After blogging the last election fairly comprehensively, I’ve really backed off from blogging parliamentary politics lately. I know I’ll get back into it, but I’ve needed a break.
The good people at GetUp, however, have been indefatigable, holding meetings of members and other interested people which have been nominating and discussing and voting on a People’s Agenda for Parliament 2008.
I was really impressed by GetUp’s activism in the last election. Apart from the undeniable impact of their many polling booth volunteers, I particularly liked their How Should I Vote? online quiz initiative, which they wish to extend to upcoming State elections, their Grassroots Action program (of which the ‘Vision GetTogethers’ which resulted in the People’s Agenda were part), and their PromiseWatch site.
Together, we showed last year the impact that a non-partisan, independent organisation can have in putting issues on the political table, from David Hicks to climate change to Indigenous health.
This year is every bit as critical a moment in our nation’s history as last year was, as our new government gets its bearings and decides exactly how ambitious it’s going to be. We want to be there every step of the way – helping you support the forces of progressivism, push back against the forces of conservativism, cajole the fence-sitters – whatever it takes to hold our politicians accountable for building the Australia you’ve told us you want. (emphasis in original)
Because GetUp accepts no political party or government funding, they need donations to keep these programs going and fund further initiatives. I’m going to give them some. If you can afford it, I encourage you to do the same.
Categories: Politics, Sociology, technology
Hoyden About Town 
The Getup Refresh conference after the election was an exhilarating experience. Not many Gen X & Y members were there but it was in Sydeny on a Friday and Saturday. The assembled talent was amazing. The readiness of people like Bill McHarg to take a stand was inspiring. The JH Ladies’s Auxillary Fan Club showed that it is possible not only comment the political process but also to become the story. Video makers like Cyrius01 and DanIlic gave the lie to the perception that Youtube has no quality. Their political satires are extraordinary.
Many Getup members are far from non-partisan, me especially. Yet the issues-based approach, rather than party or personality, offers hope for progressive politics in Australia. Getup’s evolution during a Labor government will be interesting and challenging.
Kevin Rennie’s last blog post..Heffo Biffo
I would expect that. The organisation is non-partisan, not the members. As you say, it’s the issues-based approach which is the key.