Here's my list so far
1. Multicultural failures, Allowing imigrants into our nation that harbor violence to fellow man.
2. The opening of our borders by one K Rudd and Co.
3. The betrail of workers whereby having worked their entire lives, and been prudent savers, they have been cast aside to fend for themselves so the underachievers can be supported.
4. The 'SET FOR LIFE' pensions and perks our former pm' s receive regardless of their levels of competency.
5. Failure to address the ongoing 457 intake in the wake of What may well lead to a recession.
6. The failure to make many described as first Australians accountable for their own actions.

There's a start anyway..

Yes. All valid points. The problem is, however, there does not seem to be any hope of us having politicians in the near future who will address these monumental errors. The sort we are getting are only interested in hanging around long enough to collect the obscene pensions you mention. The current trash we have are the result of the party system, and those parties putting their mates up for election when 'their turns' come up. The people who matter - us - get no say in who runs the country.

Probably, there's no more corrupt enterprise or organisation, than Politics ! Most politicians should be gaoled for long periods of time !

pretty good rehctub however you missed the idiotic tax on breathing which was tied to the gw relgion. Even the pope having seen many of his priest devoid of morality is now jumping on the bandwagon. Abbott is making a huge mistake pandering to the regressives on this one but at least he reversed the most dishonest tax in history.

Seriously, rehctub? You think those are the WORST decisions?

I admit the first one's pretty bad, and I'd like to see the rules tightened so that those who support any terrorist organization can't settle here. But as for the rest:

2. Even under Rudd, Australia's borders were among the securest in the world. It's hard to think of any country with more secure borders; possibly South Korea and Japan, but that's far from certain. North Korea has more secure borders now, but didn't in the Rudd era.

The real problem IMO is that people are risking their lives because of the lack of a safe alternative.

3. WTF are you referring to? The Age Pension has been means tested since its establishment in 1908.

4. A longstanding arrangement that many consider unfair, but hardly one of the worst decisions, as its overall impact is trivial.

5. Failure to arrest the economic downturn is a much much much much bigger problem. Recessions are always avoidable.

6. Failure to address the related problem of people's inability to substantially improve their own situation has had far worse effects in many areas.

7 Dillards contribution the NDIS, that will be extremely expensive and open to fraudsters.

O sung wu,

Your'e a softy. I wouldn't let them out at all.

o sung wu,
Whilst I agree with you most of the crims I knew were innocent
compared to these blokes and they would never allow them in the
same prison.
Perhaps Cooma but not Parramatta.

Philip S, how do you think the NDIS is open to fraudsters?

The NDIS is expensive, but it's a good decision as it immensely improves the lives of those Australians who, through no fault of their own, are among our most disadvantaged. And the cost will be mitigated by a productivity boost as more disabled people are able to work.

What do we have here, I know, the forums 'Usual Suspects' are having their version of a 'Conserves Political Love In'. LOL. Oh that naughty Rudd, oh that naughty Gillard, the shame of it all! Go for it fellas.

Hi there TTBN & CHRISGAFF1000...

TTBN I fully understand why I may be perceived as being a 'softy'? Nevertheless, I again find it necessary to reiterate, I'm wholly against capital punishment per se, even for those heinous crimes perpetrated by that political detritus . That aside, I've long been an advocate for protracted periods of incarceration, together with a 'spirited' application of the Malaysian Rotan.

CHRIS, I don't believe the authorities at Parramatta Gaol would wish for their historic facility to be befouled by accommodating an intractably corrupt group of politicians ? Cooma on the other hand might be just the place to send these awful creatures for intense periods of 'behaviour modification'. Together with regular therapy of corporal chastisement.

A useful strategy I'm informed, in which to assist a corrupt 'political nobody', to once more examine carefully, their moral and ethical compass. Before they too, are mandated to make that daunting 110km road trip, down to that gloomy, dreaded pile, forever known as the 'Cooma Political Prison' !

I've heard, that it's whispered on some cold black nights, ordinary folk who unwittingly drive by those dark foreboding walls, on their way to the snow, know not what lies behind those gloomy ramparts ? There're however a few old souls, who know what makes those grotesque and gruesome sounds, that emanate from them who're entombed the other side ? They're but the spirits of corrupt malevolent politicians, consigned to wander about aimlessly for all eternity, behind those high foreboding walls. Never to be heard of again !

o sung wu,
Dante would be kind to them I am sure.

G'day there CHRISGAFF1000...

I dunno mate, I'm not sure whether Dante would even want the corrupt bastards down there with his crew ?

