As the title of the thread suggests, I see no positives coming from the current crop of lawyers, barristers union functionaries and technocrats that inhabit the seats of our state and federal governments.

None to my mind are there for Australia. None have a vision for an independent Australia, they are all globalists. Fluffy sentiments about global equality and fraternity come from all sides of politics. I want someone, any bloody one, who will stand up and say “I want what is best for Australia, right here and now. “ A straight talking common sense savior who’s head is into loving the unique society that Australia is, we are great people. One who will spend a paltry one Billion on infrastructure, and another paltry Billion on small business loans, is that too much to ask. By 2016 we have committed to giving the world seven Billion, I want two for us, is that a big ask. It is if you are ANY of the major parties.

I have had a gutful and honestly despair at the Australia we are leaving to our kids, they don’t just inherit a house when we go, they inherit the largest debt in our history coupled with a future of inadequate infrastructure, diminishing govt services, 24 hour waiting periods in hospitals and captivity to the importers for the food we eat. We make nothing, we are so close to being net importers of food it doesn’t matter and we are losing farms to gas wells and foreign ownership. We are rooted.

The only party that seems to have some of the ideals I hold for my country and people is the old DLP. We need an alternative that puts Australia first like a parent would their child. I am going to have a hard look at what is left of the DLP, the Greens got control and a presence reasonably quickly in political terms, perhaps the DLP can attract people who love the place.

I have definitely come down with Labor (sorry, ALP) & Greens sickness already. Liberals are starting to give me a slight cough.

Sonofgloin, I share your despair. But as I have often expressed, there is hope.

I can see a Labor party under Bob Carr being a very different animal to what it currently is, with a strong change of direction towards a sustainable future, starting with a steady lowering of immigration.

It is the manic rate of immigration that is the biggest factor affecting your abovementioned concerns of inadequate infrastructure, diminishing government services, health care, increasing food imports compared to exports, etc, etc.

This really is the only chance that I can see of us getting off of the otherwise hopeless nowhere path that the Libs, Labs and Groans are taking us down! And it’s a good one. A very good one. It’s one very much worth supporting.

And Kelvin Thomson for his deputy!

Oh my god a nationalist ! What's more he wants a leader and socialism!
...wait for it...Godwin's law will be invoked in 3...2...1....whereupon all further discussion will be deemed invalid on the grounds that if such a man did appear "something bad" might happen at some point in the future.
Actually when we vote Liberal, Greens and Labor something bad ALWAYS happens, like the attacks on the sovereign nations of Iraq and Afghanistan, the occupations of East Timor and The Solomons, work choices, pink batts, open borders, essentials cards.... how much more delinquent or downright malevolent could a Nationalist government be?
Seriously though, Nationalism is the only alternative to internationalism, we Nationalists are the the legitimate left wing in 21st century Australia.
If Sonofgloin is interested he can get in touch with Australia First or Nationalist Alternative, yes we do have Nationalist groups in this country, they're just kept out of the media due to the fact that our PC Managerial caste don't trust us "hoople heads" with alternative viewpoints.
http://www.natalt.org/

Hay Ludwig, I just can't hack that fool Carr.

I wonder if The Higgs Boson would be able to bring old Joh back? Bet he could clean out this riffraff.

Alright Hasbeen. What about Kelvin Thomson then?

Now there's a long-serving Labor MP who has prominently expressed his baseline philosophy for years and who can be totally taken as genuine when it comes to reducing immigration and heading towards a sustainable society.

And he carries no baggage unlike Carr.

So Haz, given that you do support population stabilisation, can you see your way clear to support him for our next PM? Or next Labor leader and then PM after Abbott has totally blown it?

You can be a nationalist and still be a good global citizen.National sovereignity is what we need.The Banksters talk of sovereign debt but want their Globalist profits with no accountability.

Good post Sonofgloin.

