(no subject)
Oct. 28th, 2004 04:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
krazykitkatThe government has control of the Senate...not happy, Jan.
And before anyone says that I wouldn't be complaining if Labor had control, I would. I don't believe either major party should have control, because then it becomes a rubber stamp rather than the house of review.
Though there's some little part of me that rathers that instead of Family First having control...I shudder to think what deals may have been made.
If only the government were more like Fraser's mob...his government senators would cross the floor to vote against various bills, so control of the senate didn't mean everything would get through unaltered.
But Howard has drummed any resistance out of his.
Though maybe with the Nationals essentially having the balance of power...
It worries me...the committee review system did allow the government senators to speak out on some issues (eg. the anti-terrorism laws) and together with Labor and the minors change things. But with government control of the senate, would those government senators still speak out and demand changes if they didn't agree with something?
Actually it's a problem I have with both major parties. I'd like some more independent thought on behalf of MPs. I give kudos to the NSW Liberals. They, including the opposition leader, have crossed the floor to vote with the government on some issues.
Disunity is not death, it's democracy in action.
***
If anyone is interested in looking at my paper, my co-author has put it up:
http://penman.es.mq.edu.au/~holbrook/pubs/mcdo_holb_2004b.pdf
The first article is at:
http://penman.es.mq.edu.au/~holbrook/pubs/mcdo_holb_2004a.pdf
And we have a 2004a and a 2004b article!
:geeky moment:
And before anyone says that I wouldn't be complaining if Labor had control, I would. I don't believe either major party should have control, because then it becomes a rubber stamp rather than the house of review.
Though there's some little part of me that rathers that instead of Family First having control...I shudder to think what deals may have been made.
If only the government were more like Fraser's mob...his government senators would cross the floor to vote against various bills, so control of the senate didn't mean everything would get through unaltered.
But Howard has drummed any resistance out of his.
Though maybe with the Nationals essentially having the balance of power...
It worries me...the committee review system did allow the government senators to speak out on some issues (eg. the anti-terrorism laws) and together with Labor and the minors change things. But with government control of the senate, would those government senators still speak out and demand changes if they didn't agree with something?
Actually it's a problem I have with both major parties. I'd like some more independent thought on behalf of MPs. I give kudos to the NSW Liberals. They, including the opposition leader, have crossed the floor to vote with the government on some issues.
Disunity is not death, it's democracy in action.
***
If anyone is interested in looking at my paper, my co-author has put it up:
http://penman.es.mq.edu.au/~holbrook/pubs/mcdo_holb_2004b.pdf
The first article is at:
http://penman.es.mq.edu.au/~holbrook/pubs/mcdo_holb_2004a.pdf
And we have a 2004a and a 2004b article!
:geeky moment:
