Dear Poirot,

I sincerely hope that you're wrong.
However it wouldn't surprise me because
the beat ups in the tabloid press are
full of misinformation and this of course
influences voters.

One example is the tabloid press misrepresentation
of Australia's modest debt.

As one economist pointed out, "Let's have a debate
on the economy but let's make sure we stick to the
facts."

"The fact is Australia's net debt is dramatically lower
than the net debt levels of every single major
advanced economy."

"Our current net debt is 10% of GDP compared to around
80% of the USA and the UK and around 35% of Canada."

"Labor made a choice to support local jobs during the
GFC, a choice many countries around the world didn't
or couldn't make. They will be paying a very high price
for many years."

Austraia's debt is so low it has the gold triple A rating.
Interest rates are low and our economy is the envy of
the industrialised world.

What Labor does need to do is take a stand against
misinformation and spread the truth. Voters need to know
the facts prior to the next election instead of listening
to the Coalition telling us that government doesn't work.
Heaven won't be able to help us if these people get
elected and prove it.

Lexi,

Until you are prepared to look at the issues the way the man in the street does, you are never going to understand the anger that is directed towards Labor, and which (unless something drastically changes) is going to see them out of power for decade)

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/julia-gillards-gift-to-australia-is-massive-and-growing-debt/story-e6freuy9-1226607195643

Juliar / Swan have racked up additional debt of nearly $2000 per working person this year alone. Your claims that 10% debt is not bad is against a Coalition that took the debt to zero. The other OECD countries spent many decades accumulating the 70% or debt that is causing so much trauma today, and as the debt increases, so do interest payments, and less money is available for infrastructure and services.

Next, we have Labor's "reform agenda" churning out 20 000 or more new regulations, with accompanying red and green tape to make running a business more costly.

Next the illegal boat people that has increased from less than 100 p.a. to about 20 000 p.a. with about 1000 dead at sea.

And don't even get started on the carbon tax lie, and the slow strangulation of small business that gets no compensation, the mining tax, the media laws etc etc.

Labor has left a legacy of debt, lies, and shoddy policies.

Dear Shadow Minister,

Historically Julia Gillard's Prime Ministership will
be seen as an unusually active and reforming period
in Australian public policy, her legislative
achievements have not translated into public understanding
let alone support because of the tabloid media and its
role in reporting on it. As a result there are declining
levels of trust in most aspects of our entire political system,
especially for young people.

You quoted Harry Truman in one of your previous posts -
"The buck stops here." However that's won't do much
good unless you invest it wisely. Harry Truman also
stated, "It's amazing what you can accomplish if you
do not care who gets the credit." That is something
that the Coalition needs to take on board. The mantra
of - "If you can't convince them, confuse them."
only works for so long.

Lexi,

I doubt that historically people will look back kindly on this government.

Abbott will be a great reformer too. He will remove an unpopular carbon tax, will clean up the budget, will stop the flood of boats etc.

Dear Shadow Minister,

How do you know what Mr Abbott will do?
Afterall he's confessed that he doesn't
always tell the "Gospel Truth." Promises
are one thing - but how will he pay for them?
It's the cuts that will have to be made
that we all should be concerned with.

Lexi,

I think the Australian public has made it perfectly clear how they react to polies that lie to them, as Gillard and Bligh found out. Abbott has made it perfectly clear that he has understood.

I really believe that Abbott will do what he has promised simply because if he fails to remove the carbon tax he will suffer a backlash. As such he has been very careful not to make too many promises.