When I was in Year 11, I participated in a mock parliament. It was our first day as a group, nobody knew anybody and I was somewhat on the social outer anyway, so I found myself seated in the corner, as far away from the Speaker as you possibly can be.
I rose to make a speech. The poor Speaker, doing her best, announced “I recognise the member for… the member for… I’m sorry you’re too far away to read the tag and I don’t remember your name- the guy out the back has the floor!”
It’s a moniker I’ve liked ever since.
My parents taught me from a young age that ideas exist for people, not people for ideas. The ideas we have and the power structures they imply will build people up and they will tear people down. I don’t want to be loyal to a school of thought, a tradition, a political party or an institution. Blind loyalty produces unforeseen results, and those get people hurt. I want to follow the facts wherever they may lead, and present them as winsomely as possible. Maybe a voice out the back can carry a long way, even without a microphone.
This blog is a practice range for that. As my blogging grows you’ll probably find posts on practical philosophy, society, religion, books, education, politics, history, board games, movies, technologies and maybe hobbies like 3D printing or model railways. If we’re very lucky, you’ll find regular posts.
PS: As for the “boring” personal details: I’m a high school teacher from Western Australia in my mid-twenties. I became a teacher because I love seeing that light come on when someone “gets” something for the first time. Outside of work, I love reading, musing, strategy games both digital and traditional, and quiet days with friends.
The Guy Out The Back 
Hi Joshua, I met your Mum at a conference and she suggested I drop you a line. We are also a homeschooling family who are passionate about politics. Most Mums do craft and art, but for mental and emotional relief, I keep up with the ideas of Andrew Bolt and ABC website (for balance).
I am glad to know of a young man that values following politics, and I hope from time to time you are brave enough to engage people with this topic in depth; for I denounce the common adage that one should never talk about religion and politics. Indeed, they are the most important subjects.
Knowing about what is going on, enables you to use your precious vote well, before God. Also you can do a lot of lobbying on behalf of the disenfranchised; but beware the words ‘justice’ and ‘compassion’ are thrown around a lot; and you will need the Holy Spirit to discern. Not to mention, every issue usually has two very distinct viewpoints at least and I’ve been finding the word ‘fact’ can be quite loosely used. In my opinion, having a godly perspective on an issue also means that you have to have thought through implications for the budget, as misplaced generosity can have unforeseen consequences, sometimes decades later.
Last week I made numerous calls and sent heaps of emails to try to get better policy that might prevent asylum-seeker deaths at sea. Other topics that have called me to action are farmers being given a hard time with mining thust upon them, or their livelihoods being threatened with anti-clearing laws; and also the issue on the live-cattle trade.
I have found Christians can also use the biblical principle to ‘love your enemies’ in the political sphere. I have not been the victim of heinous crime, so I mean in a minor sense. If a politician ticks me off a bit, I find a reason to thank them when they do something good, or I defend them when someone is showing meanness to them, or if I debate someone with a different opinion, I try to be very pleasant and often refrain from a witty or poignant response just to relieve tension.
I believe God will use your life and honour your love of politics and how it affects people, regardless of whether or not you ever get elected a representative. (This is no easy task, we know of someone in our church who is very successful and would have made a great State MP, but the pre-selection was highly competitive, and for now he must be a bystander).
All the best Sue