I actually see promise in the place most see despair.
Greens just had to go this will lead to that.
Gillard never should have come, those that put her in the job now keep her there, only until they can reserve their own seats, in who they replace hers tent.
Labor has learned much, not its power brokers, but those who man the booths go to its PRIVATELY OWNED meetings.
No greens is a start.
Let us not forget both the Democrats and one Nation started within Liberal ranks, the latter a pointer we then did not see, to todays party.
Greens came from the worst in Labor and a fantasy land of ridiculous dreams.
Australian politics has hit the bottom.
But post Abbott post Gillard and most definitely after the woman have trashed the trash can that was the Greens? EUREKA?!
Only way from here is up.

Belly>> Only way from here is up.<<

Belly if only this was true tiger.

Someone once said that we get what we deserve, or something similar. Most people have a short term horizon and vote for the person who gives them the most...... someone else always pays..... Politicians know this and Canberra has become a distribution centre to keep as many people happy as they can to give themselves optimum chance at the ballot box with their hand-outs. The ALP misjudged the electorate's response to the carbon tax though and probably now regrets ever changing their mind. But then they also hoped to get some kudos from the Greens who now seem to be running the country.

Vote for Me, Vote for Me. Vote for Me,
I'll do anything to be Prime Minister!
You can believe everything I tell you.
I'll scrap the mining and the carbon tax,
I'll stop the boats,
And I'll bring the budget to surplus by
cutting more taxes. So vote for me.
I am a woman, and a red-head, but I
promise to wear more flattering outfits.
Much like the Queen.

I share many of your concerns, sonofgloin.
But I do think that Malcolm Turnbull has potential
Did anyone see his performance on Q&A?
I thought he spoke with vision and from the heart.
To me he avoided glib political statements and tried to explain the logic behind his positions.
I would certainly contemplate going back to the Liberals if he were the leader, and I think he'll be a first rate PM.
Anthony
http://www.observationpoint.com.au

Dear Anthonyve,

I watched Monday's "Q and A," and saw Malcolm
Turnbull's eloquent performance. He would indeed
make a first class PM. The man is an excellent
communicator, has intelligence, shrewdness,
and economic nous. All the qualities Australia
needs. What a difference between him and Mr Abbott
(or should I say - Baaabbit - baa, baa, baa, baa).

I'm still of the hope that the Liberal Party will
have a change of leadership before the next election.
However they may need a bazooka to move them out of their
complacency. The front benchers are probably fearful for
their jobs if Turnbull ever gets in. He may just replace
the current dead-wood.

Interestingly, Lexi, as we know, some people have "leadership" written all over them and some don't. I would always have put Abbott in the "some don't" box. I can't imagine that Turnbull reversed his decision to get out of politics on a whim, nor do I think that he did it in order to play second, third or fourth fiddle to a man like Abbott. (Notwithstanding his decision to stick around was probably prompted in some degree by Rudd's backdown on the ETS, which was very galling because Turnbull was ousted from the Lib leaership because of his support for it)

In any case, I would think Turnbull would have a shot at the leadership sometime before the next election.....we'll have to wait and see.

Poirot, Anty, Lexi, you are all obviously praying that that fool Turnbull does get a chance at leadership of the Libs, because you know that is Labors only hope.

Having seen what a lefty fool, in Lib sheep's clothing he is, the only thing that could stop a coalition government when we next vote would be if Turnbull was back as their leader. Why is he in the wrong party? If he were with you lot he'd be able to show his true colours & we would all be better off.

Well all perhaps Julia & Turnbull himself. He'd obviously sweep the floor with her, but how do you reckon he'd look with a large knife sticking out of his back?

No thinking Lib could vote for the party if led by him. What perhaps most of you don't realise is, that there are very few rusted on Liberal voters, in the way that all of you, & Belly are rusted on Labor voters.

I & every one I know will dump them quick time, if their policies, or their actions stray too far from their policies. We will dump them for stupidity, as displayed by Turnbull, with global warming. Was it stupidity, or just a get rich carbon trading system he wanted? What ever, he is untrustworthy.

