The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

hingehead wrote:

Still getting over the libs (let the market decide) making it harder for workers (who are finally in undersupply and in demand) to get a better deal.

You'd think their super payouts were relying on company profits....

Yeah, I know.

But then, that's no more consistent or honest than arguing that private schools/hospitals/health insurance should be subsidized by the taxpayer.
I always thought that "private" = business.
And the Libs have always argued that private "does it better". So how come government subsidies are needed for these particular businesses, then?
They just argue whatever suits to fit their own biases & interests.
And it annoys the hell out of me that they get away with it time after time!

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I've been reading Don Aitken's 'What was it all for?' and he has a few asides that are particularly interesting.

Like in 2004 Australia ranked 41st for freedom of the press (NZ was 9th and USA 21st) and we have the highest concentration of ownership of newspapers in the world with 2 companies owning 88%. And he notes how some find it puzzling that Australians in general aren't worried by this...

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hinge, I've often wondered about the Great Australian Apathy, too. Why, why, why? Confused

One of the conclusions I came to (grasping for staws, perhaps?) was to do with Oz being largely a country of immigrants. My theory was this: so many Australians came here to escape wars, persecution, poverty, etc, etc, that pretty much all they craved was a quiet life, minus the dramas they'd left behind. Almost as if they simply didn't want to know about any more trouble & strife & politics. This was certainly the case with many of the migrants of my parents' generation, anyway.
OK, that's one of my theories, now let's hear yours!

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.... oh & if you have a another minute, could you tell us a bit about Don Aitkin's book, please? Sounds interesting!

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And oh, isn't Beazles a complete & utter goose?
Imagine getting his Roves mixed up like that!
Agh, I can't stand it! How mortifying! Embarrassed

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http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/11/15/TANDBERG_gallery__470x329.jpg

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What's this?
Mind you, it doesn't surprise me in the least!:

Beazley's supporters fear plot by Rudd
Dennis Shanahan, Political editor
November 18, 2006/the Australian

KIM Beazley's leadership is under renewed threat as his supporters accuse Kevin Rudd of plotting to remove the Opposition Leader before Christmas.

Mr Rudd, Labor's foreign affairs spokesman, yesterday defended his leader after Mr Beazley made an embarrassing gaffe by confusing entertainer Rove McManus and White House adviser Karl Rove.

The Queenslander, seen as a potential Labor leader, also denied he was scheming to remove Mr Beazley.

Labor MPs told The Weekend Australian that Mr Rudd had been having a series of meetings with NSW Labor general secretary Mark Arbib, from the NSW Right, to discuss a leadership challenge. ... <cont>

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20777809-601,00.html

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http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,5308151,00.jpg

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Oh dear! Poor old Beazles & his senior moments! Embarrassed

:

http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,5308156,00.jpg

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Meanwhile, in Hanoi, JH tells GWB that enough is enough & that David Hicks must be released from Guantanamo Bay NOW! Five years in detention with no trial is UNACCEPTABLE to Australians!... furthermore, the the Australian people never wanted to be involved in Iraq in the first place & that we're withdrawing our troops NOW! <sigh> If only! Sad

:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5308006,00.jpg

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msolga wrote:

And oh, isn't Beazles a complete & utter goose?
Imagine getting his Roves mixed up like that!
Agh, I can't stand it! How mortifying!

Unforgivable!

No rabid fan of Rove or Belinda meself, but I was aware of who they were. In his position, if KB can make stupid ignorant, insulting errors like this, he should be dum-p-e-d by the party. They are so busy trying to convince the unwashed masses that John-boy doesn't give a stuff about them, yet the beloved leader cannot manage to get a name right!

Maybe they should give Rudd a go - doubt he could do worse.

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I feel a caption contest coming on. I think John's saying "But W, if I use this hand it will feel like someone else!'

msolga wrote:

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lezzles wrote:

msolga wrote:
And oh, isn't Beazles a complete & utter goose?
Imagine getting his Roves mixed up like that!
Agh, I can't stand it! How mortifying!

