Dear rehctub,

The scenario of "two consenting adults" coming to an
amicable agreement doesn't always work for everybody
as we know. Especially when it's not exactly a level
playing-field with one of the "consenting adults,"
holding all the power.

Yes, we are in critical times and this country requires
a re-assessment of the relationship between labour and
capital. A re-assessment which takes into account the
politics of industrial democracy, profit, and job
sharing, flexibility, and of course - long-term
planning.

What we don't need is the "kick-the-worker-today-and-
take-the-money-tomorow," attitude that comes from the
Cold War warriors who are currently at work around the
place.

Foxy, the unions are trying to protect something that will soon become un protectable as we are faced with the potential for unemployment the likes we have not seen before, at least in my life time, so workers mus be given the opportunity to protect what they see as a minimum deal, otherwise they will end up on the scrap heap because make no mistake, we are headed for a train wreck.

The closure of our car industries will just be the beginning in my view.

As a worker myself now, I can assure you that if the boss came to me and said either we cut wages by 20% or we shut several sites down, I think I woukd take the offer, simp,y because it is my view that the writing is on the wall, especially for this who are either unable, or unwilling to go to where the work is. But then again, I am lucky as my investments ten years ago have now provided me with a life long income, thanks to timber.

Dear rehctub,

I'm not as pessimistic as you and I feel that
predicting the future is risky at the best of times.
Predictions of doom and gloom are always with us -
yet investments in research and development,
the acquiring of new technologies, new skills, open up
new opportunities that were not forseen. Sometimes
people have to find new ways of being competitive
in this global market, find new ways of doing things,
and not continue with what doesn't work

Foxy I dont like to be pessimistic, but there are times when one must face reality, and I feel such times are just around the corner.

Like, where do we find jobs for up to 200,000 people, once the car industries and supporting businesses close?

Mining is on shaky ground, retail is on it's knees, uless you are Coles or Wollies, manufacturing is dead, truism looks promising but that's a fairly small sector.

Sorry Foxy, but I remain skeptical.

Dear rehctub,

I certainly don't have all the answers.
Just lots of hope in the future and
our country's innovation. Of course the
right sort of leadership would also help -
to point us in the right direction.

So what's your opinion of the right sought of leadership Foxy.

The one we have now whereby they are cutting the spending of money we don't have, or, the one that we just removed who borrowed to the hilt and saw little problem with subsidizing jobs in the likes of the ca industry, to the tune of $50,000 per worker, or 76% of the so called average wage.

You must also remember that the cuts would not be so necessary had the 600 odd billion spent by labor achieved anything other than a few unfunded dreams and the train wreck they called the NBN.

Governments must understand that there are a few key points about money, one being, it's not theirs to waste, and two being you can only spend it once.

Jus imagine what could have been for our car industry had those billions in payments gone to a reward system for locals buying local cars. Of cause, they would have needed to be cars locals wanted as well.