It just seems that because a few stupid people bite off more than they can chew that we all have to be painted with the same brush.

We have a big new house, we have a couple of cars, we have a couple of plasmas, we like our kids to dress well and we like to live comfortable. We work to afford what we enjoy and desire. There is nothing wrong with wanting to have material things that make your life pleasant and easier - you just have to be able to afford it.

When we bought our house we considered what would happen if interest rates went up, we considered what would happen when we had children, we considered all the variables and we upgraded in stages to suit our situation at the time.

There are many like us. Not all people are stupid.

If politicians are not there to look out for our welfare and protection, what earthly purpose do they serve?

Voters be warned: electing a politican who preaches from the gospel of "personal responsibility" is giving them a mandate to s*it on you from a great height.

I wonder if Felicity has fully thought through the contradictions between her espousal of "personal responsibility" and her presumed interest in a political career, which is (or should be) all about public service.

I hope Felicity is in a position to clarify what role there is for a public sector - for an army, a health or education system, for roads or water or sewerage, in a world where "personal responsibility" is the watch-word.

If she wants to throw in her lot with the survivalists and head for the hills with a shotgun and can of beans, she will be the very epitome of "personal responsibility", and I for one would applaud her ethical stance.

But to lecture us about "personal responsibility" while seeking the spoils of a public career - it does not smell sweetly to me.

So let me get this straight. In 2004 John Howard asked "Who do you trust to keep interest rates low?" Other quotes from Howard included "The reality is that Labor governments over the last 30 years have always delivered higher interest rates," "the likelihood of a greater risk of higher interest rates under a Latham Labor Government." etc etc. The interest rate scare was the central plank of the Coalition's election campaign.

Now according to the polls, a lot of punters want to punish Howard for rising inflation rates, because they "trusted" him. Talk about ungrateful, eh Felicity? You promise something, don't deliver it, then people want to blame you for it.

Ironic really, Felicity bangs on about the death "personal responsibility", as cover for a Federal Gevernment that wants to avoid being held to account for their election propaganda. Priceless.

Of course it is the government that causes the interest rates to rise. It has nothing to do with the amount we spend. It has nothing to do with the luxury goods we must have.
Er...not sure that I actually have that right.
Seriously blaming the government for the fact that we want a four bedroom home on a nice block and bigger car than we need to say nothing of the other things some people believe they cannot live without - well, it's nice to blame the government but it is not fair or reasonable or even accurate. We push interest rates up.
Or rather the rest of you do because I don't own a four bedroom home, don't own a car, don't own a plasma tv etc etc. Oh, forgot - I do own a computer...but then I do need that because I do international voluntary work from home.

Communicat says "well, it's nice to blame the government but it is not fair or reasonable or even accurate. We push interest rates up."

The government do not push interest rates up nor do we. Communicat who alludes to be "fair reasonable and accurate" should know that interest rates are decided by the international monetary markets and finance swindlers. A lot of money becomes available with high rates of return. Howard is their servant, an instrument and he was lying through his teeth (and playing on peoples fears) in the last elections that his government controls interest rates.
Communicat absolves the Howard govt. and high rents by blaming the people. This is deviously turning reality on its head. Governments do not play some passive role as if they are just sitting in space twiddling their fingers. The land too plays a fairly large role whereby a market is created with significant profits for land swindling. The largest developers receive parcels of land at very very cheap prices after giving the government their requirements. The release of land in small parcels is designed to keep prices and profits very high. The banks at times lend money knowing forclosure on house and land is a very likely. But the banks do nicely after receiving deposit and payments, as well as, house and land. Another large factor is that the rich constantly intervene to make workers poorer.

I save 80% of my wage and and vote socialist and dream of interest rate rises.

What explains this phenomenon?

Anyone?