-
IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.
Talking Politics
- Thread starter Legends of 2017
- Start date
U2Tigers said:
As discussed, cannot be no.2, but would have been expecting a decent promotion, esp after....
1) where the heck was Nelson during the campaign?
2) Abbott....enough said (the walking gaff (he had about 6 I think) needs a muzzle during campaigns)
3) the rest, no real stand outs for me, Mal and Turnbull and Costello were the best performers for me
How the landscape changes in two days. Historic weekend. Amazing to think on Friday that Howard and Costello could be calling the shots and by Monday both would be out of politics. Amazing times.
Good article by Terry Mcrane in today's Sun about the perceived impact that Labour would have on the economy. Basically it doesn't matter who is in power in 2008, interest rates will be decided by the slowing US economy and the RBA.
Good article by Terry Mcrane in today's Sun about the perceived impact that Labour would have on the economy. Basically it doesn't matter who is in power in 2008, interest rates will be decided by the slowing US economy and the RBA.
Liverpool said:
Do you have any idea about the Labor party's make up? The ALP is dominated by the right faction... when the left is defeated in the caucus they most vote with the party or they risk expulsion. Garret supporting a Pulp Mill? FFS, Liverpool... wake up, mate... the left has very little power... which is why the leader is a self proclaimed conservative.
Liverpool said:
Keating had and still has an intellect comparable to none in Australian politics.
Hawke renegged on his succession deal with Keating - Keating drew his sword, challenged and won. Howard renegged on his succession deal with Costello - Costello sulked in private and stayed silent in public. Costello's resignation now shows his true character.
Keating got it right on Howard, just as he got it right on Costello. He gets it exactly right on economic management, and the nasty wedge politics exploited so well by Howard over his tenure. Keating got it right on indigenous affairs and on international relations - another area totally squandered by Howard and the ineffectual fop, Alexander Downer.
Keating's summation of Howard's tenure in the Age today - relevant quotes follow - full article here http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/the-liberals-must-purge-the-reactionaries/2007/11/25/1195975866030.html
On the economy:
And
He also talks about the squandered opportunities of relations with APEC, China and Indonesia - two countries that will become increasingly critical to our economy. I particularly like this line
And finally
Read the article - it's gold.
Just a quick one to note the passing of Matt Price from the Australian.
A great political commentator, who managed to give views generally without a political bias one way or the other (which is very rare now). His writing was usually good for a laugh, although his love of Freo was all too sad!
Dead at 46 from brain tumors is way too soon (apparently last pieces written were about Mainwarings death, thats how quick it came).
A great political commentator, who managed to give views generally without a political bias one way or the other (which is very rare now). His writing was usually good for a laugh, although his love of Freo was all too sad!
Dead at 46 from brain tumors is way too soon (apparently last pieces written were about Mainwarings death, thats how quick it came).
SCOOP said:
And there's still too many gooses out there thinking that the Government controls interest rates.
TigerForce said:
Lets get this straight.
The RBA will only raise rates if inflation rises above the 3% benchmark (the RBA has a goal to maintain inflation between 2-3%).
The pushers on inflation right now are tax cuts and hand-outs, rising petrol costs, rising food prices, rising water prices, and rising utility charges. The downward drivers are cheap imports, and the fact that commodity prices are rising faster than the AUD is against the USD.
Where we are vulnerable is IF:
1) Wages break out
2) The rise in commodity prices falls below the rise of the AUD, or commodity prices fall
3) The dollar continues to rise, encouraging purchases of cheap cars and plasmas and so on
(1) is an internal issue, and one business AND the Govt both need to manage. Contrary to the cr@p you here in the paper, most wages are determined privately now and NOT through unions. How is this? Well when most Australians no longer belong to unions, do the math. Govt will have an influence though, but so does business. The latter is an issue, as demand for skilled workers is above supply. So far this has seen wages go up, but the falls in imports have off-set this.
(2) is a China/USA issue. If the USA consumer stops spending, China will slow down. It will not die in teh guts like some predict, but it will slow. This will effect demand for commodities, which will see prices dive. It will be an over-reaction, because speculators will be caught out and will dump their positions to minimize loses. All short-term, but painful nonetheless.
(3) is a USA issue. The USD is being dumped right now because of the exposures to the loc doc loans crisis over there. This is being driven because the banks have sold rights to their mortgage books, and with defaults on the up, property prices have fallen, and as such the values of these "books" has fallen. This is mostly psychological though. Once market confidence returns, buyers will return for the mortgages and the demand for USD investments will return. Again a short to mid term issue, but not a long term one in my opinion.
Just my views, for far from 100% locked, but thats my opinion
antman said:
If Keating got it right with the Aborigines, why didn't he say 'sorry' then?
He had enough time to.
And as for 'international relations'...mouthing off at the Malaysian PM by calling him "a recalcitrant" and getting called the 'Lizard of Oz' for manhandling the Queen on her visit...some of his more finer moments.
Tiger74 said:
Tiger74....so what do you think of AWAs getting scrapped?
Liverpool said:
No issue, I don't think they have had a deflationary effect because as I said many businesses in a lot of sectors have had labour shortages. Bigger issue is how business uses the new mechanism, and the Govt not kow-towing on allowing the old tricks (i.e. pattern bargaining, secret ballots, secondary boycotts, etc).
Six Pack said:
Sorry Sixpack....but can't find the word 'sorry' there.
He seems to be using everything but the "S" word too.
Tiger74 said:
Under Rudd's 'workplace laws....all these are supposedly illegal as well.
Like I stated in an earlier post....Rudd would have had to make compromises to gain the union support during the campaign.
It will be interesting if such 'old tricks' that you name above, now that he is in power, are sacrificed from his reforms to appease the unions.
The big test, I feel for his and his credibility.