Unforgivable!

No rabid fan of Rove or Belinda meself, but I was aware of who they were. In his position, if KB can make stupid ignorant, insulting errors like this, he should be dum-p-e-d by the party. They are so busy trying to convince the unwashed masses that John-boy doesn't give a stuff about them, yet the beloved leader cannot manage to get a name right!

Maybe they should give Rudd a go - doubt he could do worse.

I think Beazles just needs a decent spin doctor. I would have jumped in and said that I was actually referring to Karl Rove and how he must be feeling given the asswhupping the Republicans just got in the US elections and how his hand puppet, GWB, has the smell of death about his political career.

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msolga wrote:

.... oh & if you have a another minute, could you tell us a bit about Don Aitkin's book, please? Sounds interesting!

It's actually a fairly affectionate, non-polemic, look at how Australia has changed since 1953. He hangs his tale on the experiences of his graduating class at Armidale high (country NSW), who he was reunited with at their 50th high school reunion in 2003. But he has a stack of research and historical statistics dropped in at certain points to back his assertions. He also casts back occasionally to Australia at Federation for even more interesting comparisons. The anecdotes from his class mates are interesting. It's weird thinking that these near 70-year olds have more leftist, small L liberal leanings than many Gen Ys & Xs (but that's another harangue).

I have a bit of a soft spot for 'Diamond' Don - he was VC when I was at UCan, under Donald Horne's Chancellorship. I hope he's enjoying his retirement. I'm enjoying it but I don't know if you would. Borrow it from a library and see what you think of the first chapter or so - that's what I did.

Like George Santayana said 'Those who forget history....'

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And while I'm rabbiting...

Did you know that a least two books have been published this year on US/OZ relations that have the phrase '51st State' in the title?

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hingehead wrote:

And while I'm rabbiting...

Did you know that a least two books have been published this year on US/OZ relations that have the phrase '51st State' in the title?

we're gonna put the US under the microscope!

Rupert has called for an end to antiamericanism in Australia and is being backed up with courses at Sydney Uni.

Sydney University has been chosen as the home for a prestigious new centre devoted to studies about the United States.

Prime Minister John Howard on Tuesday night revealed the historic university had beaten off competitors including the University of Melbourne to establish the United States Studies Centre.

The federal government pledged earlier this year to provide $25 million towards establishing the centre as part of a joint initiative with the American Australian Association.

Question

The Age

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Ok I need some help State election is just around the corner

Who should I vote for?

I have the choice of:

Labour (never heard of him)
Liberal (never heard of him either)
National "we're from the bush but we have no push" (sitting member)
Family First (right wing?)
Green (local woman married to a solicitor but a scatterbrain).

vote now!

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Shouldn't that be the United States Studies Center? :wink:

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hingehead wrote:

I feel a caption contest coming on. I think John's saying "But W, if I use this hand it will feel like someone else!'

msolga wrote:

Funny, hinge.

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hingehead wrote:

I think Beazles just needs a decent spin doctor. I would have jumped in and said that I was actually referring to Karl Rove and how he must be feeling given the asswhupping the Republicans just got in the US elections and how his hand puppet, GWB, has the smell of death about his political career.

Sadly, I think he needs a bit more than that, hinge. The Rove stuff-up ..... well, let's just say that it was rather unfortunate that he became the head-line & not the funeral. Embarrassed

It just made him look inept ... again. He seems to make vagueness (or whatever it is) a habit.
But that's not what worries me most. The US & Brit public reaction to the politicians who got them into the Iraq mess is just not registering here. It should be, there's enough anger about it. And IR. What's happened to the mileage that was gained a while back? So many other issues that Beazles should be capitalizing on a year before the next election. It's more than needing better spin. The passion & determination just don't seem to be there. Beazles seems to be asleep at the wheel & Howard's getting away with far too much as a result. Sad

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The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

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