NSW Labor left machinations deserve media scrutiny, but not the past dominance of the Labor right? All critics of Public Transport just want to free up the roads for their benefit - there's no concerned users? Environmentalists are a distorting "vested interest", while developers having a foot in the door are just improving the economy for everyone's benefit? Costa was happy to abuse Government process to get his way, but when others do the same against him, well, that's just plain... unfair?

Certainly, portfolios are underfunded relative to expectations. We need to be realistic about costs. Goverments, State or Federal, claim credit for winds that blow in their favour - while someone else is to blame for everything wrong. Some problems act a fact of Government - that messy, ugly negotiation. But, States deliver services, abuse the national economy for their own benefit, finger point and blame shift. State Goverments are worth getting rid of. Personal dummy spits notwithstanding. . . read more

Long knives and short memories seem to be the go. Add to that a complete disregard for the empowerment of community by social networks, mobile technology and the culture of the ‘local' and you have the recipe for the demise of parliamentary democracy.

Not that we will be sorry to see it go. What is interesting, however, is when and what will replace the two-party system and the party machines.

AS a first step look out for the proliferation of political parties in the next Australian elections as voters embrace pluralism in a stand against the Obeid's and Tripodi's of this world.

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Yet, few progressive women would be celebrating Kristina Keneally's recent rise to the NSW Premiership.

Few women would be happy reading through a political career that has reeked of backroom cynacism and transparent grabs for their votes.

Looking back to the beginning, it's been well reported that Keneally's husband had his eye on Labor preselection for the seat of Heffron- only missing out due to affirmative action rules which secured Kristina as the candidate.

Her acceptance of the poison chalice of the Premiership was equally Machiavellian on the part of the backroom boys. Apart from her loyalty to the Labor Right, coming from the fairer sex must also have been seen as a way to attract dispirited voters.

Now not to simplify the issue but Keneally's sudden and dramatic rise does seem suspect, begging someone to ask the question:

Does having internal genitalia dictate a good candidate?

At a State and Federal level the kingpins may not think so, but they know it's a good way to secure votes.

So why aren't women more annoyed?

Yes, all the above mentioned women seem very capable, and they should probably be in the positions they are in, but, with the exception of Anna Bligh in Queensland the real positions of power are still held by men.

And the worst of it is that men in dark rooms believe that women will vote for women- purely on the fact the candidate is female.

So are we going to prove them right? . . read more

One unique contribution of the Net is to provide a stage which is not bounded by demography, geography, economy or spin. Get ready for the ride. And watch this space! . . read more

In Tasmania, a large vocal minority of Greens will have the balance of power in a hung parliament, there will be infighting and bickering until the Liberal Opposition claims a minor majority and thrusts forward its impotent Premier into the melee.

In South Australia, Rann will win, but his bravado and virility will be curbed as his ability to nonchalantly wave around his policy penis becomes hampered.

What all this seems to show is that Labor is slipping, the Greens and the environment movement are gaining a lot of traction and Australia is divided.

Hopefully not to the point where Red and Blue States form which look at each other with systemic suspicion, but it does seem that these divides are becoming increasingly irreconcilable.  

Bet Labor wishes they could turn back the clock two years when they controlled every government at State and Federal level and do things a bit differently.  . . read more