DEAR News Of The Area,

READERS of NOTA have probably seen enough of life to tell whether the country is heading in the right direction and hopefully have given some thought to the question “what sort of country are we leaving to our grandchildren?”.

We live with a variant of democracy, let’s say ‘democracy-lite’, where we all sometimes feel powerless, but we look overseas and comfort ourselves by saying “it could be worse!”.

The ‘Separation of Powers’ between the judiciary, parliament and the executive seems just a clever way to further concentrate power in the hands of elites.

Lobbying from interest groups, fees for face-time with politicians, and political donations are just some of the ways that ‘democracy-lite’ can be distorted.

The referendum on the ‘Voice’ is a rare opportunity for you to have a direct say.

The fact that there is no ‘plan B’ if the ‘NO’ vote wins is evidence that most regard this exercise as a mere formality.

I believe voting ‘NO’ on the ‘Voice’ is a chance to reset the conversation, which has been taken over by sentiment, activism, and propaganda.

Don’t think me uncaring – I have my own “message from the heart”, and perhaps you should too.

My hope is for a free, strong, happy, and fair nation not legally separated by race.

Everyone would have the right to celebrate their ancestry, religion, and culture, but being a law-abiding, productive Australian should be a primary goal.

The ‘Voice’ is all about separateness, not inclusion, and would act as a lobbying platform that benefits an interest group, in this case, based on ancestry.

We have seen what damage judicial activism can do with the ‘Wik’ and ‘Mabo’ High Court decisions.

The ‘Voice’ will just create a permanent opportunity for judicial and parliamentary mischief by those with agendas.

So, vote ‘YES’ if you are into risk taking that will leave most Australians including your grandkids diminished.

Vote ‘NO’ to stop messing with the constitution and send governments a strong message to take a different direction, with policies that benefit all Australians rather than a select few.

Yours sincerely,
Des FOLEY,
Coffs Harbour.