Now Robinj is denying that the runs are on the board.Well let's do a little history lesson.

Gough was an economic vandal who spent like there was no tomorrow.He initiated the "Nanny State".So today we have 540,000 unemployed,700,000 on dubious disability pensions and 330,000 single parents to support.Why is there no money for infrastructure,mentally ill and people who are genuinely ill?Have a look at the socialist state created by Labor that saps our motivation.

Labor destroyed the Victorian economy back in 1992 and thus Jeff Kennet had to sell off every asset to put their economy back in the black.Their economy under the Bracks Govt is slowly going backwards.Remember the Keating recession we all had to have?Govts don't call the shots on interest rates but they create the environment for their change.

After 10yrs NSW under a Labor lead Bob Carr is an absolute shamozzle.In every criterion of Govt responsibility,they have failed.Now after 10yrs of the Howard Govt our economy [with the exception of NSW]is getting stronger.

The problem with Labor Socialists Govts is that they appeal to the weaknesses in our communities rather than the discipline and courage to achieve.We have become a weak and pathetic society and with the economic might of China looming on the horizon we'd better do some homework on how to compete.

There is a lot I don't like about the Howard Govt,but the alternative isn't worth a cursory glance.

Now that is more like it Arjay.
However Howard has just had 10 years to 'fix' all the assertions in your first paragraph! So perhaps you should start blaming him for those now!
I have no argument with your second and third paras.
The 'problem' with a Labor Socialist Government is that it does care about the ever widening gap between the have's and the have-not's. It does care about a fair go for all Australians. It does care about a more equitable distribution of the wealth of this country. Unfortunately some people will never have your ' discipline and courage to achieve' There will always be no hopers and non-employables etc. at the bottom of society, Perhaps you and Howard prefer to just let them die?
Finally I must agree with you that 'the alternative isn't worth a cursory glance' (at the moment). However I still maintain that Lyn Allison's summary of the Howard years is absolutely correct. Perhaps I will vote Democrat in the Senate next time!

Its as simple as this. You are underestimating the intelligence of the Australian populace and overestimating your own. In fact the lack of insight evidenced in the article just sends the message that your judgement is poor.

Its you and your ilk who are the REAL propagandists using every half issue to push your own barrow. The Australian public is too clever to be fooled by your emotional rhetoric.

What we notice is that John Howard is not the whingeing carping complaining politician that you and your colleagues are and that's why he is attractive to rational Aussies. Unlike yourself, he RARELY denigrates a fellow politician and replies logically to questions.

Aussies won't vote for overly emotional sore losers. Maybe John Howard is a better person than you realise, certainly even more trustworthy than you and your colleagues and certainly less harsh in his ways.

I'm sorry you can't see this

I,d have to be wondering why our debt is $107,000 per person wouldnt i,wouldnt you,how much was it for the preceding ten years and before that.And as far as who you vote for just remember the people voted for Malcolm when he still had his hand on the knife in Goughs back so dont start bragging about who knows what .That kind of elderly clever sensible conservativeness angle youve got going on just makes me believe the girl more and further gives strength to what this girl is saying.And i can tell you the most of what she is saying rings preety true the only bits that dont are of things im just not into so cant say but she was on the money for more of the time that she wasnt, just like us all sometimes when we are emtionall and passionate about a subject and are still developing the goodness in ourselves and hopefully throwing out the bad crop or is it crap it,s just part of what we all hopefullly will do (-'> anyway,whos having a good day hope you all are cheers the son

It's hard to disagree with some of the more strident posts here. I reckon that this is a faint, a dog whsitle to the faithful. I'm not a big fan of the Democrats but I'm drawn to this ridiculous honesty.

It reads like undergraduate stuff and not a critique, but lord knows that touches a few bases with me. She should concentrate on the the centre. That's where they're goin to get get the votes.

It also reads like a dog whistle. All dogs wheel left! But I don't reckon that's their strategy. I could be wrong but I reckon they've hired a hit man who's doin the strategy. He's an absolute prick if I've got it right.

Cher

Wow Cher whose hired the hitman?

The Democrats? Couldn't imagine it.

I could imagine them getting someone who wants to get back to their core values. Where the members have more say, where policy doesn't seem to be invented on the run.

The Democrats have some really decent people as their members I have met a few. There are some who even want to take the party away from just a senate party and actually go and get some seats in the House of Reps. Wow wouldn't that be a change from the cosy Senate benches. Of course seeing would be believing and it would be much easier with Natasha as the boss.

Of course the Senators would have to make some core promises to get them back to their core values. Do they like negotiating just a bit much? I wonder if they have actually thought of saying NO! once in a while? They seemed a pretty reasonable party for a long while.

Surely you couldn't mean the Democrats?

Has Johnny helped them somewhat with his work in the Senate?... Has Kim helped them from being the opposition leader? Has the t-shirt from the Greens helped them? I guess all they need is to get more Aussies to give them another go.

I'm not a Democrats voter anyway so what would I know?

Is there a middle still? I thought we were so far to the right these days that we may fall off the flat earth...lol Even Mal Fraser reckons the Libs no longer have liberal values. Do Labor have labor values?

I'd love to see a strong third party... but can the Dems be forgiven?

Is anyone willing to change their vote these days?