sly – Labor have not screwed us for 10 years (which is debatable) because they haven’t been in power for 10 years. Giving them a second chance will just open the door for them to betray you again.

dagget – the sort of democracy that allows such far reaching legislation is our (so-called) democracy – or in Marxist terminology - bourgeois democracy.

The inevitable logic of capitalist “democracy” is that capital will constantly seek out lower costs of production i.e. lower wages, lower working conditions, lower taxation, lax environmental laws. In order to compete, nation states must make the investment environment attractive to those with the capital to invest, otherwise it will move elsewhere – China, India etc. That is why the Government must introduce such laws, and that is why Labor will not repeal them. There is no way to stop it within the current economic framework – which is why the unions and the ALP are dead ends.

The choice between Labor and the Liberals is not important because they are virtually the same party. The ruling classes just want you to believe you have a choice. (just consider the marvellously Orwellian term “work choices”)

How long have unions and the Labor party been in existence? What progress are they making? Shouldn’t they have solved it all by now? How are they any better than socialists? You seem like a thoughtful person dagget, perhaps you should seriously study www.wsws.org, you might find it enlightening.

shorbe wrote(http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=4452#41789) : "That's their own fault and nobody else's. If people don't want the things you mentioned then it's up to them to make decisions ... that prevent such things from happening. ... That having been said, I have no problem with some of the negative outcomes you mention."

I had no doubt that you were the kind of person who would not be troubled in the least that people are having teeth pulled out as a result of the axing the Commonwealth dental care program in 1996. The only form of dental care available to hundreds of thousands of Australians is tooth extraction. A friend on a disability pension due to brain damage, a bi-polar condition and eplipsy had all his teeth extracted without his consent by one of the dentists working in the public health system to whom he is forced to turn for treatment.

On the one hand Costello proclaims record budget surpluses whilst, on the other, millions of Australians are deprived because of cut-backs to Government services and employment opportunities.

It is rubbish that those who are well off have worked the hardest, whilst all those suffering hardship are doing so because they have chosen to be lazy.

Very little economic activity in Australia today is based on wealth creation. Most concerns the transfer of the wealth out of the pockets of one group of Australians into the pockets of another.

In 2001 I reluctantly sat in on a negotiation with a real estate agent for the purchase of an investment townhouse. The agent told us of how, because of the negative gearing tax laws, for every three properties bought by a property speculator, one was paid for by his/her tenants.

So, whilst one group of Australians enjoy record unearned profits, others are forced to work at second jobs or overtime in order to pay the costs of shelter which used to be easily affordable to ordinary Australians a generation ago.

This is one of many examples of the real causes of inequality and the deprivation that so many Australians are now facing.

Hi, I have studied work choices closely and if the High Court does not overturn these laws it will be the beginning of the dimise of all states.

Wages will fall and crime will increase and I'm very worried. This Government has lied to us and I feel like the Business Council of Australia is running this country.

After reading the Posting, ‘Miners Put The spotlight On Unions,’ briefly, yesterday, it must have stayed in the back of my mind when I chose from my local library, “The Coalminers of Queensland.” An narrative history of the Queensland Colliery Employees Union, by Pete Thomas. Volume 1:Creating the Traditions. First published in 1986 by the Queensland Colliery Employees Union.

Having been born a & raised in the West Moreton District, I was never far from a Coal Mine. Went to school with the Coal-face miners sons & daughters, as well as mine management's children. I was the poor-dirt-farmer’s daughter, who had eggs & milk for breakfast, as that is what the farm produced. Never knew the meaning of ‘The Union,’ until my first job, as junior office girl in department store. But this never gave me the understanding of what the word “Union,” ment, especially to those working in the mining industry.

I do not know how many of my class mates went without ‘egg & milk,’ for breakfast, Now two of my sons work in the mining industry, one underground, one in open cut mining, I see the real need for the workers to be united in their ‘Work Place Safety,’ capacity & be able to give their children Egg & milk for breakfast.

Come on surely its clear Labor is far better for middle Australia than Howard?
Unions again blacked as control freaks trying to run the country is madness.
This week in my union life, tour reginal area service and recruit, sell last of raffle tickets for dead workers family, quite a crime that.
Attend night meeting of reginal Labour council as guest of CFMEU local and very good oficial.
Listen to report of first day of workchoices sacking of all staff at rich mans playground.
All offered contracts and return next day ,execpt a 30 year veteran, he is gone, 30 years of non unionism in fact anti unionism who is trying to help? us evil unionists.
Tour continues finding an 18 year old working on pick and shovel for $7 an hour both unions combined try to help again non unionist.
Adult male aproaches union,me is working for $4 an hour less than the EBA his firm have?
evil unions? do you mean BCA? AIG? FAMERS FEDERATION?
Unions are here to stay this heavy load will stengthen us.

Buried Alive Dropkick Murphys lyrics
Artist: Dropkick Murphys
Album: Blackout
Year: 2003
Title: Buried Alive Print
Correct

Nothing they could do but sit down there with the black coal all around them, and the water rose so quick and cold, an unlikely place to drown.

Nine in the mine, trapped down below- down, down, down in the ground
and this'll be the day I didn't kiss my wife goodbye, take care of my family I'm buried alive

They held their heads up high as they struggled hard to breath
and asked the Lord to open his arms for the nine souls he'd receive

Nine in the mine...

They latched themselves together so in death they might be found
and prayed there for miracle some 24 stories down.

ENDS OF QUOTE

Some Americans know the dangers that workers go through to feed their families.

Some Australians know what families go through because of powerful people who don't care less about their families. Those people are Union folk and Howard's mob are bent on destroying them.

The song above is fast and good old fashioned clannish-like punk music. Bagpipes the lot. Although to do with US coal mine disaster is still relevant. Great stuff.

My old Uncle was a coal miner and a proud Union man. Every time a Liberals/Nationals belittle the Unions (just listen to the disrespectful nonsense they spew out in parliament at times) they slander a lot of great Australians. (KNOCKING OFF TUME)