Daggett, the aspect I find so fascinating is Yabby's own tendency - no, compulsion - to argue with irrelevant "red herrings" when he is backed into a corner, then accusing others of doing just that. Then, when challenged, he has a little tantrum, picks up his bat and ball and refuses to play any more (Quack quack is spot on, Dickie).

The farming of exotic, cloven hooved animals has ruined Australia's delicate eco-systems, that much is scientifically acknowledged. But you won't stop them doing it while they can load them onto crappy wrecks of ships and send them to butchers in the Middle East and South East Asia, fully aware of the extreme suffering and appalling deaths their animals face.

There are certain moral values attached to "wealth creation". When Australia has ruined its soils and can grow nothing more, and has mined and flogged off all its mineral and other assets, what are the unqualified for anything else farmers and miners going to do? Suck up our (those of us who work in more sustainable sectors) tax dollars, of course.

Nicky

Nicky dear, hehe how easy it is to go through life, simply oblivious
to what is happening in the real world, because you don't understand
basic economics.

We could of course shut down all mining and farming tomorrow. In
that case we would borrow even more from the Chinese and Japanese,
then we already do now, to pay our bills. Never mind a current
account of 6%, it would blow out to 20% or higher. The Chinese
and Japanese would of course want payment for all this money.
You would soon be working for Chinese bosses on their terms, not
your terms. You would soon be little but a servant in your own
country. But you clearly don't understand the implications.

So please go out and generate some exports along with the rest of
your fellow city slickers, for we are tired of you living off
the backs of regional West Australians, to carry you in the
global realities of life. People like Keating clearly understand
it, most of you seem to be economically illiterate.

Daggett, yours is a lonely life in Australia, why haven't you moved
to Cuba yet? Yes, Australians voted for Liberal and Labor, not
the socialist workers party. They clearly want and enjoy their
freedoms. But I had better not hold you up from reading yet another
Castro speech, about the wonders of Cuba.

Nicky dear, btw, where have you ever backed me in a corner?
Dream on.

Poor Yabby, I back you into a corner every time I want to. I'm afraid I do not feel even slightly beholden to the primary sectors who are flogging off Australia to the highest bidder - in a couple of generations you will find that China (and/or India) will have virtually taken over Australia anyway. Or what you people have left of it.

I prefer to provide for the future in a sustainable way. There are other sectors of export value besides the infamous, amoral WA (and other states') live export farmers. Furthermore, there is much to be said for Trade Unionism, following John Howard's demolition of workplace relations.

But we have digressed from the topic again - which is usually Yabby's intention when the spotlight is thrown upon what he does (or claims to do).

Nicky

Nicky dear, just a small detail, perhaps you don't watch or read
the news. If you check, you'll find that Ford and GM are both
pretty well on the verge of bankrupcy, dependant on US Govt
handouts to survive.

Last year the Australian MV industry lost 450 million $, so perhaps
head office might not be around to plug the holes anymore. Now
we have Mr Rudd doling out 6 billion $ of taxpayers money to try and
keep them going.

If GM and Ford Australia shut down, due to their parents being
bankrupt, perhaps your little scheme to export Australian cars to
the Middle East, might not be so sustainable after all. That is
despite 6 billion $ thrown at them from us taxpayers.

Looks like you are going to have to get serious one of these days,
about actually paying your way in the world. Otherwise, it will
hit you like a brick one day.

kind of funny deriding mining and agriculture, since they are the things destined to hold Australia out of recession. Especially since the vast majority of us depend on these industries every day, be it electricity(mostly from coal) or the most fundamental of needs - food and clothing. Funny too that a "declining" industry of farming has almost double the productivity growth as that of the nation as a whole.

Much as everyone thinks that their job is sooo important, how long can you go without food? Think again about importing food, Australia is one of the few countries to have significant surplus food for export, and thats before world population expands a further 40% or so.

A lot of the derision for Ag seems to stem from jealousy- envy of assets, 4wds, job satisfaction, autonomy- I don't know but it doesn't seem logically based. "Handouts" are a polarising issue to be sure, it certainly would be better to be a loan scheme in tough times. If you can't pay it back at low interest, well maybe it's time to realise some capital gain and live it up.
The only thing is it's the city peoples who have caused global warming and climate change and they should accept they have to pay for some of that damage - caused by their "sustainable" living.

I wonder what sustainable sectors there are that will hold up to a real food crisis, heaven forbid.

Lets see, pay more for food or maintain pay tv, food vs that new car, food vs anything/service that any company, anyone anywhere provides. Sane individuals will spend on food.
Jobs will come and go, agriculture will remain. Well the oldest proffesion might flourish too but I'm thinking most are out of luck on that score.

*Poor Yabby, I back you into a corner every time I want to.*

Nicky dear, sheesh, I wish you would let me know, for I have not
seen one yet. In your mind perhaps.

*in a couple of generations you will find that China (and/or India) will have virtually taken over Australia anyway. *

Well some of us are not that defeatist. If Australians ignore
reality as you seem to and let it happen, then you dear, will
learn the difference between consensual sex and rape, the hard
way of course, but it will be too late.