In times yet to come some one shifting through posts in OLO will find evidence of just how blind some of us are.
No surprise, human nature is defensive, and defense by attacking that we do not like, or is it understand?
The reviewer of our thoughts will have an advantage.
He/She or them will know the outcomes of health reform, ETS, Abbott's defective leadership, his successors rebuilding and re focusing of the conservative side of politics.
Time will have entrenched the evidence of most spending that needed to take place being a reason Australia made it undamaged past THIS GFC.
Rudd will be remembered as a well liked leader, until mid third term, his achievements respected.
For half a century conservatives will cringe when thinking of the take over of their party by the extremists last year.
I have no doubt none that conservatives on returning to power will fight just as hard for ETS, health reform and much they today dither with.

Belly, is there anything that you think Australians are able to make responsible decisions about for themselves, or is everything we do best controlled by a government?

Here's a few areas of interest to get you started:

housing - private ownership, or Government? After all, some people go broke trying to pay for mortgages they can't afford and rents are fast moving beyond the reach of single people. Should the Governemnt simply nationalise all housing stock? Homelessness costs this nation millions every year.

Transport - surely, if tobacco is to be eliminated, then private motor vehicles, which kill or maim many thousands every year and cost the taxpayer billions in both medical and maintenance costs should surely be phased out as soon as possible?

Food - every year, thousands of australians are stricken with diseases caused by eating too much or poorly-prepared food. Surely a caring government can determine the optimum level of nutrtion we each require and make it available in a prepared form at nominal charge?

Exercise - many thousands of people die or are hospitalised every year due to the effects of lack of exercise. Since we are obviously incapable of making our own rational decision to exercise for the minimum requisite amount, surely a caring Government should be making such exercise compulsory? Perhaps calisthenics in the now-empty streets before the whistle blows to signal the commencement of the mandated work-period?

Medication - is frequently abused and even sometimes used to make other, untaxed medications. nearly all the medication in this country passes through peivate pharmacies, putting pharmacists in the position of having to make decisions about whether individuals are likely to use or misuse what they buy. surely, a caring government would simply ban such private drug distribution networks in favour of a national pharmaceutical supply arrangement?

I could go on...