The authors write that our dream "should be, to help forge a better nation; for the brief time that the opportunity lies in our hands."

I think that our brief time is better spent in developing a better self; everything else follows.

As for the hedgehogs, in recent decades those in the UK (and presumably elsewhere) learnt to supplement their traditional curl-in-a-spiny-ball defensive technique with a race-across-a-road-to-avoid-the-cars technique. I commend the hedgehogs adaptability to changing circumstances as a prime requisite for all readers

Hornes critique was pointed and remains relevant.

He will be dismissed by some as being "of the left" ; his contribution was certainly derided by Andrew Bolt in the Hearlad Sun recently.

Horne correctly pointed out entreprenuerial sloth and an addiction to agrarian socialism that remains a characterisitic of Australia today; it is sobering to note that our richest dont actually make anything - they just on sell stuff like news or gossip or light entertainment television.

Horne's critical analysis has left most of the nation unmoved - a fact that kinda proves his point - we still rely on that which we grow or dig up - we make very little - our next bunch of rich guys are retailers and property speculators.

If you could draw and image of complacency it shold be emblazoned on our national flag - complacency rampant on a field of mining tailings or drought sticken canola crops -

The authors write that our dream "should be, to help forge a better nation; for the brief time that the opportunity lies in our hands."

Faustino

”I think that our brief time is better spent in developing a better self; everything else follows.”

Agree wholeheartedly. Through “individual” strength we realise the “individual” goals which spring from “individual” ideas and innovations. Reward for such “individual” achievement we contribute, by way of government imposts, to the “social need”.
The alternative of collective ideas, actions and responsibility brought the camel (as the committees design for a horse), communism (which killed more of its own population than fascism) and dictatorship.

The other point of sanity is; should an individual get it wrong it is, usually, of limited social consequence. When a government get it wrong we have “the recession we had to have” and constitutional crises Whitlam style.

Oh Sneekeepete “Horne correctly pointed out entreprenuerial sloth and an addiction to agrarian socialism that remains a characterisitic of Australia today; it is sobering to note that our richest dont actually make anything - they just on sell stuff like news or gossip or light entertainment television.”

Ah those who facilitate the market exchange – it is surprising how many of us produce absolutely nothing – Nurses, Teachers – they merely bring patients and medicines or pupils and knowledge together – just like real estate agents bring house vendors and buyers together. “Service” is as much a “commodity” as manufactured goods.

As for “entrepreneurial sloth” – The “slothful” would never expend the required energy to pursue an “entrepreneurial opportunity”, thus your claim is an oxymoron – a bit like “socialist best practice”.

“If you could draw and image of complacency it shold be emblazoned on our national flag - complacency rampant on a field of mining tailings or drought sticken canola crops”

And do not forget the lines “university educated unemployable”. Lines full of poorly articulated opinions which lack the basic skill and discipline to find solutions.
Like those who criticise the ones who “do” whilst they themselves simply indulge in “academic talk-fests”.