Just like a Festivus for the rest of us, I think it is time Australia held a referendum. Here are the things I am putting on the paper - because while we are all there in the polling booths, we may as well get a few divisive issues done and dusted at the same time. But first, a note. There are so many things that politicians are going to have a hard time coming out and supporting because everything now is so... well... political. Say the wrong thing, and it get's splashed over mainstream media, Twitter and Facebook - then the opinion polls flog you, and it's all downhill from there.
The funny thing with this is, many of these divisive issues are likely to receive support ... if put to the general public. You have to take religion out of it too. These are issues that ultimately, boil down to the happiness and health of people, and why shouldn't we have them? I'm not saying that once the vote is in, and assuming the vote is in the 'let's change' column, that everything changes as of that day, with no supporting legislation. But I do think that issues that contribute to our happiness ought to be put to the public. And many of these, if passed, would bring a boom to the economy.
These really are issues of public health - each and every one of them - and changes to them can impact a person's social, mental and physical health - even Euthanasia, where the ability to control one's method of dying can bring immense relief to sufferers of terminal illness.
Same Sex Marriage (P.S - Go Ireland!)
Euthanasia
Legalisation of (Or decriminalisation of) certain illicit drugs, eg Cannabis
Organ donation (Opt out instead of opt in)
Becoming a Republic (Which personally I do not support - I certainly understand the argument for it - it is a strong argument, but I love that we have some tiny ties to the fascinating history of the British Monarchy - but that is the point of a referendum - some of it you will be for, some against)
What would you add to this, internet?
No comments:
Post a Comment