# I pit 46.6% of Australian voters **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 9, 2004, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358 "2004-10-09T11:58:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/61 "2004-10-11T02:49:10Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > I think you’re being a bit tough on Aussies. People the world over tend to vote with their wallets. Well, its not like Labor had a particularly bad economic policy. I thought their tax policy was even better than the Government’s. But I really fail to understand how they could have voted for someone who took them into an illegal war, lied to them on so many issues (ranging from Iraq to children overboard), and worse of all, won’t ever admit he’s wrong. Another problem was the scare campaign that was being run on interest rates. The government ran ads saying “Interest rates will rise under Labor”, when in fact thats not true at all. And when the former-Reserve Bank Governor stepped in to tell the public the truth, they rephrased their scare campaign, and just continued on with it. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/62 "2004-10-11T03:14:27Z")
Of the Dopers that voted Liberal, I’m curious what your reasons were. Was there a key issue (or issues) that influenced you? My friends and I don’t talk about politics much, but the ones I know who voted for Liberal did so because they disliked Labor’s policy on private schools (most of us were private school students), and they felt that Liberal would be better for the economy overall. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/63 "2004-10-11T05:46:08Z")
> [@Kayeby](#): > > Of the Dopers that voted Liberal, I’m curious what your reasons were. Was there a key issue (or issues) that influenced you? My reasons were purely selfish. While there are many, many things about the current Government which I find offensive, my current financial, work and family situations made me ignore these and vote for the party which I feel will help me more. Usually I am not that selfish, particularly since I don’t think it really matters which party is in power, but just at the moment I need the stability of a returned coalition Government. [nitpick] > [@Kayeby](#): > > We’ll see what the next four years bring > [@kambuckta](#): > > Well, at least we get to whinge for another four years. Our Federal Parliament (or at least the House of Reps) has three year terms, not four. [/nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/64 "2004-10-11T05:57:33Z")
Well, there’s no point getting uptight about people who voted Liberal out of pure self-interest, because voting for your own interests in a very common strategy among people of all political stripes. What really baffles me, however, is how many people bought the Coaltion’s schtick about economic “stability.” Given the broad similarities between the two parties’ economic policies, and Labor’s continued adherence to economic conservatism, there was really very little reason to choose one party over the other from an economic standpoint. Anyone who swallowed the Coalition argument that interest rates would skyrocket under Labor is dumber than a bag of herrings. ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/65 "2004-10-11T06:07:45Z")
Biggest problem as far as I can see? Anyone from outside Australia will think that Aussies are **pro-Iraq war**. :smack: Australia has just re-elected a PM who supported the Iraq war by a greater margin than before. Plus, Bush and Blair appear to be the only 2 leaders who have offered congrats to Howard. Can anyone say, “ **BING! Terrorist target!** ”? I can just imagine all the terrorists around the world going. Ahhh, now we understand what the Australians are truly like. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/66 "2004-10-11T07:01:23Z")
> [@Keapon Laffin](#): > > Biggest problem as far as I can see? > > Anyone from outside Australia will think that Aussies are **pro-Iraq war**. > :smack: > Australia has just re-elected a PM who supported the Iraq war by a greater margin than before. Plus, Bush and Blair appear to be the only 2 leaders who have offered congrats to Howard. > > Can anyone say, “ **BING! Terrorist target!** ”? > I can just imagine all the terrorists around the world going. Ahhh, now we understand what the Australians are truly like. That can’t be right Keapon Laffin. Howard has just spent the last year telling us how much safer the world is, post-Iraq. I _do_ live in his poxy electorate. I put him last, for all the good it did. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/67 "2004-10-11T07:12:10Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > What really baffles me, however, is how many people bought the Coaltion’s schtick about economic “stability.” Given the broad similarities between the two parties’ economic policies, and Labor’s continued adherence to economic conservatism, there was really very little reason to choose one party over the other from an economic standpoint. Anyone who swallowed the Coalition argument that interest rates would skyrocket under Labor is dumber than a bag of herrings. Just for the record, I agree that there is no evidence that interest rates under a Labor Government would have behaved in any way differently from the way in which they will behave under a Coalition Government. Also, while I agree that the economic policies of the two parties are similar, they are not exactly the same. I personally believe that the Liberals will help me more than Labor. The other issue is perception. For example, I am currently trying to sell two properties - our family home and a block of land. Had Labor won, I’m sure enough people would have been conned by the Liberal assertions regarding interest rates to have an adverse effect on the market in the short term. In other words it would have made selling property in the current difficult market even harder. As things stand, I **really** did not need the risk of that happening. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/68 "2004-10-11T12:49:46Z")
