HAPPY STRAYA DAY! [AusPAX 2013]

The Black Hunter

A guy I was mates with in uni has done an amazing thing:

http://the-riotact.com/an-interview-with-william-woodbridge-on-the-lake-ginninderra-teepee/66394

Basically the uni sold its accommodation to profiteers, who charged him $350 for setting off the smoke alarm while he steamed rice. So he said "fuck all y'all" and built a totally sweet tee pee on a totally sweet raft and is living on Lake Ginninderra, 5 minutes walk from my house.

A lot of people are giving him shit about "urrh grow up asshole the world doesn't owe you anything just pay for your accommodation why are you so stupid" and these people are being beaten back by others with "He knows the world owes him nothing so he built his own sweet as hell tee pee and is now living on it with just the basics like a champ instead of coughing up $200 a week for a lunchbox with a shitty bed in it."

This guy once rode his horse to school for shits and giggles, modern society is built on the backs of bad decisions followed through anyways.

Gatsby

I remember you told me about the horse riding guy.

He seems cool.

The Black Hunter

I used to think he might be a bit too weird, but really he does no harm to anyone and I was daft to kinda dismiss the dude on that basis

Blake T

Heehee.

You said pee.

marty_0001

A mate told me that pubs are still required by law to hitch and water your horse when you arrive

I don't have a horse but I hope that's true all the same

Vivixenne

the comments on that article are interesting

pretty equal split between the "he broke the rules" and the "he is taking a stand" camps

PaperLuigi44

Blake T wrote: »

The multiplayer in the third was is the best.

And it's freeeeee.

Sadly I saw your request too late, hopefully I will get over this cold soon.

HyperBallad

theSquid wrote: »

Pho is such a fucking awesome meal.

Amen to that!

PixelMonkey

Anzekay wrote:

I hope you guys aren't gillard fans or something

I dislike both of them.

theSquid

I want to vote for a socially progressive, economically not stupid party. Generally Labor hits a lot nearer that goal than the liberals.

Gillard herself is too politically cowardly to be either.

romanqwerty

You reckon if enough labour voters are disenfranchised with Gillard, the greens might get more than a single seat?

theSquid

The ones that are looking for a more progressive society and aren't panicking about the economy, sure.

#pipe

romanqwerty wrote: »

You reckon if enough labour voters are disenfranchised with Gillard, the greens might get more than a single seat?

That's the two party system for you.

marty_0001

What if we elected the prime minister directly

via reality tv show phone voting

So You Think You Can Govern

#pipe

Personally

I am so fucking glad we don't have to deal with America's fucked up system. With Primaries and Electoral Colleges. God what a clusterfuck.

Donovan Puppyfucker

I thought we could have a direct election process for our republic, but with two representatives voted in by each state, with one more 'tie-breaker' rep voted in by the whole country. A presidential committee sort of arrangement.

Garlic Bread

Elect your politicians via TV game shows

PaperLuigi44

#pipe wrote: »

Personally

I am so fucking glad we don't have to deal with America's fucked up system. With Primaries and Electoral Colleges. God what a clusterfuck.

I find it hard to believe that non-compulsory voting is actually a thing.

Wimble

oh yeah you guys get fined if you don't vote or something, huh?

#pipe

PaperLuigi44 wrote: »

#pipe wrote: »

Personally

I am so fucking glad we don't have to deal with America's fucked up system. With Primaries and Electoral Colleges. God what a clusterfuck.

I find it hard to believe that non-compulsory voting is actually a thing.

I mean I don't think voting should be compulsory, because I think people should give enough of a shit that they do it regardless and it's kind of messed up to give someone a fine for choosing to not have their say

but unfortunately people don't give enough of a shit and voter turnouts of around 50% is ridiculous.

Blake T

theSquid wrote: »

I want to vote for a socially progressive, economically not stupid party. Generally Labor hits a lot nearer that goal than the liberals.

Gillard herself is too politically cowardly to be either.

I'm not the hugest fan of gillard.

But I wouldn't call her cowardly.

She needs to satisfy the green and three independents just for the lower house.

All Abbott needs to say is no!

PaperLuigi44

From the Australian Electoral Commission site

Initially the Australian Electoral Commission will write to all apparent non-voters requesting that they either provide a reason for their failure to vote or pay a $20 penalty.

If, within 21 days, the apparent non-voter fails to reply, cannot provide a valid and sufficient reason or declines to pay the penalty, then prosecution proceedings may be instigated. If the matter is dealt with in court and the person is found guilty, he or she may be fined up to $50 plus court costs.

