NationStates Jolt Archive

Over the last two weeks over 10,000 Australians have joined the progressive leftist site GetUp.org (http://www.getup.org.au) and their Federal Senate Representatives to remind them who they serve.

It is estimated by the month-end the site will have 100,000 member, in a country of just 18million people this is enough to start swaying seats back from the conservative storm we saw in the last elections.

The conservative Liberal Party may think they have defeated the left, but they forget one key thing. The Australian People are not fools. We may support stability and many swing voters will support a platform of stable growth. But, the conservatives have gone way too far and we're here to stop them.

Already accross the nation the largest protests since Vietnam* have occured over the Iraw War and VSU.

The conservative may think they can hammer away at worker, union & studetn rights, but remember at term is only three years and I'll be voting... and so will 100,000 other angry leftists who've had enough conservative lies, unjust wars, rising fuel prices, assaults upon civil liberties, assaults upon worker and student rights and most of all we've had enough of you Mr Howard.

I'll be counting the days until you are held up before democracy to be torn down by the will of the people, ne afraid, be very afraid. The Age of the Conservatives is over!


*Source to come, please be patient.

In other words, your opposition Party has shifted some of its fundraising to the internet. Ours in the U.S. did the same thing and, sure enough, it did get them some money - they beat the Republicans for fundraising in 2004.. but having the cash and spending it well are two different things. Good luck though.

In America, were just beginning to see the same results take place.
The longer the "War on Terror" progresses, the more heat the NeoCons take, and the more America turns towards electing a more liberal candidate next time around.

Its about time.

In other words, your opposition Party has shifted some of its fundraising to the internet. Ours in the U.S. did the same thing and, sure enough, it did get them some money - they beat the Republicans for fundraising in 2004.. but having the cash and spending it well are two different things. Good luck though.
Not true. I like the way you make assumption with no actual fact. Kind of reminds of me something, can't quite place my finger on it, but it involves invading Iraq...
Now getting back to your point, GetUp.org REFUSES to accept Political Party donations. They are not endorsed nor supported or funded in anyway by a political party. Bang, you're point is moot. Who's next?

Its the opposite in britian, we've had the left for too long :rolleyes:

Its the opposite in britian, we've had the left for too long :rolleyes:


Say what?

I was under the impression that Blair's political party was more akin to the Conservative way of thinking, and Margeret Thatcher before him.

Am I mistaken?

Its the opposite in britian, we've had the left for too long :rolleyes:
British labour is hardly Liberal.

The right is front and they're happy.



well its true...

Not true. I like the way you make assumption with no actual fact. Kind of reminds of me something, can't quite place my finger on it, but it involves invading Iraq...
Now getting back to your point, GetUp.org REFUSES to accept Political Party donations. They are not endorsed nor supported or funded in anyway by a political party. Bang, you're point is moot. Who's next?

Why would they want donations from political parties? That wouldn't make sense.. the money will be spent in similar fashion and in a co-ordinated effort in favor of some or other candidate. Their ads and commercials will use identical or near-identical talking points, while sponsored by "GetUP," rather than by the actual Party sponsoring your candidate. They adopted the MoveOn model that we had in 2004 for John Kerry, and purposefully chose a similar name. So excuse me if i'm jumping to conclusions.. ;)

Say what?

I was under the impression that Blair's political party was more akin to the Conservative way of thinking, and Margeret Thatcher before him.

Am I mistaken?

No, but he does copy a lot of the conservative ideas. No, things like welfare and political correctness are made huge issues.

And only now after the london bombings has the goverment decided to deport radical muslim clerics who preach hate to the west, closing the door after the horse has bolted :(

The "Third Way" is pretty far from being left... Labour in NZ are pretty similar economically to the UK, but at least they are socially liberal. I think people focus far too much on the political parties without analysing their policies, or just mindlessly use labels like "liberal" and "conservative". The fact is, opposing parties in most democracies agree on almost all issues and just distract voters with a handfull of issues they disagree on.

Another MoveOn clone? There the left goes again. I mean why do they want to lose elections so badly anyways? :rolleyes: Is keeping the image of the underdogs really that necessary? I guess it allows them to keep up with their bitchy fits. I guess some political organizations like to be categorized as hypocritical, insane losers.

