The Apathetic Country: Why Ignorant Voters Dominate Australian Politics

Abstract

Intro -- Title Page -- About the Author -- Dedication -- Copyright Information © -- Acknowledgement -- Introduction -- Where Do the Numbers Come from? -- Overview -- Chapter One Democracy: A Long and Glorious History? -- The Long and Winding Road to Political Inclusion -- Chapter Two Who Gets to Vote in Australia? -- Our First Election -- Federation? What Federation? -- Chapter Three Are We Interested in Politics? -- '95 Per Cent Vote'-Yeah, Right -- Informal Votes don't Count -- Apathetic Donkeys -- Would We Vote If Not Compelled? -- Hands up Those Not Interested in Politics -- Cooking, Dancing, Footy, then Government -- Chapter Four What do We Know About Politics? -- Actually, Not Much! -- Chapter Five Voter Shortcuts -- Bogans Versus Hippies -- Hanson the Leftie -- Kyoto Protocol? I'll Have the Sushi -- Budgie Smugglers, Strip Clubs, and Gastric Bypasses -- In Tune with Voters -- Food, Sports and Fashion: Disaster or Success? -- Chapter Six Who's Politically Apathetic and Why? -- Young, Uneducated, Poor and Rural -- Other Socio-Demographic Factors -- Too hard, Can't Trust them, Got Better Things to do -- The System's Broke -- Chapter Seven Ignorant Voters Decide Who Governs -- A Few Votes Either Way -- Donkeys Decide Who Wins -- Who did I Just Vote for? -- Joke Parties -- The Joke's on Us -- Swinging Voters are Kingmakers -- Radical and Random Swings -- Chapter Eight Broader Consequences of Political Ignorance -- Targeting Uninterested Voters -- Great Big Taxes -- Labor Hits Back -- Scary Different People -- The Right Play Harder -- Economic Lies -- Advertising Manipulation -- Our Money-Their Lies -- Alluring Catch Phrases -- Just do Something! -- Media Distortion -- Sex Sells -- Murdoch's Gift to the Nation -- Bushfire Manipulation -- Voting Against Your Own Interests -- Chapter Nine Democracy Under Threat -- Chapter Ten Solutions.