Forget Shorten. He admitted that he was a nobody when he wore a tshirt announcing that he was 'Cloe Shorten's husband'.

Just as well. I suspect Bill is really about Bill. Remember what he did to the mushroom pickers at Chiquita, or the cleaners at Cleanevent? Bill did well for himself as Union boss and added to his union-based power in the ALP, but not for the poor workers.

For me he has no integrity.

He vowed to open up the Party when he ran for the leadership. He never mentioned it again after he suffered a drubbing from the faction bosses at his first Victorian conference as Leader.

Take it whichever way, Bill was indentured to the faction bosses. His class war utterings during the campaign were probably all about keeping the faction and union heavy weights on side. Therein lies the elephant in the room for Labor.

For as long as the faction/union bosses remain as the unfettered owners of the Party, most Leaders will not be authentic to the voters.
Hence Labor always needed a super human to do the trick, or at least the promise of one: Gough; Hawke; and Rudd(before he cracked).

Unless Labor is institutionally reformed so that it is attractive to voters outside "its roots", it is destined to die slowly, agonisingly, aided and abetted by a thousand doses of the going fad for rejuvenation.

So now we know the source of the stupid and iniquitous idea of ending franking credits for some people but not others. Everald, why the #$%^& didn't you suggest he cap it instead?

__________________________________________________________________________________

ttbn, I knew there were a lot of dinosaurs on this board, but I'm still surprised to find someone who thinks being a spouse or publicising that fact makes them any less important at work.

I think shorten's problem is a lack of genuine honour? And toward the end lack of perceived integrity in his political ambitions. Yes, he lost this time ( snatched defeat from the jaws of victory) and can still make a worthwhile contribution as say the labor party whip, where his ruthlessness could be used to keep and retain the unity needed to make the transition needed

One of which has to loosen the Csar like control of unions where dependence on union funding should be replaced by an Obama like crowdfunding model.

Moreover, they need to decide how they are going to unify a fractured nation and inspire that unity with positive messages and positive reform.

Central and critical has to be long overdue tax reform that allows things like fully franked dividends/negative gearing, to die a natural death at the source.

Because the very essential reform (a fixed flat rate tax of 15%) needed will make such tax avoiding schemes completely redundant and counterproductive.

Dispised cooperative capitalism will all but force unions to morph into labour-hire firms or active board members of the proposed co-ops! Which should own and operate as many enterprises as we the people can fund and facilitate?

First cab off the rank has to be competitive and competing for trade, power supply companies and without subsidies or exempting of any technology!

One of the things management teaches is, there is always, always a better way!

Central to that is deciding your best direction and what dreams you will continue to invest precious time in. Then staying the course until you make them come true and take those you need to achieve them with you (as self-interest) as you progress!

Until it is done or you've run out of time!
Alan B.

The problem for Labor now is even if it tempers its policies on NG, CGT and imputation credits with the kind of approaches I've mentioned on other threads, the electorate will not believe there is no ulterior desire to go further should Labor be elected.

This will be the basis of the next scare campaign, even if the death tax demon is put to rest.

Interest in politics today differs from the
past. Voters no longer seem to care about
politics as is usually defined. They're more
interested in mainstream politics when its a
story wrapped in a negative showing politicians
in a bad light doing bad things to bad ends.

There will be soul searching and questions about
polling, over preferences from Clive Palmer and
Pauline Hanson's One Nation and over the ambitious
policy agenda that Labor set.

Of course there will be questions about the
leadership of the outgoing Opposition leader.
Labor supporters did not see the result coming and
as we've seen were visibly shocked and upset.

There are lessons to be learned from the election.
The results showing the swings to back the Coalition in
Queensland , Tasmania and WA showed that ultimately
jobs and fear of change are too dominant.

Bill Shorten's career in politics, like Tony Abbott's
and Malcolm Turnbull's is over. All men gave it their
best shot. Certainly made mistakes, but who of us doesn't?
But one thing is certain - they all believed in what
they were doing and I am still convinced that they
wanted the best for this country.

One thing's for sure. In coming out with this piece ("I was kind of Bill Shorten's key advisor") Everald Compton shows he's a brave man of principle. But I don't agree with his principles and his bravery was wasted on Bill Shorten (and this article). Is this really the way major parties develop their policies? By having coffee with elderly gentlemen (like me)? That's an eye-opener. I think I'll go into business. I like coffee. And as for Bill, can anyone ever take him seriously again? Unless he comes out and denies this ever happened.

Sorry Everald ,

You are repeating one of the denigrating ALP Excuses when you state .... " He also scared the daylights out of too many voters with too many policies that they could not understand and were frightened of ". No , Everald , the Voters clearly understood what Shorten intended and wanted nothing to do with his socialist visions.

Another of the myths of the Election as promoted by the ALP and their ABC " Labor suffered a backlash in Australian mining districts, haemorrhaging votes to minor parties such as Clive Palmer's United Australia Party and One Nation."... Err NO. The ALP lost votes to the LNP. It was the LNP that lost votes to the UAP or PHON ".. Basic political science and just plain stupid to believe that ALP Voters would jump over the LNP to vote far right wing Politics...

Thus the ALP received 33% of all Votes. One will never form Government with a figure like that...Just saying.

Whether it be Giilard, Rudd, Abbott or Shorten I do feel sad for them when they are dethroned. At the end of the day he can be glad he gave it his best shot. Hopefully he won't turn nasty and bitter like Paul Keating. What a disgrace.

The polls were less than reliable/possibly faked to create a false sense of security in the loser? Younger voters obviously stayed away or drew penises on ballot forms.



That said, some commentators seriously believe that religious freedom decided the outcome? Can't believe anyone could seriously believe that horse crap

. Jobs and the economy clearly figured as have seemingly, non-core promises?

Those managing the Labor campaign just knew for sure and certain they knew best and are still wheeled around like a tame bull by the recalcitrant greens

. Keating and his contribution nearly as useful as tits on a bull!
Getup, as useful as a hip pocket in a singlet.

Understand, this has been in the making for over two decades as the clever folk dismantled our co-ops with their floor price and our manufacturing sector.

Now we are paying the price with the exodus of blue-collar workers from the bush, the offshoring of much of our manufacturing and processing.

With automation set to take big bites out of the remaining blue collar jobs and a significant portion of white collar ones as well.

It's not as if nobody saw this coming, but just ignored the winds of change, just thought all they need do is buy votes, with our mineral wealth?

The enduring drought and ignored climate change has ensured we have few options.

Moreover, those available rejected by the dinosaurs, who haven't got any real understanding of science!? And an absolute must, if only to stop the idiots from forever rejecting the very adaptations we need to not only address and adapt to climate change and before it's too late.

I don't think labor were hurt too much by most of their policies? Just the insane juxtaposition on coal and coal mining.

They were in the race before the "HELP" from Bob Brown and Getup. Getup should have employed social media to get the youth up off of their indolent backsides and in polling booths voting formerly for change.

Malcolm Turnbull's son demonstrated just how to influence voting outcomes, Genius.
Alan B.

Everald. On which night did you dream all this?

And on reflection, did goldilocks really take exception to father bears, and mother bears porridge?

And over on another thread, I'm arguing to restore the book of Enoch to the apocrypha;
Any chance you and I could discuss this over a coffee?

Dan.

Put tons of sugar in it, Dan, just so he understands your true feelings? And learn to value other opinions beside his own?
Cheers, Alan B.

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