There is a sense that the conservative side of politics is experiencing an existential crisis as the Greens go from strength to strength, because I think that their constant crowing at the Greens' success equaling Labor's misfortune has something hysterical about it, something manic and dark. As if they are contemplating something permanent.
And the Greens are doing it despite my own statement of intent, at the beginning of 2013, that I would not be supporting them in future. The thing is that the Greens, because they are all for the environment, are actually anti-growth at the same time they are anti-business (a far less consequential stance to take). What the Greens indeed want is a smaller economy and negative growth because, they think, this is the only way to save the environment. People are the problem. Population is out of control. Which is not only nonsense but, given their growing political success, dangerous nonsense.
The Greens' continuing and growing success in the polls will not make any difference to my voting intentions, even though on the basis of social issues I would otherwise be a natural fit with their platform. I don't want to see a Greens government in Australia. For what it's worth, the people who are voting for the Greens now in the state seats of Balmain and Newtown wouldn't probably want to see the practical outcomes that would appear from implementing Greens policies, should the party be left free to exercise themselves in government at some point in the future. I think that many people would be shocked to learn what the Greens actually stand for.
I understand your piece is opinion, however it does feel a little narrow and uninformed. The Greens will tell you themselves that traditionally they do not woo Liberal voters that their demographic is more that of the Labor persuasion with the exception of the young folk now becoming more aware of the impact of politics. Greens are not anti-growth, Greens are suggesting innovation and new industry through renewables. They are a good mix of how a nation such as ours can achieve great potential as well as maintain the safety net for those who can't. They are pro a Federal ICAC to expose the links the current 2-party process has to big business and hence decisions that are made. The comments towards Labor appear to be justified at this point as the silence is deafening on many key policy with the example being #dataretention. NO debate, no scrutiny Bill Shorten and the team simply rolled over. Commentary around the #NSWvotes also identified the #Greens maintaining 1 and picking up 3 seats is a move that warrants attention. I think you will find, if you look a little closer that the days of the #Greens being 'tree-hugging' activists are gone and they are steadily working on their brand as a viable third option. Watch their space, it is unfolding daily. And one last point. It seems there is much disillusion with both major parties. 2016 will demonstrate this with more micro parties and indies. Times are a changing, the world is changing the 2-party process seems ... a little irrelevant maybe?
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