A few nations have been deciding lately. The United Kingdom decided to leave the European Union much to everyone's surprise; not the least their own. Having made the decision, that nation appears in the process of a complete breakdown.
The United States is in the process of reaching a decision of its own and few of its citizens appear happy with the options. The rest of the world meanwhile is keeping our combined fingers crossed that the decision the USA makes is the 'right' one. In bridge playing terms we hope that a winning card isn't 'trumped'.
Returning to Australia our options appear uninspiring. The Prime Minister usurped his predecessor to take the position and so is looking to win the position by popular vote for the first time. Although most were relieved when he usurped the previous PM his performance since has been disappointing.
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| Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister |
His opponent, the Leader of the Opposition is not averse to a spot of usurping himself having been involved in two such coups against two earlier PMs. To the surprise of many his performance in the election run up was more convincing than his earlier performance as the Opposition Leader although even that slipped in the late days of the campaign as both leaders resorted to negativity and mudslinging.
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| Bill Shorten, Leader of the Opposition |
One of them may be the incoming PM by the time counting of the vote concludes for the night but if the neck and neck Polls beforehand prove accurate then we may not be certain for days.
One way or another one of the two will be PM in the next government. But will anything change?
You and I have lived long enough to know, not much will change. What concerns me the most is that while I doubt Medicare will privatised, and Medibank Private certainly will be, Medicare will be chipped away at until it becomes a shell and only helpful to the very poor. Put to the vote, do you want to retain Medicare and give good treatment in hospitals and be much less out of pocket for health costs by paying a higher levy, then I think people would vote yes.
ReplyDeleteFor all his supposed communication skills Turnbull is very poor at negotiating a position. He becomes waffly and gives the impression of showing off his intellect.
DeleteHe showed poor political skills as Leader of the Opposition but this all seemed forgotten by those who favoured him as replacement for the lamentable Tony Abbott.
Hmmm...and Pauline Hanson is back.
ReplyDeleteTurnbull's double dissolution strategy has exploded in his face.
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