Politics by and large are about values. When looking at political parties we make a decision mostly on the basis of what we as individuals agree is the best way forward. We look at a few of their policies and decide whether we believe they are the 'right' thing to do.
Unlike governments, our values don't change over time. I suspect this is why we find large numbers of people who will be loyal to their political party time and time again.
Today we will probably witness one of the largest losses the Labor government has ever had in it's history (that's the prediction). We have been bombarded with all the awful and costly failures of a 16 year Labor government on our TV's, in our newspapers and through our radio. I find it fascinating that our largest government parties have avoided positive campaigns but rather opt for a more negative approach by attacking the opposition. By doing so their argument tends to be 'vote for us, because they certainly aren't very good' as appose to 'vote for us, because we know what is right and believe in the same things as you do'.
The Labor government never intended to do a bad job in government. Underneath a group of pretty incompetent politicians are the values of a fair society. A society which gives people a fair go at work; a secure retirement; and low pollution for our future generations. These are values worth remembering well after the Labor government falls from power today.
As much as the Coalition government tells us that Labor has failed (and in recent times, they are probably right), I think it's important to reflect on a government which has been instrumental in building a great state. Labor opened the Opera House, put on the best Olympic Games the world has seen in 2600 years, cleaned up our iconic Harbour, built the Powerhouse Museum, the Conservatorium, the Wharf Theatre, created the New Year's fireworks, the Byron Bay Blues Festival, the extension of the Sydney Festival to the Western Suburbs, the Premier's Reading Challenge, the Eastern Suburbs railway, the Chifley Scholarships for trade apprentices, and declared 100 National Parks.
Under successive Labor governments, NSW became the most literate state, the second best educated, and Sydney the second best city to live in on earth. Quite an amazing record of achievements if you ask me.
It's fair to say that in recent times they have lost their effectiveness to govern NSW and we all look forward to the new government getting us back on the right track; but when I reflect upon the Labor government, I do support what it stands for and why it exists.
Today I voted for the Greens. I believe the Greens have similar values to that of the Labor government in wanting the best future for our country and I believe my values best align with them for now, but I have every faith in the Labor government finding their feet again and unlike a lot people in NSW I certainly haven't written them off.
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