If we take a look at the leadership of the Labor Party today, we find that we are rule by the Right. A force whose ideas are befitting a Conserative Government. The Right is more interested in being in Government instead of promoting Labor values. Whether it be at the National or State Conferences they go with the idea that their own agenda is the right one and the Left, in particular the Socialist Left
must accept it or else. I am afraid the Right has lost its way and needs to read more about Labor history and what the Party stands for. It is time the party realised together we march into government, divided we remain in opposition.

a vote against howard is not necessarily a vote for rudd or the minor parties...state issues will dominate for the first time in a long while...the role that Rudd's version of federalism will play will be crucial.

BushBred, I think that is exactly what Rudd is doing returning to the Hawke era of care and co-operation between all.

On Keating, he was a Liberal in Labor clothing.

On the article itself, yes the government does interfere in a lot of things that should be left to individual choice, however as Nicholas Gruen argues some use of our money is efficient. You give it to the government and they give it back where you need it which prevents you the stress of spending forever working out (budgeting) whether you need various insurances, have to pay certain bills, and doing a budget on hundreds of services you use everyday but don't tend to think about - it is easier for the government to do it for you and less stress upon the individual / family.

When you think of the prfound divisions in Labor, maybe the labor right so have more in common with the Liberal/National coalition than the labor old-guard left.

Maybe if those who have voted for "labor right" recognised this and voted according to their values and not with tradition we would see the entryists and labor left consigned to the dustbin of history, where they belong.

There is nothing "progressive" in socialism (nerver was really). It is a spent force, a grab bag full of empty rhetoric and a mythical belief in their own omnipotence.