I just love the way the Libs like to "play the man" all the time. They did it to Hawke, Keating, Beazley and Latham and now it's Rudd's turn.

It's been reported that Keating offered Latham "a file" on Howard, who had quite significant private character flaws of his own, but it was never used.

Despite his other shortcomings but to his credit, Latham refused to play that game and to him family attacks in particular were strictly off-limits.

Not so for the Libs as will become all too apparent in the weeks ahead.

You really have to wonder about the level of political discourse in Australia when you read the spiteful, subjective, personal and prejudicial "bile" that gets an airing in this forum, not just about PM Rudd but about other authors who dare to offer alternative viewpoints.

Perhaps it is sport or tongue-in-cheek for some, but the same (small) group of contributors keep banging away at the same issues over and over and over, apparently in anger and hatred. They are so opinionated they even start to quote themselves as if they are some sort of authority. The worst part about this pathological focus on denigrating personality is that it is absolutist and leaves no room for other diverse perspectives.

Thank goodness the silent majority will determine who rules this nation, and not a bitter and disturbed minority.

Hear Hear Donkey!

Elise>>With the stress on our economy from the GFC and a rise in the age of the average Australian leading to increased need for resources, it is only fair that the profits made from the product of mining the country that is owned by all of us is taxed at a fair rate.

So what is a 'fair rate' in your view.

Surely you don't expect anyone to expose themselves and their shareholders to huge risks, knowing that they can only earn 6% on their investment then pay 40% of what's left in tax.

Remember, one billion dollars, invested @ 6% would return 60 million per year with zero risks, zero employees, zero insurance, zero complience costs. The list goes on.

This is why the currect proposal is wrong and, this is why it is being rejected.

As for Kevin winning, well that wouldn't suprise me, esspecially if TA upsets the welfare recipients. After all, most of them don't give two hoots about the mining tax as they don't pay tax, at least in a posative manner.

It seems that the debat keeps coming down to one issue. Ceiling Batt's. Remove this point and you have a typical first term government that is unsure of itself and is administratively shaky. I know it was a long time ago but Howard was gone at the end of his first term until he got the gun debate happening and the electorate showed its weakness to fear. This was the tactic he employed from that time on and it was a winner.
Now we are all deeply disappointed with the poor administrative performance of this government. There is much complaint that Kevin is too controlling but after all he is the leader. Before Kevin the labor party couldn't have won a chook raffle.
I can only reiterate the base issues that are passed over constantly on this debate.
1. the Ceiling batt's program was a success on the basis that it achieved what it set out to do. short term jobs, sales, supply.
2. OH&S is a State responsibility.
3. The problems were already there and only came to light because of the scheme.
4. Funny the electrical trades warned of a problem that they created with poor fitting standards over generations.

We have weathered a storm called the GFC that has sunk most of the major economies around the world. This was not done by a strong mining sector, this was achieved by a strong Chinese economy and the guts of the government despite all the scare tactics by the opposition over debt and has seen the first steps to rebuilding a run down and out of date country.

A second term with a more sensible senate will see the implementation of an ETS, national health scheme, a fair mining tax to boost infrastructure and national savings, the desperately needed broadband infrastructure and the debt wiped away. These are all feasible. On the other hand Abbott will continue to erode health care, block advances on climate change, sell the countries soul to big business and sprout about his surpluses while the nations infrastructure crumbles. Yep a real step forward

Dear Elise,

Is it, "Hear, Hear, Donkey,"

Or

"Hee Haw, Hee Haw, Donkey?"

Hrrumph!