Dear rehctub,

I'm not going to compile a list of successive governments
worst decisions. There's quite a few on all sides of
politics and each and every decision needs to be looked
at in its context of that time.

I read an interesting article by Xavier Toby in the Sydney
Morning herald a while back. Actually, I think it was after
the last election and in the article Toby did a summation
of the differences between Liberal and Labor.

According to Toby if you voted:

Liberal - you're selfish.
Labor - you want to waste money.
Liberal - you have no hope for society.
Labor - You have hope and can cope with disappointment.
Liberal - you think - stuff everyone else. My money is for me.
Labor - you believe in sharing for the good of society but
don't mind that a lot of people will be going to the public service -
the most overpaid, overqualified and least effective workforce in
all of human history.

As Toby points out -

Not much of a choice is it?

Finally Toby tells us that:

The Liberal Party believes in small government with lower taxes,
less money for health and other services and making things as
easy as possible for big and small business.

They believe that if you want something - go and get it for
yourself - we're not going to help you. However - once you get
it we're not going to take it off you.

The Labor party believe in higher taxes to fund a larger public
sector. The idea being to provide basic levels of health,
education, and other core services for everyone - regardless
of how much they earn.

According to Toby its the poor execution of this philosophy
that brought the Labor party undone. That, and the in-fighting.

What the future holds for us? Who knows.
Maybe someday we'll be able to strike a balance - but I
guess for that to happen we all have to possibly be a little
less selfish ourselves.

Foxy, you often speak about fairness to all, so here's a scenario for you. I'm sure you've heard it before.

Take two working people, male or female who work for forty years and earn an average of say $60K per year.

One person is prudent with their money, invests and ends up with what's considered to be too many assets.

The other spends theirs, holidays, new cars boats etc and always rents their home.

While person one is denied the pension and benefits that go with it, while person two is cared for.

Where is the fairness in that I ask?

Governments make stupid il thought decisions which just lead to changes in what people do.

An example is the latest grab on
pensioners with too many assets.

This will see many now stop buying investment properties in favor of upgrading their own homes simply because the family home is excluded from the asset test. (Watch this space)

These people will stil retire rich then draw on their family home by way of reverse mortage and, they will also qualify for the pension. Of cause the negative effect of this, especially if they remove negative gearing, which they will one day due to continued pressure, would be A reduction in properties being built as there would be less investors in the market.

Governments are just too dumb for their own good.

Dear rehctub,

The only answer I can offer is - vote for the
government that you think will give you what you
consider to be fair.

After all we elect those that are supposed to
represent us. We need to make our feelings
known. Political pressure is needed. If its
not applied then we get what we deserve.

cont'd ...

Dear Rehctub,

BTW - I was switching channels last night and I don't
know what the program was but there was this woman
claiming that she received $1,000 a week in welfare
payments - so why should she work unless she received
at least that much in a salary.

The mind boggles. How could that happen?
I didn't see the full program so I don't know how this
came about. But goodness me. I found it hard to believe.

Here I am - having worked all of my life, raised
a family, never been on welfare, and provided for my
old age because that's the way I was raised. And this
woman was speaking with no shame whatsoever about taking
money from the government and expecting full government
support.

Perhaps I am missing something in the program?
If you saw it please fill me in.
I was thoroughly disgusted with her attitude.

Hi Foxy, where I'm living at the moment I have no TV and I'm like a caged lion, so no, I didn't see it but I have heard it before.

From memory this started back in the 80's when the government of the day thought it would be a good idea to support families rather than allow the responsibility to remain with the parents.

We saw a situation develop whereby people, usually men, would do the math to decide whether or not it was more viable to continue working, or just have a few kids and collect the welfare top up. It also made it very difficult to employ people unless they worked a full week because they used to say that once you go off benefits it's very hard to get back on. Casualization in the workforce was not as common then.

The other part that we must remember is that that grand a week is tax free and comes with perks as well, so it like you earning say $100K a year and not having to work. It's a joke.

The really sad part is that too much of that welfare money (I'm generalizing) gets wasted and to think something as simple as a special restricted debit card could go a long way towards fixing that. But that appears to be too easy. Either that or successive governments are simply to weak to make tough decisions for fear of loosing office.

As for who to vote for, it doesn't matter because we never get what we vote fir because they all tell lies.

I do feel sorry for those who voted for the golden egg maternity leave, they didn't realize that ideas are nothing without money. In fact, I don't think it was ever intended to be law. There's a sucker born every day as they say.
Continued.

