In my view, governments always exploit fear, no matter what side of politics they are on. It is in their interests to do so. When an election comes around their basic pitch is always the same; "In these dangerous times, better the devil you know than the devil you don't." When times actually are dangerous, or at least anxious, as they are now, the more anxiety they are able to fan in the community, the better.
Oppositions must pitch hope at elction time. They can never out fear the government, Beasley made that mistake a couple of elections ago and failed miserably. Latham tried to offer hope, but the anxiety level in the community (actively increased by the govt) was too high for hope to succeed.
As Daniel points out, Howard was elected to govt in 1996 on a promise to make us all "relaxed and comfortable", that was his pitch based around hope. Now we are all mean't to be "alert but not alarmed". Next time the government changes watch and see how their pitch for hope changes into a pitch about fear once they are in power.

Col, your comment "– really? – want to put money on it? –" is asinine. I think I would win a bet with you on the subject of where a large part of our income originates. Or perhaps I should say your comment is, well, bollocks. But I do admire your way with a non-sequitur. It takes real talent to dispense with any vestige of logic or coherent argument. Most people can't keep it up.

Col Rouge, of all the ranters is he
Who stands confirmed in full stupidity
The others to some meaning make pretence
But poor Col seldom deviates into sense

(with apologies to Dryden)

Grow up Johnnny Rotten.Your simplistic egotistical sniping proves nothing.John Howard with all his foibles is a leader with serious ability.If you are so good,display your ability with constructive criticism,rather than cowardly sideline sniping.

I'm very cynical about pollies myself.Today I saw Rumsfield and his team buttering up John Howard in reference to his courageous stand against terrorism.I think this may well be a prelude to getting us to commit far more troops to the Middle East.

With all it's flaws ,the US is still the best balance of power ally we can all have.

Instead of attacking personalities,just analyse the cold hard reality that will best benefit Australia.

Show us some constructive criticism, rather than this negative leftist banter that offers us no solutions.

Arjay, heard john howard on the radio today saying that his position over terrorism came about by being in america 0n 9/11 . has he started to remember where HE comes from yet ?
perhaps he is genuinely insecure .
there must be an all australian leader in the parliament ,someone who gives hope to the poor as well as the rich .

All politicians lie. It is often necessary.

But some lies are immoral and are made purely for purposes of re-election.

Some lies result in lives lost (SIEV X)

Random selection of John Howard’s lies.

Full list at : http://www.awu.net.au/national/news/1095896076_26152.html
#2
"Medicare will be retained in its entirety."
John Howard, February 1996
The Truth:
The Howard Government abolished the dental plan and bulk billing rates have declined by more than 12 percentage points since the Coalition took office in 1996.
#4
"I can guarantee we're not going to have $100,000 university degree courses."
John Howard, interview with Neil Mitchell on Radio 3AW, 15 October 1999
The Truth:
#7
John Howard: "No, there's no way that a GSTwill ever be part of our policy."
Journalist: "Never ever?"
John Howard: "Never ever. It's dead. It was killed by the voters in the last election".
John Howard, interview, Tweed Heads Civic Centre, 2 May 1995
The Truth:
"The bills before the House will enact a broad based goods and services tax that will be levied at 10 per cent and will start in July 2000."
Peter Costello, Treasurer, A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax Bill), Second Reading Speech, 2 December 1998
#18
"The Government's position remains that we were advised by Defence that children were thrown overboard, we made those allegations on the basis of that advice, and until I get Defence advice to the contrary I will maintain that position".
John Howard, Sunrise, Channel 7, 9 November 2001
The Truth:
"I left him in no doubt that there was no evidence, that there were no children thrown overboard."
Mike Scrafton, ABC 7:30 Report, 16 August 2004

#22
"Iraq continues to work on developing nuclear weapons-uranium has been sought from Africa that has no civil nuclear application in Iraq; . . ."
John Howard, Ministerial Statement, before the war in Iraq, 4 February 2003
The Truth:
". . . an intelligence claim about Iraq's effort to acquire uranium from Africa proved to be erroneous."
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Sydney Morning Herald, after the war in Iraq, 18 June 2003

COL ROUGE - didn't your daddy warn you about peeing into the wind?

ARJAY - a sense of humour IS a solution - a necessary quality to have when governed by the immoral and ruthless.

My thanks to Kartiya, Trinity and Anomie.

And of course to Daniel Donahoo.