The Quiet Man

"The Quiet Man" remains one of my favourite movies. Featuring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara (what a great combination), way back in 1952, the story is of "the quiet man", who returns to his birthplace after he has accidentally killed a man during a boxing match. The movie is billed as a romantic comedy, but it is so much more than that.

The protagonist is Sean Thornton, who gradually learns the ways of the Irish life he has never known. During this process, he makes a number of mistakes, particularly with Mary Kate Danaher, who becomes his wife. These blunders are caused by his lack of local knowledge and as the movie progresses, he wises up and begins concentrating on what is really important. Thus, he is able to placate the fiery Mary Kate, win her back, use his fists only to silence her stubborn brother and alls well that ends well.

So what does "the quiet man" have to do with the reality of now? We have a federal election in ten days. There are those who have made up their minds, those who would rather cast a donkey vote rather than change their vote, those who will cast a donkey vote because they either have no idea or are "protesting" with their vote and those, who like "the quiet man" are listening, learning, asking questions, drawing conclusions based on knowledge rather than an open chequebook and really thinking about their votes.

I have been a swinging voter all my life. I come from a blue-blood Liberal background, which I discarded in contempt as a young adult to bring Bob Hawke in as Prime Minister back in 1983. But that action did not cast me into a Labor supporter-for-life either.

A long time ago, I had a very good relationship with my local state member, a Ms. Katie Hodgson-Thomas. She was a Liberal, but she cared about her constituents. She went in to bat for me against the Education Minister in order to lobby for appropriate aide-time for my son at school. She was compassionate, interested and involved. I voted for her at the following election. Some time later, I know she vanished from the state party and I assumed she lost her candidacy. Couldn't possibly have a parliamentarian who actually assisted a constituent.

Mr. Turnball has not demonstrated leadership. The mantra "jobs and growth", along with a decided lack of detail, perceived manipulation of the media and his government's failure to lift the economy for all Australians, has left me cold.

I am not entirely impressed with the Shorten alternative. Mr. Shorten has, in my opinion, performed far better than Mr, Turnball and his cronies, but I can't help wondering if he will uncross his fingers after election night. As many in the two main parties appear to do.

So, I am still swinging. I think I have more or less made up my mind, but I am receptive to further suggestion. And open chequebooks aren't going to cut it with me. I want to hear about actual plans, rather than political gobbledegook. I want to see integrity and compassion. I want Australia's politicians to change their attitudes towards us all. They are in government, not power. They are there to serve us, not visa versa. They need to look after the poor, the vulnerable, the unwell, the aged and the disabled. And for pity's sake, stop spouting the myth of full employment and introduce a living wage so that volunteering is recognised as legitimate work.

I am trying to be "a quiet man". Listen, learn, question, base my decision on knowledge rather than gimmicks.

If we all do that, we take back the power and politicians will no longer be our masters.

Oh, and I can't wait for this interminable election campaign to just be over!

Oh goody...

the two main players who want us all to vote for one of them...

how I feel as a voter...

how the two main contenders would like us to view them...

and who I'd actually like to vote in as PM.