Does Gillard inspire confidence?

[Mr Z]

Yes. Even explod couldn't say that he looks nice. His face is quite weird when he tries to smile. It doesn't come natural.

He is so slow there is a 30 second lag between the brains command to smile and the actual smiling... by the time he smiles the realization that his timing is now inappropriate is just dawning and he is actually trying to stop smiling half way through the act of smiling. Call him conflicted in the miniature of his life...LOL, don't get me started on the important things! If I had a pet rock I would not let Wayne mind it while I was on holidays.

 

[trainspotter]

WHY OH WHY DON'T THE LIBS MAKE MORE OF THIS MESS?

Or is it that the Catholics drive a hard bargain?

NSW government schools are likely to pay as much as double what Catholic schools were charged under the $16.2 billion schools stimulus program.

The NSW government's "anticipated final cost" for the standard 319sq m school library is $4860 per square metre, compared with $2451 per square metre reported by the NSW Catholic Block Grant Authority.

According to the figures, published on the NSW government's website, it expects to pay $3833 per square metre for a 464sq m block of four classrooms, compared with $2426 per square metre forecast by the Catholic Church.

Remember Julia Gillard was the minister that oversaw this pet project?

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...for-ber-projects/story-fn59niix-1225903680753

 

[drsmith]

I've never seen The Australian pound anything like they are pounding the BER.

 

[IFocus]

Agree that there is much more to Government than the leader. What about Swan lurking in the background. He is deputy and apart from the odd appearance, he seems to be keeping fairly quiet in this election campaign. Please correct me if I am wrong!

If it came down to a contest between Swan and Abbott, I don't think Swan would stand a chance. It would make Abbott's slower speech quite acceptable.

A vote for labor is also a vote for Swan...

Agree Swan has been a treasurer that any opposition should have torn apart and shredded but they haven't simply because they are extremely weak on the economy hence Abbott refuses the debate.

 

[trainspotter]

I've never seen The Australian pound anything like they are pounding the BER.

I wonder if it is the same journalists with an axe to grind? (Anthony Klan, Milanda Rout) Front page of The Australian today as well ? They are pounding alright !

 

[Mr Z]

WHY OH WHY DON'T THE LIBS MAKE MORE OF THIS MESS?

It wasn't about effective expenditure of public money, silly boy! It was about speed, didn't you listen to Julia? Fast was good.... that is how you fix a GFC, open the fire hose and spray money around the place as fast as you possibly can. BTW is your house insulated?

 

[It's Snake Pliskin]

Agree Swan has been a treasurer that any opposition should have torn apart and shredded but they haven't simply because they are extremely weak on the economy hence Abbott refuses the debate.

Abbott has given a reason for not doing a second debate. Originally, Gillard didn't want a 2nd debate (according to the media). Abbott has performed well throughout the campaign and looks like he will be the better leader.

 

[Julia]

Agree Swan has been a treasurer that any opposition should have torn apart and shredded but they haven't simply because they are extremely weak on the economy hence Abbott refuses the debate.

Yes, you're right. Andrew Robb and Joe Hockey have been quite inadequate.
I've been wistfully thinking "oh, if only Peter Costello were still around". He'd make mincemeat of Swan in about a minute and a half.

 

[drsmith]

Today's debates:

Health (Nicola Roxon and Peter Dutton):
Both appeared to have broad knowledge of the portfolio and it was a higher quality discussion than most of these events. Nicola's overall presentation had more polish.

Leaders forum (Rooty RSL):
Only saw part of TA's QandA. He tried to be himelf and give honest answers without promising the world. Crowd reaction to his answers seemed quiet positive. Didn't see JG but media opinion leand towards TA as the better performer.

Education debate (7:30 Report):
Christopher Pyne brushed off Martin Ferguson's interruptions with ease. This guy oozes confidence and had a more positive closing statement. Only need to see facial expressions at the end to understand who won.

 

[IFocus]

Abbott has given a reason for not doing a second debate. Originally, Gillard didn't want a 2nd debate (according to the media). Abbott has performed well throughout the campaign and looks like he will be the better leader.

Understand your point re Abbotts reason Snake but I still think its damaging to Abbott not to go the 2nd debate its allowing Labor back into the game.

 

[IFocus]

Yes, you're right. Andrew Robb and Joe Hockey have been quite inadequate.
I've been wistfully thinking "oh, if only Peter Costello were still around". He'd make mincemeat of Swan in about a minute and a half.

Costello would coast to election victory in this contest I think smirk and all but the irony is I suspect is that I am not sure Costello could galvanize the party together like Abbott.

Costello's strength was to manage and reduce dept my only criticism is he was never a significant investor of infrastructure but still Australia is a better place for him being treasurer.

 

[trainspotter]

It wasn't about effective expenditure of public money, silly boy! It was about speed, didn't you listen to Julia? Fast was good.... that is how you fix a GFC, open the fire hose and spray money around the place as fast as you possibly can. BTW is your house insulated?

