Some advice for budding candidates
How the Ramsay By-election will be fought!
Years of experience in the political arena as one who won’t
lay down, be brought or compromise my values, to be known as one who exposes
the truth, corruption, deceit and dodgy practices has put me in a position to
truly understand how our democratic system works.
So why do I dare put forward my candidacy against Labors
safest seat in the state? The fact that the Liberals are so bloody useless to
even put up a candidate, and with a well known name in the area, would it be me
V Labor, hmmmm had to give that a try, there is no chance they could take me on
with live debate, nor on their performance record, so why not?
The media over the past 12 years or more have never covered
me as either a candidate or my exposes, exclusion of the occasional Today
tonight episode, or the budding new journo/radio compare that has seen merit in
what I have done or achieved.
In those few occasions over the years, the truth has slipped
out the tightening of the belts ensures they dare not make that mistake again,
with numerous writers sacked or moved on, and presenters warned in no uncertain
manner, some phoning me after quitting, others still use my information with
the proviso, my name is not included.
The only avenues left open to me, to either expose the truth
or inform the people, and even to try and create debate diminished to; The
courts, the internet, social networking, public rallies, power polls and
letterboxes.
The courts have shut me down, not even the law can help me,
proving an election dodgy with an outcome “Regardless of the conduct a general
election cannot be invalidated” then offers of money for the file to go away,
or proving a model of speed camera does not meet legislative requirements for
use, yet walking away the loser, will certainly keep me away.
Holding the largest rally in years to assist the most
vulnerable “Our disabled children” only to face the unique situation that no
media were allowed to attend nor cover the event, as had become the norm,
proved not even the most valid reason to stand in such a way, was worth pursuing.
The Internet remains open, even the hacking of my computer
at the start date of my election campaign, and in fact all my websites, was
only a 2 day silence, but having an entire by-election silenced by the media,
and any online comment regarding it shut down, is impressive work on their
behalf.
The threats by phone and email at the start of every
candidacy I have pursued, have become the norm, and even my wife laughs at them
now, and the legal attacks have stopped out of the shear fact, they have never
won against me.
I flooded the power polls with signs, and they were torn
down, and I expected that, so hit hard again, higher and bigger, again torn
down, so again this time with information rather than the usual “Vote for me”,
and with 5 days before the election, still have enough to replace many on a
daily basis, but will it be enough?
Proof of whom did it and where the shredded remains lay, was
of no interest even to SAPOL!
The letter boxes have
been covered, yet it seems even that was worthy of people ready to un-stuff
them for me, so my supporters and I hit the suburbs every night late to ensure
the greatest chance of our message getting out.
Now the really hard part is in-front of me, the dodgy election
process itself, the LDP are running to ensure Labor get over the line, not on
the streets, not in the media, or the power polls, by way of the word Liberal
in their name, with how to vote information that appears they are the Liberal
choice, yet preferring Labor over me.
My distain for the electoral system is very well known, and
my readiness to hold o account dodgy practices, just as highly regarded, so
the new hat in the dodgy ring, is the trialling of a new computerised voter
registration scheme, funnily enough in my by-election for the first time in the
states history, so maybe even if I can get the majority of voter support, even
that may not reward my hard work.
This is Democracy in South Australia; couple this with my
exposes of the electoral system and election conduct which show over 10% of the
vote can be fraudulent, amongst a huge list of other dodgy practices, and it is
clear why people steer clear of taking on the mighty 2 party system.
Peoples names will be missing of the electoral roll, ballot
papers will go missing, postal vote applications in their hundreds will turn up
in Labors party offices rather than the electoral commission, with a side serve
of misleading advertising and the usual false promises etc , all acceptable
practices in today’s electoral process.
“It is not those whom cast the vote, but those who count the
vote that decide” is a saying that goes back centuries, and is even more relevant
today, or as I would say “Money buys power” yet even that is debatable.
The moral of this story?
There is always a bastard like me who will never give up, I will keep
looking for the loop holes, learning their rules and finding away past, in the
sincere hope, that when I do, I can pass on the key to help even more annoying
honest people like me to improve the representation of the people, and restore
democracy to this one fine country.
For those lazy candidates with aspirations of becoming a
political representative, join the Labor party, do as you are told, and be
rewarded with a safe seat, and be ready to turn a blind eye and take plenty of
meds to help you sleep at night.
Mark Aldridge