So it's not a large fine. Don't get me wrong, I know there are arguments for and against compulsory voting (and only a handful of countries actually enforce it), I'm just of the opinion that voting is an important thing that everyone of voting age should be a part of.

Wimble

I am not allowed to vote (except for locally) because I've refused to go through the process of becoming a swedish citizen because the place where I renew it in Norway is awesome and having an excuse to go there rules but maybe that's weird

Mr Fuzzbutt

i like monarchies

you could get lucky with a good king/queen, or you could get a bad one

with democracy, you are guaranteed to get a politician

#pipe

I've been stung with a failure to vote fine before and it was just because I straight up forgot.

Wimble

well we still get that fuzzbut because we have a constitutional monarchy. Our prime minister is adorable though

PaperLuigi44

#pipe wrote: »

PaperLuigi44 wrote: »

#pipe wrote: »

Personally

I am so fucking glad we don't have to deal with America's fucked up system. With Primaries and Electoral Colleges. God what a clusterfuck.

I find it hard to believe that non-compulsory voting is actually a thing.

I mean I don't think voting should be compulsory, because I think people should give enough of a shit that they do it regardless and it's kind of messed up to give someone a fine for choosing to not have their say

but unfortunately people don't give enough of a shit and voter turnouts of around 50% is ridiculous.

Yeah, this is what gets me. I don't know if there have been any studies as to predicted turnouts here if voting was optional, but only half of the voting public caring enough to voice their opinion on who should run government is startling to me.

Mr Fuzzbutt

We're technically a constitutional monarchy too, but it's not like the queen actually does anything ever that's not basically just for show.

#pipe

Yeah I was gonna say, Monarchies still usually need to elect a government.

Wimble

Mr Fuzzbutt wrote: »

We're technically a constitutional monarchy too, but it's not like the queen actually does anything ever that's not basically just for show.

oh right I forgot about that. Heh!

Vivixenne

PaperLuigi44 wrote: »

From the Australian Electoral Commission site

Initially the Australian Electoral Commission will write to all apparent non-voters requesting that they either provide a reason for their failure to vote or pay a $20 penalty.

If, within 21 days, the apparent non-voter fails to reply, cannot provide a valid and sufficient reason or declines to pay the penalty, then prosecution proceedings may be instigated. If the matter is dealt with in court and the person is found guilty, he or she may be fined up to $50 plus court costs.

So it's not a large fine. Don't get me wrong, I know there are arguments for and against compulsory voting (and only a handful of countries actually enforce it), I'm just of the opinion that voting is an important thing that everyone of voting age should be a part of.

What are your options if you don't want to support anyone on the ballot? Write in a bullshit name?

Donovan Puppyfucker

You don't have to actually write anything at all. You can go in, get your name checked off, and put the blank ballot slip straight in to the ballot box. Or just research your independents and minor parties (http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/)...

Blake T

Showing up, but purposely messing it up is known as a donkey vote.

Donovan Puppyfucker

Just draw an arrow pointing at the listing for Family First, and write 'anybody but these cunts'.

-SPI-

Actually a Donkey Vote is just going in and writing 12345 as the candidates are listed, regardless of who they are.

Vivixenne

reading about Family First makes me angry

PaperLuigi44

chrishallett83 wrote: »

You don't have to actually write anything at all. You can go in, get your name checked off, and put the blank ballot slip straight in to the ballot box. Or just research your independents and minor parties (http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/)...

Yeah, I am not a fan of either of the major parties myself so I tend to look at the independents.

And we can all agree that Family First is awful.

Donovan Puppyfucker

These guys are good, too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Labour_Party_(Australia)

#pipe

Vivixenne wrote: »

PaperLuigi44 wrote: »

From the Australian Electoral Commission site

Initially the Australian Electoral Commission will write to all apparent non-voters requesting that they either provide a reason for their failure to vote or pay a $20 penalty.

If, within 21 days, the apparent non-voter fails to reply, cannot provide a valid and sufficient reason or declines to pay the penalty, then prosecution proceedings may be instigated. If the matter is dealt with in court and the person is found guilty, he or she may be fined up to $50 plus court costs.

So it's not a large fine. Don't get me wrong, I know there are arguments for and against compulsory voting (and only a handful of countries actually enforce it), I'm just of the opinion that voting is an important thing that everyone of voting age should be a part of.

What are your options if you don't want to support anyone on the ballot? Write in a bullshit name?

Blake T

His platform is: freedom is the right of all sentient beings.