Howards 10th anniversary.

[Booney]

With today being the 10th anniversary of the weasel's government,it got me thinking,two things.

1:Will little JH go into the next election as Prime Minister,more so,will he retire before the election and allow Costello,
or any other Liberal party wanna be take the reigns?

2:When will the Labour party be in a position to have a leader capable of convincing the public of Australia they are capable of doing a better job? Kim Beasley being the obvious choice to fail again,and with no stand out performer behind him,who could do it?

For mine,this leaves the Liberal party,and more so JH in a very strong position.JH knows,well,would be strongly suspicious, with the fragility of his opponents,that his party will once more win and govern the land.

Is it possible the majority of Australians would be willing to take a risk that big,and vote in Labour?

[MightyEagles]

Who cares about Howard anyway, I don't, he's so overrated, just like the Libs.

[Booney]

Who cares about Howard anyway, I don't, he's so overrated, just like the Libs.

Well thought out.

[mick]

JH is a great man that's why he's PM and why his government has been in power ten years. Can you imagine the mess this country would be in if Whitlam, in earlier times or Keating had lasted much longer than 3 years. Labor has lost the plot they are too interested in "scandals" such as children overboard, AWB etc. thinking that the majority of the population care about these issues, about 5% do think these things are important, they vote Green or Democrat. Labor does not not have a rosy future, as a majority of young people now support the coalition, when I was in my early adulthood in the 70s it was difficult to find a Liberal voter in that age group, not so now, unfortunately for Labor people tend to become more conservative as they grow older. The only thing that will unseat the current government will be a serious downturn in the economy because this is the number one issue for the vast majority of voters.

[RoostersRuleTheWorld !]

Yeah, well said mick !

[duncs7]

JH is a great man that's why he's PM and why his government has been in power ten years. Can you imagine the mess this country would be in if Whitlam, in earlier times or Keating had lasted much longer than 3 years. Labor has lost the plot they are too interested in "scandals" such as children overboard, AWB etc. thinking that the majority of the population care about these issues, about 5% do think these things are important, they vote Green or Democrat. Labor does not not have a rosy future, as a majority of young people now support the coalition, when I was in my early adulthood in the 70s it was difficult to find a Liberal voter in that age group, not so now, unfortunately for Labor people tend to become more conservative as they grow older. The only thing that will unseat the current government will be a serious downturn in the economy because this is the number one issue for the vast majority of voters.

What a load of bullsh*&t

as a majority of young people now support the coalition, when I was in my early adulthood in the 70s it was difficult to find a Liberal voter in that age group, not so now.

Ill put my life savings all the fact that the main majority of young people 18-25 do not support the coalition at all, but in fact abhore their lying deceitful ways.
They may not be behind Labor but they definately arent behing the Libs.

For one thing if Whitlam got the time he deserved i wouldnt have to pay $97,950 for my degree!

[Leaping Lindner]

John Howard has this reputation as a "great economic manager" and yet our foreign debt is $461 Billion having tripled since he came to office in 1996.

[am Bays]

For one thing if Whitlam got the time he deserved I wouldnt have to pay $97,950 for my degree!

Duncs 7 three things:

If Whitlam got the time he deserved there would be no uni system at all for your education as we would be the equivalent of a Paraguay/Bolivia/any South Americacn style Banana Republic you care to name. Sorry take that back, there would be a uni system but no govt guaranteed loans/HECS just straight up front fees.

The Howard Govt budget surpluses are being used to pay off the Whitlam govt deficit budgets!!

Also the current opposition leader along with Hawke, Keating and Dawkins et al were the cabinet that introduced HECS and student fees!!

[am Bays]

John Howard has this reputation as a "great economic manager" and yet our foreign debt is $461 Billion having tripled since he came to office in 1996.

Because private sector debt LL not govt debt: Industry leaders wanting to pay $2/ hr to Asian sweat box labour compared to Australian workers and you and I being complicit in buying the cheaper imported crap (like these computers) rather than the Australian product!!

Wont change until we the massess march into the supermarkets/electrical shops/any reatiler you care to name and demand local manufactured goods. Bewdy Narelle and her holeproof hero socks!!!

[mick]

For one thing if Whitlam got the time he deserved i wouldnt have to pay $97,950 for my degree!

Your knowledge of history is about as apalling as your politics. Messrs Hawke and Keating reintroduced tertiary fees, by the way thanks to Whitlam I got a free University education, his initiative to make tertiary education free was retained throughout the 70s by the Fraser Liberal government when I was at university.

