Belly,
the positives about a benevolent (a non-benevolent is no option) Dictator would be that he'she could draw on the positives from all sides.
The simply could not be a benevolent Labor or Liberal Dictator.
All thinking folks would agree that a benevolent leadership would be the ideal, several times better that our so-called Democracy !
One that doesn't sell this country down the Drain like ALP/LNP do, sanctioned by everyday Australians hungry for the almighty Dollar !

Can we just clarify that pretty much all of us are, at some time or other, on some issue or other, conservatives.

What does 'conservative' mean, if not "willing to change course ONLY if there are compelling reasons to do so", or "unwilling to change course if one cannot see any reason to, but willing to consider change if it is persuasive."

To every principle or policy, there are crackpot alternatives, which most of us would quickly reject, so we all have a healthy dose of conservatism.

There's many variations on that principle. A stronger form is Lord Falkland's: "that if there is no strong reason to change policy or course, then it's important NOT to change."

And then there are many reactionary, resistant, hidebound forms of conservatism.

Of course, that natural caution should go hand-in-hand with a compassion for the downtrodden and oppressed - conservatism doesn't necessarily mean sticking to the old ways, no matter what, and especially if it is one's own personal interest.

On that criterion, it may even be possible to be a progressive conservative ;) Conversely, it's amazing how backward and reactionary some of the views of some leftists can be if they think they're not fundamental to their ideological stance.

Joe

Loudmouth yes very true, but forgive me if I can not bring myself to believe indyd view most of us are mad
Putting my head in to a construction lunch room told me a great deal about your view
Openly listen not talk and you will get confirmation even ALP voters are conservative in their view
Howard knew that, he used it well
Hawk for his first two years too

Start trying to grow my own food?

Start trying to grow my own food?
Bozec,
Good luck with that in the inner city !

The first thing I would do as regards fruit and veggies is see if the frozen or dried options are cheaper. If so, then I would use them instead of fresh.
For bread, I would check the price of flour and if cheaper, make my own. Did it for years in the bush.
If it was going to be a temporary state then I would buy ready made meals or take away. If it was going to be permanent I would move my family to a place I could grow my own food and raise chooks and pigs. And rabbits, because they are incredibly cheap to feed and breed prolifically. During the depression my grandfather kept his whole family alive on rabbits bred in the cellar.