Belly ,
Good Subject - one comment .
Pound for Pound, I think the World's Greatest Social[ ok, Political as well ] Engineers would have to be the Israeli's, as they continually use their very well educated brains to try to get Rest of the World, [and with some success in Australian Government Circles ], that they only want to be Friends with the Palestinians .

Apologies for the omission , " Convince the rest of the World " .

Sorry for calling Banjo Bazz yet again.
SOG still find it hard to understand you.
You claim Irish back ground and close family ties to past Labor greats.
But constantly talk like an extreme right wing neo whatever.
I think leftists, some, would love to have the power you claim for them.
But that the true one percent have it and such as you serve their interests.
Humanity, western developed country's,NEVER excepted even Socialism.
And will not give up the property they hold.
I think we divide our selves, following fantasy's such as your Fabians.
If we could have private contact, not on the site,I with you, could start a conspiracy here, that would gain followers.
Whole new religions got started in fantasy books about two drinkers in a bar on a planet that never existed.
I think governments are Social Engineering, that mass migration is cake mixing, and that this cake may not rise.
Not Fabians, not milk and Honey I feel out comes are all they are concerned about.
That humanity is secondary to outcomes.

Belly the first of my lot came on the Brittania, working class prisoners, there because they were deprived by the aristocracy, by the time the second generation came along my direct ancestor wed an aboriginal girl (not full blood) so I have “first here” genes along with the Irish. We had a stevedoring business for generations and they were all Labor men, business owners or not they never lost their root ideals. I have not lost the philosophy, but for the life of me I may have lived too long because I can remember a party driven from the branches, true democracy. I saw and met men and women of conviction and love for our country in my home; it was like a sub branch. But I shat on your Labor party of today, but like my forebears I have never lost the root ideals of fraternity and egalitarianism, but I shat on this lot.

Belly am I speaking English? How you could discern that I am in any way hard right is beyond me. I talk of the banks, I talk of the corporations, I speak about the wealthy, all in negative tones. The point I attempt to make is that I believe the left and right are governed by the European Banking Cartels, not directly, but if your laying the track the train goes where you want it to. Gillard wants to give money to the IMF for Christ’s sake, you may as well give it to the banks, given the IMF is their bastard child. That you do not have this overview shows that your focus is local, but the rot is global.

Sorry bloke that is how I have seen you.
Now as always, your words about a past ALP both warm me and concern me.
It needs to be said, once we the ALP/Union movement had to join battle,just for fairness.
Everything, in my view, from our leisure time to workplace reform and home ownership can be traced back to three things.
ALP Unions and Migration post ww2.
Those migrants, from Malta Italy Greece Germany, along with the British Isles.
Showed us a lot.
We won the fight, and began new ones.
Some of those who profited most, jumped the ALP ship, wanted different things now the light on the hill shone from their holiday home.
Built to fight, in days fighting was survival, some unions continued to box hard , and more jumped ship.
Labor took 23 long years to understand, voters had moved.
It is in all things the client/customer who sets the market.
If you wish to sell your product must be one they want/need.
Yes Labor has changed, without it the big fella would never have ruled, never been reminded follow the voters not lead them.
Hawky too would not have won then suffered that knife.
I am firmly sure my Labor will continue to shine, every fall sees more careful steps.
Look not at us, see the shambles sitting on the other side,a sight to scare children.