Interesting that "BOAZ-David" is so anti-Green. Given that he's let slip in these forums that he hasn't read their policies, this is clearly a case of "prejudice".

Funnily enough, a prominent Greens member I know was invited to give a talk at a Uniting Church last week, and the congregation there were keen to make links with the Greens because they perceive them as the only party with a clear and consistent ethical and moral position.

But then again, the Uniting Church is not known for its evangelistic zeal, and even welcomes gays and women priests.

David Boaz,

You'd like to see more "christ" in my posts. I think I have. Being "christian" is not about being "nice"...it's about seeking the truth (honesty), seeking justice, and what is right for people and society. Jesus wasn't "nice", he spoke the truth, often confronted leaders, and exposed hypocrisy. He loved deeply, and compassionately, and it's because he loved that he spoke the truth and sought to expose lies and wrong doing. Howard is a liar, is he not? It can be proved. He has lied about alot of things; children overboard, how much his government spent on post compulsory education, he lied about funding the Medicare Safety Net, he's lied about funding promises and the deregulation of the Australian University System, he lied about the GST, he misled the public over weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. But worst of all, his government collects record levels of taxation revenue and bugdet surpluses year after year, and fails to invest adequately in education and health, creating a national skills shortage, a shortage of doctors and nurses, educational class division (a rising gap between rich and poor) and poor literacy and numercacy of children in public education. Don't be blind David. As a christian teacher and writer, I have a responsibility to speak out, and I also have this right under sections 7 and 24 of the Australian constitution, which gives every Australian the democratic and constitutional right to freedom of speech. Or don't we live in a democracy anymore? Oh, that's right, we don't.

At the moment the militant Christian Right seems to have less direct political influence in Australia than it does in the United States. We can be thankful for that, but it scarcely matters. In fact the American Armageddonists directly influence Australia via the George Bush White House. John Howard does not have to believe in the Rapture, the Antichrist or any of that overheated nonsense -- it's enough for the American govenment to declare a quasi-Christian jihad against "terrorism", as in Iraq, for him to jump into line immediately. He cannot be reached by the argument that such blundering actions as the Iraq invasion increase, not decrease the terrorist threat.

In a total departure from my usual tone, I bring an episode of an old show "The Mavis Bramston Show" a political and social satire in its day.

They had a skit on the Prime Minister. The Aussie PM is on the phone to the US president. As they talk, Aussie PM mentions our foreign policy, then he is interrupted by the US president, and the next thing we here our PM say is "OH.. ok, you will send us a copy"

That should put a smile on the faces of those who always drool at the thought of seeing me defend Mr Howard and company.

Small nations, need alliances. Fact of life.

Young steve,

1/ could it not be said that entering WW2 against Germany 'increased the possibility of terrorism' ? yes, or no ?

2/ Was it the right thing to do at the time ?

Australia shouldn't be a "small nation". It should have a population of around 100 million people. Yes it does need allies, but it doesn't need to assist in starting wars. Neither current Liberal or Labor politicians have any vision; all they want to do is create trade deficit and foreign debt, keep the masses ignorant, and tax and work us to death. And yes, I have many solutions and vision of my own which I have written about and published, so I do offer alternatives rather than just complain. God Bless Australia.

Teresa.. 100 million ?

er.. when did you last check the condition of our water reserves ? and pay a water bill ?
we are ALready on stage 2 permanent water restrictions in Melbourne, Sydney is a water basket case, Perth is talking 'grandiose' schemes of canals, anyone who drinks Adelaide water needs good health insurance and you want to make our population 5 times what it is now ?

Time to turn ones thinking cap on and take all issues into consideration. Apart from our sustainability issue, I tend to agree with you though.

Its worth noting that the main point of Hansons ONE Nation immigration policy was 'population' and sustainability, not race as the left repeatedly howled.