Another MoveOn clone? There the left goes again. I mean why do they want to lose elections so badly anyways? :rolleyes: Is keeping the image of the underdogs really that necessary? I guess it allows them to keep up with the bitchy fits.


troll somewhere else.

troll somewhere else.

No. You're the troll.

And another thing, if you guys want to pose any challenge, you really need to get your bottoms back to the center where most people are.

No. You're the troll.

And another thing, if you guys want to pose any challenge, you really need to get your bottoms back to the center where most people are.


So much for ignoring me huh?

So much for ignoring me huh?

Congrats on making yourself look more ridiculous.

I'm telling you.. the left is back.. and angry.. and ridiculous. Anger leads to more faulty decisions. Go ahead be angry... no one is going to listen to you anyways when you rant.

Words of advice: Come back to the center.

Good night.

Another MoveOn clone? There the left goes again. I mean why do they want to lose elections so badly anyways? :rolleyes: Is keeping the image of the underdogs really that necessary? I guess it allows them to keep up with their bitchy fits. I guess some political organizations like to be categorized as hypocritical, insane losers.

You know, there are some countries in the world that aren't the USA. Considering that both your main parties are corporate puppets, it's no surprise that the "left wing" puppet will be hypocritical and insane.

You know, there are some countries in the world that aren't the USA. Considering that both your main parties are corporate puppets, it's no surprise that the "left wing" puppet will be hypocritical and insane.

Yak yak yak.. corporate puppets this, corporate puppets that.. and I know there are countries in the world aren't the US.. can we be more irrelevant or what?

Yah, yah....keep using the same old tired rhetoric Mes....that, along with troll, flame and annoy people, is pretty much all you do in every thread you enter.

The funny thing is, the more exsposure to the right...the lower the approval rating gets for thier leader.

The more people see this man ruin everything he touches, the less enthusiastic the nation gets, by the minute.

Even moderate Repubs these days are distancing themselves from the actions of the White House.

Congrats on making yourself look more ridiculous.

I'm telling you.. the left is back.. and angry.. and ridiculous. Anger leads to more faulty decisions. Go ahead be angry... no one is going to listen to you anyways when you rant.

Words of advice: Come back to the center.

Good night.You're no centrist. Maybe in the US you'd be considered impartial, but from what I've seen of you in other threads you'd be treated as a conservative in most other nations.

Though he has a point. The most persuasive argument is that made with power yet control. Don't let your anger govern your public attitudes; it won't work if you do.

Yak yak yak.. corporate puppets this, corporate puppets that.. and I know there are countries in the world aren't the US.. can we be more irrelevant or what?

It was relevant. What you said may apply to the Democrats, but there are left-wing governments all over the world that aren't bitchy underdogs, and do just fine governing their countries.

No, but he does copy a lot of the conservative ideas. No, things like welfare and political correctness are made huge issues.

And only now after the london bombings has the goverment decided to deport radical muslim clerics who preach hate to the west, closing the door after the horse has bolted :(

Yes. Its our policies that made him electable. *sigh*

It was relevant. What you said may apply to the Democrats, but there are left-wing governments all over the world that aren't bitchy underdogs, and do just fine governing their countries.

Like ours *coughs loudly*

Like ours *coughs loudly*

You have left-wing government? Where do you hide them?

Words of advice: Come back to the center.

Good night.

I, for one, would be happy for politics, generally, to drag itself "back to the centre". For too long the left has been poorly represented by toothless politicians and hostile (at least in the UK, I think in the US also, not sure where else) media outlets. I'm sick of being told I'm weak, I'm sick of being told I'm a crazy hippy, mostly I'm sick of being made to feel I should be embarrassed to believe what I believe.

Angry? You're damn right I am!

You have left-wing government? Where do you hide them?

Wouldn't you like to know....
*taps nose*

I, for one, would be happy for politics, generally, to drag itself "back to the centre". For too long the left has been poorly represented by toothless politicians and hostile (at least in the UK, I think in the US also, not sure where else) media outlets. I'm sick of being told I'm weak, I'm sick of being told I'm a crazy hippy, mostly I'm sick of being made to feel I should be embarrassed to believe what I believe.

