Someone mentioned earlier that there was a direct connection between OLO and Mr. Turnbull.

Graham, if this is the case can you please make sure Mr. Turnbull reads these comments. He seems to be so far out of touch with reality. I guess reality for him is the "economy" and "growth" and he can not see where this line of expansionist philosophy is taking his children. Maybe someone in his family has a brain that is not so polluted with the system that has brought western civilization to this point. There is no argument, we humans have done well, but our planet can no longer withstand what we are doing.

Mr. Turnbull is a very powerful and persuasive man, surely someone can make him see what is happening. We need people like him to realize where our present economic model is leading us so we can get the wheels turning. We need to stabilize our population then slowly reduce it, reduce energy consumption, build replenishable energy producing infrastructure while we still have the non-renewable energy sources to do it.

We must do this without jeopardizing our quality of life. This will be the sign of a well thought out future.

Garbage, Mr. Turnbull.

So not only do we now have Howard haters,we now have Turnbull haters.Just because Malcolm is rich,it does not not exclude him from entering into logical debate.

I view the present poor state of politics as being largely due to a weak,pathic Labor Party.If they were half an opposition they could have taken the Coaltion to task on numerous past policies,instead they have been consumed with their own power struggles and have not premoted real ability or talent.Paul Keating got something right for once in his rendition on lateline with Tony Jones.Labor are just a pathetic bunch of hypocrytes who are living in the past.If they could find a Tony Blair and a half decent front bench amongst them,I would change my vote.

So the Turnbull haters should look at improving their own party and then they will have a lot less to be angry about.

Guy V, why would Malcolm Turnbull want to read this thread? It's full of people insulting him. The level of invective is repelling of sensible debate. Most participants appear to have made up their minds and are using the forum to vent.

And there is no direct connection between Malcolm Turnbull and OLO. His wife is on our editorial advisory board, which, as the name says, is advisory. It's there for advice, not to run the journal. The only politicians we could be said to have direct relationships with are those who once paid a membership of National Forum, or for whom we have built websites. Malcolm's not on either list.

Graham, Thank you for the clarification.

I also find it galling to read the personal attacks on well meaning contributors. I had hoped this forum would be above that level of commentator and those who disagree with a contributor could make constructive and objective comment. I do understand why a contributor would not wish to read the posts.

However, through all the dross of personal attack there is still a thread of sensible and concerned people with a very good grasp of Australia's present parlous situation regarding our future. I earnestly suggest they keep to the facts which will encourage the personal detractors to lift their game.

Thank you for the forum and keep up the good work.

Its a bit rich calling M.Turnbull a 'well meaning contributor' - he (or more likely one of his taxpayer funded staff) have merely reposted an article published elsewhere - gosh what a contribution.

The article anyway contains zero real information, just a pre-election spin, and we're supposed to to suck it up and smile? Sorry, over a decades worth of smear (green=terrorist) will tend to create a reaction and this is the nearest Australia gets to real democracy, as anyone who's tried to talk to a Liberal Party MP about anything other than money knows.

Incidentally, its not just the majority of dole-bludging-gay-whale-loving-communist-terrorist readers of OLO who think the Liberals stink:
..Cbus chief executive Sandy Grant, who controls almost $12 billion in super funds, said the state of debate on environment issues was "appalling if not farcical".
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21913321-664,00.html
'Criminal negligence' is how i'd put it, but "Howard haters" are a very broad church.