Ludwig, I really doubt I will live long enough to vote Labor again, & I would have to be senile to do it, [yes all right]. I think I have a lot of mates who feel the same way. They are just too tricky. Even Richo has dumped them, & he's tricky enough. So no mate, we'll have to put the effort into convincing the Libs that a low immigration policy is in their best interest.

snake>> Someone once said that we get what we deserve, or something similar. Most people have a short term horizon and vote for the person who gives them the most...... someone else always pays<<

Snake an oldie but a goodie as truisms go and a point worth reflecting on. Perhaps I am expecting too much from the Gen X’s that predominantly fill our parliaments.

Snake you have made me consider the Gen Xers. That the Gen Xers were born in the 60’s and 70’s, a time of full employment, into households that could feed the family and have little treats and social pleasures. Then spent their teens or early adulthood in the corporate driven “make a buck at any cost” 80’s where finance was available if you had a pulse. During this decade many middle class Australians bettered themselves and their family’s standard of living far beyond the expectations of previous generations.

The 90’s found Gen X in their thirties and the proliferation of technology both in the products available and the ease to purchase saw consumerism boom. Within reason, if you wanted it you could get it. The baby boomers lived these years as well but I think the vague memories of living in a household where being frugal and planning for tomorrow which was our parents mindset imprinted on us. The boomers parents lived through really tough times in their formative years that had one or two world wars and one global depression in them.

Perhaps I am asking the impossible. Perhaps governance “for” the people rather than “of” the people only comes from a generation that had seen what real sheiser is like, close up.

Luddy it comes down to policy and the DLP say the things that I think are reasonable and Australian focused.
Lexi my belle, you are my queen.
Anthony, Turnbull scares me, such an elitist, let them eat cake, sort of thing.
Thanks Arjay.
Jay, these people talk some sense, anyone who can see Hockey for what he is can’t be too short sighted.
Still luv u Belly.

Hasbeen>> Even Richo has dumped them, & he's tricky enough.<<

Another truism.

I thought he spoke with vision and from the heart.
Antnoyve,
Turnbull didn't show any heart at all when they got the criminal pay rise.

it's painfully obvious that the opposition is presently not over endowed with competence but they're not that stupid to put Turnbull back. Only Labor supporters would do that.
Why would anyone go from Rudd/Gillard to Turnbull ?

Sonofgloin I share your views. Belly if you want to put me in a box I would best be described as a democratic socialist, check out the Swiss constitution to see where I am coming from. In my view the Australian constitution comes a very poor second, so this is where we should all start. The point I keep hammering is that we in Australia no longer control our own destiny, our economy is dictated by corporate global traders and our government continues to support international trade deals which, far from helping the people of this country actually remove the barriers to our continued exploitation. It is a simple choice; we as a country must embrace the clear differance and make the choice between a protected economy, as we had prior to the 70s or the open slather, uncontrolled, neo-liberal free market which dominates our lives today. I seem to be repeating myself however, I have yet to hear a word of understanding of this fundamental dilemma from one of our political leaders so from my perspective this discussion as to who might do what seems irrelevant.
Den71

<< I really doubt I will live long enough to vote Labor again….. They are just too tricky >>

Hasbeen, they’re no trickydickier than the Libs, are they?

Point is; we desperately need a new political direction, given that just about everyone hates all our political parties.

The new direction to me is obvious. And the people to lead the way are also obvious.

They’re in Labor. Not a hint of anything positive within the Libs.... or Greens!

<< ….we'll have to put the effort into convincing the Libs that a low immigration policy is in their best interest. >>

It won’t work! The Libs are going to win the next election as they now are. So it is Labor that we need to work on.

If they can change their evils ways, in the way that Kelvin Thomson espouses and Bob Carr agrees with, and start doing it in the near future so that it is properly bedded in by the following election, then they’ll be on a winner for sure!