Aaaah of course ..... the "firemans piss" appraoach ..... why didn't I think of that? Some of it gets in the bowl but the rest is up the wall and ...... you get the picture.

My house was insulted loooooong before this catastrophe became topical. (amazing the difference when you drop a vowel) I am insulated as well.

 

[drsmith]

Education debate (7:30 Report):
Christopher Pyne brushed off Martin Ferguson's interruptions with ease. This guy oozes confidence and had a more positive closing statement. Only need to see facial expressions at the end to understand who won.

Simon Crean, not Martin Ferguson.

 

[Mr Z]

Interesting point there Trainspotter.

After listening (reading) a barrage of labor bashing comments over the past two years, I have come to the conclusion that the best course of action for a government is to do f*** all. If the Labor government did 'f*** all', all the professional whingers on ASF would be happy and have nothing to whinge about (except for maybe a recession).

John Howard was in power for a very long time using this same policy of doing 'f*** all' (except bring in the regressive GST).

Actually you are right... the best thing any government could do is cut taxes and get out of the f'ing way of the people. It is and always will be the fastest way out of a hole. Econ 101.... look at Germany's history. All Labour have done here is dug a hole deeper and we will pay for it in the end.

GST regressive.... you really need to learn a bit more about our tax system. The GST was a step forward... now if we can just get them to let go of a whole bunch of other taxes we might just have a shot at a fair tax system.

Oh yeah... and the GST was first muted by Labour.... or don't you remember that!

 

[Mr Z]

Aaaah of course ..... the "firemans piss" appraoach ..... why didn't I think of that? Some of it gets in the bowl but the rest is up the wall and ...... you get the picture.

My house was insulted loooooong before this catastrophe became topical. (amazing the difference when you drop a vowel) I am insulated as well.

Mine too... yet here I am paying for idiots with no sense or foresight to get free insulation. The left love to punish those who do the right thing off their own back.

Some where back there some one was saying this is the private sectors fault because the installers where private. What a whack job! Jeeze... The government distorts any market it enters, artificial demand, poorly supervised will always bring out the unscrupulous.

Anyway, all this did was damage, talk to a solar supplier about when they pulled the pug on them... talk about build up an industry, have people invest and then cut it off at the knee's! IDIOT's!!! All they have manged to do here is install a bunch of dodgy insulation and DAMAGE the legitimate players in the industry by stimulating a whole bunch of fly by night competition. Screwing over legit small business once again!

They are a damn nuisance at best with these schemes, at worst they have run people into the wall and broken their business's.

Central planning sucks! Haven't we learned that yet comrades?

 

[DB008]

My reply to the title of this thread; NO

 

[Macquack]

GST regressive.... you really need to learn a bit more about our tax system.

regressive tax
Definition
A tax that takes a larger percentage of the income of low-income people than of high-income people.
www.investorwords.com

Oh yeah... and the GST was first muted by Labour.... or don't you remember that!

This is what I remember.


Never ever.

 

[Mr Z]

I took it to mean a step backwards.

Regressive in terms of income.... so what? We needed to broaden the base of our tax system. The more you soak the successful the more you damage the economy. Ever had a poor man give you a job? Its like the insane income tax brackets, how they ever determined that was fair I will never know!

The wealthy spend more and pay more in net $ terms, the poor payless, what is the issue... oh yeah I forget, this is Australia, we hate you if you succeed comrade and we prefer to punish you for trying.

 

[Mr Z]

Never ever.

They are politicians mate, what do you expect? They lie, they all say what suits at the time. Christ if we get into who promised what and never delivered we'd be here for years. Don't try and tell me you think Labor are squeaky clean in that department.

I hate the Libs slightly less than I hate Labor only because they are less of a danger to our economy... they are still however a problem.

 

[noco]

This is what I remember.


Never ever.

Macquack, you and the lefties love to misconstrue the truth. When Howard stated no GST ever he was talking about that particular term. He then went to the next election seeking a mandate for the GST and he was voted back in with voters blessing. It was a dam shame the Labor state Governments did not play their part and reduce the state taxes as per the agreement with the Federal Government. They reneged.

Of course the propaganda used by the Labor Party at the time was that everything will cost 10% more, which as you and they knew was a lie.
I have explained it all before, however, if you would like me to explain it again, do not hesitate to let me know.

The Labor Party not the "Labour Party" as you descrIbe it (SOUNDS LIKE HARD LABOUR) when Keating was Treasurer under Hawke, Keating wanted to introduce the GST only to be squashed by Hawke. The reason was simple, Hawke feared losing voters support and did not have the 'guts' to do it.

When Howard/Costello gained support for the GST Beasley and the Labor Party were going to wind it back. Rudd wanted to get his hands on it by depriving the states of 40% to pretend to suppliment the Health system.
Now I will prod your memory when he said he would take over the hospital system nationally by July 2009 if the states did not improve their performance. The states failed and Rudd did a back flip.

Hope this helps you with the history of the GST.