Given the enactment of legislation and polices, not even put to the electorate at the last election by this Government, that has changed the way of life for the worse for many Australians - "Work Choices", "Welfare to Work", ramping up of immigration to unprecented levels of 140,000 per year, the abuses of the skilled migration program and temporary work visas, the sale of Australian housing on the international market, the wholesale export of skilled jobs to low wage economies, the criminalisation of copyright infringement (see http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=5068), the $300 million paid to Saddam's regime, whether the result of an unbeleivable degree of incompetence or collusion, etc - the re-election of this Government in 2007 would set a precedent that could be a mortal blow to democracy in this country. It would also mean throwing any chance of this country taking any worhtwhile action to confront the terible looming crises of Peak Oil and Global warming (see "Climate's last chance" by Tim Flannery at http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/climates-last-chance/2006/10/27/1161749313108.html), given the Howard Government's reckless and criminal failure to act so far.

Those of us see this Government for the incompetent, fraudulent, miserly, malevolent and deceitful Government that it is cannot affords to sit back and let the wholly avoidable fisaco of 2004 be repeated in 2007.

I, for one, completely reject any notion that the re-election of the Howard Government is inevitable, even given the grave difficiencies of the Labor Party and all of the other Parliamentary opposition political parties. I see no reason why we cannot, between now and next year's election, build a focussed grass roots political movement that would see John Howard's Government permanently consigned to the scrap heap and set Australia back on the path towards effective participatory democracy and good governance.

Hi daggett,

I couldn't in any way ever vote for or support the Coalition given what they have done to take Australia backwards in so many ways. Essentially their only real claim is good economoic management, a point I do not concur with. The resources boom and international markets have given Australia good financial times, for some anyway.

The GST has given any government the ability to look good financially but the reality is you and I could claim the same credentials if we, as individuals, could just levy charges on friends and relatives to support our own lifestyle.

There are so many people being affected and who will be affected by Howard's drive to divide and impoverish Australians. We are now no longer a country respected in many parts of the world and that is the Coalition's clear responsibility.

I only wish daggett that a true people's movement could occur and I hope it does, and soon. With a year to go to the next election there isn't time for such a movement unless it's an uprising, something no one wants.

How do you suggest this happen? Is there anywhere to go to see such action? I'm with you if there is anything actually happening. I've looked as no doubt you all have and there is nothing that looks even slightly promising in the short term. Long term, whatever it takes, the two major Parties must have their power reduced to allow and change. Tell us how and I'm with you.

As for those who want Labor in. I do too but for only one reason. To ses howard's End. Given the Labor State government performances and arrogance though we would only be changing the deck chairs.

I must also say to Cleo that Hawke won simply by moving Labor's platform to the right. He took the previous Coalition platforms and won. That in turn has led to the Coalition moving further to the right as we have seen. Hawke took their ground, that's why he won.

Low unemployment, low inflation, low interest rates, work for anyone who wants it, more money spent on the environment than ever before, more money for single mums, more people owning their own homes, more money for hospitals, more for mental health, O dear what a wretched government! How could so many voters get it so wrong for the last 10 years? I wonder!

runner,

Your last post reads like a Liberal Party media release.

Regarding low unemployment, most of the jobs created are demeaning, low paid, casualised, have no career path and often socially useless. Do you remember how when, 2004 Labor promised measures to curtail the activities of telemarketers? A government minister objected that it would take away the livelihoods of of 200,000(?!) people. Can you imagine 200,000 people being forced to earn their livelihoods in that way?

The inflation and GDP figures which are used by Government propagandists to tell us how much our standard of living has supposedly risen under the Howard Government are rubbish as I have explained at http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=3737#12173

With the massive demand for our finite non-renewable mineral resources, any bumbling fools, with no concern for our environment or for future generations, can make themselves appear to be good economic mangers, especially with the help of an uncritical and sycophantic newsmedia, and indeed they have.

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Hi RobbyH,

Of course I agree with you.

You wrote: "I only wish daggett that a true people's movement could occur ...

"How do you suggest this happen? ... I've looked ... and there is nothing that looks even slightly promising in the short term. ..."

In sense you are right, but I think with so many people out there already politically engaged against the many evils being inflicted on this country by John Howard and his many accomplices within the Labor Party, it would not be altogether impossible with the help of the Internet to have these people start pulling in the same direction.

The bottom line is that Howard must be booted out in 2007. If Beazley, Rudd or Gillard then prove unequal to the task of repairing the damage done by this Government, we can find ways to deal with that, however there will be almost no chance of moving forward with John Howard or Costello are at the helm after 2007.

Please feel encouraged to make further contact with me by following the link to my home page at the bottom of every post I make.

Being employed redefined a 1 hrs work per week.

Core inflation rising dramatically due to lack of infrastucture spending.

Among the highest interest rates of any OECD country

Australian spending on the environment 6th worst in the world.

Childcare crisis.

Personal Insolvency up 18.92% in the past qtr.

Federal Govt health funding has fallen by 1.9% since 1990

Medicare-reimbursed services provided by psychiatrists have declined by 6.5% since 1995–96, while total out-of-pocket expenses per attendance have increased by 48.6%

Yes a wretched govt. shame many people believe their spin.

Hi Daggett,I'll check out your page and email you.

To Runner,

I thought for a moment there that Australia had deteriorated markedly. But your post has shown me the light. All these things courtesy of "good economic management". BS mate. Have you noticed that all State governments too are claiming themselves as the same "good economic managers"?.

There is also a small area under the umbrella "infrastructure" but we can blame shift all that to the States can't we? Again I blame State Labor equally for those failures.

Mind you there are one or two people who may not think this is the lucky country for them. Is it this wonderful management that has created the record numbers of homeless?

As to all that spending on mental health. Howard hasn't spent a cent yet. He has announced moves which are two decades late (yes Labor too at fault). The reality of Howard's move is that the total failure of closing mental health facilities over the last twenty years has turned prisons into mental ill health facilities (if you're not mentally ill when entering you will be on exit) and these people are being let out with no supervision. Therefore Howard's move to appease the public as the public is rightly becoming afraid of what might be out there when they do go out.

Next time you wish to include the mental health area as "good" or well funded, take a look around mate. Try reading for starters. Current figures are that 1 in 4 0r 5 Australians will suffer depression during their lives. That's just one of those nasty illnesses and the amount being offered is a drop in the bucket to what is needed.

Do you know where these funds are targetted? Do you know what benefits that might create? Would that money be better spent building mental health facilities or just giving psychologists more work and money?

If you actually want to research this area and debate it with me, come on down. Just get a fact or two first mate.