Personally, I don't think Kevin Rudd has necessarily forgotten (or will forget) the minority groups such as single mums with kids, or single men, e.t.c But, given the limited amount of time that the media allocates for a Politician to explain their policies to the media and public and they need to get "bang for buck", it seems logical that some minority groups may not be mentioned during a speech to the media, e.t.c. That does not necessarily mean the Government is not/will not consider minority groups. That's my 2 cents worth ...

Hi all
Usual Suspect and DVD, the plasma TV was used as an example. Other items of choice are drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, in certain areas.

Choosing not to have children does not necessarily make one narcissistic or selfish - it simply isn't for everyone. What's wrong with focussing on a career? We pay taxes to support the "working families" (and non-working families and others). I would rather see my taxes contributing more to alleviating the poveerty of aged pensioners, quite frankly, who have to survive on a pittance.

If you choose to have children, you should make sure you can afford it. It is, after all, your choice, and you should only do it if you can support them.

Cheers
Nicky

I am one half of a childless couple. Why we don't have children doesn't matter, but it was not our fear of world overpopulation. The world and Australia would certainly be a better place if those running for office did not assume that all voters, vote with their own self-interests in mind and stopped trying to target particular groups of any sort. I care about working families, I also care about over-worked families. I am sure there are female green1 libs2 voters, but I haven't met one yet. I am interested in urging people to vote at local, state and federal levels for those who will promote a compassionate, just and pluralistic culture for Australia providing services for many groups and opportunities for a range of special needs, even if I am not a member of that group or do not have that special need. I want a strong education system for the children of Australia, but have no children. At the local level, I want a good public library for the community even if I do not use it. The list goes on. I suppose I should just keep dreaming...

'The list goes on. I suppose I should just keep dreaming...' I suppose you don't realise how good we have it!

Hi all

Runner, I think there would be a lot of people in the community who might not agree with you - regardless of how good we have it, I think we should always be aiming for better. Nettle, I'm with you. If politicians left their ivory towers, and maybe spent a week in the household of an aged pensioner who cannot afford to run their heating, for example, we might see more of the pluralistic society you speak of.

In poorer socio-economic areas in which I have worked, politicians have never even been there, yet they award themselves (very quietly) huge pay increases without any conception of how parts of the community struggle just to pay the bills.

I would like to see comprehensive libraries everywhere, better education for adults who for whatever reason cannot read or write, some civilized standards in prisons so that the people who go in there don't come out worse than when they went in - but it doesn't grab votes. "Working families"? Give us a break!

Cheers
Nicky

Nicky, I dont disagree with your statement that you shouldnt have children unless you can afford them. However, a few points to note:

1. Should having children be restricted to those that are "well-off" I am not convinced that this is a good target for society to have.

2. What you can afford today, you might not be able to next year. There are all sorts of reasons why the affordable might become a problem in future years.

Certainly I think at the moment there is excessive focus on working families by politicians. It must be remembered though that working parents are probably the most time-poor and tired group within the community. Those that are childless, or have been lucky enough to be able to afford to have one parent stay at home dont have the same concept of sheer exhaustion (particularly when trying to work with very young children). 5 hours (broken) sleep is a luxury. Does this entitle me (and others like me) to a hand-out? No, but it should entitle me to a little respect. I could always give up work (and the taxes I pay) and get parenting payments, sell the house and get rent assistance, have another baby in 6 years time so I dont have to go back to work, and carry on getting family tax benefit until the last child leaves home, get the dole for a few years because I am now unemployable, then qualify for the age pension the rest of my ife, all the time relying on medicare to look after any health issues. Hmm, maybe there is more depth to supporting families where both parents work ("working families") than meets the eye.