IT HAS been said more than once this week that the system of democracy that has delivered Australia's future into the hands of just four men is a flawed one.
While it is true that the current state of political limbo we find ourselves in is a nuisance, we shouldn't blame the system for that _ for fear that we're all going to hell in a handcart.
This is only the second time in living memory that we've been delivered a hung federal parliament, but history _ particularly our early history _ is scattered with them (though the term wasn't used then).
Hung parliaments have been more prevalent across the country at a state level. Steve Bracks relied on independents to form government in Victoria after the 1999 election, while Nick Greiner in NSW did the same in 1991.
While we can argue about the success or otherwise of policies delivered at the time, we can't deny that life went on.
Meanwhile, a week after we went to the polls, it is still not clear who will form government.
It has been amusing to watch the sucking up (sorry, but there's no better term for it) of the major parties to the independents.
For the Liberal Party in particular this must be difficult. Its relationship with the independents has been fractured for a long time. Oakeshott, Katter and Windsor were all one-time members of the National Party, but quit after
becoming disillusioned with the Coalition's treatment of their electorates.
Andrew Wilkie perhaps holds an even greater grudge. Way back when he was an intelligence officer, the Howard Government accused him of leaking information on the War in Iraq. Good luck winning him over after that nasty experience, Mr Abbott.
Even if agreement is reached between these men and one of the major parties, we will likely be back at the polls ahead of schedule.
A second election held soon _ or even one held later _ will not change the result in Ballarat.
Labor's Catherine King holds the seat with a double-figure margin that will take the Liberal Party years to peg back.
It had all but given up on the seat of Ballarat this time around, preferring instead to concentrate its efforts _ and its resources _ on November's state election.
The contests for Ballarat West (Craig Coltman and Sharon Knight) and Ballarat East (Geoff Howard and Ben Taylor) will not be so one-sided.
Three months out from the election, both are too close to call.
Heaven forbid we have to go through this hung parliament rigmarole all over again.
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