More of the tedious moral and intellectual incoherence of the coercionists.

"If only we could concentrate more arbitrary power in the hands of the state, multiply taxes, increase the number and power of bureaucracies, fund a few more grasping special interests, subject children to more compulsory indoctrination compulsorily paid for, then what a better society we could create!"

Dreary garbled nonsense. The fact that what they're saying is factually, ethically and logically false doesn't bother them.

"Perhaps if we re-name our sh!t sandwich again, it'll taste good eventually!"

I recall not so long ago, being a school teacher was a 'calling', where many dedicated, bright young people sought to dedicate their entire vocational life to teaching our precious young.

It would appear today, with support of their union, they've become a very militant, belligerent group trying hard to protect all the inferior and socialist collaborators that have ensconced themselves deeply within their ranks.

And we're all wondering why our Australian children, are slipping further behind academically, when their counterparts in S.E. Asia are advancing beyond that of Australian kiddies, particularly in those critical disciplines of Maths and the Sciences. It's no fault of the children, just the teachers !

May I suggest. instead of amusing yourself with 'social commentary', why not you and your colleagues seek better and smarter ways of imparting knowledge, then and only then you'll have plenty of time to amuse yourselves with your 'left-leaning' socialist hobby !

Most of the teachers that taught me (forties early fifties), were returned men from WW11 - they were brilliant ! Most wouldn't have the words, 'Industrial Disputation' within their Lexicon's ? As I said - teaching was a calling.

Whenever I read this author I am amazed at the many ways he proposes to spend more money. No government could ever afford to fund his wish-list without taxing its citizens to the hilt.

It does not seem to have occurred to the author that what he proposes has been tried in Europe. Look where Europe is at now. An economic basket case because their governments are drowning in debt and excessive taxes and regulation cost jobs and stifle economic growth.

Perhaps the author could read this article and re-evaluate his beliefs: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4546722.html

From the article:

"An overwhelming number of cross-country studies over the past decade that accommodate econometric innovations and richer data sets, and which often include Australia in the empirical coverage, have found that a larger public sector is associated with slower economic growth rates."

Democratic Socialism is not the answer.

"The poor, who must live on table scraps dropped by the rich can best be served by giving the rich bigger meals" - William Blum.

Some of the commenters in this thread should consider the facts rather than silly slogans and cliches:

"let's be clear - high-income earners pay way more than their share of income tax revenue. The top 1 per cent pay 17 per cent of all tax revenue and the top 10 per cent pay nearly half.

"We have the most highly redistributive and targeted tax and transfer system of all developed economies, with the top 20 per cent of income-earners receiving only 3 per cent of all cash benefits, compared with the bottom 20 per cent, who receive 42 per cent."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/what-a-hide-bodgy-numbers-derail-the-debate/story-fnbkvnk7-1226611200429

"Thirdly:Maintained commitment to a price on carbon emissions, and to direct public investment in renewable energy; as well as subsidies for low income Australians especially to invest in renewables, and so to lessen cost-of-living pressures. "

The author shows that he is science and economics illiterate.

He has been conned by the AGW believers. AGW remains hypothetical. There is no hard scientific evidence of the extent to which it is due to human activity.

Renewable energy production in Australia works out to be at least twice as costly as coal-fired energy in the case of wind power and at least six times in the case of solar. Therefore, it is dysfunctional to discourage coal-fired energy production by taxing carbon dioxide emissions so as to subsidise the switch to renewable energy.

The massive increase in electricity prices, thanks to the Government directing investment into renewable energy and taxing carbon dioxide emissions, has impacted adversely on all industries and markedly increased the cost of living, but had no measurable effect whatsoever on global warming.

Yet, surprise, surprise, the author calls for more of the same.