Why stop at just one postal survey when you can have five at least

Now that the precedent’s been set with the postal vote or survey or whatever on gay marriage, let’s see what else we can demand it for in the future.

And that’s the problem when you set a precedent – the expectation is that it will be available again and again.

Nobody says it’s a one off to survey our views on this matter or any other, so there’s really nothing that can stop us from demanding it for all sorts of issues.

We don’t want to go crazy like they do in America where they vote for just about everyone in public office, from a sheriff in a small town to judges in some places.

And in any case we are only talking about postal surveys not actual binding votes – you know, a bit of frivolity, really, to while away the time.

Maybe we the people can suggest topics we’d like to be surveyed on, if that’s not taking democracy too far.

I mean to say, just because the word democracy means government by the people and for the people doesn’t give us licence to go too far with this business.

But imagine a world when citizens can initiate not just postal surveys but actual votes or referendums on any number of topics.

If this postal survey is any guide, this would be a costly approach, but what the heck, it’s our money and we’ll spend it how we want.

If we don’t, the pollies will anyway.

Here is my Top 5 issues the people could decide through a direct vote or a postal survey:

Number 1. A royal commission into how much politicians cost us and how many are worth it.

Number 2. Right here, right now, a full audit into every MP’s citizenship status.

Number 3. Impose a minimum standard dress code in parliament, especially for the “unrepresentative swill’’ in the senate (Thank you, Paul Keating)

Number 4. Ban deficit budgets for ever. If we have to live within our means so should our politicians.

Number 5. That our very first president of our republic be an Indigenous Australian. I nominate Warren Mundine.