A general strike over what amounts to merely a tough budget - particularly as many of its more controversial provisions are unlikely to get through the Senate even after it reconstitutes on July 1? Talk about old fashioned. This writer is leaving in a dream world of worker-student direct action that vanished decades ago... He is best ignored.

We need to rid ourselves of more Government workers especially teachers whose bludging incompetence is the reason Australia is so woefully educated.
Take money away from idiot Universities offering courses in how to lounge around and kid yourself you are becoming better educated.
We really do need to address what work there is available and apportion it properly not make up work rubbish.
We should be investing in assisting our country and less fortunate Australians not enriching the public service and politicians with ever better benefits.

There is never a case for a general strike, unless of course the aim is to recruit support for the other side!
Besides, the real power lies in the ballot box, and recruiting support for your principles there!
Unless of course, you don't believe in democracy, and the power of the vote, but particularly blocks of votes, in critical seats.
You need to do something with the stuff between your ears, besides burning it with unchanneled outrage! Think!
One recalls the Obama campaign and the way he was able to galvanize young people with his, change we can believe in, message.
The only problem, he just didn't follow through, but instead, allowed himself to become a captive of "Washington"?
Cooperative capitalism comrade, not more of the shoot yourself in the foot, electoral messaging.
And your side of politics needs something besides NOOO, if your are to sway support in your direction.
You also need a believable cogent story, what you would do different, and improve the lot of everybody, not just a shrinking support base.
The WA Senate elections ought to inform you, while Abbott and Co may well be losing support, it is just not flowing towards Labor!
Who can't seem to do something smarter, than hold yet another bl--dy strike.
A lose/lose operation that might save your job mate!
Its just isn't the converted you need to preach to or sway with your messaging! Understand?
So what else have you got! Reform we can all believe in?
Oh how I wish!
Rhrosty.

Oh mercy!
This is the the most fatuous,juvenile essay I've read in a while, the comments about the Iraq war and the message from the "shop floor" had me roaring with laughter.
What we need is to focus on social mobility and direct attention to the station in society a person can or should maintain and how we can work together to harmonise the relationships between the classes or castes in society.
Let's ditch equality and replace it with paternalism and hierarchy, let's scrap the idea of rights and replace it with a notion of social responsibility which flows both upward and downward in the social strata.
Don't worry, a strong middle class will police the rich and provide for the poor and a strong,fully employed working class will be the brawn behind the brains if the elites start to stray from their responsibilities.

Oh god! Another "B" grade academic lefty, with ideas of grandeur, who wants to see himself as a revolutionary.

Give me strength. What utter crap are they teaching, at our expense, in these useless ivory towers of privilege?

When you have a budget put together on a mountain of lies and pay for an ear. Corruption is rife and such a proposal sounds very feasible.