Hi people and bots,
Two simple questions:
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which party do you vote for federally? If you vote for people, which party do they align with best?
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why?
I’ve been voting in this country for 30 years, and for the last 20, it doesn’t seem to make a difference beyond undoing the last governments work… Maybe you see something I don’t.
By all means vote, but you shouldn’t expect significant change to come from voting.
MPs and their parties are beholden to their own interests that are roughly aligned with the status quo.
Significant change only comes about when grass-roots social movements can exert real pressure upon those in power.
So if you want to make a difference politically, get involved in organisations that are building a social movement. Joining and getting involved in your union is one way to start.
Have you tried this approach?
Yep!
Did you have much success?
My union (CPSU) is a bunch of useless boomers so I don’t subscribe.
Working on it!
I participate in grass-roots activism both within my union and activist movements in the general community. So by no means are unions the only option for participation in social movements.
That said, I would in general recommend people join their union, though I don’t know much about the CPSU in particular. Unions will have your back with legal support if you need it, and they help to buoy up wages and conditions for everyone. (One notable exception is the SDA, if you want an example of a shitty union, take a look at them. Anyone in the SDA should join the RAFFWU instead.)
In any case, as a member you can work to change the union itself. Most unions will have various collections of rank-and-file members working as pressure groups within the union, as well as participating in broader activist movements. E.g. https://www.instagram.com/cpsu4palestine/
I think I am just going to do something for you, and everyone here. I’m not ready yet, but I am in discussion with the government in relation to this project already.
I think I will be able to do it with the support of our government, rather than trying to fight them for it.
The only thing I need really, is for everyone to trust my broken mind, and support me if you are able to.
And understand that I am severely autistic, I suffer from so many things, so I don’t like to be bombarded too much. Well, the problem is that I do like it too much. If I had all the time in the world, I would read every word every one of you had to say, and respond in kind. And try to find a solution to your problem (tell me if you don’t want that, I encourage you to come up with your own!)
So for now, I’d rather limit my communication to this thread right here.
Because I need you to trust me, I am going to share my life with you as best I can, without trying to inflict too much of my personal suffering upon you. If you find emotional trauma difficult to read about, consider that.
karma.id.au
So if you want to discuss political things do it here. I’ll do my best.
e: also, do understand, I am a public servant, so if I think that I might slightly possibly be touching on official work stuff, I won’t be able to. I’ll just say “can’t say”. Hopefully “soon”, I won’t have to say that any more.
So if you want to ask/discuss personal things do it under here. I want to be as transparent as you want our government to be.
Ah cpsu, I think stands for corporate public sector union.
Oh, I know of it (it’s Community and Public Sector Union, btw), I just meant I don’t know anything about their efficacy, politics, experiences of members, etc.