I am both amused/ bemused by the thought I post in anger.
Or that my thoughts are blindly for my party.
ONE I am a refugee from my branch, it is in the hands of self interest not the party's.
TWO I am not much liked for insisting my party not get its information from middle class intelligentsia running its branches.
I represent the true worker,the people who elect governments Liberal or Labor.
TBC said the truth,workers often vote conservative.
Roll me around in the mud, any substance you want, out in the farm yard if you must.
But never forget it is pure maths,not dreams that put governments in power.
I see my words and fears being supported here, nigh mare stuff, Labor compelled to be in opposition for a very long time, by the radicalization of the greens.
Can you not see it?
Policy's that do repel more than they attract will not let the greens grow.
How many of you wish to talk about the extremism of Marickville, its council, its meeting tonight to withdraw and white wash a VERY EXTREME ACT?
No anger or heat in my post, no taunting, no hiding the fear of greens many faces many radical policy's.
No way I can hide the damage yet another generation of well meaning but not understanding left of center folk are imposing on this country, conservative government.
Tell me, time over would you back a carbon tax or happily see us have no action, conservation for the Greens is only a useful tool.

Belly

I understand you write the truth as you see it, a rare enough ability these days. Yes, you are probably deeply resented within the ALP and your old union, I don't doubt that at all.

To some extent we are in full agreement, although obviously you baulk at anything Green, except that I suspect you do support policies that address 'green' issues that are now in the mainstream, because of The Greens and others raising concerns over many years.

And you do clearly recognise the abject failings of the ALP and unions even.

Where we differ is where to go next.

I see no reason why the ALP couldn't do a 'Damascus turn' and ditch the worst aspects of its current policies and thinking (if that is the word for it?).

Particularly since it relies on Brown to govern.

Pandering to the Abbott and industry camps all the time and with the exclusion of the usual areas of engagement from the ALP, the lower end of society wealth and knowledge distribution, is simply going to ensure, as you say, years on the outer-where they will belong.

As for Marickville, I couldn't be bothered to even look. Tiny councils should run the 3Rs, and work towards amalgamating themselves into bigger units by joining their neighbours as bigger councils.

I do agree with Rudd there, leave foreign affairs to the level of government that deals with it. By all means the individuals can run whatever community campaign in their own time, or resign from council and do it full time.

Still, it's good to hear of a council that is not engaging itself with stroking developers at every turn.

We will have a carbon tax and the sooner the better. The ALP is doing finely, in a difficult envoironment. I don't think the AU people will have a ballot like the last one again.
The libs still have Tony as leader, which is surprising.
We need change to get off the oil cycle, and come up with alternatives.
My truck is running on diesel with hydrogen laced intake air, certainly makes a difference in pulling power at higher gearing, which saves me fuel. Change will only come with a little force..

TBC I have always thought you and I are closer than you think.
You should look at the rag tag group running that council.
Brown knows great harm was done to greens as a result of their madness.
Now I looked after forests and national parks,as well as a lot more.
Those folk are conservationists too, but those governing them both government and departments are not.
I think we should be compelled to plant two trees for everyone we remove for at least 100 years.
But while unhappy with my party's progress, its leadership, I believe with every sense in my body we are in trouble, we a party of reform, just MUST get better.
To win we MUST take middle Australia with us, Howard did Rudd did.
And if truth be known others within the party contributed as much to his fall as he ever did.
If we do not have the guts to change lets put Rudd back in.

Belly you asked earlier in the thread "Why have Australians gone from strong support for climate change action to strongly against it."

From my perspective a big part is that we don't think the politicians who will set it up are at all honest. It's being used as an excuse for other actions, eg the suggestion that most families will be so well compensated that they will be better off looks like a run at wealth redistribution rather than an attempt to get most families to reduce their carbon footprint's.

There is also some fairly suspect behaviour from those promoting AGW that rings alarm bells in many minds.

Many have had enough experience with government action to doubt that many people or the environment will be better off because of government action.

If the government want's to lead the way internationally they could look a lot more credible by taking action that impacts on politicians first.

Much greater use of teleconferencing rather than government (and taxpayer funded seats on commercial) jets might be a good starting place. Of course that would cut out one of the perks of the job.

R0bert

Direct your anger to your own conservatism and your conservative political party.

Iam not saying nothing:)

LEAP