Who are you voting for?

[Spaghetti]

I am not voting Howard. He is morally bankrupt and has taken away too many freedoms and rights. He has become too secretive and hires total morons like Andrews. The war is unforgiveable, I mean you simply do not just go around invading countries that result in total destruction and massive loss of life without accountability.

The economy has been good to me because I realised that the share of profits allocated to shareholders was increasing for shareholders and decreasing for workers so I quit working and now trade the market for my living. However I am not entirely sure this is really an ethical way to run a country.

So who I vote for will be the best one to knock off the liberal candidate.

I do hope Australia returns to be a nice country. Sick of rich people getting baby bonus and FOBG then complaining if a refugee gets a bed for a night or if a single mum has a galss of wine. A nasty streak seems to have grown under Howard's leadership along with right wing christianity strange enough.

So thats my feeling on the matter.

 

[Wysiwyg]

Now we have a week to go what decision have you made?

Hi mark70920, i`m submitting a blank piece of paper, meaning no one.

Why do you want to know?

 

[Julia]

I am not voting Howard. He is morally bankrupt and has taken away too many freedoms and rights. He has become too secretive and hires total morons like Andrews. The war is unforgiveable, I mean you simply do not just go around invading countries that result in total destruction and massive loss of life without accountability.

The economy has been good to me because I realised that the share of profits allocated to shareholders was increasing for shareholders and decreasing for workers so I quit working and now trade the market for my living. However I am not entirely sure this is really an ethical way to run a country.

So who I vote for will be the best one to knock off the liberal candidate.

I do hope Australia returns to be a nice country. Sick of rich people getting baby bonus and FOBG then complaining if a refugee gets a bed for a night or if a single mum has a galss of wine. A nasty streak seems to have grown under Howard's leadership along with right wing christianity strange enough.

So thats my feeling on the matter.

I think you're expressing how a lot of people feel. So easy to condemn people with nothing when you have plenty.

 

[chops_a_must]

I did get the first home owners grant, but i wasn't dumb enough to use that as my ownly deposit.

And you are actually arguing that we don't need more funding for education? Geez... it's kind of funny... or sad... I'm not sure which.

I think people forget that most federal funding for education, goes into the tertiary system, which by and large, funds the education of citizens who at a point in their life need training/ education (and that society needs) that they would never be able to afford on their own at that time. But because they don't vote much, or don't generally get a vote on how their future education system is run, they haven't been catered too. It's not a matter of choosing cars over education. It's a matter of getting the brightest in society into the most needed positions, rather than having them go overseas or into a meaningless occupation that doesn't add value back to the community.

But now we can vote: People that have gone through the tertiary system, and have seen the massive staff cuts, massive fee increases, and massive loss in the quality of their education. For instance, my fees have gone up about 400% in 4 years. If I wanted to pay that, it would now cost me close to 15,000 per year. How many people here had to pay anything like that for their education? And what's worse, contact time, and class time has been cut by more than 50% for most courses. That's pretty drastic.

I just can't see how anyone can justify what has happened to the higher education system. And in my mind, if you vote in a way that does justify it, then you are a pretty low and despicable person.

 

[wayneL]

I am not voting Howard. He is morally bankrupt and has taken away too many freedoms and rights. He has become too secretive and hires total morons like Andrews. The war is unforgiveable, I mean you simply do not just go around invading countries that result in total destruction and massive loss of life without accountability.

The economy has been good to me because I realised that the share of profits allocated to shareholders was increasing for shareholders and decreasing for workers so I quit working and now trade the market for my living. However I am not entirely sure this is really an ethical way to run a country.

So who I vote for will be the best one to knock off the liberal candidate.

I do hope Australia returns to be a nice country. Sick of rich people getting baby bonus and FOBG then complaining if a refugee gets a bed for a night or if a single mum has a galss of wine. A nasty streak seems to have grown under Howard's leadership along with right wing christianity strange enough.

So thats my feeling on the matter.

I think you're expressing how a lot of people feel. So easy to condemn people with nothing when you have plenty.

Agree here.

I've been bitching about this sort of social direction for a while. It's part of the progressive Americanization of Oz which I really detest. It's happening without the influence of the Howard cabal, so they are not totally to blame*, but they are certainly accelerating the process.

* The invasion of American business/men and their business practices are as much to blame.

Thankfully, I no longer have to make that decision. Now, how to get rid of Crash Gordon...

