100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Ashley: Robinson: our voting process leaves a lot to be desired

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Hospital reopens with enhanced services after $10m revamp

A private hospital on the Sunshine Coast has reopened after a $10 million transformation. The Caloundra Private Day Hospital now boasts three state-of-the-art operating theatres More

Why this retro truck is selling 36-cent ice creams

A retro ice cream truck with retro prices will help locals beat the heat at a Sunshine Coast beach this weekend, helping a charity More

Photo of the day: summer stunner

Helen Browne was ready to capture a stunning start to the day at Mooloolaba at just the right time. If you have a photo of More

$450 a day: wave of cruise ships welcomed

Five cruise ships are set to visit the Sunshine Coast over the next two months, bringing about 4000 passengers to the region. Their arrival off More

Jane Stephens: give nutrition a sporting chance

Move. Sweat. Play. Enjoy. Now would you like fries with that? Junk food attached itself, sucker-like, to sport a couple of generations ago. I well recall More

Men’s health beach gathering shut down over permit

The leader of a weekly beach gathering that has been shut down because it does not have a permit hopes to engage with Sunshine More

I was walking my trusty sidekick George the other morning and, as we passed a job site, I could hear the well-informed, dulcet tones of MIX FM’s Caroline Hutchinson banging on about how much better our political system is compared to the US and that our voting system is the envy of the world.

Her speech stopped me in my tracks, so I could get a handle on her reasoning, and I stood there that long that I looked like I was trying to get a job.

On her last point, on the voting system, I beg to differ.

I am guessing she didn’t include local government voting systems as I am still mentally scarred over the March election.

The voting was best described as Third World, with queues, running out of ballot papers and staff having no idea.

If it was Third World, there would have been riots.

Election signs during the Sunshine Coast Council elections earlier this year.

In Australia, it seems apathy can sometimes be a good thing.

It got me thinking, though.

Are we that different to the US?

I have been amazed by how many people I know – some very successful – who are Trump supporters and get quite indignant with me when I mention what a lunatic I think he is.

Their stock response is that it is not him they like but his policies and his party’s policies.

Now, as I mentioned, these people are all way smarter than me (as most are, you say) but they are talking about a bloke who nearly caused a civil war when last defeated, and let’s not get into his court appearances.

But, apparently, he has good policies?

Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.

Where I disagree with Caroline is, are we actually that different to the US?

You only have to look at the upcoming federal election in 2025 and look at the history on the Sunshine Coast of voting conservative to see what we are prepared to put up with from a party because apparently we support a majority of its policies.

Wow!

For decades, we have been treated like the naughty boy in the corner: just sit there, shut up and don’t complain – we will tell you what to do.

Former Member for Longman Mal Brough may have been the exception.

The rest have been underwhelming but we put up with it.

I must say, though, Trump does have one interesting idea: he has 10,000 people ready to go into government jobs so he can get his policies through.

Is that clever or is that a dictatorship?

Folks, I hope you enjoy the policies and, closer to home, it could even be nuclear.

Ashley Robinson is Chairman of Sunshine Coast Falcons and Sunshine Coast Thunder Netball and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share