Angry? You're damn right I am!


As them lovable Aussies would say:

"Good on ya, mate!"

Like ours *coughs loudly*

Carops, you oughtta do something about that cough. *fusses maternally*

If the UK has a left-wing government, then on that scale Australia's must be so far right that ...

Oh, yeah. They are, aren't they.

Carops, you oughtta do something about that cough. *fusses maternally*

If the UK has a left-wing government, then on that scale Australia's must be so far right that ...

Oh, yeah. They are, aren't they.

If the UK has a left-wing government, the Spanish one is ultra-communist.

Sorry, guys. I posted before I'd read everything, and didn't realise how heated people were getting. I wouldn't have been so dismissive if I had.

Okay, serious reply: I'm glad the left is angry. Anger is fuel. You need fuel when you want to change things. Lots of boring stuff goes with change in a democracy -- a law amended slightly here, an attitude softened there, a tiny concession somewhere else. You don't get even minor improvements without a lot of well-researched argument, boring meetings, tedious Letters to the Editor, repetitive news-grabs from reformist pollies ... and then suddenly there's a Groundswell, or a Movement, or whatever, and everybody's jumping on your bandwagon and someone's swept into power and some really big changes are made, all at once, all the things you've been working for.

Does the New Jerusalem come to pass? No. People get bored with politics. Being involved or committed (or even angry) goes out of fashion and everyone settles down to the status quo again.

Except it's a new status quo. Marginally fairer, maybe. It becomes "centrist" to have the things you've fought for and won. People imagine things have always been like that. Even the right-wing defends and accepts them; they're part of "our democratic way of life", in "our family-friendly society".

But the left isn't happy: because once you get to the top of the hill, you can see the next valley. So; you've got the kids out of the mines? Fine, let's get them properly fed. Then let's get them as healthy as we can. And let's do something about their teeth. Maybe they should be able to see a doctor when they need one. Let's educate them all -- hell, even the girls! Let's start voting on it -- yeah, everyone. Let's ...

Let's not have to start all over again. Let's not go kill 'em all off.

When I was younger I was as angry as you are, Rotovia. Then I had kids.

Now I'm incandescent.

It sure helps keep me awake in those boring meetings.

Its the opposite in britian, we've had the left for too long :rolleyes:
better that than the conservatives... and the "left" is indeed not left enough!


good on you australia - fight those right-wing assholes :mad:

This seems to be ther problem with the Australian left; 10,000 voters aren't a majority and won't win an election however angry they are. For that fact neither is 100,000 or five million.

Also Australia now has more than 20 million people Rotovia, not 18 million.

The opposition parties are on their knees, the only thing keeping them standing being the union movements campaign against industrial relations; which is draining the Labor party's election warchest.

The public don't give a damn about VSU and most of the students I don't know either. Nor do people feel their civil liberties infringed. Neither do they believe that the government has anything to do with the petrol price, this is a problem of global demand.

Check Beazley's personal approval rating; it is the best indicator of the vote, not two party prefered.

I hope the Australian left looks foward to at least another 5 years in opposition. Then it might become PM Carr. A win after five defeats ain't to bad is it?

Why would they want donations from political parties? That wouldn't make sense.. the money will be spent in similar fashion and in a co-ordinated effort in favor of some or other candidate. Their ads and commercials will use identical or near-identical talking points, while sponsored by "GetUP," rather than by the actual Party sponsoring your candidate. They adopted the MoveOn model that we had in 2004 for John Kerry, and purposefully chose a similar name. So excuse me if i'm jumping to conclusions.. ;)
Are you aware you make no sense? You stated they were created by Labour, you were wrong. You still are. The fact they are created as an affiliate of MoveOn.org is really not relivent to your point.

Also, you're not excused. There's no excuse for such a poor attempt at regaining face.

Another MoveOn clone? There the left goes again. I mean why do they want to lose elections so badly anyways? :rolleyes: Is keeping the image of the underdogs really that necessary? I guess it allows them to keep up with their bitchy fits. I guess some political organizations like to be categorized as hypocritical, insane losers.
The difference is Australia has a large leftwing base, which is why an active leftwing is a near garuntee of an electoral victory.

