Lexi, I strongly support euthanasia as an option for those suffering both the physical pain of terminal illness and the indignity of life that those illnesses place on people. It is a personal decision and I don't feel I have the right to impose my view on others.
As you properly point out before such action stringent safeguards must be put in place to protect the vulnerable, but that in itself is not insurmountable, Euthanasia is something society should be able to debate freely and eventually come to an acceptable conclusion

Time for a little light entertainment.

This election has been full on snarky, etc....but my eleven year-old has come up with this music clip of our pollies. They're all there and appear to have cooperated to some extent to make the clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H7BTKTOwLE

Quite refreshing in the present political climate.

The LNP's PPL is annoying because it is one of the worst vote-buying exercises seen in this election, probably worse than Rudd's throwing money around during the GFC in the form of a payment to Australians to go spend their money. Ill-thought out and useless in the long term.

Someone is going to fund the LNP's largesse and it will come from the taxpayer or business (which ultimately means the consumer).

I am also annoyed about the lack of attention to the second rate tertiary education system. Merit has gone out in favour of commercial interests. There are more whistleblowers no doubt yet to come from that industry.

I am sick of subsidies for anything. I used to think some were a good idea but in recent years feel they work to push up prices with little benefit for the taxpayer.

Taxation reform is needed. I reckon once you pay tax that is it, the money goes towards infrastructure and to support those most in need rather than being used to prop up middle class welfare. The way to help families or business is via the taxation system not through paybacks. It would also cost less to administer. Maybe a re-think on free trade is also warranted.

Sustainable agriculture is ignored.

The generosity the LNP has with taxes to the wealthy and middle classes while generally ignoring the needs of the poorest citizens is beyond belief really.

The real problem is the furphy that economic growth and productivity are considered important status over any other benefits to social wellbeing. Everything is based around that premise hence the awful PPL scheme. Still nothing though for parents who choose to stay at home with their children. Income splitting for tax purposes would also help people who might choose to raise their children at home in the early years. But basically no party gives a rats about facilitating choices that go outside the economic agenda. It is basic social engineeing but to be fair I guess most policies fall into that category.

Rant finished. :)

Dear Pelican,

A positively delightful rant. I am happy we don't have rant control.

Thanks David
I felt much better too after that rant. Very cathartic. :)

Abbott has lost his memory.

Quote "$440 million border protection strategy outlined by Tony Abbott in Darwin today.
The scheme also includes millions of dollars to bolster Indonesia's search and rescue capacity"

Indonesia can't even find a boat 15Km from one of there main ports, wrong assessment in reality they do not want to find them they want Australia to find them and transport them to Australia.

For years we have been going hundreds of KM's into the Indonesian rescue zone and transporting them here, they have no naval vessels in the southern ocean because they DO NOT want to pickup or rescue the refugees.

Why give money for them to do something they will not do?