Rudds in Howard out.

[kawasuki]

Both governments will f*** us over ? Which ones useing K.Y. thats the question? maybe you could sell them some militec ray ?

Please explain K.Y.
Sell them Militec Good idea, then they could slip it into us, and wont hurt as much................

[Rev]

Now we're gonna get "once was a commie" as minister for I/R

They're gonna re instate unfair dismissal laws so useless bludgers can get away with murder then sue the boss for unfair dismissal when they finally use up their 3 strikes. The usual payout was around $30,000 & I believe "once was a commie" was actively involved in prosecuting such cases in a previous role....

Now we got wall to wall red raggers....with the commo factories (schools & uni's) churning new ones out by the hour...


Socialists never learn....................Winston Churchill lead the poms & defeated Hitler & what was his reward ?

The ungrateful deluded slobs voted him out the first opportunity they got


What the hell.............we needed change thrillseekers

[hawkwind]

Many boards have a rule or request members from refraning from political comments and for good reason , I see the redneck ,rightwing ,facist arsewipes are posting their union bashing ,socialist hating claptrap already , sore losers ,I suggest you find a big rock and crawl under it , hopefully labor will be true to its socialist roots and dismantle Howards horrors and put this country back in the hands of the unions and workers again ,but somehow ,sadly i doubt it
Im proud to be an active unionist & socialist

[1hotbusa]

OK, my turn

Since I have been in Australia, I have only known a Howard Coalition government and a State NSW labour government.

1/ The State government in NSW should never have won office. It did so by waving WorkChoices around and the appropriate scaremongering did the rest. One day somebody will wise up and put Bob Carr before a Royal Commision to ask where the money from the housing boom went, because it sure as hell didnt go into infrastructure.

2/ When I came to Australia petrol was 90c a litre. Now it's 1.40 approx today. This is the result of free market economics.

3/ The tax rate here is above 40c per dollar for wage earners in the top bracket. How many of us make it into this bracket. (NZ has two brackets, 21.5c and 33c / dollar).

4/ How many of us get all of their medical paid for by Medicare when something happens and you need surgery? With a tax rate above 40c why does anybody need health insurance? And then you are left out of pocket because the insurance does not cover the gap and neither does Medicare.

5/ Whilst I would be the first to admit that there are welfare freeloaders there are other people working two jobs on minimum wage, paying heaps in childcare etc, getting slugged $1.40 a litre to drive 45 minutes to work in the Bommadore. There are people out there genuinely struggling who are not assisted in any way. My observation is that Australia has a society that has a "If you fall behind you are left behind" message about it, very similar to the United States of America.

6/ No matter who is in government a lot of the things that have happened to create a "prosperous" economy have occurred globally. China is emerging as an industrial power and is consuming coal at a huge rate. Australia is digging itself up and selling itself to China in the form of coal and minerals. None of these things last forever. This is only one example.

7/ Personally I believe that Australia needs to move away from the "Great Australian Price Gouge" where everything just gets dearer with no improvement in return to the population. I do hope that while economic responsibility is maintained , some social responsibility returns to society, and we all remember what a "Fair Go" means.

8/ These are just my views and observations of Australian politics. And yes I am going to buy a new Motorcycle. Thanks John Howard

[simmo]

There are three things in life we all will never agree or win
1 Politics
2 Religion
3 Woman folk





Well we could always sell parts of Australia to China soon

[LOAFIE]

There are three things in life we all will never agree or win
1 Politics
2 Religion
3 Woman folk





Well we could always sell parts of Australia to China soon

Yea all that pesky Copper

[simmo]

see you Friday sucker

[1hotbusa]

There are three things in life we all will never agree or win
1 Politics
2 Religion
3 Woman folk





Well we could always sell parts of Australia to China soon

But we can all agree that copper bike = yuk!!!

[The Ant]

Rudds in ...Howards out!

The whole planet is doomed!!!

