Everyday we're confronted with headlines of our beloved country inexorably declining. Whether it's spiralling unemployment, rising prices, care for our disadvantaged, soaring personal and government debt, lack of affordable housing, rising crime, border protection or ascending levels of xenophobia in working class suburbs of our major cities.

It seems, whatever major party is in government, many of those who're promoted to a portfolio, seem paralysed and unable or incapable, of embracing those intractable issues that have been lingering about, unaltered in successive parliaments and governments ?

Often when a Minister DOES take a tough realistic stand on some politically contentious issue, the Senate, as a 'party political strategy' simply blocks it ! Surely, there must come a time, issues that are indispensable to us as a nation and as a people, require bi-partisian support.

It must also be recognised, opposition members also govern. And in so doing, they're as equally responsible for many of the most important issues receiving assent, thus becoming law for the benefit of us all.

The LNP are in power at the moment. Yet many of their Bills will never see the light of day - good or bad. Similarly, when Labor were in government, often the LNP would block many of their Bills, purely on 'party political lines' ? It matter little whether it's of benefit for the country, it's simply blocked !

Gee, all of this petty hubris and inconsequential nonsense is so enhancing for our country and it's citizens ? Can't ALL our politicians understand what their collaborative paralysis is doing, to this once great Nation of ours ?

Dear O Sung Wu,

I don't for one moment believe that things are
as bad as some people try to make out. We've
had doomsayers for years. And yet things keep
moving along despite them.

I watched "The Insiders" this morning with Barrie
Cassidy being back. And an interesting story was
told about the times of Malcolm Fraser's visit to
China - when apparently during some performance
of National songs - Australians were asked to also
contribute their National Song - and the journalists
present when asked to sing. They chose - "I Like Aeroplane
Jelly!" in full voice, as an Australian National song.

Which to my mind was a typically Australian thing to have
done. And while we still are capable of retaining this
laid-back attitude of taking things in our stride - I
think we'll pretty much be able to survive no matter what's
thrown at us.

Hi o sung wu, nice to see you back. When you do come back, you do so with a real thump don't you.

I'm afraid you are wrong about one thing mate, the LNP did not, because they could not, block any Labor bills. The only constraint on Labor was the Greens, whose input always made Labor bills worse when they stuck their ore in.

It most definitely is obvious the media & Labor will tell any lie that suits the lefty agenda, & stopping most savings in what was a very gentle budget. Obviously they have no interest in growing the pot for us all, just getting elected.

Foxy sweetie, you do always see a ray of sunshine, often where none exist. I wish that sunlight you see was real, but I'm afraid believing all is well is what took many down with the Titanic.

I personally would be glad to take a cut or two, to make it better for the kids of today after I'm gone. As a pensioner myself, I get really annoyed when I hear pensioners bitching they don't get enough from the taxpayer.

It will not be much longer before we have spent our way to becoming the Greece of the South Pacific.

O Sung Wu, I don't share your misgivings about our political problems.
At the end of the day, we are still one of the best countries in the world, one that is sought after as a destination of choice for many people.
So we must be doing something right!

O Sung Wu <"It seems, whatever major party is in government, many of those who're promoted to a portfolio, seem paralysed and unable or incapable, of embracing those intractable issues that have been lingering about, unaltered in successive parliaments and governments ? "

What intractable issues in particular are you worried about?

Right is Right, what on earth does the PM's religious beliefs have to do with politics in our secular country.?

o sung wu,

"Often when a Minister DOES take a tough realistic stand on some politically contentious issue, the Senate, as a 'party political strategy' simply blocks it ! Surely, there must come a time, issues that are indispensable to us as a nation and as a people, require bi-partisian support.

It must also be recognised, opposition members also govern. And in so doing, they're as equally responsible for many of the most important issues receiving assent, thus becoming law for the benefit of us all.

The LNP are in power at the moment. Yet many of their Bills will never see the light of day ..."

Er...I hope you're taking into account that the present govt achieved office by misleading the electorate wholesale.

I hope you're taking into account that the electorate does not take kindly to being duped "on this scale" and that Opposition Members of whatever ilk are blocking this govt's "surprise" policies at the behest of duped electors.

Notwithstanding, that govts of all persuasions are likely to pull out the odd policy to spring on voters...it's beyond the pale for a govt to take off its mask post election to reveal it's agenda to be "the complete opposite" of that which it loudly touted in order to win office.

Dear Hasbeen,

Unfortunately for Mr Abbott and his team, the public
seems to have grown tired of the kind of theatre
exemplified by Commissions of Audit, horror budgets
and so on. But sadly with nothing much better on
offer from other sides of politics - no wonder
some people are switching to the vaudeville of people
like Clive Palmer.

I am certain that many of us would be willing to pay
extra to ensure the future for not only our children
and grandchildren but the most vulnerable in our
society. I know I would and as you say - so would you.

I still believe that the voters will get it right in
the end - and that we have the capability to continue to
not only survive, but thrive as we've done to date.