Jonathan political pundits like Michelle Grattan weren't upset at Mr Rudd's idea for tapping into the future fund see http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/sugar-coating-on-bitter-pill-turns-libs-sour/2007/03/21/1174153159548.html

How is it possible to conflate the idea of the Internet with a mega central supermarket? Do we not already have a paucity of retailers in the news business - with the prospect of even less to come?

The very existence of Online Opinion trumps the essence of this piece.

As long as control of the Internet remains in public hands, then even an old toss-pot like me can give the lie to a media mogul's worst excesses.

Populist? You bet!

You're right about one thing though. The price of fuel ain't going anywhere but up.

- and the Internet will go a long way towards repairing the economic and social fallout that must follow.

Is Kevin Rudd "raiding the Future Fund" ?

Given that the Telstra (Transition to Full Private Ownership) Bill 2005 specifically allows the Govt. to sell its shares from the future fund, I think not.

The Govt. always intended to sell these shares, why else was this section in the act?

Costello was being too cute, he has lost Howard $2 billion of pork by telling porkies.

He is correct in stating that Rudd's policy is not the best but the Coalition have been pretty useless in that department too.

The main benefit of Labor policy will be to prod Senator Coonan into ending the current stalemate in broadband investment. The sharemarket is full of money eager to be invested in infrastructure. Relax the rules a little and the network will be built. There is no need to raid the superfund.

I'm a tax payer and via that, I'd have to guess that some of that tax is going into the Future Fund, but I keep asking myself just how the Future Fund is going to help me? I thought it was, in reality, a slush fund for the retirement benifits of poilticians, therefore it most likely won't help me in the slightest, apart from the fact that Howard/Costello can plunder it at any time they like to prop up their own hideous agenders.
However, I am an Internet user, just the same as most others who read this post and Internet speed is appalling out where I live. Since I rarely ever go anywhere, don't smoke and live pretty lean, I'd prefer to pamper myself with high speed Internet than lose my tax to the whims of Howard & Costello.
When the economic bubble finally bursts (and it will) all that money in the Future Fund will evaporate within a very short space of time. I'd much prefer to have some of that money spent on the 'people' now instead of waiting until peak oil, Global warming or some other catastrophe destroys the World economy and with it, the Future Fund!
Mr. Ariel, I rather think you, as a public servant, might be more concerned with keeping the Labor Party's hands out of the fund that will secure your retirement.
Wildcat.

a cute 'opinion' piece jono - try sprinkling it with a few more facts so we can take you more seriously...perhaps