Week 2 Reflective Piece

My positive thoughts about Politics as a subject disappeared this week. I can remember when it was first suggested I transfer from Cert IV to the Diploma I said 'Do I have to do politics and all that crap, I am too lazy'. The teacher said, 'it's not that you are lazy, it is more that it doesn't interest you'. True. Most of the time I don't even know which party is the current government. When it comes to voting time, I vote for which ever party is in at the time, so they don't spend shitloads of money reprinting letterheads and scraping gold letters off glass doors to mark their territory in their new office. A few people have commented that it is a bit negligent of me, not considering the various policies before voting, but most of the time the politicians are baffling us with bullshit rather than dazzling us with brilliance, so I don't think it makes a difference. Actually, this time I did take into consideration the size of one of the contender's ears before voting.

So today, we are given a newspaper article to read on means testing the private health insurance rebate. I am not sure if I was supposed to be outraged or interested. I have got used to not expecting benefits from the government. In 1988, when my ex-husband (truck driver) and I (secretary) bought our first house, we were not eligible for the first home buyers grant, apparently we earned too much. There was no baby bonus, we were not eligible for the old 'Child Endowment' payment, there was no paid maternity leave, paternity leave was unheard of and when I did return to work, we were not eligible for child care rebate. And when we sold the house during our divorce, house prices had dropped over those 8 years and we owed more than the house was worth. 

I am boring myself typing this - I remarked to one of my classmates that I would rather be at the dentist. Luckily we moved onto other more interesting things and my head stopped hurting, worrying about flat rates versus increasing rates etc.

So what did I learn today - I am not excited or passionate about politics - but if I really felt strongly about an issue, I could attempt to do something about it.

Compared to the end of last year, the class is double the size, the room has around 22 students and it's hard to hear sometimes. I remember that is how Joan Kirner got her start in politics, by challenging the practice of  overcrowded classrooms when she was in a school Mothers' Club and her kids were in classes of up to 40 students.

It is nice to know that we have the processes to oppose issues, but I see it as in my circle of concern, rather than my circle of influence.