THIS is what we should be working towards!

<< I watched Monday's "Q and A," and saw Malcolm Turnbull's eloquent performance. He would indeed make a first class PM. >>

Lexi, yes, he comes across very well, and shows considerable economic nous and knowledge in other areas.

But what would he do for the country as PM?

I fear that he’d do what Rudd did – just dig us further and faster into a whopping great hole!

His economic knowledge is afterall pseudoeconomic knowledge. That is; he goes right along with the absurd belief that we need continuous never-ending growth – predicated first and foremost on very high immigration, which is completely self-defeating because it creates an ever-rapidly-increasing demand for everything, including all the services and infrastructure that we are having enormous problems maintaining, let alone improving.

He’s an old-school entrenched continuous-growth pseudoeconomist. And this absolutely NOT what we need from our next PM!

Turnbull is an appealing orator with an enticing intellect. But it has to come down to policies… and he just doesn't cut the mustard any more-so than Abbott, as far as I can see.

Ludwig,
I agree completely with your views re the myth of eternal growth.
Problem is, I don't see any politician on the horizon willing to take on that fight.
In fact, I would posit that, as our system presently stands, it would be impossible for any leader to take on that fight and win.
I prefer Turnbull to most of the current crop for two reasons.
One, he's highly intelligent, nothwithstanding, as you point out his conventional economic views.
Second, I do believe I detect more than a shred of integrity about him.
And that is something of a rarity these days.
Anthony
http://www.observationpoint.com.au

If they can change their evils ways,
Ludwig,
I don't think they're evil at all, just plain incompetent. No-one in their right mind would give them the time of day after all the mess they got us into. I'd have more faith in the Greens & they have a proven record of uselessness. Unless the ALP reverts to being Labor again we might see a smidgeon of improvement but you'd need to rid the party of every single academic. To disconnect that bandwagon is nigh impossible. So, Tony Abbott & his gang really are the only shimmer of hope for Australia. A flat tyre will get you further than no wheel at all.

<< Luddy it comes down to policy and the DLP say the things that I think are reasonable and Australian focused. >>

Soggy, could you tell us just what it is about the DLP policy platform that appeals to you?

<< I agree completely with your views re the myth of eternal growth. Problem is, I don't see any politician on the horizon willing to take on that fight. In fact, I would posit that, as our system presently stands, it would be impossible for any leader to take on that fight and win. >>

Anthonyve, it would indeed be very hard for a leader to take on that fight.

But it’s what we’ve got to have, sooner or later! That is; a government that embraces the notion of a stable population, or at least one that is growing at a very much slower rate, and realises the absurdity of forever increasing the domestic demand for everything, especially when it is supported by finite fossil fuels and minerals, with peak oil looming and an end to the mining boom coming some time soon.

In fact, I would go as far as saying that if we just continue on in the same old way, then no party or leader will be able to recover any real level of respect from ordinary Australians. The terrible discontent felt by the average citizens towards politicians will just continue to get worse until our society starts to seriously fracture.

We’ve GOT to listen to Carr and Thomson! It is ESSENTIAL! And we’ve got to push Labor to take on their message.

It is interesting to note that Gillard and Rudd before her have allowed Thomson to speak totally freely even though much of what he says runs counter to Labor policy. And it is very interesting that Gillard brought Carr into the top level of her government knowing full well of his long history of being against high immigration and in favour of a limits-to-growth future.

And it is interesting that Gillard herself denounced Rudd’s ‘big Australia’.

So I’d like to think that Labor is not strongly opposed to this sort of change and indeed may even desperately long for it, and would do so if they weren’t so severely pressured not to by their all-powerful vested-interest big-donations big-business buddies!

that Labor is not strongly opposed to this sort of change
Ludwig,
What has what Labor thinks got to do with it ? What they think is not their problem, their problem is that they can't do anything right anymore no matter what.
You can not expect anything of value emanating from a bunch of weekend lawyers & half-baked academics. they have no substance, no foresight, no sense, no care, no clue & some people want them to continue ? Makes me shudder to think what their supporters are made of.

