Yup! absolutely pints old chap. the party system protects the elites that so many here grumble about.... well maybe not the same crowd exactly, but its the same outcome. parties enable candidates to become mps regardless of suitability. their criteria according to those commenting with Julie Bishop walked, is good rhetorical skills, a strong networking capability and fundraising. thats what they bemoaned losing when Bishop left. never mind her obvious intelligence and diplomatic skills, her loyalty to the party and the principles, how she covered other peoples' backsides and often cleaned up the mess left by her male colleagues.
but I digress. the parties are people with vested self-interested exactly as you describe. I'm appalled at the competence on both sides. all parties are marked in the same manner with climbers of the greasy pole. self-promoters. gone are the altruistic motivation to make Aus a better place, instead their focus is on whats going to get our wishes accepted by the community. enter the retail politicians. the very creme of sales, the lowest least moral or ethical of all politicians.
I don't want to rant on so....... yes vote independent to regain democracy from these villains. --- if we vote for real independents who have proven intelligence and integrity our national management will be safer than the incompetents that cause us to lurch to the left or the right. we need the middle path for business to have certainty.
