Interesting o sung wu, ironically I was about to mention that the other great achiever of the Hawke/Keating era was Gareth Evans who went on do great things in the International arena, as has Keating.

I would have viewed GA politically from afar, as a civil libertarian, which may go a little way to explaining distaste or even distrust of security or police presences. Or maybe it's a symptom (rudeness I mean) of the position.

I mentioned earlier osw, about coming from struggle and rebellion. I harbour this belief that once upon a time there was an Australian psyche. Basically it was born of rebellion and necessity. Since Eureka, if you like, there has always been a line drawn that governs rules or conditions that exist between the aristocracy and the masses. A social safety net.

Politicians like Keating and Evans, were from this side of the track.

Since then we have seen an erosion or blurring of this line, with politicians today of both colours advocating more police, more security, more erosion of civil liberties in law, more intrusions to privacy etc, more privatizations of essential services, more reductions in health and education expenditure and infrastructure, more taxpayer's dollars going back into the pockets of corporations, need I go on. Frankly I'm glad I'm old.

More importantly less representation, less leadership, with (in my view) even less prospect of solving this by changing the Gov't by electing the loony right in Abbott and Co whilst we still have the smallest vestige of Govt spending money on us. The NBN is a shining example of forward thinking, let them get on with it and enshrine it as never to be privatised or sold off by and incoming Liberal Gov't, and start there.

Sounds like a subject for another post

cheers T2

Good evening to you THINKER 2...

I reckon you're absolutely correct in your summation, apropos coming from the 'wrong side of the track'. Further to your comment, I was listening to some erudite federal labour person being interviewed on ABC Radio last week. Amongst some of her remarks, I couldn't help but think of that famous line...'whatever it takes'. Originally coined by the former numbers man, Senator Richardson.

Anyway, that seems to be the established 'terms of engagement' between these two warring leaders.

Phrases like he's a good 'street fighter' et al - meant as a metaphor, I'm sure. Nevertheless, it does seem to illustrate most plainly the existing political atmosphere in Canberra these days.

Your phrase '...glad I'm getting old...' or similar, yes I do understand what you mean. I'm seventy years of age, and I worry too. Particularly as I witness the sustained disarray that's permeating throughout our federal parliament - Well, it would tend to worry anyone I believe. It most certainly does worry me, a lot.

I agonize too, about what's going to happen to this once great country of ours. I shouldn't I suppose, as I won't be around to see it's ultimate destruction.

Goodnight.

Hi o sung wu,

Just for the record brother is ex-feds, cousin is still serving as an instructor in the state mob here.

My brother always found protective duty pretty cushy, pulling weapons on a bunch of armed bikie members transporting cocaine pretty exciting, but walking down a footpath with a bloke's two kids at each side of him after executing a Family Court judgement to be absolutely terrifying, especially when he knew there were weapons in the house. Said the shoulder blades use to clench.

Thanks for confirming Pauline had something beguiling about her. I won't be so hard on the cousin.

I've been meaning to ask, I know Howard had a flak vest on for the speech in front of the shooters but were there any occasions that you know of where Keating also wore one?

Hi there CSTEELE...

Not to my knowledge, no. I can't recall of any occasion, in NSW at least, where Paul Keating ever had a need to be so protected. And you're perfectly correct in relation to John Howard wearing body armour. Interestingly though, J.H. originally declined the request.

It was then pointed out to him, the awful consequences to this country, if there was an attempt on the life of an incumbent Prime Minister. Thus he readily agreed - according to the 'scuttlebut' that went around about it ?

I agree totally with your kith n' kin's opinion CSTEELE, with respect to the hazards of 'close protection' work - in any protection work involving those with 'threat assessments' for that matter.

I later became a detective where generally speaking it posed far less of a risk, by merely making inquiries, than the former jobs I'd been hitherto tasked with.

True, we (detectives) did have our moments, but they usually quickly passed. And having done so, normality again resumed. I'm still in the vertical, and I've managed to reach seventy, so I've done OK I guess.

A comment I will make, and make it LOUDLY, the policing industry does take an awful toll on marriages. And in some cases, one's mental well-being too.

Enjoy your day CSTEELE.

I'm sure policing is a difficult with consequences for than just marriages o sung wu.

I'm in my late 50's and I guess I perceive in my lifetime, a change in the way we view each other. A change in values if you like. Not in religious or pious ways, if anything there has been a strengthening in these ways, when it comes to our political alternatives today.

It's hard to define the differences between them, other than tangent points, I mentioned one earlier, the NBN, clearly each party has a view on this. But as to the day to day thinking of the combatants, (and I'm assuming you meant Gillard and Abbott in your post), is very hard to determine.

Currently the electoral choices amount a case of (to use an old aussie vernacular) "same muck, different bucket" the question being "which one would be worse".

Perhaps we should have a poll that asks the question:

"which", of the two choices for PM would you least like to have running the country" ?.

Perhaps only then could we truly reflect the mood of the public and clearly define the question of trust or, comparative lack of trust in the 2 alternative choices for PM.

I think the question of leadership and Paul Keating, is resolved, and I repeat "ah those were the days".

But alas there are no Paul Keatings on the horizon in our political landscape today. No one born and bred of struggle and rebellion, with brains and balls, that couldn't be bought.

Without this sort of leader, Australian democracy can never be what it once was, a truly unique and pure form of the democratic model. With the social safety net for all.

Oh well thats gone now.

Dear thinker2,

I caught the second half of a repeat of an interview on Late Night Live between Bob Katter and Phillip Adams. I am about to sit down and listen to the podcast. What I heard was quite remarkable. If you enjoy characters in Australian politics, especially the authentic ones then from the bit I heard this is not to be missed.