Luddy for whatever promises and words are worth these days, these are some of the DLP's manifesto.

*The current Murray Darling Basin plan to restrict and remove water from farming communities in those areas is not only irresponsible but could very well threaten our food security in the future.

*We will fight to ensure that Water, the Water Catchment facilities, and all Water-grid systems remain under a Government Department, and not sold off to Private Enterprises.

*We oppose the “National Competition Policy”, which encourages privatisation.

*Support fair elections with proportional representation at all levels of government.
Amendments to State or Federal Constitutions are to be made subject to a referendum.
Support the re-establishment of all upper house parliaments in Australian States.
Immediately remove fixed term parliaments that diminish the powers of our Westminster system.

*Maintaining an adequate and just as importantly an adaptable defence force also means maintaining manufacturing and service industries capable of supporting:

*Oppose “globalism” that is foreign interference by supranational bureaucracies and cartels in our social, legal and economic decision-making. Support for producer cooperatives and orderly marketing under statutory authorities. This is the most practical and effective way to offset abnormal fluctuations in the price for our rural exports.

*Maintain our quarantine and product labelling safeguards. Protect essential local industries against the dumping of cheap imports. Compensate the rural exports sector from trade competitors subsidised to undercut prices in our traditional markets.

*Limit the foreign manipulation of our economy by imposing tax penalties on “hot money” speculators in capital and exchange markets. This will also promote responsible awareness of the “national interest” among Australian money traders.

*Permanently bar the foreign ownership of Australian residential real estate. Special case exceptions will exist for continuing permanent residents and bona fide intending permanent residents, natural or corporate.
TBC

*The Democratic Labor Party was the first party to publically oppose any form of carbon tax or emissions trading scheme.

*Australian Manufacturers have been ignored by successive governments over the years. With the ALP adding the unnecessary tariff of a carbon tax, then we need to act fast to secure our ability as a nation to manufacture. Manufacturing not only reduces our reliance on foreign imports, it is a crucial component of our defence strategy, reduces our trade deficit and builds strong communities and skills in the country’s regional centres where a great portion of our manufacturing resides.

*The Democratic Labor Party (DLP) opposes this highly subsidised method of generating electricity as a substitute or replacement for baseline power such as coal, gas or hydro electric.

*The CSIRO, which should also be de-politicised. The CSIRO will help to improve the efficiency of Australian industries through innovative research without being tied to predetermined industry outcomes, which promotes bad science.

*Industrial relations reforms that work to emasculate the trade union movement. Industrial relations reforms that impose the stamp of (what’s deceivingly called) ‘economic rationalism’ on the workplace of every Australian employee.

*Reject politically imposed multiculturalism and instead foster the more natural growth of a cosmopolitan community. A community where migrants are made welcome – free to maintain their cultural heritages and traditions – and helped to integrate as citizens on renouncing incompatible prior national allegiances.

*Urgently expedite the processing of off-shore asylum applications through a level of funding that matches the amounts spent on immigration detention centres. The funding should progressively increase until the back-log of applications is cleared, the refugees are resettled in Australia and those without valid claim for asylum are promptly despatched from our shores.

Ludwig the DLP was driven by the Catholic Church in the days that Church had near total sway in both ALP AND DLP.
best thing thing DLP ever did was die.
Doom and gloom unneeded both sides to have a revival, and new leaders.
This current problem will drive change on both sides.
Turnbull Rudd a very real chance for come backs.
providing power brokers get the foot of the throat of the party.
watch this space for good news.

<< What has what Labor thinks got to do with it ? >>

Indi, it is enormously important.

Just imagine if they came out and espoused a Carr/Thomson strategy. That would spur an enormous change in the Australian political landscape.

