....And now they just riot in the streets yea lets go that way shell we

Yes Aussieboy, but the main driver of riots us the failed multicultural experiment.

.....>>We are simply not self sufficient as a nation because of free trade, we make nothing in comparison to the Australia of the 1970’s<<

No, we are nit self sufficient because our lifestyles are too high and our population is too small.

I'm not suggesting we increase our population though, especially if that means increases to the free loaders we already have, but, to maintain the lifestyles we do, especially the hand outs, we have no choice but to over produce. So self sufficiency is not an option.

Dear rehctub

I am hearing a lot about dole bludgers freeloaders and such but do some quick maths
These are not accurate figures because you cant get those
500000 people out of work 10000 jobs available you always going to have a large unemployed sector so is it fair to call them names its not their fault they have no work its our politicians driving the show and a whole lot more about to hit the pile with the holden/qantas/etc and these are only ones making the news there are many others.

AB,

Take it as a win, a home run, a total victory, I couldn't care less.

Your crude and inarticulate post implying that a recent race riot in London was due to economic policy implemented 3 decades ago also lacks any justification or logic.

I would guess that the closest you came to a legal document is from a juvenile court public defender, and wouldn't know hard work if it hit you between the eyes.

You're welcome, sonofgloin.

>>Thanks for your input Pericles. Thanks for your astute posturing that we are better off under a free trade market. My only rebuttal to your nonsense is to quote you the Australian household debt to disposable income ratio.<<

But hold on just one minute. That's isn't a rebuttal of the arguments I was making, at all. Not even close.

All you are saying, in fact, is that while all these eager countries to our north were gearing up to make stuff for Australians to buy, we were busy borrowing the money to buy it. Right?

Protectionism implemented forty years ago could possibly have prevented this particular over-borrowing position. But with the unavoidable consequences that I described.

And as I also pointed out...

"...introducing protective measures today would have the same result, except that the population - having experienced a reasonable standard of living for many decades - would take to the streets en masse, and start lynching politicians on sight."

Incidentally, North Korea is a pretty good example of what happens when a country shuts itself off from the impact of global economic reality.

Great if your name is Kim Jong Un. But otherwise, not so good.

Aussieboy,

Your wish list was very good, as were the other ideas added by some other Forum members. It's unfortunate that this thread has somewhat degenerated into a slanging match, rather than staying focused on the subject.
I'm sure we all have very long wish lists too, and for me one priority would be that our laws be strengthened against serious offenders. Those who commit murder should never get less than a life sentence [a death penalty would be cheaper of course]. Another is that we decentralise to smaller communities rather than expanding our capitals, and squeezing the burgeoning population into smaller blocks or apartments. Canada has now blocked wealthy foreigners buying in to their country, so now these people are looking at us as the alternative. My wish would be to follow Canada's example.
Deporting illegal immigrants who commit crimes back to their place of birth, and holding off on accepting more while we cope with absorbing the over 50,000 [mostly men] who have arrived by various means under the previous government is another wish. Commonsense appears to have been replaced by government infighting. We elected this government, but minority elements are hell bent on destabilising most of their reforms. I wish it would stop.

Dear Shadow Minister
I'll repeat poor little rich boy go cry to daddy for some more money
Leave the rest of us alone we earn our pay
As for the riot not 1 riot but many riots and not all about race its a social problem brought on by the said polices you sprout do the same here expect riots call it w/e you want to austerity comes to mind rich making poor pay for their mistakes. and any thing you say i have been called worse by better people then you.Your constant abuse just means you have no valid argument, Reminds me a lot of our current Prime Minister lots of rhetoric no substance.