 

[spartn]

Chops a must

I spent 4 years studying finance at Melbourne University, and at the end had a HECS debt of over $70,000 dollars, now i am 30 and i am making more than that, so don't tell me about the cost of education because i have fricken been there.

Like i said about my friend who spent $50,000 on a new car and spends jack **** for his childs education, i personally just understand how people like that have the good damn balls to complain.

It's the same as people who didn't bother the exercise because they figured it was more important to watch TV. And when they get sick they piss and moan about the price of health care.

And i have a questiion for the lot of you. Since the IR Laws were changed in 2005. Did you spend more time sitting in front of the TV set or did you spend more time trying to improve your financial situation?? I can almost guareentee what 95% of people did since than, and i have not a single once of compassion for those people, this is a democracy you get only what you deserve, plain and simple.

Spartn

:viking:

 

[noirua]

Don't forget, Mr Howard is very good at power walking and is up every morning regular and out to greet the media.

 

[spartn]

Spaghetti

One of my mates from university now works for the Brueau of Statistics in Melbourne, and one interesting fact before you start compliaining about how greedy the rich are is that out of all Australians the top 10% of the wealthiest people in Australia donate more than 70% of the money which goes to charity.

And if you find it unfair that the rich should get the baby bonus, i understand. But i also find it unfair that people who earn more than 300 - 400 K a year have to still pay for Medical Levy, while when most of them get sick they pay for it with there own money, now is that fair??

Spartn

:viking:

 

[hangseng]

Chops a must

I spent 4 years studying finance at Melbourne University, and at the end had a HECS debt of over $70,000 dollars, now i am 30 and i am making more than that, so don't tell me about the cost of education because i have fricken been there.

Like i said about my friend who spent $50,000 on a new car and spends jack **** for his childs education, i personally just understand how people like that have the good damn balls to complain.

It's the same as people who didn't bother the exercise because they figured it was more important to watch TV. And when they get sick they piss and moan about the price of health care.

And i have a questiion for the lot of you. Since the IR Laws were changed in 2005. Did you spend more time sitting in front of the TV set or did you spend more time trying to improve your financial situation?? I can almost guareentee what 95% of people did since than, and i have not a single once of compassion for those people, this is a democracy you get only what you deserve, plain and simple.

Spartn

:viking:

Agree completely.

I started out in life in the trade sector and progressed to higher education completely at my own expense and in my own time at a cost exceeding $50,000 without even trying to calculate lost income to achieve what I did.

I have watched the bleeding hearts complaining about what the likes of me now earn. While they chose the easy path of kicking back and enjoying (all the time teling me to loosen up a little), I chose to sacrifice both expense and personal enjoyment and time with my family. I now have a great life as do my well educated family.

I also listen to those who call them the "working" person and me they now call "lucky". As a great golfer once said "the harder I work the luckier I seem to get".

Take a longer term view of life, not the Y generation must have it now view. No government Labour, Liberal or otherwise will ever change that.

I once read a book by Harvey McKay and he stated the education you pay for will be valued, completed and you will learn as you have a stake in committing to making it work. Never a truer statement was made.

 

[spartn]

Hi Hangseng

I could not agree more with you. I respect people like you the most, one thing i just cant stand, is how people think luck has to do with it. all i have to say is "bull****"

Spartn

:viking:

 

[numbercruncher]

Spaghetti

One of my mates from university now works for the Brueau of Statistics in Melbourne, and one interesting fact before you start compliaining about how greedy the rich are is that out of all Australians the top 10% of the wealthiest people in Australia donate more than 70% of the money which goes to charity.

I cant find any Info to confirm this , anyone have a link ? maybe it refers to Organisations as well as Individuals ?

Anyway, Australia (historically) is a very Charitable nation , some people donate something even more important than money, and thats their time, 18pc of Australians belong to voluntary organisations , and at the end of the day the SES or Rural fire brigades etc etc can have all the money in the world but without Labour they have nothing

 

[Superfly]

Labor policy costings 'not submitted'

"The deadline expired last night for policies to be sent to the department for checking the accuracy of their estimated cost."

"I am advised as of 5.30pm yesterday the Labor party had only submitted $2.4 billion out of the $12 billion of spending promises it has made so far in this election," Mr Howard told journalists in Adelaide.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Natio...icies-costed-PM/2007/11/16/1194766958206.html


Now why am I not surprised?

How Mr Howard pushes this hard...what can Labour say to get out of this...