<< …their problem is that they can't do anything right anymore no matter what. >>

So perhaps they need to realise the basic reason for this – that their political philosophy centred on record-high immigration is undermining their ability to implement just about any meaningful improvements and is making them look like a mob of woolly-headed drongos!

<< You can not expect anything of value emanating from a bunch of weekend lawyers & half-baked academics. they have no substance, no foresight, no sense, no care, no clue & some people want them to continue >>

So they should get it through their thick woolly heads that they’ve got two excellent tuned-in MPs who can do all the thinking for them and guide them from the road to ruin to the road to glory!!

Well, they should at least realise that it’s worth a try, because they are going down, big time, if they just persist with their current hopeless strategy!

Sorry Ludwig, but spring will come.
Labor will get a leader ,in my view next month.
It has only one problem, not its policy's.
It leader and her few blind mice.
My garden and my party will bloom in spring.
Both full of promise for the year ahead.
Gillards round up will be put in the shed.
Spring brings weeds, I think Abbott weed will not be about much longer.

Read all the posts here with interest.
Robert Gobleibson commenting on Daryl Leas demise said that they
failed because they thought the boom times would continue.

Politicians are like that in that they think growth will be back.
The parties need to think about their youngest new members and let
them roam around the economic scene looking at what is really happening.
Cut them loose from the party dogma and realise how much different it
will be in a different energy regime and as Globalisation dies.
And die it will, as everything becomes local, and a different type of
politician will be needed by the time they come to the fore in their
parties.
Sustainability will be the "word" but different parties will have
different ideas on how to achieve it.
Certainly small time capitalism will be rampant but how they handle
the larger more capital intense works will be where the difference in
opinion will surface.

Even defense will be of little interest once the resource wars are
settled and no one can devote resources to warfare.

Bazz we already know what a post globalist, post imperial world looks like, we've seen it many times in the last 10,000 or so years.
Think of any big Asian city of today and you have a look the future of our urban populations, it's already here, the neon and glass CBD, the "good" suburbs for the elite and managerial castes and then the sprawl where everyone else ekes out a living.
Look at any suburban shopping strip these days and the economic transformation to a post industrial society is well under way, High St Preston or "Little India" in Dandenong illustrate what a society that produces nothing and imports everything save for a few vegetables is going to look like. It's as the futurists predicted, we're moving toward an urban lifestyle something like William Burroughs' Interzone or William Gibson's BAMA Sprawl....which to be honest, I kinda dig.

Sonofgloin the DLP seems to have some useful policies. Ludwig althougth you don't seem to know quite what form a new government should take I agree wholeheartedly that we need a new approach so here's a couple of starters.
If I were to seek a mandate from the people, changes to the constitution are the first issues I would raise. I would push to include a legally binding bill of rights and a system of public referendum whereby a petition supported by 20% of the population in any government jurisdiction, federal, state or local would automatically force the particular issue to go to public referendum.

This would establish two very important democratic principles, one it would force government to seriously address the wishes of the people and secondly, if issues are determined by public referendum the government is legally bound to obey the majority and the people would be in support.
Another plus to this system is that lobbying and corruption might become dying arts.

The third choice relating to the constitution is whether to maintain the archaic loyalty to the Queen and commonwealth and indeed whether to maintain the Governor Generals power to sack a duly elected government in this country ie. as in the case of Gough Whitlam.

I would immediately re-establish a system of tariffs designed to protect and foster employment and manufacturing within the country to reduce our reliance on imported goods. This move would reduce our trade deficit and almost certainly devalue the dollar.

