Dear Pelly,

Spot on as always. And here's something interesting. The Minerals Council of Australia, Chief Executive, Mitch Hooke had these words for our Prime Minister:

"And it gives us great heart, great heart, to hear that our Prime Minister - we think we're pretty special, but it gives us, it really does a lot for our spirits to know that we figure so much in your day and so much in the Government's economic policy thinking. You can be assured ma'am that the respect is reciprocated."

Hi Pelican… nice to see you again (sincerely). We regularly disagree but with never the rancor of the lower orders (monbot please note)

Re “The ALP stopped being a socialist party eons ago.”

Yes, you are probably, right but I guess I do not reinvent myself with the regularity of Labor…. I believe in things with more consistency…. Like 10 years of Liberal/National government and progressive economic improvement (the good old days – only 4 years ago

So, if they are not as I describe what are they ? –

“Cynical, Power hungry Opportunists” springs to mind

Re tax increases by the liberal/national party… it seems to be cherry picking / out of context if we again look at the practice of the decade of conservative government

Re “Sometimes equalisation and levelling is about reducing the gap.”

That is supposed to be achieved by education –

So, when the indolent and incompetent waste / ignore their educational opportunity, how much more “leveling” should we impose on the rewards being earned by capable and diligent?

Bonmot “If you didn't know that, you too, are shallow - and just as hypocritical as the alarmists.”

I see you think you are good with the ad hominines, Bonmot…. But not very clever

Try and lift your game by rising above what seem to be some inherent limitations.

Interesting,

Col says it was the "government" when it clearly wasn't, can't say 'oops ... sorry, got it wrong' and apologise.

Nope, he baits and switches instead.

btw: that other post of yours, Col... http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=12116#208936

No ad homs?

Look in the mirror, snort ... and take a pill to soothe your nervies.

Dear Col

At the risk of going over old ground :), education does not change the nature or demands of the employment market. Raising education standards by insisting coffee makers have a certificate and lowering standards so anyone can obtain a Degree, or commercialising tertiary education is not improving education, it just looks that way, but rub the gloss off and...

Even manual labour require some skills base even if only minimal training required and manual work is hard work. Education can increase ones options but a 'Claytons' over-educated society also devalues roles that may be seen as too unworthy and employers have trouble filling some jobs.

IMO the better approach is in reducing the pay gaps and respecting the work people do in all jobs.

A friend was discussing this with me the other day and stated "well a doctor should get more than a pot-hole fixer because he/she saves lives". To which I said yes the doctor should earn more their work is more valuable and requires ongoing education, but if the pot-hole fixer is not competent the doctor may find he has more work caring for road victims. Not everyone can be a doctor but the work people perform is worthy.

Yes it is a bit of a stretch but the point being if the market and 'worth' is skewed to middle and higher salaries, access to goods and services (including essential ones) may be restricted for those on lower incomes (beyond what is considered reasonable).

It is a fact that there are many necessary roles that are not valued if measured by income alone and there are some highly paid roles which are dealing with funny money and at the end of the day don't produce anything at all.

As for Labor they have been a great disappointment all round. The failure of the ALP is because they have moved too far from being a workers' party and there is little to distinguish them from the Coalition.

Nice to see Col back, like an easy win.
While the diatribe about this ad and Cate's involvement can I highlight some people.
Alan Jones, former Liberal script writer unloved by as many who actually like the bloke.
That bloke from channel ten who posts his junk here now and again.
Shock jocks and some truly are shocking.
My list could be ten posts long.
Yet we never hear conservatives try to stop their bigotry.
Free speech see,for them,is only if they agree with what you are saying.
COL! dreadful to put that ad down as government.
Knowing as you do it was not using the truth well.
I can not spell it right but Winston Churchill once said of an opponent this,he is subject to using terminological inexactitudes!

Winston Churchill was the biggest piss-head of them all. He never made a decision with-out a scotch on his breath. Col has the right to his opinion how ever he wants:) I enjoy his strait to the point approach.

"Free speech see,for them,is only if they agree with what you are saying."

Yes like everyone else....Next:)

Socialists will show the way for all the one,s thats lost control of the country.

I hear wall streets doing well:) Capitalist pigs. lol

LEAP