How ethical are political parties?

Post by **weemadando** » 2007-05-23 04:30pm

Political donations, just who will accept campaign donations from who?

That's right - the sitting gov't of Australia accepted a donation from Al'Qaeda.
State parties accepted donations from the Ku Klux Klan and the Man Boy Love Association.

Says a lot doesn't it.

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2007-05-23 05:07pm

Wait, what? Where's the news link for the accepting of a donation from Al Qaeda?

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2007-05-23 05:08pm

I don’t see an article, just a link to the main page

Post by **weemadando** » 2007-05-24 06:56am

The latest episode its the political donations one that you want. But, the issue is that the video page hasn't been updated this season, but the main page still has all the links to online episodes.

Netko · Post by **Netko** » 2007-05-24 10:07am

Video doesn't work - seems it stealthily shuts down if you're not from Australia.

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2007-05-24 04:26pm

Oh well, in maintaining the topic I think the answer is no, political parties shouldn't be accepting "donations" from any special interest groups regardless of affiliation. When you have a system where you need to accept contributions in order to compete, corruption is basically guaranteed.

Post by **weemadando** » 2007-05-24 04:41pm

YouTube link until some 14 year old closes it down.

Netko · Post by **Netko** » 2007-05-24 05:48pm

Jihad on the ingrate that takes God's money and doesn't provide anything in return!

Now seriously, what can you say - political whoring at its best. Until such whoring moves from the domain of the comic shows and maybe a week of mainstream press on page 10 to the mainstream press hounding the politicos about it until they provide a proper explanation, give the money back and pledge never to take similar money plus the political hit it entails, no real reform will happen. While this is funny, we've had similar serious cases of donations from very dubious sources and it never damages the prospects of the politician taking it besides a footnote in the articles talking about financing of the various parties' campaigns when the next elections come knocking.

Post by **weemadando** » 2007-05-25 04:24am

That show, is the highest rating show in Australia on Wednesday nights - it even outrates House and Heroes. This is about as much exposure as you can hope to get.