These issues represent only a fraction of the possible agenda but with a soundly constituted system of referenda in place I doubt that there is a single issue that would not be better decided by going to the people and seeking their mandate.
Den71

DEN71,
I have doubts about tariffs.
If we apply tariffs to our imports won't our trading partners do the same to our exports (their imports), in retaliation, thus creating a zero sum game.
Second, removal of tariffs some thirty plus years ago had the effect of driving inefficiencies out of many production processes.
What we usually see in a tariff environment is high prices because local producers, protected by tariffs barriers tend to become inefficient and raise prices to accommodate the increased production costs.
I think there is something to be said for competition and tariffs do reduce competition.
One can argue that there is still local competition but in many industries our economy isn't large enough to handle enough local competitors to sufficiently stimulate competition to overcome this negative aspect of tariffs.
Anthony
http://www.osbervationpoint.com.au

Bazz an equally good financial adviser tells us they failed because of economy's of scale.
Made too many products and did not get the benefits of mass production.
In the 1960,s I helped demolish the &&&& boy boot polish factory.
As is always the case factory's close and new ones open.
Darryl lee has as much to do with the economy as that factory had.

Den71, I like the way you think.

Anthonyve >>I have doubts about tariffs.
If we apply tariffs to our imports won't our trading partners do the same to our exports (their imports), in retaliation, thus creating a zero sum game.
Second, removal of tariffs some thirty plus years ago had the effect of driving inefficiencies out of many production processes<<

Anthony you must first come to the realization that the Lima Agreement signed some thirty plus years ago is at the heart of “driving inefficiencies out of many production processes.” But rather than the laudable “driving the inefficiencies out” the globalist sought to drive production out of the COSTLY first world to the second and third world, all under the guise of “sharing global wealth” as envisioned by the UN Development Organization, the World Bank, and the IMF.

If we use your quoted criteria to judge the efficiency of manufacturing then it seems the “whole” manufacturing base of the first world was floored because the first world now produces nothing. China overtook America as the largest manufacturing economy on earth last year. Thank god that the “wests” inefficient production methods have gone to the east. Thank god that the inefficient apprentice intake that held the future of a nations ongoing productivity have been cut by over 90% in all first world nations compared to thirty years ago. Thank god the inefficient tradesmen that build the world’s economy post WWII have gone.

God you are astute Anthony, please tell me more about the doubts you have on tariffs and the horrible protectionism that all first world nations use to employ to keep their domestic economy kicking over.

BELLY >>Sorry Ludwig, but spring will come.
My garden and my party will bloom in spring.
Both full of promise for the year ahead.<<

Belly did you ever see the Peter Sellers movie "Being There"?
The plot centres around a congenital simpleton who cared for the garden of a benefactor until his death. Finding himself homeless he is then taken in by a mega rich woman after she hits him with her car. The Sellers character talks exclusively in gardening terms when answering any questions, and as it eventuates he is mistaken for a super economist and ends up being quizzed by the Americam President on the poor state of the economy.

His reply is "the garden has many seasons, after winter comes spring, then summer and all the flowers in the garden will bloom again. This is taken by the president as a validation that the Americam economy will bloom again, so a simpletons words are taken back to congress as a validation of things will get better.

Belly my china, do you and your party garden?

Deni said;
maintain the Governor Generals power to sack a duly elected government

We need some protection against governments that act illegally.
Whitlam was borrowing money illegally without the parliamentary
approval and Executive Council approval.
Remember the Khemlani affair ? He was borrowing from an Arab arms
dealer who later was gaoled somewhere, in Europe I think.
It all came to head when O'Conner continued negotiating with Khemlani
and the opposition refused supply.
The GG stepped in an resolved it by sending them to the people.

Tarrifs in the future will not be a major problem. We may need them in
the transition time but as globalisation continues to fade away
tarrifs will become less important.
Politicians have not even noticed that globalisation has already
started to wind down.
Steel production and furniture has moved back to the US and in
Australia furniture manufacture is again the main source of stock in
furniture shops. Earlier this year I was in a furniture shop to buy
a lounge and asked if it was Aus made. Yes was the reply.
I asked about the rest of the showroom floor display.
Everything except one table was Australian made.

