(September 18, 2011 at 9:37 pm)KichigaiNeko Wrote:(September 17, 2011 at 11:43 pm)Justtristo Wrote: For instance despite opinion polls showing a clear majority supporting the legalization of same sex marriage. Reports from federal MP's who were asked by a federal parliamentary committee to "survey" their electorate about the issue. Most federal MP's came back with reports saying their electorates overall did not support same sex marriage.
I blame that on the "silent majority" being so apathetic and the religious folk being able to punch above their weight (as I described earlier) by sending shitloads of letters to federal MP's and Senators.
I am just as confused Justtristo! And I vote yet the "wrong party or legislation gets in" I am wondering if these "parliamentary committees" are just another way of syphoning off the public tax $$ and an exercise in creative accounting??
Well the commonwealth parliament website gives a good explanation of the purpose of parliamentary committees http://www.aph.gov.au/committee/index.htm
However in practice parliamentary committees don't work in that way. Also I do believe religious people form a important swing voting bloc, especially in the outer suburbs of bigger cities and the smaller cities. For example Labor right now according to opinion polls would poll a somewhat better if Kevin Rudd (an out and proud Anglican) than with the current Prime Minister.
I seriously believe we need binding citizens initiated referendums. If they were introduced, there would be no problem getting more than enough signatures needed to get a referendum held on legalizing the recognition of same sex marriages.
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