No. You're the troll.

And another thing, if you guys want to pose any challenge, you really need to get your bottoms back to the center where most people are.

Uh, by definition, most people are always going to be center. Unfortunately, right-wingers tend to think the Center is located within themselves.

No. You're the troll.

And another thing, if you guys want to pose any challenge, you really need to get your bottoms back to the center where most people are.
"I know you are, said you are, so what I am?" Is that your arguement? Please. The right has sunk to a new low.

Here's a fun fact. Not every is in the centre. Infact believe or not the left wing tends to win it's election on the left. Who'd have thought the left would vote left?

Are you an angry leftie? Check out GetUp.org (http://www.getup.org.au)

I hate the Australian labour party :p

I hate the Australian labour party :p
Wrong thread Zwange, wrong thread... :mad: :gundge:

Wrong thread Zwange, wrong thread... :mad: :gundge:
Nah, I think I'm in the right place.

Nah, I think I'm in the right place.
Wrong, you're in the left place.

In other words, your opposition Party has shifted some of its fundraising to the internet. Ours in the U.S. did the same thing and, sure enough, it did get them some money - they beat the Republicans for fundraising in 2004.. but having the cash and spending it well are two different things. Good luck though.
Unless they have the same league of backing, George Soros in particular, they may or may not make that much money.

No. You're the troll.

And another thing, if you guys want to pose any challenge, you really need to get your bottoms back to the center where most people are.

No, what we need is for the right to lose it's death grip on defining what "the center" is.

Fifteen years ago, if you believed any of the following:

1) Government isn't always the problem, just corruption of government.
2) Business sometimes needs to be regulated.
3) Free Trade is not always beneficial for everyone.
4) Media should not be consolidated in the hands of a few people; it gives said people too much power.
5) Our country makes mistakes just like any other; our excellence lies in our attempts to fix those mistakes.
6) Government bureaucracies should not be controlled by lobbyists of the industries they control.
7) Bureaucracy is not always a bad word.
8) The free market and privatization are sometimes just stupid solutions to non-problems.
9) If someone compromises national security, they should be removed from power, irrespective of intent.
10) High taxes can be good if they pay for excellent services.

You would have been what we might call a realist, or more simply, you were a person with a good dose of common sense. Now, however, if you believe those things, you are a stark-raving certified member of the Communist party and want to subvert our liberties, and are probably on the phone with Bin Laden right now, you psycho traitor! Don't deny it!

The reason why this has happened isn't because any of the above are untrue; it's because idiots like Rush have been telling us that people who actually believe these things are traitors. People, being gullible and easily herded, naturally tend to agree. The solution, however, isn't to accept wrong conclusions just because they are popular, but to convince people that these aren't "liberal" answers to questions; they are just common-sense answers to them.

No, what we need is for the right to lose it's death grip on defining what "the center" is.

Fifteen years ago, if you believed any of the following:

1) Government isn't always the problem, just corruption of government.
2) Business sometimes needs to be regulated.
3) Free Trade is not always beneficial for everyone.
4) Media should not be consolidated in the hands of a few people; it gives said people too much power.
5) Our country makes mistakes just like any other; our excellence lies in our attempts to fix those mistakes.
6) Government bureaucracies should not be controlled by lobbyists of the industries they control.
7) Bureaucracy is not always a bad word.
8) The free market and privatization are sometimes just stupid solutions to non-problems.
9) If someone compromises national security, they should be removed from power, irrespective of intent.
10) High taxes can be good if they pay for excellent services.

You would have been what we might call a realist, or more simply, you were a person with a good dose of common sense. Now, however, if you believe those things, you are a stark-raving certified member of the Communist party and want to subvert our liberties, and are probably on the phone with Bin Laden right now, you psycho traitor! Don't deny it!

The reason why this has happened isn't because any of the above are untrue; it's because idiots like Rush have been telling us that people who actually believe these things are traitors. People, being gullible and easily herded, naturally tend to agree. The solution, however, isn't to accept wrong conclusions just because they are popular, but to convince people that these aren't "liberal" answers to questions; they are just common-sense answers to them.
Makes me a little nostalgic for the Clinton Era.