[tenacious]

Better lock in your Mortgage Rate as if the wages go up so will it to offset them.

I find it interesting Australians voted out a Government that has put the country back in the Black financially on the premise its time for a change!

10-15 years ago it was a rarity someone bought a new car or bike, now everyone seems to be buying them, young and old.

Lets see if he can deliver on his promises, I expect there will be a few he cant!

Hey mate I don't think people are buying new cars and bikes because the country is doing well - I think it may have a little something to do with bank and lenders throwing finance at them left right and centre.

If I was to guess how many people are buying these new vehicles outright (i.e. with their own money) I would say maybe 15% tops ?
The rest are taking out loans to pay for them.

[BUSGO]

Many boards have a rule or request members from refraning from political comments and for good reason , I see the redneck ,rightwing ,facist arsewipes are posting their union bashing ,socialist hating claptrap already , sore losers ,I suggest you find a big rock and crawl under it , hopefully labor will be true to its socialist roots and dismantle Howards horrors and put this country back in the hands of the unions and workers again ,but somehow ,sadly i doubt it
Im proud to be an active unionist & socialist

Exactly the response we have learnt to expect from an active unionist.
Let's hope the party leadership can act responsibly for the duration of their term and tackle the job of "fixing" the country.

[1hotbusa]

Rudds in ...Howards out!

The whole planet is doomed!!!

I think George W Bush is seeing to that.

[Volvi]

cummon guys lets not get personal, we all have a right to support right or left and can express our opinions as to why. If ones to argue then debate the issues not the person whether hes a slag or not.

Now I'll put my 2 bit in to. Ive always been a liberal voter and generally speaking always on the right sometimes even far right on some issues. However Ive seen here in Oz the middle class if I can use that term, dissapearing. I remember in the 70's allbeit many strikes, a husband working full time with occasional overtime with the wife not necessarily having to have to work but if she did it was for icing ontop of the cake (the second car, the better holiday etc.). In other words 1 breadwinner was suffecient to get by. But thats no longer the case. If you dont have 2 full time breadwinners you may not be able to make ends meet these days. That never used to be the case in "the lucky country".

Ive seen some individual rights erode away in the workforce. Ive seens wages supressed un-proportianately compared to the 70s and 80's. and still taxed highly. So after 20 or so years it has come down to the 'haves' and the 'have nots' with a much smaller middle ground then there used to be.

I think the liberals went a bit overboard in their Industrial relation reforms, feeding the bussiness communities to greater heights at the expense of the little man just doing his job. And Im no unionist, never have been. But historically recognising their many acheivements gained in the past on behalf of the supressed. But they overly abused their power too especially in the 70's in my opinion, thus forcing other elements to weaken them to the weak state theyre in today. They overplayed their hand.

For the first time in my life I voted Labour and for Kevin Rudd. I went against my grain. Why? To me Howard not that I saw him as a bad PM but that he was old school, he exceeded his time. I saw in Rudd a new change, a new generation with new ideas. No not back to the union days as the liberals tried to paint them. But with a vision for the 2nd millenium (2000's) as against the old school of the 1900's of Howard. It remains to be seen whether the man can be different and bring about change and good change at that. I believed the guy. I see an articulate and intelligent being a far different grade of what used to be from the rank and files of the labour party and I for one am willing to give him a go.

Take us into the 21st century Mr Rudd whilst looking after all Australian citizens and their future security, not just the select few. (Peter Costello, never seemed to me to be the man to be able to do that)

[1300hayabusa]

[/size]

labour state and federal govt.If they wind back work place reforms we,ll need more border security to keep everyone out.Interest rates will go up,unemployment will rise as everything is privatised,petrol will rise as the dollar falls,more will default on there housing loans as house prices fall .Well done australia.Judge a govt on unemployment rate,national debt and interest rates(to some extent).What fed labour govt has provided a surplus.Promise the world and shaft you with bills passed on christmas eve.Seen it all before.

