Banjo thanks bloke, yes by choice I live alone but have a big family.
As a matter of fact am on a health kick!
With Sugar as well as the unknown thing I get better if watching my food.
Small village mate and I have only been here from 1978, so am not a local yet, again in part my choice.
Hope to be around for the next federal election.
Bit concerned that a quota may come for gays, not against them.
But surely we know many on both sides are already in the house, based on ability.
Wounder if we can get a quota for grumpy old blokes?
Maybe we can get one for those like my self and many more who sometimes have the heart to warn the party its trousers have a hole in the bottom?.

Belly,

I am saying that you and many other staunch Labor supporters are being treated as dupes by political opportunists, careerists and union bosses who continually demonstrate they are in it for themselves and apart from that have no interest in the roots, traditions and traditional ideology of Labor.

Honestly now, what conclusions do you yourself draw from the past and recent behaviour of egocentric, self-seeking back-stabbing clowns like Julia Whatshername, Bill Shorten (aka, Whatever She Says) and Penny Wong (who disloyaly stabbed her leader and fellow member of The Sisterhood)?

Now there may or may not be some of that in other political parties too and the Greens are sinking knives into one another as I write, but this thread is discussing Labor. As well, Labor and their sidekicks the Greens have just been thoroughly spanked by the electorate.

There is nothing to be served by you railing in frustration against any like me who are prepared to apparently waste their time advising you of those facts. That you are in a constant state of denial must be dreadful for you, but the way out is to freely discuss the problems and work on solutions. Speaking of which, Rudd's solutions to union corruption are already being given the deep six by Shorten and he and others would force Rudd out of the Parliament. How is that for thumbing their noses at democracy?

Belly,
Small world, I have type 2 diabetes as well, but control it with drugs, so far. BP is the main concern of doc. Only have beer now on special occasions. Don't know if I will make next election, often see in local paper people I know karking it, all my vintage and younger.

Also have been living alone, while place is on market. Wife is in Qld, for health reasons, but signs are I may join her shortly. Will just have to wait and see.

In meantime we see polys saying, and doing, silly things. Questionable.

Banjo good morning.
Well we both know what sugar brings with it including the high blood pressure.
It has been my stunningly bad luck to have had both Q fever many years agoi, and recently, not over it yet Barma Forest Virus.
Once you confront the fact it will not go away you can use the best and only medicine that works.
Confront it get pleasure from the small things like a coffee under a tree in the garden, but never ever give in.
OTB next post is for you.

OTB I in your post saw an attempt to lower the heat between us and just maybe both respect you for it and feel you place little value on my intellect.
See most know, I am both Labor and Union for life.
Long time posters will have seen me verbally lash, even trash, both.
See you see things I never can, because in my view they do not exist.
You make it a crime to be a just left of center person.
I brand that position as the right one for folk who care about others.
I FEAR the Tea party element in todays Coalition government you fail to see it.
I call for change and reform for both party and unions.
You call for a hearse.
I am deeply troubled by the stage managed nature of Abbott,s first weeks in power .
And truly think the hand and mind of Rupert Murdock, and Gina no heart are involved.
You see me as quite mad for saying those things.
I too understand we are a better country, served by better politicians, for changing governments now and again.
You see only one side as worthy to rule.
OTB I have great regard for some conservatives here.
But see your mind as a closed one at best.
I thank you for your attempt to communicate.
But too saw it as evidence, you and some others, do not truly understand yesterdays insults, those from decades ago, do not truely look at the great and very different ALP/UNIONS we have today.
You will say I am blind.
But know, unlike your self, I *constantly* let it be known when my side needs it, kick them.

Belly,

You and traditional Lefties must be exasperated.

Someone said that the association with the Greens finally brought Labor down. That it probably did and it was a very poor decisions by a careerist, egocentric politician now gone but still bobbing up to promote herself and sink the boot in. She does that while claiming she has the good the the party at heart of course.

However the crux of the problem for Labor and the unions is the takeover by very clever and ruthless men and women, usually young relatively speaking, who are skilled practitioners of the dark arts of (Marxist) manipulation, who set out to use and abuse those organisations for their own personal benefit. Honestly now, what traditional Leftie would pursue materialism,(say) purchase a $2million bungalow, for example?

All of the traditional lefties with any street cred were never like that. They wouldn't abuse the opposite gender just to bad-mouth a conservative opponent like Abbott either. They could get laid without paying for it at the knock shop too. They must be turning in their graves.

Each and every day traditional Labor supporters must feel trapped between the devil (devils who have hijacked Labor and the unions) and the deep blue sea (as represented by the LNP). Mind you, some of the LNP's policies are more traditional Labor these days.

Rightly or wrongly as you and others might see it, the electorate saw Labor as being managed by corrupt, self-interested clowns. There is some truth in it though and nothing will change until ways are found (eg independent audits) to thwart the rogues and selfish career politicians. Trustworthy men and women with life experience and good principles are needed desperately .