Antiseptic,

I hope you're right. However I'm not optimistic, we have enough dopey voters who will blame the government in power at the time of any crisis, rather than a previous incompetent administration.

Hi all,

Howard's precise words-

'I would expect well into my term, … I would probably, certainly form the view well into my term, that it makes sense for me to retire, and in those circumstances, I would expect, although it would be a matter for the Party to determine if Peter would take over'.

have been for once understood for what they really are - lies and deciet cloaked in Ambiguity, given what we all know about the man's history of core/non core promises.

What really surprises is that many other media commentators of the political bent have allowed their preconceived ideas to colour their commentaries.

"We'll all be rooned" said Hanrahan Labor fans last election and the one before that and the one before that.
Mabe the ALP could change it's name to Hanrahan Howlers, after all there are no workers in the all star party anyway.

Pleased to meetcha, Mac. But regarding Horne's Lucky Country argument, though you did say the problem in the 60s is still with us, you did not say what it was?

But am I right or wrong when I recall that Horne's concept of the problem, was that we were too close to the Menzies concept, too tied to the British coat-tails - as often mentioned by Black Jack Mackewan, leader of our Country Party.

I presume your statement then that we are still stuck with the problem, means like me that you do not favour us now having to suck up to Pax America just to keep being loyal or something?

Could say that we do need America, but more on equal terms than the way John Howard fawns over it.

Yep, left school in 1933 to work with the old man, my father, who was also Secretary Presidentia of the Dalwallinu Cockies Union.

It was also when the wheatbelt farmers proved their worth, kicking out the Big Biz grain buyers, Bunge and Dreyfus, who are now back again damn their hides along with Cargills.

Even after we came back from the war, we tried to keep our unions going. But now with Howard, it seems we have to let the big buyers have the big end of the trading stick, similar to the workers with the employers.

Reckon us cockies ought to be more like the French, proud agrarian unonists who will change their tactics to deal with either left or right governments, as long as they get a good go.

Now of course they are all on subsidies like the Yankee farmers, so they should be happy.

Cheers - BB - WA