Set default fonts and other properties

I want to set the default properties of text blocks. While this post (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3932862?start=0&tstart=0) addresses font properties, I'm also interested in specifying that text blocks are, for example, left- and top-justified by default. Can I do this?

Also, the menu choices mentioned in the referenced post are not enabled when I try to access them. How are they enabled? At the time I tried, I have a text block in a master page selected.

TIA,

David