I have never been THAT political, my time at university was spent firmly in the middle between the "Young Liberals" economics students and the "Socialist Left" arts students. I voted, whoever won, won, and trusted that they would do the job handed to them by the people. The power of democracy.
However, sometimes I just get a bit fed up.
My gripe at the moment is with the Victorian State Government. Where do I start?
I think it was three years ago when I was sent a lovely little fine in the mail for doing 64kph in a 60 zone. $135 thank you. Speed cameras....yes they have their place, but the government's blind axing of the 10% speedo error margin down to only 3kph was ridiculous. It was almost like, despite the opposition to it, despite car manufacturers saying that their speedo error margin is 10% at best, they just went ahead and did it anyway. 64 in a 60 zone...man, look out, the road was straight, dry and it was 6.30 in the morning. I'd better look out before I wrap myself around a lamp post.
The next ingenious thing they did was begin trials on a new ticketing system for public transport. Now, I'm not talking taking an already working and proven system from another city somewhere, no, I'm talking sinking millions of dollars into a new ticketing system that is now running 2 years late. And instead of thinking 2 years ago, "hey, this isn't going to work, let's try something else", they didn't! The sheer stubbornness of sticking with it is extraordinary.
And don't get me started on Melbourne's public transport. Luckily I don't have to catch it, but poor Miss R does, and the tales of woe....where to start?? Actually, they could start by placing staff at each and every station. When I happen to catch public transport, I don't think I have ever paid for it. But if I knew someone was waiting at that little suburban station checking the tickets, then I would. But why should I if I can so easily get away with it?? A 2 hour ticket is $3.30 and an all day one is something like $6.00. I've done the maths. A ticket evading fine is $110, if you make 36 trips, and don't get caught, the fine has paid for itself. Lord knows I've taken more than 36 trips. Go me!
And the transport minister, despite 1000s of complaints a day made to her department, effectively showed little remorse saying that it wasn't her problem, but Connex's. So, what is it you actually do??
Oh yeah, she builds more roads....but oh no, we won't pay for it, you'll get tolled for using them. So the billions of dollars you are receiving from the federal government's GST is going where??
And now the state government are hell bent on building a desalination plant down in Gippsland. Despite all the opposition to it, despite them bullying protesters, despite the untold amount of damage they'll do to the local ecosystems of pumping hyper-salinated water back into the ocean, they'll just go ahead and do it anyway. How nice of them.
I just get the impression that they're losing touch with reality, the whole lot of them. But then, come next election, who do we vote for?? The other guy has the collective personality of a split pea, he has a weird, creepy stare that reminds me of Blofeld from James Bond, but with hair.
Just so fricken frustrating!! |
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