Vote 1 social networking
I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas any more.
We’re living in the future, people. It’s easy to condemn social networking. The main offenders are usually disengaged neo-Luddites who can’t use it. But contrary to urban myth, it’s not just a Gen Y thing. Nowadays, you’re just as likely to find Nan on Facebook.
Word of mouth is a powerful thing. And social media just takes that to another level.
If I don’t like the surly queen at Coles, I’m might share that online. Others might retweet it to thousands. And this domino effect can polarise public sentiment in the millions.
Take politics, for example. The real debates are online. That televised snooze-fest was only made vaguely interesting by the witty tweets, right?
Polls canvassing Facebook ‘likes’ and Twitter followers currently have Labor in front, with the Libs and the Greens fighting for second place. Anti-campaign groups abound on Facebook.
Social networking humanises pollies. They become more accessible. And with the current political landscape boring us all to death; why ignore such a valuable platform for engagement? If they were cluey, they’d have aggressive online campaigns. Maybe even a flash mob. It’d go viral. The ‘new Julia’ could chillax and let technology do the rest, instead of kissing babies and losing sensible shoes.
Unlike KRudd and Obama, the Mad Monk and Gillard don’t seem to get it. Bob Brown appears to be the only one maintaining his online pages.
Someone else taking the online revolution by the horns is former police officer and openly gay candidate for Senator Online, Wes Bas.
“We currently have two parties who’ve failed to inspire,” he told SSO. “But SOL’s position will be shaped by the public, we’ll keep the government accountable through its term.”
What about our rights, I hear you ask?
“Senator Online will give the GLBT community the chance to vote on important issues. The GLBT voice is very strong and I’m confident they would gather enough support to ensure change in areas such as equal rights and gay marriage,” Bas said.
The first-ever online party is pretty novel stuff. On closer inspection, SOL would give us the chance to vote on every bill in the Senate. The candidate then represents our collective online voice. How cool is that?
Yes, we’re living in the future. The clear winner of modern politics is the internet.
Budgie-smugglers flash mob, anyone?
info: Visit www.senatoronline.org.au
Yep, what Wes said.
From what I can see and from my knowledge of Wes, SOL is non-partisan and we would have someone willing to represent our collective voice in the Senate – and the info regarding preferences is available on their website, as indicated above.
Cheers for the comments.
Cockatoo Smugglers suit Tony Abbott more than Budgie Smugglers as he prefers to smuggle larger these days. We can still be his parrots and parrot of his slogans if thats your style
http://senatoronline.org.au/faq#36
From the SOL website:
31. What was SOL’s 2010 federal election preference policy?
SOL is non-partisan. However, under the current Federal system we must give each party a preference; otherwise we would not get an above-the-line status on the Senate ballot paper.
Accordingly, for the upcoming Federal election after minor parties we will preference the same number of states to Liberal over Labor as Labor over Liberal.
How SOL allocates its preferences for each state will be determined by how these parties preference SOL.
36. Our 2010 preferences
As indicated in our preference policy in FAQ #31above:
“for the upcoming Federal election after minor parties we will preference the same number of states to Liberal over Labor as Labor over Liberal. How SOL allocates its preferences for each state will be determined by how these parties preference SOL.” We made contact with all three major parties and split our preferences between the majors as follows:
• NSW – Greens > Libs > Lab
• VIC – Lab > Lib > Green
• TAS – Green > Lab > Lib
• SA – Lib > Lab > Green
• QLD – Lab > Lib > Green
• WA – Lib > Lab > Green
For any minor parties or independents to have any chance – the minor parties MUST preference the majors (including the Greens) LAST.
The majority of the minor parties were contacted and we agreed reciprocal similar preferences (although some did not honour what they indicated).
We honoured all arrangements. Minor parties that we agreed to preference each other highly – were Democrats Carers and the LDP.
I can assure Alexia that I am not a Young Liberal disguised as a pink sheep. I have always been very open in my opinions on LGBT issues and that is that I strongly believe in equal rights for our community. Right now Liberal or Labor have made it quite clear that gay marriage is not on the agenda. Senator Online’s position on issues is delivered from the Australian public. If the LGBT community can garner enough support on the SOL website we would even introduce a private members bill. I don’t see many parties willing to go that far for our rights.
As far as our preferences are concerned we preferenced Labor and Liberal last in every state and alternated Liberal over Labor and so on to remain as nonpartisan as preferencing allows.
I get most of my news and updates directly FROM social media or VIA social media and enjoy the many opinions that come with it. Let us hope the majority votes in accord with the general online consensus… !
This sounds like a fabulous idea and I appreciate Wes Bas is a gay man with best intentions at heart, however, I am concerned as to Senator Online preferences…… I have heard it is The Liberals which would be a disaster in my eyes….. Does anyone know the answer to this????
Kudos for the article…. Interesting insight.
lollol Noooooo! Eeew no budgie flash mob lol
Mr Wes Bas is a young liberal disguised as a pink sheep, as James has highlighted in your letters section. A vote for Senator Online is not a vote for gay and lesbian rights.