Are we ever going to escape the personal profit’s dominion over our considerations when casting our vote?
When are we going to vote in such a way that our prime concern is the welfare of our children and grandchildren not just the immediate protection of capital and personal fortune?
When will we be prepared to ensure that we are properly informed in this increasingly complex world where the survival of so many organisms including homo sapiens are under stress through excessive exploitation of habitat?
I challenge anyone to find a single scintilla of concern for the future generation’s welfare, or the state of the planet’s health in anything Tony Abbott has said. I know Mr Abbott can put on hard hats, hammer nails, fillet fish, decorate cakes, bump along after a fashion upon a horse, the complete tradesman. For these reasons it seems we are collectively impressed. Yet our own Mr Windsor, whom we are deserting, it seems, can chair the very important and vexatious Murray/Darling Commission, requiring great depth of knowledge to guide the decision-making body to the best possible solution, a task that would test the mettle of Methuselah. He can stand honourably firm on the carbon ‘tax’, awaiting sense to prevail. When will sense prevail?
When will those we accept as guiding lights no longer be those who are opinionated, egotistical, ill-informed represented by the radio shock jocks and second rate journalists.
I can concur with those who have misgivings concerning our Prime Minister’s “Politburo Puppet” manner and her poor ability to communicate. Her skill in dealing with Mr Abbott’s heavy-weight onslaught is perhaps just not good enough. She is out of her depth. Yet, I can’t help feeling that if it wasn’t for Mr Abbott’s skill at oversimplification, his populist agenda in the worst sense, his support from a biased Murdoch press, a clear deterioration of standards on the National Broadcaster’s TV news (though maintained on Q & A and Radio National), Ms Gillard might have held ground as our National Leader.
Parliament, as it is now, might have been perceived as the most democratic and effective ever in our history. Mr Abbott engineered himself into power, firstly by changing his mind regarding the Carbon Tax, testing the changing sentiments of the electorate after the failure at Copenhagen and by the serendipitous visit by a Global Warming sceptic and by the publication of a book by another sceptic, confusing the issues confronting us. He then made the political calculation to oppose Mr Turnbull who stood firm because it was the right thing to do.
It’s interesting to me to be referring to two Members of Parliament who stand firmly and honourably on the side of good sense, caution and science. Mr Windsor and Mr Turnbull are both nominally conservative. The arrogance implicit in Mr Abbott’s dismissive response to the research done by such organisations as the CSIRO, fills me with dread. Mr Windsor listens and can be relied on to do what is right. He respects science and obviously takes it on board, not just championing what is popular and too easily explained. He has always worked hard for this electorate and continues to do so. He speaks out strongly and clearly on the effect of gas mining on the Liverpool Plains. In important ways he continues to work for those who don’t even have a say in things”¦my grandchildren.
Don’t be sheep and follow the mob in ignorance to slaughter. Please think again before deserting Mr Windsor for, if the darkness of denial continues to enfold us, the time will come when we’ll be unable to see anything at all. It’s happened before by slavishly following the loudest and most shrill voice.
Ron Roberts
