Poirot, Lexi, Ammonite, and others , its important to remember that drifting down the ideological pathway that Howard took us, during his years, (his cronies still virulent in the Liberal Party we see today) is the last thing this country needs now.

If we really consider the relative beginning of the Howard Reign in 96, the economy was golden. The fruits of this were handed to cronies; public infrastructure and wealth was neglected and sold off, especially the profitable bits. E.G Telstra etc, and skills were allowed to run down and bleed to other countries. Power shifted from the public to the private sector.

I remember a country heading for the future in 96. They say Howard took us back 20 yrs, it was more like 50.
Abbott represents a return too this. No matter who leads the Labor Party.

"no right to make so much sense so early in the morning"

The "young turks" in my lab indulge in obviously debilitating (legal) substance abuse and similarly do their unaccountable best in the wee hours.

Anti just goes them one better, covering performance, debilitation, and further, (like many of us here) lacking the supposed youth of the aforementionted turks.

Rusty

They say Howard took us back 20 yrs..
Thinker 2,
I think you're not thinking clearly. I'm inclined to say Howard prevented or at least attempted to save us from the decline that's evident all around us. Just look at the countries that you want to catch up to. They're not so great now are they in comparison to our isle.
All throughout history people with vision have been dragged down by the masses who can't see more than a minute into the future.
Just look at the pre GST furore. Now look at the post GST situation. Where do you really think Australia would be now without the GST ?
Compare that with the present global warming shamozle. It has no future. It amounts to nothing more than trying to undo what's already happened & you can't undo history, can you now ? There is a huge difference between vision & dreaming you know.
Think, Thinker.

@ individual:

You realise, of course, that your arguments with respect to the GST apply equally well to the Carbon Tax?

"All throughout history people with vision have been dragged down by the masses who can't see more than a minute into the future."

How far into the future does your AGW denialist perspective look?

morganzola,
I don't believe that there are any denialists. I think everyone agrees that there is a climate change. It's what this federal Government proposes to do about it is what causes the rift.
It's like putting new brakes on bus that has already crashed.
What is needed is a new bus & driver & smarter passengers.

This cartoon says it all:

http://www.kudelka.com.au/2011/07/dont-ask/