Hi trapdiocan,

This is from my source which contradicts your assertion. Can you provide your link please?

“Liberal MP Kelly O’Dwyer said Mr Swan’s ownership of Australia’s favourable credit rating was one of the “myths that the Labor Party have tried to perpetuate” about the economy.

“They like to claim the AAA credit rating. In fact it was under the Labor Party that we lost our AAA credit rating in 1986 and 1989,” Ms O’Dwyer told Sky News.

“We got it back with Moody’s and Standard and Poors (during the Howard government) because we repaid back Labor’s debt.”

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/budget-2014/bomb-thrower-tony-abbott-threatens-aaa-credit-rating-former-treasurer-wayne-swan/story-fnmes6jc-1226909934834

It is obvious that Australia has been taken over by Americans! Soon, we too will be attacking and invading other countries and plundering the B'Jesus out of them and torturing and rendering and raping.

The antics of Fuehrer Abbott the Immaculate have to be seen to be believed and if I have to listen to Commandant Korman one more time I will haff to blotty-well invade Germany on my own and finish the job we started there!

Did you realize that we won WW2? And which two nations are on top of the wealthy Kings of the Castle? Japan and Germany of course!

It is obvious that most Australians are under the influence of drugs and mind-bending drugs supplied by Murdoch and his gang of 'born-to-rule' children (produced by the perfect impregnation techniques of the German and the Japanese Gestapo who sang:

"In and out, in and out. Make her yell, make her shout!"

Yeah, Brave New World. It's perfect for con-men and criminals!

Ok a few points in response....

Yes there should be some financial incentive to develop skills. But people are motivated by more than money - they want a rewarding career. If anything cleaners deserve greater payment - because their menial jobs are so difficult and alienating. No not absolute parity - but significantly higher minimum wages, yes. And much more for skilled labourers in aged care, child care etc.

Also no-one wants to be stuck on Newstart or Youth Allowance. No one can make ends meet on that without support from family. And for those without such support we will see a rise in homelessness and crime. Instead of intervening positively at this crucial point in a young person's life positively - it will likely condemn them to a life 'at the bottom of the pile' and 'at the fringes'. I make the point in the article that this is because the government wants a 'reserve army' of desperate people - who will not only be exploited - but whose desperation might be used to drive down the wages and conditions of other workers...

Further: Why not retain a retirement age of 65? What is most important in life? More and more consumption; or quality of life for people who have been working all their lives? It is the nature of a capitalism which 'has its priorities all wrong'. Long, healthy, rewarding lives - or drive people into the ground until they're at death's door. What's better?

Re: The Coalition paying off debt - Yes, at the cost of privatising valuable income-bearing assets. Not just the Libs either. Look how much the Commonwealth Bank makes today - Flogged off by Keating. Telstra flogged off by Howard. (and then $8 to buy back access to pits and wires fir NBN)

Sorry I mean $8 billion; and Rhrosty - agree with many of your points - thankyou. :-)

Tristan you do talk so much twaddle.

No one wants to be on new start you say. Most of them are working cash in hand a day or two a week at least, & have a quite nice income thank you.

My lady is a councilor with a charity doing job network in town. She handles the long term unemployed.

She has to breach a dozen or so a week to get them to turn up for network appointments or actual job interviews.

She lives in town usually, but sometimes has to stay out here for a period, after being threatened AGAIN, by some of the bludgers she has to deal with.

With some they think are genuine job seekers they will pay for courses, buy them clothes for interviews, & even fix their cars where there is no transport, then get them a job.

About half only turn up for week or two, but can't get out of bed after that. Many don't even last a week.

She was almost as naive as you about these poor dears, before she became involved. Hell she even thought most of the homeless were that way against their will.

With other charities they organized a bed, meal, shower & safety every night for $100 a fortnight. Most of the bums wouldn't pay that much of their handout. They were more interested in grog.

Most of these bums aren't worth the dregs from the bottom of a teapot, let alone sympathy.

If I hear any more bulldust about the vulnerable, disadvantaged, or underprivileged I'm going to throw up.

Hasbeen

'If I hear any more bulldust about the vulnerable, disadvantaged, or underprivileged I'm going to throw up'.

Here's a bucket. Heave away, Hazza!

And remember the age of entitlement is over, so make sure you clean up your own mess.