As we edge closer to the federal election, Australia, like most advanced middle-ranking economies is facing some headwind challenges that require government intervention (RBA), in our case rising inflation. This in turn will mean raising interest rates.
For most people, these developments will have far reaching consequences, in deciding which political party or independent candidate to vote for that represents their interests and the nation, amongst the blather of nonsensical promises and falsehoods, each from someone pushing their own agendas.
There is a smorgasbord of electoral issues that are confronting voters, all of which have degrees of relevancy and importance, while others are pure idiocy.
Without any doubt, the unravelling climate emergency should be front and centre in most enlightened people’s minds.
On a personal day to day level, the necessities of affordable housing and rents, rising energy costs (fuel, electricity), and food top the lists, as rising inflationary pressures will only cause businesses to pass on costs to consumers in our market-driven economy, where the business model is genetically written for continuing increases in profitability.
On the other side of the ledger are stagnant, flatlining wages for working people, many of whom are in debt and have mortgages.
It should be abundantly clear that the current LNP federal government has been an enthusiastic advocate for businesses to expand and prosper at the expense of working people, who don’t share in the wealth they created, by legislating hostile anti-union laws, and penalties for unions taking certain types of non-sanctioned industrial action. It is a well-established fact that there is a correlation between a high-density unionised workforce and high wages.
This is by design, is not some aberration of justice, and goes some way to explaining the widening gap in social/income inequalities, and the changes to the workforce demographic with casualisation and underemployment, as insecure work becomes normalised.
We need to seriously take stock in making well thought out decisions as to who are worthy of our vote this election, besides considering our own self-interest and hip pocket.
This election will define our collective futures and has a lot riding on it.
To vote conservative is a vote against life and the planet.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
