[Peakoil] Majority Opinion (78% favour renewables)

[Adrian Whitehead]

Majority Opinion is not really that important.
 
An astute political player what is important is the opinion of the swinger
voters in marginal seats these are the people that need to be won over. 
 
Sadly rusted on voters don't matter, and safe seats don't matter.
 
Howard has been a master at this game, and governments who do it well can
keep them selves in power or win elections, i.e. Richardson with the
Franklin.
 
Poor players will often confuse their goal and make a mess of their own
politics, such as Biesly in 2001 election on refugees.
 
Adrian

   _____  

From: peakoil-bounces+adrian=ecoaction.net.au at act-peakoil.org
[mailto:peakoil-bounces+adrian=ecoaction.net.au at act-peakoil.org] On Behalf
Of Antony Barry
Sent: Wednesday, 18 January 2006 11:10 AM
To: Keith Thomas
Cc: ACT Peak Oil discussion
Subject: Re: [Peakoil] 78% favour renewables (in UK)



On 17 Jan 2006, at 9:27 PM, Keith Thomas wrote:


It would be nice to think that democracy in mass society would come up with
the best solution. That works OK for traditional politics, but not for peak
oil and climate change. It matters not a whit what the majority - or even
ALL - the people say or favour.



Politically it DOES matter what a large majority thinks. A government which
ignores strong public opinion risks being kicked out and it's actions
negated. Governments can lead but it's risky. The present Commonwealth
Government has taken a risk with Iraq, Telstra and industrial relations
presumably because it thought the majority opinion was wrong and people
would come round to their way of thinking. 

We want the government to take action to steer us away from the disaster
which peak oil will bring. To do so we need to bring more people to the view
that this is a problem which must be faced urgently.

Decisions such as the Gungahlin Drive Extension might not have been made if
the likely future of fuel supplies was considered.

At least Canberra planning now looks to be trying to keep development closer
and cutting back on continual sprawl.

Tony

phone : 02 6241 7659 | HYPERLINK
"mailto:me at Tony-Barry.emu.id.au"mailto:me at Tony-Barry.emu.id.au
mobile: 04 1242 0397 | HYPERLINK
"http://tony-barry.emu.id.au"http://tony-barry.emu.id.au




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