Tony Abbott for PM

[Julia]

My reading is that he's saying the electorate has lost confidence in the current government's economic management.

As is evidenced by the polls.
sydboy, I expect whatever Mr Abbott said, you'd disagree with him.

 

[drsmith]

As is evidenced by the polls.

Indeed.

On the latest Essential Media poll, Laber is 15% behind the Libs on economic management and it's been around that for some time. That was Feb 11, so after the past week, Labor is likely to slip even further on that score.

TA may not win a popularity contest, but it's economic management that's front and center in most voters minds and all Labor has to boast about economically is the worlds greatest treasurer.

 

[Country Lad]

We do wear different hats though.

I (and no doubt a few others here) find these political threads rather boring with too many posts from people with a political dogma defying logic, common sense and any form of intelligent and independent thought - just the strict party/political leaning line.

Problem is I wear no hat, I am a political agnostic who has been too involved with politicians on all sides and at all levels to treat them seriously. I would rather look at each particular issue and arrive at my own conclusion. There are too many people in this world, and quite a few here, who will not accept anybody's alternate point of view and seem to put logic and common sense out of sight in a box when commenting on politics. The result is that there is very little intelligent debate, just constantly putting a narrow minded viewpoint.

Childish and boring and the reason I rarely look at these playground topics, but they seem to be everywhere. I was under the impression this was a stock forum with some other discussions, not a political forum sometimes discussing stocks.

Cheers
Country Lad

 

[Calliope]

Childish and boring and the reason I rarely look at these playground topics, but they seem to be everywhere. I was under the impression this was a stock forum with some other discussions, not a political forum sometimes discussing stocks.

Sorry to see you go Country Lad. I thought you would counter-balance Sydboy, but you are peas out of the same pod.

 

[Country Lad]

Sorry to see you go Country Lad. I thought you would counter-balance Sydboy, but you are peas out of the same pod.

Huh?

 

[sydboy007]

My reading is that he's saying the electorate has lost confidence in the current government's economic management.

We do wear different hats though.

So Dr Smith, how does one have increasing property prices without increasing debt levels?? Me thinks it's goign to be a lot harder now that the terms of trade will be turning against us. No endless free kicks like the resource boom MK-I gave the Howard Govt.

 

[drsmith]

Childish and boring and the reason I rarely look at these playground topics, but they seem to be everywhere.

It's hard to take the current political scene seriously at the moment. There's currently little from either side that inspires.

Much of the media doesn't help either, most of which is partisan (one way or the other) and superficial.

 

[drsmith]

So Dr Smith, how does one have increasing property prices without increasing debt levels?? Me thinks it's goign to be a lot harder now that the terms of trade will be turning against us. No endless free kicks like the resource boom MK-I gave the Howard Govt.

I'm sorry, but I've temporarily lost my hat.

I see though that you have yours well and truely glued on.

 

[MrBurns]

I (and no doubt a few others here) find these political threads rather boring with too many posts from people with a political dogma defying logic,
Cheers
Country Lad

I think you'll find the opinions expressed here are the result of very logical thinking, we dont lean right for any other reason that the left is destructive, wasteful and incompetant, if Labor was different .......anyway they're not.

I've always considered myself a swinging voter, I've very rarely found logical reason to vote Labor.

 

[sails]

I (and no doubt a few others here) find these political threads rather boring with too many posts from people with a political dogma defying logic, common sense and any form of intelligent and independent thought - just the strict party/political leaning line.

Problem is I wear no hat, I am a political agnostic who has been too involved with politicians on all sides and at all levels to treat them seriously. I would rather look at each particular issue and arrive at my own conclusion. There are too many people in this world, and quite a few here, who will not accept anybody's alternate point of view and seem to put logic and common sense out of sight in a box when commenting on politics. The result is that there is very little intelligent debate, just constantly putting a narrow minded viewpoint.

Childish and boring and the reason I rarely look at these playground topics, but they seem to be everywhere. I was under the impression this was a stock forum with some other discussions, not a political forum sometimes discussing stocks.

Cheers
Country Lad

CL, you obviously DO wear a hat going by your post above. I find it amusing that labor supporters post heavy criticism to posters with whom they do not agree and then try to claim that they are either apolitical or a swinging voter. Your bias is clearly shown in your post.

Although this is a stock market forum, it happens to have a GENERAL forum. If you only want to discuss stocks, there is no need to ever open a general forum topic. That is entirely your choice and it seems rather childish yourself to stamp the feet about it - other people enjoy it so just don't click if you don't like it.

And what's with the derogatory statement to other members? I found this to day on Bolt's blog and it is written by the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer who recognised abuse as the very last trick of person whose arguments have collapsed. In his essay on rhetoric, recently republished as The Art of Always Being Right: Thirty Eight Ways to Win When You Are Defeated, he lists such sliming as tactic 38:

A last trick is to become personal, insulting, rude, as soon as you perceive that your opponent has the upper hand, and that you are going to come off worst.... But in becoming personal you leave the subject altogether, and turn your attack to his person, by remarks of an offensive and spiteful character. It is an appeal from the virtues of the intellect to the virtues of the body, or to mere animalism.

Link to Arthur Schopenhauer's essay: http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/s/schopenhauer/arthur/controversy/chapter3.html

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/...s/swan_abuses_when_he_should_actually_listen/

 

[Country Lad]

Your bias is clearly shown in your post.

Ha ha, I rest my case.