> [@Keapon Laffin](#): > > Biggest problem as far as I can see? > > Anyone from outside Australia will think that Aussies are **pro-Iraq war**. > :smack: > Australia has just re-elected a PM who supported the Iraq war by a greater margin than before. Plus, Bush and Blair appear to be the only 2 leaders who have offered congrats to Howard. > > Can anyone say, “ **BING! Terrorist target!** ”? > I can just imagine all the terrorists around the world going. Ahhh, now we understand what the Australians are truly like. If I was an Aussie I would be worried about that now. The Bali bombing was seen as an attack on Aussies, did you really want to invite something closer to home? ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/69 "2004-10-11T13:08:00Z")
> [@Keapon Laffin](#): > > Biggest problem as far as I can see? > > Anyone from outside Australia will think that Aussies are **pro-Iraq war**. > :smack: > Australia has just re-elected a PM who supported the Iraq war by a greater margin than before. Plus, Bush and Blair appear to be the only 2 leaders who have offered congrats to Howard. > > Can anyone say, “ **BING! Terrorist target!** ”? > I can just imagine all the terrorists around the world going. Ahhh, now we understand what the Australians are truly like. So fucking what?! Since when has it been a good idea to vote according to what some camel loving terrorist think or do not think? Screw them. Btw. Congratulation on the excellent election result. (…our illustrious prince just knocked up your princess.) ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/70 "2004-10-11T13:12:10Z")
Fucking moron. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/71 "2004-10-11T13:15:56Z")
> [@Desmostylus](#): > > Fucking moron. What?! You calling our prince a fucking moron?! Well you’re probably right, he married an Australian after all. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/72 "2004-10-11T13:17:43Z")
:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/73 "2004-10-11T13:19:33Z")
> [@Desmostylus](#): > > :rolleyes: [bah…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=280185) ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/74 "2004-10-11T13:20:57Z")
**Desmo** don’t worry about **Rune** he’s just an ex-Kiwi gone hostile (well that’s my theory and he isn’t dispproving it). ---
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/75 "2004-10-11T13:27:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **Rune** > What?! You calling our prince a fucking moron?! Well you’re probably right, he married an Australian after all. I’m surprised you didn’t come back with “I know you are, but what am I ?” ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/76 "2004-10-11T13:40:10Z")
> [@TastesLikeBurning](#): > > I’m surprised you didn’t come back with “I know you are, but what am I ?” But he did! ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/77 "2004-10-11T16:00:43Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > What?! You calling our prince a fucking moron?! Well you’re probably right, he married an Australian after all. Well, its obvious that the Danish have no class, so quite frankly, marrying outside the country would have been a step up. And, heck, it might improve the breed. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/78 "2004-10-11T22:05:40Z")
> [@Keapon Laffin](#): > > Biggest problem as far as I can see? > > Anyone from outside Australia will think that Aussies are **pro-Iraq war**. > :smack: > Australia has just re-elected a PM who supported the Iraq war by a greater margin than before. Plus, Bush and Blair appear to be the only 2 leaders who have offered congrats to Howard. > > Can anyone say, “ **BING! Terrorist target!** ”? > I can just imagine all the terrorists around the world going. Ahhh, now we understand what the Australians are truly like. I hope you’re not saying we should have voted Latham in to avoid being attacked by terrorists?! > [@calm kiwi](#): > > Or about Australia and attitudes towards immigrants? > > Look at the countries that have thrived or exist because of immigrants. How many are there? America, Aussie, Canada, New Zealand, yes many countries HAVE immigrants but not many are built on them! Would any of the four I named be the same place without immigrants? We are all countries who have gained so much from immigration (there may be many more…I just KNOW which countries did). Why would the Australian public vote for a bigot? What are you saying exactly about immigration? 😕 Australia’s immigration rate is 3.98 / 1,000 population. That is only slightly under New Zealand’s rate of 4.05 / 1,000 population. Just for reference, the US’ is 3.41 / 1,000 pop and the UK’ is 2.41 / 1,000 population. Australia is not bad on the world stage. Regarding humanitarian stream migrants, 10% of Australia’s migrants are from the humanitarian stream. New Zealand’s percentage is 8 and the US’ is 8. [cite](http://www.iom.int/DOCUMENTS/PUBLICATION/EN/chap09tablep157_172.pdf) [cite](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html) Sorry for the highjack! ---
**Author:** ![Waccoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Waccoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waccoe)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/79 "2004-10-11T22:20:34Z")
It is quite possible that the three war leaders - Howard, Bush and then next year, Blair - will all be re-elected. Not a certainty, but very possible. That may be all about wallet-voting…but I think that it would be more about playing it safe in an uncertain world. They are three comfort blankets. ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/80 "2004-10-12T00:21:58Z")
> [@Burnt Sugar](#): > > I hope you’re not saying we should have voted Latham in to avoid being attacked by terrorists?! I’m saying that Latham should’ve been elected to send the message worldwide (and not only to terrorists) that Australia isn’t supporting a warmongering butcher. I think that the war was a blatantly illegal one, and that Australia should never have joined in. And now, the Australian public have re-elected the jackass who took them into this war. And I’m still surprised that Bush and Howard have not been tried for war crimes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358.md?page=5)