we are not going to wear this,
sonofgloin,
why the hell aren't you in politics? Go on, get movin". the country needs a few thinkers instead of the tinkers we have now.

Sonofgloin,
while I can understand your dislike of "social engineering"--though I'd be grateful if you elaborated a little on what exactly this is--since we live in societies don't we need codes of conduct? Indeed, don't several of the items on your list of Labor achievements qualify as social engineering? And isn't Labor meant to be a democratic socialist party?

And Shadow Minister,
isn't it the case that the Liberal Party follows the same populist policies as Labor? They wouldn't dare to implement Costello's flat 30%tax rate these days, however much they'd like to. Similarly, Labor wouldn't dare follow its professed socialist ideology.
What we have in this country are interchangeable leading parties feeding off a broadly conservative ideology. That's why the same tired old tactics are used by both parties: cut taxes, tough on crime, border protection etc. etc.
By the way, how do you defend Howard's "silly" and expensive off-shore processing policy? Or Abbott's silly and expensive maternity leave fund? And how do you justify not heavily taxing the wealthy? (and please don't give me that crap about the wealth creation you no doubt give them credit for).

"There are two ways to get a surplus, one is to increase taxes and the other is to cut spending. Already Labor has cut $3.8bn by axing a few of its more idiotic spending programs, it would take very little to save the last $1.8bn"

You are wrong, there is a third way. Increase productivity and grow the economy. The third is what Hawke and Keating concentrated on. Is the one that the NBN is being built for.

I hope that governments continue to give in bad economy times and take back in good.

You can't take 3.8 b out of circulation without causing unemployment, no matter what the money was for
The levy is a very small price to pay. 1.40/week if you earn over 60,000 / year.
How measly can one get.

You can't take 3.8 b out of circulation without causing unemployment,
a597,
I wish Rudd & his gang hadn't squandered 50+ billion & then there was that insane stimulus package & several other hellishly expensive band aids but the wound is even bigger now.
Had none of that been done 3.8 billion wouldn't even amount to an itch the economy now. Had people only listened before the last federal election & done a little thinking amounts to pretty much the same thing.