David f, the concept of banning lawyers from juries seems just as fundamentally wrong as banning property developers from entering parliament.

It is unbelievable! Where’s the conflict of interest there??

Yes, property developers in governmental positions of power could possibly work towards disadvantaging their competition. But again, you could say the same thing about all sorts of professions.

My main concern with bias and conflict of interest is that the vast majority of MPs are pro-growth, supply-demand-balance-blind and sustainability-blind expansionists. Indeed, to get elected, they virtually have to be strongly on this side of the political spectrum. For that matter, for them to become members of the Libs, Nats or Labor, they’d have to be like this… or very surreptitious indeed if they weren’t.

THIS is the bias that really matters! While property developers are fairly and squarely in this group, so are most other business people… and economists and lawyers… and just about anyone else in any respectable area of work….except some academics and environmentalists.

But of course, it is not this sort of bias that KRudd is setting out to cure. Far from it. I’m sure he welcomes it all the way!

I’ll try that last line again:

But of course, it is not this sort of bias or conflict of interest or corruption of democracy that KRudd is setting out to cure. Far from it. I’m sure he welcomes it all the way!

Dear Ludwig,

Property developers would be Rudd's best buddies if he was a systematic thinker and was aware of the implications of his 'big Australia' policy. However, although he is an intelligent man he doesn't always think things through. In fact I think he rarely does. Both Abbott and he are intelligent men with blinkered minds. They are capable of climbing the greased pole to the top but lack the sense to question. Both men are in thrall to religious authority and are believers in mumbojumbo. Rudd disregards the separation of religion and state which is necessary for democracy if it is not to be led by the nose following religious obscurantism. Rudd originated the school chaplaincy program in Queensland later copied by Howard. Since religious fundamentalists have taken over the program it is a great way to decrease scientific literacy. Abbott calls climate change 'crap' as that is in tune with the 'thinking' of his mentor, Cardinal Pell. Neither man is worth a pail of warm spit. Two men unfit for public office head their parties.

Dear Ludwig,

I have felt for a long time that property developers simply have no business making decisions on zoning and development. It is the fox guarding the hen house. I have never expected any politician to advocate that sensible step. Even though I have little regard for Rudd in other areas he has this one right.

David, what about my repeated point that the same sort of thing can be said of many professions for people in politics?

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<< Two men unfit for public office head their parties. >>

Yep, I certainly agree with that!!

Dear Ludwig,

I agree that it is undemocratic to bar any group of people from public office. However, in the case of property developers in local government making decisions on property matters it is against the best interests of the community to be democratic. Free speech has its limits. One is not allowed to shout, "Fire" in a crowded theatre when there is no fire even though an absolutist for free speech would allow it. The potential for harm is simply too great. The potential for harm in allowing property developers to make property decisions in local government is simply too great to allow them to do so. Rudd is capable of using common sense on rare occasions. This is one of the rare occasions.