Random Ramblings

Ok, so I’ve tried to stay out of the debate regarding the filter but I’ll say it now. I’m not a huge fan of the idea.  That’s for the same reasons as the rest of those opposed (will slow the internet down, overblocking will occur, a form of censorship etc).

But I’m noticing a worrying trend with the government whenever a concern is raised about the filter.  Rather than try to respond directly to the concern, the person involved will dodge the question and spin the same old rhetoric about the benefits of the policy.  There isn’t even the slightest hint of the person addressing the concern.  Senator Conroy is the worst offender and in question time he repeatedly runs out of time when spinning the same speech. However when a concern was raised by a constiuent within the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s own electorate (see letter to Mr Rudd here, and the response here) , the staffer alsofailed to respond directly to the concerns but at least they acknowledged them, saying “I am aware that the proposal for ISP filtering has has attracted some criticism from those, like yourself, who are concerned that it will lead to censorship of the internet.”  The letter then continues with 2 or so pages of the same old fluff we’ve all heard before.

My issue with the whole thing is that the government is supposed to be elected to govern by the people, for the people.  The ALP has stated that the filtering proposal was part of their platform for the election, and therefore since they were elected into government, they have a “mandate” to implement their policies. I’m not aware of the filtering policy being publicised much, if at all, so therefore, does the government really have such a mandate to implement their policy?  If the general public are raising concerns, then the government should, as part of their responsibility to act in the interests of the people in their electorate(s), address them and not await the results of a trial of such policy before commenting.  It’s such an obvious abuse of power, and it’s not what I want the government that I elected to represent me to continue doing.  It could be said that both sides do abuse this power, but in reality they should be listening to the people they have been elected to serve, and not push their own agenda, regardless of any such percieved mandate.