There is no shortage of 'good ideas' elsewhere but the number one question for me is how to convince our particular species of bloodsucking parasites there is more to life than the their arrogant & avaricious money-grabbing selves, love of money, a 'big' Australia, consumerism & economic growth.

Undoubtedly the most significant factor is the unbelievable apathy of the sheeple, even if that apathy has been created a la the Roman Empire by provision of all manner of diversions. Why don't the citizens of certain other countries sit back and ignore the carryings on of their elected officials. As an example, look at the Italians / Sicilians who are happy to blow away any scumbag politician who gets too big for his boots ?? I don't necessarily recommend we adopt their practices however its difficult to deny it gets the desired results.

Closer perhaps to our chosen way of life are the Swiss. How exactly did they manage to get citizen initiated referenda whereas we are constantly told 'its not allowed here'. Why indeed not ??

I've attempted several times to convince various bloodsucking parasites that continually building ever more roads isn't guaranteed to fix traffic congestion, in fact international experience has proven conclusively that more roads inevitable leads to INCREASED congestion. With General Disaster, any suggestion the economic growth paradigm is crap get met with a blank glazed over expression. Suggesting that if there was even one example where bigger population has led to higher living standard, politicians would trot that out constantly, gets exactly the same incredulity. Its effectively sacrilege to challenge the status quo, notwithstanding the inescapable fact that we are going backward at a million kilometers per hour and the light at the end of the tunnel is the oncoming train !!

G'day there HASBEEN & PRAXIDICE...

Mate, I got to give it to you, you have an inexhaustible level of great humour and good cheer ! Trust you Naval Aviators to save the day ! I wish I had the positive mood you seem to exude in spades ? I reckon you'd be a real scream in the Ward Room !

Hi there PRAXIDICE...

In one of your threads, you mentioned you'd be most keen to see the full events surrounding the PM's termination from her previous employment as a solicitor from Slater & Gordon, thoroughly investigated and the reason(s) publicly revealed ? I'll be prepared to lay a modest wager with you, (with considerable regret) that a true explanation to those events will never ever see the light of day ?

And if those reasons were simply, of an administrative nature, and were not of some questionable conduct, that may amount to either a criminal offence, or some other propriety, ethical ground, then it's really none of our business ?

o sung wu - And if those reasons were simply, of an administrative nature, and were not of some questionable conduct, that may amount to either a criminal offence, or some other propriety, ethical ground, then it's really none of our business ?

With respect (to you, NOT the witch), the red-headed witch chose to be a public figure, therefore her doings are likewise public. Like it or not, anyone who makes a conscious decision to live in the limelight must reasonably expect to be constantly scrutinized. I recall Joe Peanut once saying it wasn't necessary to be liked as a politician to be successful, just being a household word was sufficient. That certainly worked admirably for him because despite a litany of 'interesting' doings, he stayed in office for far longer than most would have guessed. I guess the difference between him and the red-headed witch is that Queensland ran reasonably well whereas the same certainly can't be said for the witch.

Chris Lewis great stuff! my constanst harping about my ALP,s fault,s is in the hope we can get to that place you picture sooner rather than sweep troubles under the carpet.
Some policy,s are never going to see every one happy but change can be for every ones benefit.
Abbott just by his election will slow the boats.
Just as word spread Labor was softer, it will about the new broom.
However how will he stop them?
Cutting the carbon tax but paying company,s to cut emissions, who pays.
Look for no instant fixes it will not happen.

Betty - Look for no instant fixes it will not happen

Very true, only the one-eyed LNP faithful would presume to declare the RAbbott infallible. He might well have had a catholic schooling, but thats a long way from being the pontiff. Then again, some us of don't believe the 'holy father' IS infallible. Personally I'd like to believe the one-eyed LNP faithful breed is as rare as the ALP equivalent, however when one reads that 30% of Australians still support the red-headed witch, one can but wonder. Fact is all politicians are human and thus they all share the normal human failings, albeit to an infinitely greater extent courtesy of the power breeds contempt factor. The solution, for what its worth, is for the sheeple to realize improvement in gubment is not to be realized by switching horses, but rather for the sheeple to take a more active interest in political doings & less in footbrawl, Days of Our Drearies, Home and Away & suchlike dribble. Ultimately the sheeple need to DEMAND their elected representatives (regardless of colour) sit up and take notice. Note particularly that these turkeys are our servants NOT our masters, despite their misguided belief to the contrary.

While wanting, at every opportunity, to express my concerns with the ALP I had other thoughts behind this thread.
We because of the extraordinary nature of this hung Parliament, have lower expectations of politicians.
And lower opinions.
We however hard we support our team, should know it is no easy task to please every one, in my view it can not be done.
As most would expect from me, a wounded Labor/Union tragic, I am sure Labors policy,s are far better.
I too, with no doubt, think as is and always has been the case, Liberals will, and have, cut and tax , controlling spending , its the way they work, but too, what most Australians,*think they want now*
I too think Liberalism will re emerge, Abbott,s politics are not Liberal.
Many commentators here and in the real world, are imposing a Howard like picture of Abbott, and too judging what he can achieve, on a pre GFC world.
It will not be a done deal, we face a different world.