Pelican

It is nice to agree on something. I do think in the climate change debate the arrogrance of statements such as 'the science is settled,'and the world's greatest moral challenge' etc were statements in attempt to stifle free speach. Aussies in particular feel very entitled to an opinion (right or wrong). The silencing of scientist and others who disagree with man made climate change stinks of hypocrisy. Some scientist clearly believe strongly in man made climate change while some (maybe in the minority) don't. It seems it is very difficult including myself to hate what someone stands for (like Bob Brown) but to respect the person or at least the position that person holds. Posters here verify this. I for one would hate to be in politics especially with my unpopular world view.

Dear runner,

It doesn't take long to discover that we all have
a streak of prejudice within us which,
at times, seems like a
compulsion and topics like politics sometimes bring out
the worst in people. Watching "Question Time," in
Parliament the other day made me realise the low level
that parliamentary debate has recently sunk to. And you're
right, nobody likes or supports abusive, illogical and
weak debaters. Not sure what can be done about it though.
We can only hope that this is a transitional phase - and that
with time it will pass. Politicians need to realise that
voters are not as dumb as some of them seem to think - and
that come the next election - they all will be judged by
their constituents.

As for OLO - as I've stated in the past - the art of
reasoned, intelligent argument is a skill not easily
acquired. Many of us often argue on an emotional level rather
than a mature intelligent one. Of course it hurts when
personal insults are hurled at you - and of course that
encourages retaliation. The fine art of posting on OLO however
is practiced so well by many people. Posters like Pelican,
Pericles, CSteele, are just a few that spring to
mind. None of them have to resort to insults to make
their points.

john howard poluted this crop of current polititions
just as sir joe poluted qld politricks

there is nothing that can fix the rotten apples

the rule is

play the man..not the issue
do as your told..
and lie..!

and serve the backroom public servants
running the 2 party scam

there is more rules...

but heck
too much has been said/done..allready
the rotted barrel has made rotten policy
and continues to churn out ever worse..ever more expensive taxes

and the back room
backdoor types get their comfortable bored seats
and acces to their platnum credit cards...both while sitting
or sitting...

wether standing for their mates..
or bending over for their masters
or forcing the people to bend over even more

screw the lot of em
my only consolation is they are the ones who will pay
for what the did and didnt do...in the end..for a long long time

Where is respect for the position of PM when we have such a show as 'At home with Julia"? I watched the first episode, but even though I cannot stand the policies and directions of the government at this time, I will not be watching again. Cruel and sleazy, and certainly disrespectful.

Well it's not hard to see WHY our latest politicians have the least amount of respect;
Gillard and Abbot- completely empty of policies. Neither even knows what they're doing (and it shows). Australians are being jerked around by empty gestures when there are plenty of things needing to be fixed, and these people would rather put on a performance instead.

Otherwise, they're every bit as bad as our previous senior politicians, only completely incompetent and clueless.
As bad as Rudd, Howard and Keating were (and as corrupt), their only difference with Abbott and Gillard is that these three at least had enough grasp to do something at all- at least a half-arsed job- as opposed to no job at all but beat their chests for the cameras.

Not that we have many government or opposition politicians that had much credibility- Whitlam did have redeeming grasp on social management (just not money). But really, the only truly good, honorable, quality leaders and politicians as far as Australia is concerned were between WW2 and Vietnam- notably Chifley (and notably NOT Menzies- who very much WAS a tyrant as the banned schoolbooks stated).

As for Howard- I would actually rate him one of Australia's BETTER Prime Ministers over the last few decades; he was probably less crooked than Keating (that doesn't say much), and although his economic management was more to do with outside factors and Costello, still managed to reverse our public debt at long last.
He is still disgusting- privatization and complicity in PPRs, adding Australia to the War on Terror, and Workchoices are all strikes against him- yet I know very well that Fraser, Hawke and Keating (even Rudd) would have done the exact same thing had they have been in power during that time.

King Hazza

I don't think Rudd or Keating would have gone with WorkChoices but certainly the War on Terror and the rush to privatisation, bowing to pressures from business, free trade etc characterises both the ALP and the LNP.

Despite the lack of respect and the hysteria there is really very little to distinguish the two parties. Certainly less to distinguish them than in the past when there was more respect afforded generally