Can't understand you, Davo P, Have a Political Science degree as well as a Post Grad in Macro-Economics, but still can't understand anyone believing in an economic theory that is just survival of the fittest for capitalistic racketeers with no holds barred.

Where is it all going to end, mate, with such types running the globe, with them not even knowing that rationalism in economic rationalism is all about balance and reasonable dealing.

Typical of it is the latest racket about getting rid of the social sciences in our universities to be replaced by heaven knows what?

Well, seeing that law happens to be part of the social sciences, looks like the industrial racketeers will have more of a free go than ever.

Labour, in fact, would be far better to go back to Keynesian economics which managed to get us out of the 1930s Great Financial Depression.

Let's hope Kevin Rudd is thinking more than a bit about it.

Dear Mr Anderson,

Re:

"Bob Brown now supports the war in Afghanistan, [and] has weakened his Party's support for the Palestinians ... "

What convincing evidence can you provide to back up your opinion on these two points?

Dear runner,
Sorry, you are completely misinformed. I have never once seen a Green do anything violent, let alone at a rally. One reason I remain on the whole impressed with them is the degree to which they live up to their ideals, and that comes from long and close observation/participation. Maybe you are getting them mixed up with far left anarchist types who in turn would describe The Greens as conservatives?

Dear Sir Vivor - that is a reasonable question - here are some sources (my comments in capitals):

GET OUT OF IRAQ, BUGGER AFGHANISTAN:
"The current Afghanistan mire comes out of the Bush administration’s mistake in withdrawing from Afghanistan and invading Iraq. It should be President Bush dispatching the extra contingent to Afghanistan, not Australia," Senator Brown said. (Bob's website, media release 10/04/07)

ME TOO:
"Greens leader Bob Brown is backing Kevin Rudd’s 3 point plan to tackle the problem of drug abuse, specifically methamphetamine or ‘ice’. ... Senator Brown said that while much more needed to be done, Rudd’s proposal ought to be taken up by the government." (Bob's website, media release 15/04/07)

A bit more for Sir Vivor. Sources on the Palestinians:

Comment: While Kerry Nettle and Bob Brown have both spoken out in defence of the Palestinians, they also voted to ban the 'military wing' of Hamas. A recent internal attempt to water down the Greens pro-Palestinian policy was defeated by Greens members.

HOWARD SHOULD HAVE BANNED HAMAS TWO YEARS BEFORE

ALEXANDRA KIRK: Bob Brown's accused the Government of manufacturing fear and failing to produce a shred of evidence to justify banning Lashkar-e-Taiba and the military wing of Hamas.

BOB BROWN: It is a political exercise based on that lowest of political motivators, and that is fear – manufactured fear. This Government has manifestly failed to proscribe these dangerous, deadly, lethal, disgusting terrorist organisations for the last two years, and it's done nothing about it. It's absolutely disgusting politics from the Howard Government. (The World Today 7 November 2003)

KELLIE DAY: Senator Brown says he supports efforts to outlaw organisations deemed a danger to Australia's national security. But he says in this case, it doesn't appear the Howard government had received any new information about Lashkar-e-Taiba.

BROWN: And we were left to believe that it was really being done to cover the embarrassment of Brigitte's activities in Australia or alternatively simply to raise the spectre of terrorism by banning organisations which it should have banned before. (Asia Pacific 7 Nov 2003)

Sorry Michael G.

I'm going to poke, if not burst your bubble somewhat. Like Atlas (there isn't the world upon your shoulders, hey Atlas hey?) I would describe myself as an insider, at least in left politics.

At the next election, I will be voting Green. I will also be working to put a Green's candidate into the Senate because the majority of Greens who I have met do live up to the ideals that I believe in and I trust this particular candidate to do this.

But like all political parties, they have attracted their fair share of mavericks. It's been the people who are usually dismissed as far left feral who I have found to be the people who these Greens (a minority and identified in their own party) claim to be.

After all if you had personal gain in mind would you become a Anarchist or a Socialist? Hardly. You would join Labor, Liberal and now even the Greens. Sadly the Democrats don't seem to be sparking. Trust the intentions of a Anarchist or a Socialist over a Political Green.