OPPPS IM NOT SURE IF I AM STILL IN AUS ?????? BUT TO MY LAST RECOLLECTION THESE THINGS ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW ARENT THEY??????? HIGH INTEREST RATES,PRIVITISATION,PETROL PRICES THROUGH THE ROOF,HOSPITALS PRACTIALLY SHUTTING DOWN OR KILLING PEOPLE !!!!!!BUT HEY LETS CONVENIENTLY FORGET ALL THAT AND ANALISE WHAT SPAMANGLENN SAID!!!!!!! GOD FORBID THAT HOUSE PRICES SHOULD GO DOWN AND MAKE IT AFFORDABLE TO THE REST OF US f***kers.IM QUITE CONFIDENT SPANGI THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE DONT AGREE WITH YOU CONSIDERING THE WEEKEND RESULTS.SECONDLY JOHN HOWARD WAS A TREASURER IN PREVIOUS GOVERMENT(correct me if im wrong) AND HE MADE A BLUNDER OUT OF THAT.MY POINT IS THAT KEVIN RUDD IS A FRESH FACE AND LETS NOT FORGET THE FACT THAT THE WIN WAS NOT A CLOSE ONE BUT MORE OF AN ASS WHIPPING BY ALOT OF SIMPLE HARD WORKING AUSSIES.I HOPE AUSTRALIANS DONT FORGET THAT
1: MR.HOWARD TOOK THIS COUNTRY TO THE MIDDLE EAST WAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON BECAUSE PETROL IS STILL ON THE INCREASE AND APART FROM BROWN NOSEING BUSH THE REASONS GIVEN ARE LAME,LIES AND INCONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY OUR INVOLVMENT.
2:BACKDORRED THE SIMPLE EMPLOYEE WITH THE HUSH HUSH AGREEMENTS
3:WHEN ASKED BY TRACY GRIMSHAW(CURRENT AFFAIR SHOW) ABOUT THE INTEREST RATE THE BABBON DID NOT EVEN GET THAT RIGHT. CONSIDERING HE HAS BEEN SHAFTING HIS CITIZENS WITH THESE RATES THE LEAST HE COULD DO IS NOT TO BUNGLE IT UP ON NATIONAL TELEVISION.
4:FINALLY DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID AND VERY ADAMANTLY I MUST SAY (ON NATIONAL TV) THAT HE WILL NOT IMPLEMENT THE GST??????? KEEP THE INTEREST RATES LOW BLA BLA BLA..... WELL WELL THOSE WHERE BIG FAT PORKYS.
TO SUMMARISE: HE LOST HIS CREDIBILTY BY LYING TOO MANY TIMES AND I THINK THE PUBLIC IDENTIFIED THAT.IF DICKHEAD COSTELLO TOOK OVER HE COULD HAVE SAID "THAT WAS THEN AND THIS IS NOW SO I DONT HAVE TO MAKE GOOD ON WHAT HOWIE SAID".REMEMBER JOHN HOWARD KNEW THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE TO FACE THE MUSIC CONSIDERING HE WILL RETIRE SO HE COLUD HAVE PROMISED US THE WORLD AND STILL WE COULD HAVE GOT NOTHING.
IF PEOPLE WATCHED RUDD ON ANY TV COVERAGE YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE THAT THE MAN IS HIGHLY INTELLIGENT HAS K/CARISMA AND WELL LIKED BY THE YOUNG(OUR FUTURE).WE ALL HAVE TO GIVE THIS BLOKE A TRY AND STOP LIVING IN THE PAST.IM PRETTY SURE THAT KEVIN RUDD WILL HOPEFULLY LEARN FROM LABOURS PAST MISTAKES . IF THAT DOES NOT MATERIALISE THAN YOU HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO RE-ELLECT SOME OTHER little pee wee HEAD TO RUN THE SHOW.THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN THE AUS PUBLIC GROW A POLITICAL SPINE AND DISCARD A GOVERMENT NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE ECONOMY IS DOING ON THE SIMPLE BASSIS OF TRUST. I BELIEVE THAT WORK CHOICE AGREEMENTS,PETROL PRICES,INTEREST RATES,TERROR TACTICS,INTERNAL LEADERSHIP DISPUTES,LIES AND WAR WHERE ALL FACTORS TO THE DEFEAT OF THE LIBERAL PARTY.