Notice the examples I gave are all bulky goods.
Container shipping costs have risen it seems.
Bunker fuel, because of a diesel shortage in Asia, the refineries are
producing less and ships are having to buy a mixture of diesel and
bunker which is increasing their costs. Higher labour costs in China
are also having an effect.

<< Ludwig … I agree wholeheartedly that we need a new approach so here's a couple of starters. >>

<< I would push to include … a system of public referendum… This … would force government to seriously address the wishes of the people … >>

DEN71, I’m not sure this would be the right way forward. The trouble is that the people wouldn’t necessarily vote for what is in their best longer term interest. And successive referenda could well end up with conflicting results.

What we need is a government that can lead, with longer term economic and social security in mind. If they do this well, they will garner the support of the populace.

I see the biggest stumbling block as the terrible in-bed relationship between government and big business. This is the thing that we’ve got to fix, first and foremost, by radically changing the political donations regime and moving to make government independent of the enormous vested-interest fraternity that drives constant rapid expansionism and antisustainability!

<< The third choice relating to the constitution is whether to maintain the archaic loyalty to the Queen and commonwealth… >>

I really can’t see any significance at all in whether we maintain loyalty to the British monarch and become a republic. It is quite beside the point, especially if we just continue on with a totally antisustainable political agenda.

<< I would immediately re-establish a system of tariffs designed to protect and foster employment and manufacturing within the country to reduce our reliance on imported goods. >>

Yes. But as Anthonyve says, it’s not that simple. We would need to carefully assess what we can do without too much of a backlash from our trading partners.

And finally; we need to ditch the disgusting compulsory preferential voting system and go to option preferential voting, so that our vote counts where we want it to and doesn’t get STOLEN and made to count somewhere else!

Belly said;
Made too many products and did not get the benefits of mass production.

Well indirectly that is what Gobleibson said. They just continued on
the way they had always done and did not adapt to changed conditions.
That is the point I have been trying to make for some time, things
have changed, we are entering a time of zero growth.
Some countries will have contraction, some will have zero growth and
some will still have some growth.
The world average however will get closer and closer to zero.

Even if we have the same amount of energy available population growth
will have more mouths to eat the same amount of cake that we are all eating.

I've read much of what has been posted on this thread. Now let me see, what is wanted is a bit of nationalism, a bit of socialism and a bit of worker involvement. Lets form a new party, we could call it The Worker Socialist National Party, the name don't ring that true, how about The Socialist Nationalist Workers Party. No, not bad but still hasn't got that ring to it. I've got it
THE NATIONALIST SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY. Folks can just abbreviate it to something like THE NAZI PARTY. I propose that we install Bob The Silver Bodgie as our first Fuhrer, that's a cool name, sounds much better than Prime Minister. Anyone opposed let the Gestapo know, who are they you ask. I thought that would be a cool name for our new secret helpers outfit, they can help decenters and trouble makers "see the light".
Lets move on. How are things in Poland? LOL.

"decenters"? The decent people are not Greens. Decent people don't let other people drown trying to reach a carrot they dangle before them.

Luciferase our Paul 1405 is hurting.
See he has been watching his greens grow, in his mind, and waiting for the day they lynch us all.
In a party of ten heads, including Socialist communist tree hugers and the very very lost idealists, dreams are all they have.
Useless but let me try, from Sir Robert Menzies [Pig Iron Bob] Mirrored in his greatest admirer John Winston Howard, Australian working class have time and again, shown no willingness to vote SOCIALIST.
Have voted against their class to avoid Paul's dreams.
Yet Paul targets? in effect that very class for? refusing to think as he is!
Take heart Paul! the ALP is sailing this storm, even avoiding your party's attempts to murder it, along with the boat refugees.
We will survive and thrive.
Gather your dead bury them, save the few, start you own next dream party.
Name? hard one bloke, what do you call a party that pretends to serve workers but sides with Conservatives?
One saying we are cruel but drowns refugees?
Dodgy Brothers maybe?