Stephen Darby :ma_flag_aus:

@TheHolm
@Duenan
@Rory29
@danwritesbooks
https://mastodon.au/@Fury
@geekgirl
@unionagainstdhmo
@Zagorath
@MeanElevator
https://mastodon.au/@Heliograph
@eureka
@Philipnschofield
@caterinevauban
@Ilandar
@kudra
@Gorgritch_umie_killa
@milennialzero
@msdropbear42
@mediocratese
@timritchie

You hit the nail on the head. The anti-protest law was passed to protect business, at the expense of human rights https://www.hrlc.org.au/news/new-western-australian-bill-threatens-protest-rights

@TheHolm @MHLoppy
You’re protesting about this toot? That does not deserve a $20,000 fine and court silence order. Nobody was injured by the protests. Therefore they were peaceful.

@hanrahan @Ilandar
Contrast this with the old world where historically in britain, there were centuries when only landowners were allowed to vote. The industrial revolution saw new laws that allowed those with a certain acreage OR enough cash could vote. The system was horrifically skewed towards the wealthy. I can completely understand early Australian insistence that all adults vote and then extending it to include Aboriginal people in 1967. Nobody is excluded from contributing to legislation. At least we must all chose a party every four years. On the other hand- in the age of the internet - Why we aren’t voting online over party membership, platform and policy decisions beggars belief. There are attempts to make a difference. Both by direct action (XR as example) and indirect pressure https://ccl.org.au/

@naevaTheRat
I have been reading a little about the society of our primate relatives and whole-heartedly agree that our cooperative nature is innate. Stress can cause us to behave in more primitive ways, using only our lizard brain - we tend to think only of preserving our own vegetative functions. I think some people carry that level of trauma around with them.

@naevaTheRat
Thankyou. Your use of the the word anarchic makes a lot of sense.

@naevaTheRat Still getting my head around concept of anarchy. To some extent, it seems like the ultimate extension of ‘separation of powers’ in that decisions are decentralised. Not only to each individual, but each moment.

@naevaTheRat Not really familiar with the Zapatista movement. “Can you even fire the government?” Was your question. What is the point of having ideal governance if it can be fired? You are correct in that we vote seldom for a party rather than for policy. I am not sure anarchy is a great alternative

@naevaTheRat violent overthrow is one way of changing government. Conservative forces can also stage a coup. Once the new government has power, what then? Appoint ourself as the head of secret police. Then we are back at the start. Just different people being oppressed. I confess my outlook is far more menshevik and gradual. Apologist really. A gradual conservative coup seems to be under way in Australia.

@naevaTheRat democratic decision making doesn’t mean you all get what you want. To the extent that government is democratic - to that extent we submit ourselves to the will of the people. Quite often having to abide by decisions we don’t agree with. Often our elected representatives are Slaves to compromise and party policy.
I thought you could give an example of a government sized democracy doing better.

@naevaTheRat “Actual democratic institutions which work by direct representation”

…such as?

@naevaTheRat @Zagorath I think the Westminster system is designed for exactly that purpose. It was invented to separate powers and stop various denominations from flogging each other. Democracy is served when the greater number decide, even when they’re wrong.

@awwwyissss @SituationCake Mastodon is a white rose of sorts. There must be Australian security contractors scanning your posts. Keep up the good work!