P.S
LETS NOT FORGET THAT MEMORABLE HANDSHAKE BETWEEN HOWIE & MR.COSTELLO WHERE HE NEARLY PULLED THE BE -JESUS OUT OF HIM .YOU GUYS RECKON THERE WAS SOME ANAMOSITY OR WHAT??????

[BLACKZOOK]

Whoa....

Some short memories out there.

The situation that bought us the Labor party came about as a result of the industrial revolution some 100 years ago, or thereabouts, when the majority of the work force was totally dependant on the Government and large industry for its livelihood. Yes, there was a place for unions and the benefits that they bought to the workforce who were often treated as slaves. Those days are long gone buddy.

The large corporations that ran the empire are now replaced by masses of small to medium businesses that employ the majority of those people in more technically skilled roles.
It is a competitive world where small businesses compete to create an economy driven by customer demand. Gone are the business empires that employed hundreds of thousands of employees doing mundane work that the unions represented.


To answer your questions,
1. Since when has the country been a business with a requirement to make a profit?

Of COURSE the country is a business - just as every household in it is a business. How the hell else do we make ends meet on this planet of limited resources. Our country has to compete with the rest of the world. The coalition has placed Australia at the forefront of modern economies by exploiting the natural resources available to us as a country.
On the other hand, the previous Labor government was happy to simply sell everything and anything to the highest bidder, take the money, split it up and spend it on something that would make the people happy. No need to plan for the future mate - She'll be right.

2. what cost/damage to social infrastructure (hospitals/education/social services) has been done to get us "in the black"?

The social services you refer to are the responsibility of the STATE governments - yep LABOR - not the federal government. You see along with the GST that was introduced to recover the country from the financial ruin bestowed upon us by the social welfare big spending and no forward planning of the LABOR government, the GST income is divided and redeployed to the states for the purpose of providing those services. The enept money management of the state treasuries blows their share on huge beurocratic empires and the employment of an endless stream of consultants to try and handle the constant reinvention of the wheel to try and get public services to function properly and economically.


3. Only in the lead up to this election did the coalition start talking about spending money on these services.

You are correct, just before every election the Coalition takes some of the surplus that they created out of the bucket to give back in the way of reductions in taxes and other public spending. This PORK BARRELLING as it is often called is planned and calculated to win back those voters who fail to recognise the good work being done to make the country a better place to live and need a reward to keep the status quo. It appears that after 5 or 6 consecutive reductions in income tax, huge leaps forward in the area of superannuation benefits for every one, not to mention the baby bonus that has driven the country to a population growth that hasn't been seen since the 50's and 60's, the majority of the "downtrodden" workforce is not happy that they have gotten themselves into debt by overspending and have decided that a change of government is the answer.

4. It's also hard to suggest that people who can afford to buy new motorbikes/cars represent a true sample of the Australian demographic. There's just as many people out there that can't even afford to put food on the table for their kids......

Yep, the hard drinking, smoking, gambling drug addicted ferals that live in every neighbourhood. The welfare is drying up because of crackdowns on welfare cheats and the creation of an environment of nearly full employment where people are actually required to have a job to make a living.

The reductions in income tax levels over the past 10 years or so have created a position where you actually get value for working hard and an incentive to make a better life for yourself and your heirs.

As I said in the earlier post, just watch the new government turn it all around and rape the surplus created to enhance the future for all Australians.

Now, I step down from the soapbox.

Beautifully put Ray - well said mate. People have very short memories. Not that long ago interest rates were at 17-18% and my family was eating lentils for dinner.