Alan, don't waste your time trying to convert Hasbeen, Individual and the other blind misinformed Liberalites. They will NEVER let facts get in the way of a good story. Unfortunately, this Forum seems to be held to ransom by such views based on misinformation .. I wonder if any of them have ever been outside Australia. I have travelled all over the world on numerous occasions, visited and lived in many countries and I am convinced that Australia IS (absolutely) the best country in the world! Our economy is one of the most buoyant in the western world and our quality of life is consistently in the top three. The "Doom and Gloom" legacy of the divisive Howard years still throbs in the hearts of the Liberal Haters - their MO remains: if you can't get votes through achievement, attain them through fear and derision. Howard left a devastating legacy and, without a doubt, to most socially minded people was the absolute WORST PM we have ever had. The funds he poured into a criminal war in Iraq that cost so many lives have never been measured. Abbott is a disgrace who can't even take himself seriously ... the fact that this clown could be leading our country into oblivion at the next election. OMG, I weep for the future!

What is it they say about birds of a feather?

Obviously it works with fools, & socialists, tending communistic.

Katie08 "abbott is a disgrace who can't even take himself seriously ... the fact that this clown could be leading our country into oblivion at the next election. OMG, I weep for the future!"

Katie, you are a breathe of fresh air on this forum!

I too despair for Australia under the leadership of Abbott, and fear greatly for our future, regardless of who the treasurer will be.

He will be embarrassing representing our country overseas, with his bumbling way of conversing.

If he doesn't like a question when overseas and on international television, will he be struck dumb and stare at the journalist in fury for some minutes, like he has here in the past?

I shudder to think...

Good morning all,

@ Individual, Re: “All I can go by is what I witness around me.”

Can you see the difficulty in logic with this, Indi? Someone on a pension in a crowded Sydney suburb is going to witness around them a whole different world from a member of the Melbourne Club or a hippy in Nimbin or a mine worker in the Pilbara.

Which is the real Australia? Citizens rolling in money celebrating the high Aussie dollar with imported caviar and Bolinger – or imported bongs and LSD – or those struggling to survive until pension day?

Governments, public servants and analysts need accurate information about what is happening in the nation overall – as well as in the various sub cultures. They need this to evaluate which economic strategies work effectively and which ones don’t – to achieve the best outcomes for all citizens.

Fortunately this is available. We just need to know where to look.

Re: “I don't have the access to the files which hold the real information.”

Yes we do, Indi. If we have a computer.

The answer to Question 6, above, is (d) none.

Canada is equal with Australia on 2 or 3 of those 20 criteria, but not ahead on any of them. Australia clearly has the best economy in the world. By a very long street. And you have a much stronger economy than at any time in the past.

Here are the connections for you, Indi:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18, all here:
www.tradingeconomics.com

8 here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_credit_rating

9 here:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ca.html

14 here:
http://www.mercer.com/referencecontent.htm?idContent=1359350

15 here:
http://www.heritage.org/index/ranking

17 here:
www.xe.com

19 here:
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/peo_hom_own-people-home-ownership

20 here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality-of-life_Index

And here is Barry Jones's piece:

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/stupidity-is-on-the-rise-in-our-age-of-enlightenment-20120808-23uiq.html

@ Katie08: No, I’m not seeking to convert anyone here. Just endeavouring to point folks in the direction of data which the powers and principalities in Australia seek to suppress.

Readers can then choose whether or not to access that info.

Response to the input varies widely depending on the outlet. That’s okay. In fact it’s very good.

Cheers, AA

Don't worry, Suseonline and other thinking people, a week is a very long time in politics and there is SIX MONTHS to the next election. This, trust me, is AMPLE time for the Mad Monk to put his Size 12 clodhopper into his mouth and I wish I had serious money on the chances of that happening in the near future! With Cardinal Pell as his Chief Advisor, things can only get worse. Yes, that's Cardinal Pell, the same Cardinal who supported the horrific Gerald Ridsdale who was charged and jailed for the molestation of countless young children. Abbott is in good company! Makes the atheist, Julia Gillard, look almost holy by comparison.

Which is the real Australia? Melbourne Club or a hippy in Nimbin or a mine worker in the Pilbara.
Alan Austin et al,
It's the one that has wealth which is taken from many who put in an effort & then get no reward. I know because by sheer coincidence we have all of the above where I live.
Just to ask this question smacks of typical leftist contempt. Stuff you Jack I'm alright sort of mentality.

Yes we do, Indi. If we have a computer.
Have you ever tried to get information via the freedom of information act ? $15 search fee for 15 minutes & so on until hours later when you're told the info can't be found after you've spent $100,- ?
Ah, I see you're referring to information collated by those with an interest in staying on the bandwagon. Nah, I meant real factual information, that's not available from Government run outfits.

Here are the connections for you, Indi:
These are just stories they want us to believe, I'm interested in real facts.
Like how many australian jobs have gone to asian sweat shops because of ever increasing Union demands. Or, why aren't ordinary Australians afforded any protection from Government sanctioned Superannuation outfits ? Or, how much do public servants have to contribute for their Super in comparison with the ordinary wage earner ?

to achieve the best outcomes for all citizens.
yet another piece of bull dust to make us feel better whilst screwing us even more.
Alan with all due respect but there's more to running a country than making the balance sheets add up by the stealing & lying by bureaucrats.