Lexi, The other doozy for the list would have to be the baby bonus, What a joke that was as all it really did was ensured we populated our country with more drop kicks simply because working mums couldn't afford child care to return to work, while onnthe other hand two drop kicks, many being kids themselves found the temptation of five grand FOR NOTHING was too good to refuse.

Same goes for maternity leave, which would have been even worse had Abbott got his brain fart of an idea through. Blind Freddie can see the problem is not so much having the baby, the problem is deciding whether or not it's worth returning to work.

If anyone can explain the logic behind giving non working parents free, or near free child care, at the expense of workers, it would be most appreciated.

But, it's the old story, politicians are not accountable for their actions and Rudd and Gillard have certainly proven that.

So as we edge closer to the 'every man for himself' scenario it will be interesting to see just how long it takes us to be level pegging with the likes of Greece.. Mining's in trouble, manufacturing is all but gone, yet people still expect to rob from the rich to support the poor. The trouble is, what do we do when the rich say 'stuff that'!

People still don't get the most basic concept of, 'for every action there is a reaction'.

Dear rehctub,

Thanks for getting back to me and filling in a few
gaps that I was missing.

And you're right of course in what you're saying.

I've worked hard (and still do), and saved, so hopefully
I'll have enough to retire on. I was brought up to not
expect any one to provide for me, so that's helped.
I should be able to manage in my old age.

Here is a doozy for you. How John Howard when PM became a friend of the Calabrian Ndrangheta, Mafia. According to the SMH the Mafia was able to ingratiate itself with The Liberal Party during the Howard years by the use of political donations. Frank Madafferi, a man who police believe is a senior Mafia boss met the PM John Howard and other top Liberal Party figures at a party fundraiser. the SMH has published a photo of a smiling John Howard meeting Madafferi, along with a photo of Madafferi meeting with three Mafia drug traffickers in Melbourne in 2008.
Please explain Mr Howard!

http://www.smh.com.au/national/political-donations-wide-open-to-mafia-corruption-20150628-ghycxk.html

In New South Wales we were recently subjected to systemic corruption in The Liberal Party as exposed by the ICAC. Now there are allegations against the Federal Liberal Party concerning links with the Calabrian Mafia, where will it end? Butch, does this make it to your "worse decisions" list, or is it okay by you?

Hi,
There are plenty of people getting $1000 plus from Social Security. Why do you think there are so many aboriginals driving around in new or near new 4wd vehicles, usually v8s?
I actually overheard a young aboriginal girl ( about 17) say to another "Christ I,ll have to get pregnant pretty quick now otherwise they'll stick me on Newstart"
I know of one family close to me where there are 3 adult males and 2 adult women with five kids under 6 years old a couple of 13 to 15 year old girls living in A 2 bedroom housing commission unit with 2 4x4 and a lot of drop in 'relles" and the patriarch boasts he has been in goal for violence and domestic violence and loved it. He says because of his criminal record and violent disposition he cannot get a job so they have him a disability pension.
He recons the house income is in the vicinity of $4000 a fortnight cash and tax free.

G'day there CHRISGAFF1000...

Your last paragraph describing the nefarious activities of the patriarch of that particular family represents exactly what's wrong with our social security system ? By all accounts this maggot is deemed 'unemployable' because of the intolerable levels of violence contained within his criminal antecedents...amazing ?

Put the bastard back in boob doing 'legitimate' hard labour - producing little rocks out of big rocks ! That'll help him to review his levels of violence and anti-social behaviour ! Geez I'm glad I'm out of the job Chris, and I'd bet so are you !

Howard is not a good Pm in my thinking very corrupt hiding many things that should not be hiding. Mafia all over Europe including my own old country Albania and in my own city Elbasan, even Mafia here. Very bad in Europe, very bad everywhere here to in Australia if Howard hide them here? Labor are good at government so should be government here I think. For working people not rich people. Labor are best for all people. Liberal only for rich people not ordinary people.

<<I actually overheard a young aboriginal girl ( about 17) say to another "Christ I,ll have to get pregnant pretty quick now otherwise they'll stick me on Newstart">>

This from a bloke who claimed 'He threw gay men into the Parramatta River, when he was a copper!'

How convenient, overhearing the "enemy" when it suits you, or are you just hearing things. An old copper ploy, if you don't have the evidence just "verbal" the suspects.

misanthrope, yes, and isn't it funny how when speaking of one of these Aussie mafia one requires an I interpreter to say their name.

Imported crime I call it.

Anyone arriving at this country should be made leave their baggage at the door and, if caught committing crime, they should be deported. That would sort them out quick smart. We are just too soft!