Happy Election Day Australia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lspzmj3piew&NR=1

The very fast paced campaign season comes to a close today.  Australia’s season only lasts about 5 weeks, contrasting sharply to the 18+ months it takes in the US.

There seem to be some interesting parallels in US and Australian politics. The “Liberal” party (our conservatives) are running on keeping the brown people out of the country (I’m surprised they don’t call them wetbacks here as well since they arrive by sea) and the spending by the Labor party (our somewhat right leaning moderate party).  Labor counters that their stimulus spending has kept Australia out of recession, unlike the rest of the globe, and their plan is to be back in the black in 2012 (which, if I’m not mistaken is the same year the Liberals are saying they’ll do it if given the majority..).

Despite more than 60% of Australians supporting marriage equality, the two biggest parties have both gone on record as supporting discrimination.  Both of those parties also support a nationwide mandatory filter so that the government can try to control what you can see on the internet.  I can only assume they are impressed by the accomplishments of countries like China, North Korea, and Iran.  (go haystack!)

Labor’s biggest trouble, at least in NSW, seems to be that despite being in power at all levels of government, they have difficulty being seen as effective (does that sound much like the Democrats in the US?).

Despite her disrespect for the gays, I’d rather Julia Gillard remains our PM instead of Tony Abbott.  I think the Labors are closer to the right answers than the Liberals.  One very positive aspect of the elections is that Tony Abbott has stopped prancing around in his speedos on TV.  He’s never been hot enough to pull off that look.  (Seriously, what sort of serious politician goes on 60 Minutes wearing 2 different sets of speedos in one episode?  That, and the fact that he once wanted to be a priest makes me wonder just how much of a perv he is.) 

Out of all the parties I’ve seen so far in the election cycle, I have to say I have the most positive thought regarding the Australian Sex Party.  Of course I’ll need to get citizenship before I can vote, so I’ll have more time to study both the process and the players.  Keeping my fingers crossed today for a progressive Australia.