Foxy,

If you don't mind, I was trying to discuss common terms used by some Labor politicians. It is a fact that senior Labor politicians do speak at Fabian gatherings and it is usual for some to refer to themselves as 'Progressives'. See here,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Fabian_Society

It is important to know what they mean by 'Progressive', because it is an old movement and has a chequered past. Some bits may be OK, but the overall direction and the existence of it as a secondary agenda may be worrying for some members of the public. Pollies should declare and discuss any allegiances, beliefs or prior agreements that could affect their decisions. The public has a need to know.

If it is something you don't want to know, then fine, you have the option of skipping the particular post, or the thread.

otb,

When you change your crass and unpleasant demeanour
only then will you have a right to complain.

Foxy, a bit off the subject but I would just like to pass on this to you. A very good friend of ours Mehreen Faruqi finished 5th in the 2013 Woman of the Year awards. Mehreen gives the lie to all the BS around about women, and particularly Muslim women, and what they can achieve. Mehreen has achieved so much (quietly) working in a number of fields and was a deserving candidate. Well done by all 20 candidates.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/woman-of-the-year-is-adfa-skype-sex-scandal-cadet-20131215-2zfcz.html

The economic incompetence of the Abbott Government is unbelievable, as they add an extra billion dollars a week of debt to the bottom line, all done by their own hand. All the economic indicators point to these fools pushing Australia into recession before we know it. The Coalitions mismanagement will see a massive blowout in debt, to an admitted $47b, most likely far greater than that conservative estimate, A poor performing economy and extravagant promises will see tax revenue plunge $37b, the repeal of the carbon tax alone will cost $7.4b, additional unemployment payments through bad economic management will add another $11.3b. On top of this, add the needless $8.8b grant to the Reserve Bank, and the crazy spending of $2.9b on benefits for the mega rich, plus an extra $8.2b on projects for big business. The Indonesian stuff up on asylum seekers will cost an extra $1.2b. Along with billions for other half baked Coalition promises, and what can we expect, nothing short of a total economic disaster, as these economic nit wits try and slug the poor and needy to fund their incompetence. Gee have these guys only been in power 100 days, how long can they last?

@Paul 1405

<<...a bit off the subject... the 2013 Woman of the Year awards>>

More like off with the pixies!

Who decides who gets to be woman of the year--I can't seem to remember any referendum?

It's the sort of thing that glossy magazines excel in:
-Bachelor of the year
-Celebrity of the year
-father of the year
-mother of the year

Though the old Soviet Union used to do it well too: Worker of the year.

It has a very artificial and contrived feel --still it'd be the sort of thing that would appeal to Greenies!

It goes on and on with no let up. That bloke telling Turnbull to toe the party line, shows this party hasn't got a voice. Abbott is the furor, it's his way or nout. The raping of the NBN says what he thinks of this nation, and yet he wants women to get thousands and thousands for time off to have babies. Abbott is a rich mans supporter, the little man will foot the bills that abbott is creating on a daily bases.