"The test of a democracy is not the magnificence of buildings or the speed of automobiles or the efficiency of air transportation, but rather the care given to the welfare of all the people." [Helen Keller, US activist and author, 1880-1968]
Gold Coast Votes
@goldcoastvotes.org
Promoting democracy by listening to the people. https://goldcoastvotes.org (formerly Voices of Fadden)
"Our nation is shaped by the constant battle between our better angels and our darkest impulses. It is time for our better angels to prevail." [Joe Biden, 46th US President, b. 1942]
"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time." [attr. to Abraham Lincoln, but more likely by Jacques Abbadie]
"There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion." [Lord Acton, English historian, 1834-1902]
Gold Coast Votes is a community group which aims to strengthen democracy by listening to the people https://goldcoastvotes.org/
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education." [Martin Luther King, Jr., US civil-rights leader, 1929-1968]
"Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind." [Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, musician, Nobel laureate, 1875-1965]
"We all too often have socialism for the rich and rugged free market capitalism for the poor." [Martin Luther King, Jr., US civil-rights leader, 1929-1968]
"The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the facts. They alter the facts to fit the views." [Dialogue in Dr Who, 'The Face of Evil']
The prevalence of mental illness is higher in more unequal rich countries. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevalence_of_mental_disorders [image:mental-illness-vs-inequality.jpg]
How does preferential voting work? Here's a data visualisation using recent elections that demonstrates the process. It shows Fadden, Moncrieff and McPherson electorates. https://goldcoastvotes.org/voting/preferential-voting/
UN Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water COVID-related waste has made things even worse for a multitude of sea creatures.
Real time US Debt Clock https://www.usdebtclock.org/ (notice the student loan debt!)
Great data visualization - Google searches by language (use Chrome browser) https://globe.chromeexperiments.com/search
Your chance of a heart attack is 3 times higher in the morning than the rest of the day. http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1825044,00.html
UN Sustainable Development Goal #13: Climate Action Much time has been lost. Maybe one day we'll get leaders who take it seriously enough and have the courage to make the necessary changes.
What are our aims at Gold Coast Votes? See https://goldcoastvotes.org/
UN Sustainable Development Goal #12: Responsible Consumption and Production We either make a decision to consume less now, or it will be forced on us later, when our clean air, water and soil are gone.
UN Sustainable Development Goal #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities "Sustainable cities" is an oxymoron in most countries. At least some are trying to design better sustainability, but in many cases, it's too late.
The word "decimate" is based on the number 10 (One in 10 mutinous Roman soldiers were punished by death.)
"Whenever two people meet, there are really six people present. There is each man as he sees himself, each man as the other person sees him, and each man as he really is." [William James, U.S. psychologist and philosopher, 1842-1910]
Upcoming Gold Coast Votes events: https://goldcoastvotes.org/events/
"Those who insist on the dignity of their office show they have not deserved it." [Baltasar Gracian, Spanish Jesuit philosopher, 1601-1658]
"My process is thinking ... thinking ... and thinking. If you have a better way, please let me know." [Hayao Miyazaki, Japanese animator, b. 1941] [image:miyazaki.jpg]
"The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it." [Neil deGrasse Tyson, US astrophysicist, b. 1958]
"The next time you feel the urge to procrastinate - just put it off." [John D. Rockefeller]
"First get your facts; then you can distort them at your leisure." [Mark Twain]
Who did Fadden, Moncrieff and McPherson electorates vote for in recent elections, and the Voice referendum? See this data viz. https://goldcoastvotes.org/voting/how-gold-coast-voted/
"The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple." [Oscar Wilde]