Dear T2,

No unfortunately I missed the interview.
It must have been really something because
they talked about it on "Q and A" tonight.
It was the last show for the year and it was
an interesting panel. The Qantas fiasco was
discussed and overall it was an interesting
hour. Still I'm sorry I missed Keating.

thinker 2 Lexi I saw it.
Early hours of this morning.
Me and my insomnia.
He always had the it thing.
He will not return.
His adviser, who ever it was who told him to repeat things cost him much.
Of all my books one about him is a treasure for me.
An observation.
Once out of Parliament, the self interest of those who follow, see the greats hauled out for publicity not advice.
That is a shame.

There are teo key requirements for business to survive, certainty and security.

These are the two things that have been taken away.

And Lexi, it's nice to see you don't hate th libs, just there leader.

I am a summing then that you will jump ship if the likes of Turnbull becomes leader again.

I can tell you, it took me by surprise when he got dumped as well.

"With Howard came confrontation politics in the workplaces, and division in the community, using polarising things like dogs on the wharves, fictional weapons of mass destruction and children overboard to fire public imagination. Now we just think this way, and as I have said before "the right" has now positioned itself as the centre in the imaginations of todays typical Aussie Voter."

Had to paste this comment from thinker2 as it is worth repeating - that is the 'Right' has ursurped the centrist position for the most part, with one commentator making the point that education is welfare in a recent program. Let's hope the OCCUPY movements don't allow that US style thinking here.

Howard's AWAs were spun under the illusion that there was individual negotiations happening at the bargaining table. This was not so in relation to lower paid positions, everyone involved had to sign or you did not get the job. Fact is though, even after the abolishing of WorkChoices individual agreements still exist even within government. These sorts of arrangements are rarely 'individual', usually involve casual labour and with little or no consultation in drawing up the agreement. The term Individual is just a word typed on the front page, but in reality has very little to do with individuals.

As for Kevin Rudd, how soon we forget. How would Kevin Rudd's return be beneficial given his well reported managerial style? These sorts of suggestions are purely poll-driven and not based on much substance other than an acknowledgment of the fact he was deposed which will always get an understandable sympathy vote but fails to address his own personal shortcomings and limitations when it comes to policy and program delivery.

Pelican, like it or not, low skilled workers are over paid, none more so when their employer are competing on the global markets.

The fact that the costs of living are continuing to rise, is neither the fault, nor the responsibility of the employer, because they to are subjected to the same pressures and some.

If one can not survive on their unskilled wage, they either find a second job, or, work more hours.

That's how it was 20 years ago and we have seen huge advances in tech since then, which, has placed preasure on the workforce.

Now on the other hand, if governments rewarded employers for employing and, punished them for introducing automation into the workplace, things may change. The fact is, the opersite applies.

You can sit there with your head in the sand if you wish, but the reality is that the Qantas situation is just the tip of the iceberg.

I can assure you there are many from both sides watching this space.

Meanwhile, the unions continue referring to past profits when the condem Qantas.

Profits come from the future, not the past, and it is profits that pay for everything, including wages.

I know you are a lost cause in terms of the working poor rehctub but do you ever question why Australia has to compete with cheap labour? That is a failure of trade policy from both sides of government. It is free trade arrangements in their current form that is the problem or the elephant in the room that nobody wants to address.

Australia has to compete with companies where there are no issues of biosecurity, regulation of pesticides, governance etc. In India there is a company selling asbestos with claims that the substance is perfectly safe form of insulation.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-08/india-toxic-trade/3650230

Tobacco companies having been forced to admit smoking was harmful and reduce the nicotine content in fags then turned to Asia with high nicotine cigarettes continuing to be sold with abandon.

Unless there is global governance on some of these issues and a level playing field in terms of wages, good will continue to be bought and sold on purely a cost basis. Quality, with the exception of a few specialist niche areas, has gone out with the dinosaurs.

Australia has to compete with the lowest commond denominators in terms of wages and other forms of protections which have value in a First World society.

As for wages in Australia, greed trickles down not up. If top end and middle salaries are rising, bottom end salaries have to rise too just to keep up with living costs. Arguing that the poor need to work two jobs while the rest of us sit on our bums working one is quite plainly ludicrous.