistically would be difficult to implement and fund. It could be very interesting to watch Bob Brown try to balance a budget and meet his election committments………
Visiting your past…..
11 May 2010 Leave a Comment
in Friends Tags: friends, history, School reunion
School reunions – what do you think of them?
In one month I will be heading to northern NSW to attend my 21 year high school reunion. It is scary enough to contemplate that it has been 21 years since I was a student at high school, let alone how everyone will have changed.
My memories of high school aren’t great. I was picked on & bullied in year 8 by a group of boys, some of whom will be at the reunion. This was something that had a massive impact on my self confidence and self image throughout my life. I wasn’t one of the cool kids or the sporty kids. I guess I was kind of a nerdy intelligent kid, but one who dressed well due to my parents owning one of the coolest clothing stores in town.
There are very few people from high school I have stayed in contact with. Facebook has renewed some links, including to people I barely spoke to (or who barely spoke to me) in high school. But I think I have probably caught up with maybe 2 high school friends in the last 10 years.
So why go? Why pay the enormous amount of money to spend 4 hours in planes and airports, splash out on a hire car & nice accommodation to see people I haven’t cared enough about to stay in contact with?
I guess it is the wanting to know. Wanting to know if people really do change and grow up. Wanting to know if the super glam girl still is beautiful and glam, wanting to know if the smart kid has had a brilliant career and wanting to know how I measure up with my contemporaries.
And then there is part of me that would love to renew old friendships. Spend some time with people who knew me before I became what I am now. People who have a shared past. I don’t have a lot of people in my life these days who remember being a teenager with me. My brother died at 21, removing that potential for long term rememberances. And without any other family close to my age, it leaves just me, to remember things. Things like early morning bus trips to go to Seaworld. Overnight bus trips for school excursions. Being in a school that was constantly experimenting with new ideas in educational theories. Sharing the strange things some of our teachers did & coming to the realisation that most of them weren’t that much older than me (and younger than me now) and that they were also in the process of still learning about themselves and growing up.
So I am going and I am going to have a great time. I am going to put all the past hurts behind me & try to forget about any embarrassing things I said and did as a teenager. I am going to be open to whatever happens. And I am going to treasure some new memories as I catch up with some very dearly missed old friends.
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