The name Demos sounds like it means great thought, in classical greek tradition. Sadly it's a misnomer

What idiot ever believed Hawke's statement? Given that no one in history has ever come close to what he promised I'm actually stunned that someone can quote that line as if it ever meant anything.

Here's another. See if you know who said it. "There will never be a GST".

As to the ripper Aime highlighted first post.

Give me a break. Why are the homeless numbers increasing, why is there a sudden "Emergency" in remote communities, why are people losing their homes, why can't people afford homes?

It's Howard and Costelloe, Should be Abbott and C... of course as this line is a joke, Just not funny to those who, apparently better off, choose to not feed their kids, live on the streets, vacate their previously owned homes and so on. Yes, they all choose to do that as we are so well off.

Don't you get it Roskam? Some are doing great but they were never in danger of poverty. The vast majority live pay to pay and there are often days missing between money arrivals.

Look at it another way. These 2 clowns have been in charge for 11 years but the poverty and so on problems have changed NOT AT ALL.

When are people like you going to understand?

Understand what?

Simply that neither side works for us. They work for themselves.

To blame left or right, notions from the 50's by the way, is to be oblivious of life.

Bill Gates will do far more for relief from poverty than any Australian government will do. Just not here as we can afford it if only one thing changed.

That is the greedy, rich and selfish actually shared.

But no, your saviour, Howard, has removed the security workers had so that they will soon be competing with the real poverty stricken. Work for food. Oil for food. Wheat for cheats.

Having read Roskam's Liberal party policy document I was about to write a lot here. No Need. Frank has said it well, with less anger than I. Thanks Frank.

I too must stress the ignorance of people who swallow this low unemployment tripe.

Note first Howard claims it is the lowest for 33 years. Since who was PM? That's right. Whitlam. So Howard isn't as good as Whitlam on this issue? That's what he says every time he spouts this set of fantasy figures. He doesn't seem to think Gough was very good, at anything. Slight problem with logic there Roskam. Think about it. Or, try reading and maybe even thinking

Another clash of logic is this, Mr Roskam. Howard claims it is him who has reduced enemployment. Actually so does every Labor State Premier and Chief Minister. So all of them have done this. What harmony.

Sorry Frank, people who use supposed credible qualificiations to reproduce garbage annoy me. Big time. There are many ways the unemployment stats are fiddled. Have any of you actually seen the numbers of people accessing Super? Why? They can't get a job, have to pay for living and need money. That's unemployment. Just not "official".

Now here's something none of you will actually know. How is the unemployment figure arrived at?

It comes from the Census, not CES, Treasury or anywhere else. It's directly from the census. Only those who answer the Census saying they are unemployed are classified as unemplyed.

In between each census this is adjusted. How? Sample surveys from selected large employers, such as the various Public Services.

Any of you firstly know people who don't register for anything, never reply to the Census etc? I do. Lots.

So these "figures" are based on what individuals rate thmeselves as, adjusted over 5 years and called data.
So you see Mr Roskam, you haven't a clue yet you present this tripe as your opinion.

If it is then you should withdraw it, try reading and come back with some reality.

Whew, I tried but the anger just over flowed.

DavoP
the employment and unemployment data are calculated from a monthly sample survey. The methodology is described here:

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DOSSbyTopic/139689E1A84FE4F0CA256BD00028B0E5?OpenDocument

Aimee

You make or infer the false assumption that people on the right of politics have no compassion while those on the left do. I personally have spent plenty of my personal time working with people with mental disorders.My wife worked for years with people with disabilities. We are both conservative voters .

Maybe the problem is that politics of either persuasion can't help the most vulernable in society. Could it be that the selfishness of many on the left and right of politics adds to the dilemma. Could it be that your hate for Mr Howard has blinded you to the fact that politicians are only human and that their are people of compassion on boths sides of the fence.

These trashy, Left-bashing op eds are a bit like serial killer movies. Once upon a time they could really get the adrenalin rushing. But now, they’re running out of angles. There’s been so many that they have little left to say. You just can’t get a decent scare out of them anymore.