 

[chops_a_must]

How Mr Howard pushes this hard...what can Labour say to get out of this...

I think it's a matter of principle after what the Liberals have done in the last few elections. The point could be made that the Liberals don't hand policy documentation to the Labor party.

And as long as the costings are independently verified, which I believe they are, I can't see the problem.

 

[numbercruncher]

Exactly, there is no problem, only person who thinks there is a problem is Johnny clutching at straws, no one else cares, wont be a single vote lost over that ..... Guess the Liberals will have to find something else quickly if they want to launch the mother of all scare campaigns.

 

[hangseng]

I think it's a matter of principle after what the Liberals have done in the last few elections. The point could be made that the Liberals don't hand policy documentation to the Labor party.

And as long as the costings are independently verified, which I believe they are, I can't see the problem.

"as long as the costings are independently verified"

Chops that is the whole point of this, Labour did not provide them to be "independently verified". They were required to be submitted for costing and failed to do so.

Labour is hiding something, if they weren't they would have nothing to fear by doing so.
Labour are fiscally void and completely irresponsible financial managers.

 

[numbercruncher]

Labor is hiding nothing ....


Its just pathetic Howard/Costello scare tactics and noone really cares.


The Howard Government has had access to the Finance Department all year, but Labor could only start getting its policies assessed once the election was called !

So the exact opposit could be the case if Labor wins election, next election Labor would have access to the finance dept all year and the opposition will get access once election is called.

Like i said Liberal needs to find another angle for the scare campaign no ones going to change votes because of this ,,,,,

 

[nioka]

Spaghetti

One of my mates from university now works for the Brueau of Statistics in Melbourne, and one interesting fact before you start compliaining about how greedy the rich are is that out of all Australians the top 10% of the wealthiest people in Australia donate more than 70% of the money which goes to charity.
:viking:

They get a tax deduction for it. They also only donate "surplus funds that they can't take with them. It is only money after all. My wife works one full day each week in a charity shop, freely giving her time ( something more valuable than money). I've spent years in surf clubs, rural, bushfire brigades, and as a shire councillor in the days when they weren't paid. Of course some of the rich aren't greedy but a hell of a lot are. Because some give to charity it doesn't make them special, I think it makes them human.

 

[2020hindsight]

They get a tax deduction for it. They also only donate "surplus funds that they can't take with them. It is only money after all. My wife works one full day each week in a charity shop, freely giving her time ( something more valuable than money). I've spent years in surf clubs, rural, bushfire brigades, and as a shire councillor in the days when they weren't paid.

you've got my vote m8 - well done
A bloke at work gives hundreds of hours per year to SES.
organises / supervises boat races
etc - deserves a bludy medal.

 

[rederob]

"Chops that is the whole point of this, Labour did not provide them to be "independently verified". They were required to be submitted for costing and failed to do so.

Labour are fiscally void and completely irresponsible financial managers.

I don't know what excuses people make for their laziness in posting, but if you prefer to believe what Howard trots out to what has actually been presented under the Charter of Budget Honesty, then so be it.
The fact is that Labor had, by end-October http://www.electioncostings.gov.au/index/opposition_costings, already presented 10 proposals for costing.

By the way, there is no "requirement" to submit anything for review by Treasury/Finance - it's a practice the parties should follow as it will ensure their costings are reliable.

Most electors know that when Labor's interest rates were high, so were overseas rates.
Labor could point the electorate to the fact that our present interest rates are significantly higher than those in the US, or Japan - but it doesn't bother.

Labor knows that the Coalition has been asleep at the wheel in so many areas, and that the electorate knows this, too.

Meanwhile the only Coalition ads I see on tv, or hear on the radio, are based on scare tactics. If Howard has a vision for the future, he needs to be out there selling it.
Instead, Howard appears to be out there with a cheque book, buying his way back in.
and hangseng reckons Labor is fiscally void and completely irresponsible - an interest take!

 

[hangseng]

The fact is that Labor had, by end-October http://www.electioncostings.gov.au/index/opposition_costings, already presented 10 proposals for costing.

By the way, there is no "requirement" to submit anything for review by Treasury/Finance - it's a practice the parties should follow as it will ensure their costings are reliable.

"it's a practice the parties should follow as it will ensure their costings are reliable."

I agree, why then don't they provide all policies for costing, in particular taxation? Labour are selective and far from "reliable"

As for your cheap personal shots, they are just that and expected.