There are a lot of contradictions in economics.Getting the balance right between the employer and employee will always be a dilemma.

Presently the Labor Party live in denial.They agree with Globalisation and the lowering of tarrifs but won't agree to the necessary IR reform to effect competition.Kevin wants to keep unfair dismissal which is a rod for the backs of small business,yet he will keep individual contracts the most contentious aspect of IR reform.

The Labor Party cannot have it both ways,either they raise tarrifs or make our workforce compete with the likes of China.There is a price for quality cheap products that the electorate at large are unwilling to address,and Kevin Rudd is treading carefully atop the fence of equivocation,without addressing the reality.Fred Argy is doing likewise.

simulated analysis by a simulated citizen. "i reject..." he says, but who cares. political decisions in oz are taken in secret by politicians who have one eye on re-election, and the other .. on re-election.

they have the power but the wrong motivation. the people collectively have the right motivation, but no power. a condition that leads to disaster, whether prolonged or sudden.

it also creates a supine and fatalistic populace who cannot even conceive of directing their society to productive ends, much less take steps to realize democracy. let's hope the patron saint of sheep is broadminded enough to include the low-meat, no-fleece variant in her prayers.

On last week's Religion Report (Radio National), Terry McCarthy told it how it is.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/religionreport/stories/2007/2090039.htm

John Howard, in his presentation to the Press Club yesterday, regurgitated the OECD statistics that would have us all so much better off. McCarthy's example is perhaps extreme, but it demonstrates the fallacy of trickle down. Just extend the statistic to a further ten year period.

Peter(cis)Saunders too, in a recent polemic posted here, seems wedded to this fantasy. He would be well pleased with himself though for the promised tax cuts from both majors.