It’s been a long time between blog posts around here hasn’t it? I know what you’ve been thinking – “If his opinions are so important, why doesn’t he express them?” Patience, dear reader.
I break my silence today to bring you a sordid tale of ELECTION SKULLDUGGERY!
Well, maybe not.
It being the day of the Federal Election here in Australia, I just got back from voting.
I like the way we do elections. For starters, they are so low-tech. None of these fancy-schmancy electronic voting machines or hole-punching systems – in Australia, all we need is pencils, paper and cardboard – because, you understand, everything at the polling place, including the voting booths, are made of cardboard.
But we also have a confusing preferential voting system (explained here), and that brings me to the scandal I must reveal today. Each political party has their own how-to-vote cards (such as the one pictured above) to best exploit the preferential system, that are distributed to voters as they walk through the entrance of the polling place.
Normally when entering a polling place, I take every how to vote card offered to me, and then don’t use any of them.
But not today! I was approached before I reached the entrance by a Labor Party volunteer, who gave me a how-to-vote card, and then directed me to the voting booths by a different route, so I would not receive the how-to-vote cards of the other parties!
Sneaky.
***
Melbourne Coffee Review man Peter Christo was trying to enjoy his favourite cafe in peace, but there’s an election on, and one of the political parties apparently has its own professional choir and conductor (RSS readers click here to view):
Better than the usual election campaign methods, if you ask me.
37 comments
Comments feed for this article
Trackback link
http://myopinionsareimportant.com/2007/11/24/election-day/trackback/
November 27, 2007 at 10:44 am
Andy
Well labor won. Im a bit suprised still. Im nervous as to what this holds with all my housing loans. It could have a big burden on my financial position. Im hoping they have a good four years.
Andy
December 3, 2007 at 7:12 pm
psyduck
It’s a nice way of propaganda. i would have voted for the Labor Party just for them being so clever. but isn’t that illegal? i mean, they can’t influence the thinking of the voters. i am form another country and we don’t get that stuff when we go to vote.
December 4, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Forrest
That would certainly be illegal in the States. At least officially; people are very clever, and find new ways to describe doing essentially the same things to skirt laws…
December 11, 2007 at 8:23 am
Chris
Wow I didn’t realize that voting could be so intense. Hopefully it turned out to be a beneficial election
December 13, 2007 at 8:01 am
Mario
That is sneaky! Seems just like the rest of politics, so it isn’t very surprising.
December 19, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Wookah
Liberal election is very much important for a nation. This blog will carry good forward result.
December 19, 2007 at 2:51 pm
goyin
yeah, in the US i’m pretty sure you’re not allowed to have any biased literature a certain distance from the voting area. good thing only a tiny fraction of americans actually vote.
December 29, 2007 at 8:42 am
LSU COACH LES MILES
Wow! All cardboard? I wish it was like that in the US.
:O)
December 29, 2007 at 6:39 pm
mexican pine furniture
Yeah i totally agree..even thoug i am an american..i seldom vote..democracy is already dead here according to me..what i care is i get a holiday…dats all
January 1, 2008 at 9:17 am
themolk
Markk, come back… we miss you blogging…
Happy New Year to you, mine blogger friend.
January 3, 2008 at 11:14 am
designer cufflinks
Very nice, I wish people had that sort of spirit up here!
January 14, 2008 at 10:28 am
Cajuns
I wish it was still low tech in the U.S.
January 15, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Bellingham real estate
I dont know about that.
January 16, 2008 at 10:58 am
Cambria Kango
Oooh, that is sneaky!
We don’t have that in the U.S….but, there are still plenty of sneaky activities going on around election time!
It is universal!
January 18, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Daniel
i can only wish for more better sense to prevail over the party men.but public is more cleverer today than was few years back.with constant media glare the public cannot be fooled into any scheme.
January 22, 2008 at 8:14 am
Drop Shipping Company
u need one that shows how to vote conservative =p
January 22, 2008 at 8:15 am
Wholesale Drop Shipping
haha i wonder if the next prezident is going to be a donkey or an elephant
January 22, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Iowa Kango
Just found this blog, and love what I see. Are you going to start posting again any time soon?
January 22, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Ghillie Suits Guy
I just thoug
January 22, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Ghillie Suits Guy
Oops, I didn’t get to finish my comment. I just thought I’d finally post a comment on here. It’s been almost 2 months since your last post. I hope this isn’t another blog that’s gonna be RIP in 2008.
January 24, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Nintendo Wii
Very nice, I wish people had that sort of spirit up here!
January 25, 2008 at 5:26 am
UK Travel Guide
That is sneaky! Seems just like the rest of politics, so it isn’t very surprising
January 25, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Shane
Well labor won. Lets see what they can do. I think they can do a good job this time around. If they do, they will definetely continue to win elections.
Regards Shane
January 25, 2008 at 10:08 pm
scott
nice info. looking forward to have some more from you
January 26, 2008 at 10:43 am
Jeremy Hobbs
Being from Fla, I can say that simple is better when it comes to voting systems.
January 28, 2008 at 4:45 am
Louisiana
When are you going to post again? I come here elmost every day 2 see if you have a new post, and you bon’t. Hurry back plzzz!!
January 30, 2008 at 6:58 am
Houston Web Design
Very interesting post you have here, you should really consider blogging more often and open up those ideas!
February 1, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Fasm
It could not happen in US
http://www.01interactive.com/
February 1, 2008 at 11:21 pm
JACL
Whats that singing stuff about? Anyway, in the U.S. campaign people are not allowed to campaign within I think 150 feet of the polls. So no sneaky way to send people different routes etc.
February 2, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Weight Loss Wand
Very nice, but every one should have the spirit.
February 5, 2008 at 9:37 am
Massage Table
yeah were not that lucky in the states. and its made to be more difficult to vote.
February 5, 2008 at 10:39 am
Brett
Yes i also have to say its a lot better system than the USA have. In my country, sometimes only 2 million out of 300 million will vote. That is not right, and shouldn’t be the way to decide the leader of a country. Australia seems to have a good political structure and set up.
Brett
February 6, 2008 at 12:37 pm
property sale
See its not just the US that’s screwed up when it comes to democracy.
February 7, 2008 at 5:59 am
Investment News
That is sneaky! Seems just like the rest of politics, so it isn’t very surprising.
February 14, 2008 at 6:31 am
Pete Aldin
Please post again Mark, we miss you.
February 14, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Mat
Welcome Back Mark (this is a prophetic post)
February 16, 2008 at 5:38 am
Stock Market For Beginners
Have you given up on this blog? You voted and that was your last post?