indi,

"handed an Australian economy that was the envy of the OECD.. Furphy !"

Er.... http://www.abc.net.au/news/linkableblob/3727694/data/possum-graph-8-government-debt-as-gdp-data.jpg

Er.... http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jul/09/australia-american-path-to-inequality

"The Australian model has performed far better. Indeed, Australia is one of the few commodity-based economies that has not suffered from the natural resource curse. Prosperity has been relatively widely shared. Median household income has grown at an average annual rate above 3% in the last decades – almost twice the OECD average."

But don't take any notice of Nobel Laureate, Stiglitz....after all, he's 'educated".

Yer economically dumb, indi

G'dayBruce...I'm quite enjoying your commentary : )

The oft-quoted surplus was a direct result of the Howard Gov' NOT doing it's job, it ignored infrastructure needs, both present and future, handed out tax relief like it was going out of style and set the agenda for this rag-tag bunch of losers attacks on the poor and middle classes. Huge debt? In real world terms our debt was way below the average and completely within our ability to cope with, until the Canetoad got his hands on it anyway.
It's amusing that you claim not to be a Liberal because you support the Nat's, as if there's any difference. Once upon a time there was a modicum of difference but that fell by the wayside long since, now the only reason they stay separated is purely to do with hype and personal power, if they actually had any ideals beyond greed and might-is-right they would be the identical anyway.
As for Labor "ruining" Australia, Oz was far from ruined at the time of the last election, we were leading the economic world, thanks to Labors policies and actions, apart from their immigration policy and they share that with the Lib's completely, only the details on boat arrivals are different.
You happily call Labor voters and the PS "mongrels", ignoring the fact that they are intrinsically AUSTRALIAN VOTERS, citizens of our nation and entitled to their beliefs and associations, and if THAT doesn't clearly demonstrate the Liberal elitist and anti-democratic attitude I don't know what does.
It's always interested me the way so many young reject their parents political mind-set and justify that by claiming to think independently, whereas in fact they are only following the normal human growth pattern, breaking free of their parents as they achieve adulthood, and believing they know better is just a foolish part of that. To me the real shame is that so many then go on to lock themselves into rigid unthinking obedience to another political narrative rather than truly thinking for themselves, just as you appear to have done.

I was told long ago to never argue with a mug, well haven't learnt my lesson but do draw the line at arguing with selfish morons.

Individual, you're a Nationals voter? And have no time for the Liberals? Wow. I have noticed an awful quiet from the Nationals during this budget debacle. You know why?

I live in a country area in a very small town. A long way from the city. This budget is going to hurt the small minority of Australians who live outside the cities very much. What city people take for granted, a choice of good education, access to good medical care, good roads and some form of transport other than the family car to get to the city is lacking now. It will only get worse.

Bruce hit the nail on the head re the budget surplus from Howard. Howard sat on his ass during an economic boom. It had nothing to do with policies. He did nothing. Absolutely nothing. Except get rid of any Liberal who was not prepared to brown nose him. Hence, we are left with a group of intellectual arrogant midgets. Bishop and Turnbull are the only Liberals who seem capable to communicate past 2 or 3 word slogans. And Turnbull is being side-lined.

And before you go on your ridiculous anti-Left rhetoric, I voted for Howard until I saw what he was doing. I was very angry with him, still am. This country lost a lot. He used fear based and divisive politics to stay in power. Sadly, the other major party, the ALP has followed suit.

Dear Yvonne,

Amazing.

You mirror my thoughts exactly!

the ALP has followed suit.
yvonne,
wrong phrasiology, they fell ar$e over backwards to out-do them & that's the only plocy they ever excelled in.
I never said the Conservatives are brilliant,but what I maintain is that they're not as bad as Labor even if they tried. That's the whole gist of my argument.