Peter,
How do you see the economic position of low income earners and pensioners in 2006? It is becoming increasingly costly in Australia to be poor, re accompying artice today from Julie Edwards.

Shonga, I support your position in your other post.

Yet I suggest that to expect a response from an 'Economic rationalist' to a member of the 'left behind' class is like waiting for an apology to the 'stolen generation'.

Economics linked with liberalism ideology is about making money, heaps of it, and if anyone gets left behind, well, its their fault and the church charities, like St Vincents and the Brotherhood of St Lawrence, can look after them.

I hope 2006 will be good for you , me and all other marginalised and poor. And hope that in 2007, an election year, changes can be made that will ameliorate the growing problem of the 'have n have nots'.

I doubt it though.

Coyote,
I have nothing against making money, just wish you and I had enough of the stuff to live on. Thank you for your support mate, we must stick together, or we are lost. 2007 you never know mate, we can hope for change, the question is will an ALP Government be any better for us, they are not making enough noise under Beazley.

With a bright economic outlook forecast, it should be possible to cater to the needs of ordinary people whoever is in power, I agree with you that our chances are increased under a Labor Government, however for that to be a real prospect, they need a leadership and policy change urgently.

Get off the System posters.

The system accomodates achievers, and let me tell you, if we cant make something for ourselves in Australia of all places, we are in trouble.

Dont think the government controls your hip pocket. you do.

Good Article.

Indeed, chaos factors will destroy any outlook we have, especially in the 5-10 year range.

House prices will not fall in Australia to critical levels, as john Howard knows the property market (and the majority of wealth for Australians)is at a knifes edge if things change, rates lift etc etc.

But it will be interesting to see the impact of the DEFINITE IRAN war.

come 2009, the ball will begin to roll for Australia again. Howard (Hopefully) will kickstart the property market with a new batch of incentives. A new world structure, wages increasing and mini sector booms will ensure the cycles keep as envisagad.

A question to the Author:

What do you think the impact of a terrorist attack on Australian Soil will do?

I fear that socially, which flows through economically, our backs will break and their will be revolt. The cronulla riots have alluded to what angry Australians do

Economically Jonson's article was sound. It is interesting that both Germany and Japan appear to be mounting an economic resurgence simultaneously with the election of a conservative government and the implementation of conservative fiscal policies respectively. It is also interesting that consumer sentiment in both countries is rising accordingly. Lower taxes and more vocational/ skilled training regimes are the key.

However I couldn't help but feel that some of the 'low probability events' he refers to are not that improbable and could well dampen the markets. A confrontation in Iran would be disasterous for oil prices, particularly as we see a resurgence of anti-American political sentiment in Central/ South America. Oil could possibly even break the $100USD a barrell mark!

Sorry Shonga and Coyote but you left yourselves wide open-I'd say the 'left behind' class you refer to has been left behind because of all the whinging you do. It seems every post you come up with on OLO contains a reference to your great class battle or 'marginalisation'. It seems to me you do a pretty good job of marginalising yourselves- if you can't make it in Australia you can't make it anywhere.

I can only say that if the maniac running Iran gets his act together this year who knows where we will be.