Actually I am not a public servant, nor am I in a union. I just have no gullibility when it comes to spin and inane jingoism. To me a spade is a spade and a shovel is a shovel. I assume to be called a public servant is supposed to be some sort of slur and to be labelled as a trade union member is also some sort of slur. As I said I dont belong to a union , I believe people who give up their time and orientate their life styles to help another to gain wealth should be free to form a union, even fringe looney unions such as various Chamber of commerce's that are dedicated to undermining the nation and in the name of personal greed have a right to exist. Business mens association or airline pilots union all they are about is looking after members.

The public service is about looking after the country , even though you wish to throw me in with "public servants" doctors , nurses , soldiers, police, administrators , postal workers and librarians
it would be no slur. The only problem with the public service is when it is politicised and the public service are used for the purposes of the party and in the case of this current government to the detriment and shame of the nation.

Political parties are also unions , for a political party to be anti union is about as silly and unintelligent as a group of people can get. How many anti unionists have ever voted for a political party thereby undermining their entire philosphy?

It is probably a symptom of this countries underlying problem, too many people and apparently most politicians never think.

Maybe its human nature , maybe many Australians are simply too bone lazy to have a thought and the worst of them enter politics.

Whatever the reason the policies of the Howard government have been bizarre and weird at best , with no positive or constructive purpose. Rudds response is just as cooky and supporters of both are led by the nose by an intellectually void yet equally peculiar media.

Long gone is the age of reason, this is the era of Monty Python politics meets the dark age superstition of the pitch fork armed mob.

The Oz's "Cut and Paste" today had an article from the Wall St Journal Asia by Sinclair Davidson and Alex Robson (the same "economists" who stuck the boot into the Sydney Uni report that was hostile to AWAs) - that new article looked like it ripped every word out of this article. Lazy bloody Libs!

The strip club comments are off the mark. I am a young man and some young women DESERVE to be degraded, some of the even take it up as a hobby.

I will support a government that makes education and employment opportunities for social mobility widely available. I do not see howard has been doing this. Limiting access to education.

Otherwise any argument along the lines of rewarding risk takers and high achievers is simply a cash grab for a two tiered economic system.

Decent SOLID education, not 'arts' students, tech school, electricians, plumbers teachers, ENGINEERS & scientists (with research opps). Opportunities not just a glossy piece of paper. R&D spending.

Howard has not done this. I will vote Rudd. Labor deserves a chance its labors turn.