Thanks AA,

You put forward a very compelling case. Much food for thought - and for further research on my part.

Things may not be so crook in Tullarook as I had perceived.

Yes, we are heading for interesting times indeed - and, being of a staid nature, I must say I have had quite sufficient excitement via the GFC and our local politics already. Still, there's no turning back the clock, and further pain is on the horizon.

I guess I have been staggered by the economic debacles in the US - with their having to bail out Fannie Mae, Freddie Mack, GM, Goldman Sachs, major banks, etc (and still the bonuses rolled on) - and with the problems in Japan and the mess in the EU. I feel very sorry for Barack Obama in particular - one helluva first term.

Good ol' Wayne has certainly kept his cool - in the face of multiple challenges. Credit where due.

We live in interesting political (and economic) times - made merry by internet fancying and much ado about everything.

Work choices is back on the agenda, Tony says should not have been changed.

Alan,

Don't youthink the Labor propaganda machine in Australia has been pushing the points you've made?

They have ... it's just that so few people believe anything they say anymore.

And now the cripples of Europe and the US try to tell us they are right and that they know what's best for us.

Really Alan have you lost all perspective? I know mixing with the elites of Europe has probably fuddled your judgement but remember it is we in Australia who will decide this countrys future.

And that is why Gillard will be replaced by someone other than Rudd and Labor will leave a legacy of lies, spin and waste, an unwanted carbon tax, a soaring cost of living, falling real wages in much of the economy (Exclude the wages from mining), an economy more reliant on mining, an old technology white elephant, a huge debt, a shambolic border, an absolute disgrace in indigenous conditions, 3 one term PM's and a forgotten treasurer.

Alan we can not survive a mining downturn as we are. Unless we develop other ways of earning foreign exchange, we are doomed to be worse than Greece, if the foreign exchange from mining should falter.

About the only thing you could say Julia & Swan have contributed to our economic situation is a carbon tax, & a mining tax. Both of these are assured to reduce the attraction of mining investment in Oz, & will simply be frittered away in useless increase in public spending. In fact it is fair to say Julia, I doubt Swan has much to say, has already spent the next couple of years growth of income, before we are even sure we'll ever see it.

Being praised by Europeans is indeed faint praise, & even then they are probably only doing that because of our stupidity of introducing a carbon tax. Anyone doing such a stupid thing, helps spread the blame they are copping for doing it themselves.

Even the idiots of Europe, other than the poms who seem a lost cause, are now coming to their senses, & retreating as fast as their little legs will carry them, from the whole catastrophe of global warming.

Perhaps a few weeks at home would give you a better idea, Oh, & not believing most of what you hear from OUR ABC

A long time before mining goes anywhere in this country. The carbon tax is very necessary, for investment in renewable energy. The mining tax is going to do no one any harm, but you see it as an incumbent.
Alan said it as it is, Quote. What would you change to further strengthen the economy.

We have to cut government spending almost as drastically as Europe.

We have to get our interest rates down, or loose our entire economy, other than mining, & taking in each other's washing,

We have to immediately stop wasting money in failed alternative energy.

If it ever gets to the stage that private enterprise invests in it, without subsidies, as a profitable enterprise, & only then should it be approved, but definitely nor encouraged. If It is worth having, it won't need encouragement.