Greetings avid reader. As you cannot help but notice, its election time again.
After years of lockdowns, floods and an inordinate run of public holidays, we would love to be spared the noise of hopeful politicians, yelling their virtues at us.
I know we need elections and love our democracy but as the representative to our business community, I can tell you that our tolerance for BS is already at alarming low levels.
I attended a ‘meet-the-candidates’ event for Forde hosted by our sister organisation, the fabulous Beenleigh-Yatala chamber of commerce where six of Logan’s most ambitious and, I suggest, most optimistic community members answered questions from the audience.
Some with elegance born of practice, others regurgitating a party line that was less answer and more slogan.
Sadly, we live now live in an Instagram world where instant images, hash tags and sound bites are the norm for communication.
What is missing from this format, where there are six answers to the same generic questions is the understanding of informed probing.
Keep an eye out for any meet the candidate functions and see for yourself the nine (yes.. 9) and six candidates for Rankin.
As well as their policy, ask them about their history in leadership positions. Would you want to be represented by someone who agrees with your sentiments but has no leadership experience?
Even if they get elected how will they effect change without diplomacy, leadership and a skin as tough as old leather.
Sadly, the mainstream media seems to lack either the time or inclination to dig into some of these political hopefuls.
Our system is designed to allow for options and every politician started somewhere but the last thing we need now is a radical local firebrand who hasn’t the faintest idea of what the job entails.