 

[Julia]

I (and no doubt a few others here) find these political threads rather boring with too many posts from people with a political dogma defying logic, common sense and any form of intelligent and independent thought - just the strict party/political leaning line.

Problem is I wear no hat, I am a political agnostic who has been too involved with politicians on all sides and at all levels to treat them seriously. I would rather look at each particular issue and arrive at my own conclusion. There are too many people in this world, and quite a few here, who will not accept anybody's alternate point of view and seem to put logic and common sense out of sight in a box when commenting on politics. The result is that there is very little intelligent debate, just constantly putting a narrow minded viewpoint.

Childish and boring and the reason I rarely look at these playground topics, but they seem to be everywhere. I was under the impression this was a stock forum with some other discussions, not a political forum sometimes discussing stocks.

Cheers
Country Lad

As Sails has already suggested, you're entirely free to just pass the political threads by. Some of us do enjoy exchanging views about what is a pretty interesting political scene this year, and should be able to do so without being effectively labelled unintelligent.

Yes, there are entrenched positions on both sides, but that's simply a reflection of the greater Australian electorate.

If general/political comments were inappropriate as far as the forum owner is concerned, I'm sure he would simply eliminate these forums. He apparently doesn't, so it's up to you to ignore them if you don't want to be irritated by people whom you apparently consider to be of playground mentality.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Interesting leak of Galaxy Poll due out on Monday.

From Twitter #auspol

Poll Is Abbott a misogynist (Women voters): Yes 25 No 44

gg

 

[sptrawler]

Interesting leak of Galaxy Poll due out on Monday.

From Twitter #auspol

gg

Yes GG, the herald sun are running a couple of stories on the popularity issues, I don't know how accurate they are.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/na...oose-tony-abbott/story-fndo317g-1226579510972

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vi...ts-they-must-win/story-e6frf7kx-1226579484982

I don't put a lot of faith in these beat it up stories, I tend to think the Age and SMH will have a different take on it.

I really can't see how an extended campaign to September is going to help the government. It will just reinforce the electorates perception that they don't want another term like this one.IMO

I think everyone is over it. :1zhelp:

Lets just wait and see the outcome from the W.A election.

 

[sydboy007]

As is evidenced by the polls.
sydboy, I expect whatever Mr Abbott said, you'd disagree with him.

Julia, can you honestly say that what I quoted was economically literate, let alone correct?

If either side actually said something I could support I'd be highlighting it. At the moment all I am hearing are cheap slogans and a lot is blatantly wrong.

Do you think TA is correct that the savings rate is high because the Government has gone into deficit? Personally I think that's just pure Ricardian claptrap. Do you think that Australian households going back to their pre housing boom savings levels of 10% is a bad thing? Personally I'm glad we've started to save again. Considering how people on this forum go on about people not saving for their retirement and being sensible with their money, I would have thought you would be more critical of a Government trying to push the private savings rate down.

Do you think that removing around 20000 public servants at a time when the resource construction boom has peaked and unemployment is on the way up is going to make people feel more secure? I'd argue that it will send the country into a recession.

 

[drsmith]

In the following article, The Australian's Paul Kelly offers his views on how Julia Gillard will handle her economic debate and how Tony Abbot should handle his.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opi...mall-target-plan/story-e6frg74x-1226579140179

Even with Labor's economic credentials in ruin, it will still be an interesting test for Tony Abbott. Hopefully, he and the Libs have done their homework and are ready.

 

[Julia]

Julia, can you honestly say that what I quoted was economically literate, let alone correct?

My 'Grin' emoticon was supposed to indicate that it was a light hearted comment. I agree with some of what you say, not all of it. And no, I have no appetite for an argument over it.

At the moment all I am hearing are cheap slogans

Probably best to get used to it. That's what will prevail from both sides until September.
People who think about politics will already have clear views about how they will vote.
The remainder, on the whole, are possibly vulnerable to catchy slogans.

Do you think TA is correct that the savings rate is high because the Government has gone into deficit?

Not of itself. But it's perhaps another factor which makes people fearful of bad economic times to come. Even the least politically aware probably understand that to reduce the deficit there are going to be job cuts, reductions in welfare etc. Add that fear to the major shock many had during the GFC, and there's a pretty understandable move by households to do what they can to improve their own financial security via saving.

Personally I'm glad we've started to save again. Considering how people on this forum go on about people not saving for their retirement and being sensible with their money, I would have thought you would be more critical of a Government trying to push the private savings rate down.

Where have I suggested any support for any government 'trying to push the private savings rate down'?

Do you think that removing around 20000 public servants at a time when the resource construction boom has peaked and unemployment is on the way up is going to make people feel more secure? I'd argue that it will send the country into a recession.

I don't know enough about this to comment. Government shouldn't necessarily be focused on making people feel more secure. Reality often determines that's just not possible.

 

[sptrawler]

Do you think that removing around 20000 public servants at a time when the resource construction boom has peaked and unemployment is on the way up is going to make people feel more secure? I'd argue that it will send the country into a recession.

Possibly, a recession is required, to apply a brake to wages and house prices.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Do you think that removing around 20000 public servants at a time when the resource construction boom has peaked and unemployment is on the way up is going to make people feel more secure? I'd argue that it will send the country into a recession.

I don't know enough about this to comment. Government shouldn't necessarily be focused on making people feel more secure. Reality often determines that's just not possible.

Julia,

You should be working in a high level of government.

Excellent comment.

gg

 

[sydboy007]

Possibly, a recession is required, to apply a brake to wages and house prices.

As long as it applies to CEO wages too