Ah Stan1. "As John Howard's 11 Years in power opened" the very first words. Should this be "as John Howard's 11th year in power began"? or "at the beginning of JH's 11th year in power"? Or did she really mean when the "11 years in power opened" That is 1996. Which did she mean? Such clarity!

No metaphors? Rudd really has the face of an Angel? Gabrielle or Lucifer? who knows; it's only a metaphor. Had she said "A face like an Angel" this would be a.....what? (starts with "s") And "Concrete" action; made of sand and cement mixed with water and a little gravel? hmmm. That's only a metaphor too! It's like the "Man of Steel" Stan1; John Howard is NOT really made of stuff produced by Bluescope at their steelworks! Duhhhh!

Anyway, you don't understand grammar. But we won't dwell on that.

The real crux is that once again, you have failed to reply to the key criticism; Ms Cica (half my mates have got doctorates in something or other; they are Mr Smith or Mr Jones to almost everybody except pompous twits) has advocated dishonesty as the best policy. Read her comments about getting over the first hurdle(he has to lie to get elected), then those last two paragraphs, and weep.

Jcoll. I made it as clear as possible. Giving a man a fish may make you feel like a caring bloke, but giving him the means to fish for himself is not "punishment". It frees him....for life.

Also It has been clearly shown that in Australia, every person earning less than $45K p.a gets more in services than they pay in taxes. This is lower(lowest?)class welfare, not "middle-class". cheers.

punter57,

I didn't read the article as advocating dishonesty. It's pointing out that Rudd is focusing his policies and comments on the issues the public (or more correctly the media) is focusing on at the present, and on these issues Rudd frequently has a similar stance to Howard. It also identifies and speculates that there are plenty of issues where their views are different, and that it may not be until later on that significant attention is given to these issues and hence Rudd become differentiable.

As for actual dishonesty, the Howard government has been caught out plenty of times. Rudd is ahead on the honesty issue which I think is one key factor behind the polls.

While any opposition party has a certain role in playing devils advocate and providing a meaningful alternative, it would be folly to do so on every issue, simply for the sake of it. It is quite widely accepted that the coalition's stance on the economy is what the public 'wants'. What Rudd is doing is accepting that, and in retaliation to the coalition's claims to the contrary, clarifying that he plans to run the economy in a conservative way.

While it may be true that a person earning less that $45k per annum receives more tax dollars in services than they pay, I believe that Howard has gradually reduced that positive ratio while focusing the tax relief on those who earn significantly more. It is the direction that he is 'reforming' the tax system that identifies what type of welfare system he supports.

It's my understanding that many people view free-market capitalism, irrespective of its efficiency, does not fairly distribute the nations wealth (e.g. Public disgust at CEO vs worker pay levels). Hence shifting towards a user-pays government services system, as Howard seems to be pushing, does not give the lower class the Australia fair-go.

In the context of your fishing metaphor, isn't shifting the universities to a user-pays, up-front high-cost system essentially like charging that hungry man a weeks worth of fish for the fishing lessons?

for Runner

If I feed the poor you call me a saint - if I question the structures that cause the poverty (and lobby governments to change those structures) you call me a communist (or a lefty in the very least).

after Helda Camara

Maybe those lefties who lobby and work- often part time or voluntarily- in the community sector don't have enough spare cash to give big to charity and maybe some of those people who do, do so to assuage their own guilt so they can continue profligate lifestyles that are a factor in the problematic structures that cause poverty. Ever heard the one about the camel and the eye of a needle?

You know you can say whatever you like but in the end what i have said is true.

You just dont like it.
At least i have what it takes to stand and fight and not just cock the leg and pant.

Also you said those that carry out certain acts should be by god sentenced to death does this also include those from within the church or doesnt that count just like the labor party.
If the ALP had to put in a resume, after their checks nobody would touch them with a 40 foot barge pole,

But then again their are those who deny the facts.

As for Mr Ulrich:

Normally I admire the independent politicians who forgo the support of the major parties to attempt to truly represent their electorate. However attempting to use an unsolved crime to smear an entire political party as pedophiles does little aside from portray the accuser as a lunatic. I can see why even with wide spread dissatisfaction with the major parties, the independents still get a low vote count.
Posted by Desipis, Tuesday, 28 August 2007 11:47:03 AM