Dear Foxy,

Change is a necessary function of progress.

To keep doing the same thing while expecting a different outcome is akin to a belief, held by some, that Donald Trump's election success was at least partially attributable to divine intervention.

I believe in freedom of choice, whether in voting or in religious belief, but I don't have to be happy if the exercise of choice by some should facilitate deleterious impacts on the majority - either immediate or over the longer term.

It is a vexed world, and I agree with your earlier post, that Oz is indeed the 'Lucky Country' - without doubt the very best country on this finite planet - by rather a long margin.

The chips will fall where they may, and we will live with it, and make the best of it, but the elderly should not be made to suffer inordinately simply because they are no longer able to contribute fully to national economic aspirations - particularly when they have done their very best not to be a burden.

The foundation has been established by many hands to ensure a bright future for our nation's young and eager. Would it that other nations could put away their swords and undertake to do the same.

Salpetre,

Labor has promoted jealousy through inter-generational and class-warfare. It has pitted parent against child, business against employee, which we can only evolve away from rather than shift sharply.

I've personally evolved from a view that levers are used to tilt the playing field to one that there is no conscious, malevolent control. I understand people feeling differently.

Unions make a great deal of a comment by Mathias Cormann, for example, where he pointed out that the system does not work to allow labour unfettered access to business profits, not that it necessarily works against labour and wage rises. Whatever, the union message resonates because factors including local market forces (e.g increased immigration), automation and globalism have conspired world-wide against labour (and arguably small business), and those affected want someone to pay.

The young have been told that they deserve to afford a home near mum and dad who bought 30 years ago where it was then less desirable than now. They've been given subsidized child care (heading towards universally free in the future, it looks) so they can apply double incomes at enduringly low interest rates to bid for home purchases in areas of tight supply. Then they're told it's the fault of the greedy using NG (will rental losses be able to be realized in another way, Bill, Chris, anyone?) and excessive CGT concessions (given reasonably in lieu of the ability to index the cost base), that sets prices even though these factors have existed through both market rises and falls for decades.

I agree that Oz can always be made fairer, that Labor has a few ideas about this, but I disagree with some of its solutions, many based in jealousy and unlikely to return much to the coffer. What you think you may fairly deserve through your own effort and planning must now give way to what others believe they deserve as a solid social wage without the same effort. Oz will evolve away from this as the young grow older and gain more perspective through experience, IMO.

Currently labor has them whipped into frenzy.

Dear Saltpetre,

I am in total agreement with you about the elderly,
and the vulnerable in this country. We judge a society
by the way it treats its vulnerable. That's why investments
in our hospitals, our aged care, our schools, our
infrastructure, are so important. They need the support
of our governments.

We are so lucky to be living in Victoria - where the
government acts first and then asks to be re-elected.
Unlike some others who make promises and don't deliver.

I'm pleased that we have found something we can agree on.
We should judge politicians by their actions not their
words.

“"The fact remains that people nowadays prefer to
vote early to avoid the crowds on election day".

Well, that is NOT a legitimate reason to be granted an early vote. To vote early you you have to be:

Outside the electorate where you are enrolled to vote
Are more than 8kms from a polling place
Are travelling
Can't leave your workplace to vote
Are seriously ill, infirm or due to give birth shortly
Are in hospital and can't vote there
Have religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place
Are in prison
Are a silent elector
Have a reasonable fear for you safety

However, it would not be hard for those used to lying and cheating to claim one of those conditions or situations, and I bet a hell of a lot do.

Fancy making judgements on people who
vote early - and their reasons for
doing so.

Is it any one's business?

Some people need to mind their own.

But then I guess these are the people who
have a psychological makeup that has a distinctive
set of traits that includes conformity, intolerance,
and insecurity. Typical of many prejudiced people.

They see the world in very rigid and stereotypical terms.

I wasn't making judgements, little Miss Kneejerk. I listed the conditions necessary for having an early vote. I made no aspersions against you, but given your reaction to my harmless post, I could be forgiven for thinking that you didn't fulfill any of the requirements. Your unwarranted fuss suggests that I should speak to a senator I'm acquainted with and ask if early voters should be investigated; their numbers have doubled since the last election.