[Wedgie]

Done Tassie,
Im enjoying the points brought up, I've always voted Liberal mainly because of Economic Management and taking the country forward as well as the looking after of the traditional family institution and also not letting to many bludgers leech off the welfare system BUT being a public servant I'd actually personally be better off under a Labor Govt.
Not for that last reason but because of the Industrial Laws brought in by Howard will mean next Federal election will be the first time I vote Labor.

As far as John Howard and not the Liberals in general I honestly don't think you'd come across a better PM mainly because of the work he puts in. I've talked to some of the Feds that look after him when he comes out to Adelaide and they get exhausted tailing him about, he's just about all go from 5.30am to close to midnight every night. You'd have to think his heart is generally in the job as he could get a lot more $$$ working less hours in a company. Also the way he stuck around after a couple of defeats and worked his way back to the top generally gets the admiration vote from a lot of Aussies, certainly didn't just spit the dummy and leave after a loss like a lot of other pollies have done/will do. Give me Johnny over Costello anyday, despite being a staunch Liberal man he scares me for some reason, I'd trust him as far as I'd trust Keating.

[duncs7]

Sing it everyone
"Its time, it's time etc"
and mick u are a dinosaur, i noticed u had nothing to say about my point about youth voting Liberal?
U old Libs are losing touch with our generation and when our numbers increase i pray we will have a Centre left - Left government whatever party may be leading it!
Only History will judge Howard when we have a new long term government to compare his too.

[mick]

Sing it everyone
"Its time, it's time etc"
and mick u are a dinosaur, i noticed u had nothing to say about my point about youth voting Liberal?
U old Libs are losing touch with our generation and when our numbers increase i pray we will have a Centre left - Left government whatever party may be leading it!
Only History will judge Howard when we have a new long term government to compare his too.

Simply look at the statistics in Newspoll, Gallop wherever you like, it's there in black and white. There was another poll done recently 32% of the those questioned believed that JH was the greatest Australian Prime Minister after 1950. Interestingly Hawke was rated 2nd at 16% anf JH's hero and mentor Robert Menzies at third. What amazes me about centre-LEFT people is their incredible capacity for self deception.

[RustyCage]

Im sure Labour really has to do a lot to make a scandal out of the AWB thing.

[Coorong]

Mick, seems we are of similar age (I am older) and similar political views. But will add to that I verge on right wing extremist.

Well said in your posts, particularly liked your quip to dink, "well thought out" doubt he would have got it but I RLMAO

[mick]

Mick, seems we are of similar age (I am older) and similar political views. But will add to that I verge on right wing extremist.

Well said in your posts, particularly liked your quip to dink, "well thought out" doubt he would have got it but I RLMAO

We old fascists have to stick together

[Coorong]

You know I really do love politics, discussing and debating. Never argue though. Yet to find a labour supporter with enough intelligence to construct an argument.

[Leaping Lindner]

I think the thing that this shows is people will vote for what is best for them. Howard is obviously working in that regard for a lot of people. Personally Federal Government funding (or should I say the cutting there of) has directly cost me employment on two occassions. Not that the Labor party would have necessarily done any better by me.
As for core and social values, the day I agree with The Lyons Forum (sorry Political Reform Group) it will be a cold day in hell. Mind you once again like the Labor party are any better with their Faith and Values Group.

[Wedgie]

I think the thing that this shows is people will vote for what is best for them.

I disagree completely LL, as mentioned previously I've been a Commonwealth Public Servant just about my entire working life, I'm always going to do better under a Labor Govt but have never voted for them yet as they're totally incompetent IMHO. As I also said I'll be changing next election and that's not because of anything that will impact me on directly as I'm in secure employment but because of the IR Laws that will impact on so many others out of there.
I think most of Liberal's voters these days would be voting solely on what's best for the country as a whole, its not like the old days when only business owners and farmers will vote for the Libs while only commies and unemployed ferals will vote for Labor.

[am Bays]

Wedgie I agree with pretty much everything you say, as a Lib voter I have to admit I have some concerns about the new IR laws as I understand them. However that understanding is based on the popular media reports which you have to take with a grain of salt as they are always tailored to suit they perception of public opinion i.e will write what they think people want to read not necessarily the facts. That is the same for both sides of politics both the libs and labour get they rough end of the pineapple on particular issues but that is the subject for another thread....

That is why I am waiting to see what transpires when the new laws come into being to basically suck it and see. For some people they will be better off as employers will be able to pay more than the award to attract workers to their company but I am concerned that new employees may be getting shafted for no better reason than to make profits for unscrupulous employers.

My attitude is tempered by the fact that the GST was suspposed to be this big bad monster but in reality it has had bugger all effect on our lives for the majority of people that I live, work and socialise with.

The proof will be in the eating I susppose.