They've done wonders for Obama's popularity.
The Abbott Government
- Thread starter Calliope
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They've done wonders for Obama's popularity.
wayneL
'Abba Shboq Lhon'
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Julia
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Sigh.
I wasn't talking about the effectiveness or otherwise of Obama's talks. Just the concept.
Which should have been obvious.
Should also have been obvious from the other content of my post that I'd rate the likely effectiveness of Mr Abbott trying any such similar approach as minimal also.
wayneL
'Abba Shboq Lhon'
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Sigh.
I wasn't talking about the effectiveness or otherwise of Obama's talks. Just the concept.
Which should have been obvious.
Should also have been obvious from the other content of my post that I'd rate the likely effectiveness of Mr Abbott trying any such similar approach as minimal also.
Julia, I wasn't responding to you or your points, I was responding to banco's proposition that is was helping his popularity.
Which should have been obvious.
Maybe he is right. That's probably more popularity than he deserves.
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Yes indeed. Problem is, if this third party told the plebs the truth, warts 'n all, with a proper prescription to drag our country back on the right path, how many votes do you think they'll get?
Labor were able to achieve some very difficult reforms in the 80s, so I believe the public can be brought along IF you explain it in a logical manner AND the costs of change are fair and seen to be fair by the community.
Howard was able to get the GST through at an election, though yes it nearly cost him it.
Reform is hard, but if you're going into politics to make things better then shouldn't you already be prepared for the difficulties of being in office? Hockey definitely seems to be ill prepared with his wha wha tantrums against the media and pretty much against voters.
No need to scare the voters, but if you pick a few of the major issues we need to face up, present a reasonably well thought out plan, share the burden, I'm pretty confident you will get the voters support.
Julia
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Yes, exactly what I was trying to say, thanks, syd.
ghotib
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FWIW, according to a profile in The Saturday Paper this weekend, Brandis "was practising in commercial law whe he entered the senate in 2000. But his appointment as a Queen's Council six years later raised some eyebrows among [Queensland] barristers.
<snip>
"This clearly still rankles with some accomplished lawyers, including colleagues in federal parliament who imply that his elevation in the profession had more to do with politics than merit."
The profile points out that "Since becoming attorney-general, Brandis has had to confront some realities that challenge his liberal philosophy ... saying in a speech in April that 'the more intelligence I read, the more conservative I become.'"
I think this particular government is doing a very bad job, but I also acknowledge that governing is a very, very hard job.
Julia
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Yes, Wayne, it was obvious. I don't much care about Obama's popularity or otherwise. But I do care about Tony Abbott's lack of popularity and was trying to keep the thread on the title.Julia, I wasn't responding to you or your points, I was responding to banco's proposition that is was helping his popularity.
Which should have been obvious.
If they don't pick up their performance, they will be a one term government, and imo the last thing Australia needs is a return to Labor/Greens alliance.
Ghotib put it well:
Knobby22
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From Steve Keen - Good news in the unemployment rate.
Hey, great news! Australia’s unemployment rate fell by 0.4 per cent last month! Did you hear?
You didn’t? That’s funny. I was sure Joe would tell you.
What do you mean, it rose by 0.4 per cent? Oh, you’re talking about the ABS figure! Yeah, that’s bad, but if you look at what happened to the Roy Morgan unemployment rate, the news is really good: it’s fallen from 10.6 per cent to 10.2 per cent! If this keeps up, pretty soon unemployment in Australia will be below 10 per cent!
Huh? You thought it was 6.4 per cent -- and that was bad? Actually, that would be really good if that were true.
Herein lies the problem with spin in economic data: sometimes the spin turns your way, sometimes it doesn’t. The ABS uses the internationally sanctioned definition of unemployment, which is similar to Tom Waits’ definition of being drunk: you have to be really, really out of it to qualify. Not only must you not be in employment, but you can’t have done even one hour of paid or unpaid in the four weeks prior to the survey. Nor can you be discouraged by the absence of available jobs either -- you must have applied for something in the previous four weeks -- and you must be available to start immediately.
Hands up all those who think they could survive on one hour’s paid work every four weeks? Thanks Eddie (and you too, Malcolm). And all those who wouldn’t be discouraged from applying for jobs you’re not really qualified for, after years of knockbacks? Thanks Tony (how is the new job going, by the way?). But apart from you three (OK Joe, you four), that excludes from the formal definition a lot of people who really are unemployed.
http://www.businessspectator.com.au...th-about-australias-unemployment-rate-shocker
Hey, great news! Australia’s unemployment rate fell by 0.4 per cent last month! Did you hear?
You didn’t? That’s funny. I was sure Joe would tell you.
What do you mean, it rose by 0.4 per cent? Oh, you’re talking about the ABS figure! Yeah, that’s bad, but if you look at what happened to the Roy Morgan unemployment rate, the news is really good: it’s fallen from 10.6 per cent to 10.2 per cent! If this keeps up, pretty soon unemployment in Australia will be below 10 per cent!
Huh? You thought it was 6.4 per cent -- and that was bad? Actually, that would be really good if that were true.
Herein lies the problem with spin in economic data: sometimes the spin turns your way, sometimes it doesn’t. The ABS uses the internationally sanctioned definition of unemployment, which is similar to Tom Waits’ definition of being drunk: you have to be really, really out of it to qualify. Not only must you not be in employment, but you can’t have done even one hour of paid or unpaid in the four weeks prior to the survey. Nor can you be discouraged by the absence of available jobs either -- you must have applied for something in the previous four weeks -- and you must be available to start immediately.
Hands up all those who think they could survive on one hour’s paid work every four weeks? Thanks Eddie (and you too, Malcolm). And all those who wouldn’t be discouraged from applying for jobs you’re not really qualified for, after years of knockbacks? Thanks Tony (how is the new job going, by the way?). But apart from you three (OK Joe, you four), that excludes from the formal definition a lot of people who really are unemployed.
http://www.businessspectator.com.au...th-about-australias-unemployment-rate-shocker
IFocus
You are arguing with a Galah
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What is it with Hockey?
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/tre...ch-will-pay-them/story-fnhocwho-1227023404121
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/tre...ch-will-pay-them/story-fnhocwho-1227023404121
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He's just stating the facts.
I heard the whole interview with John McGlue. I'm not sure if a transcript will appear.
http://www.abc.net.au/perth/programs/720_drive/
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Hi there IFocus, has Joe Hockey actually ever paid for a tank of fuel in his whole privileged life?
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No he has not, and the local fruit shop has to give him a free apple every day too!
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As the Abbott government prefers to fund roads than public transport, how are all those poor people going to get around to all those jobs they have to apply for ?
I think it just shows who Abbott and Co really care about, or not.
Plumbers and Electricians don't use public transport to get from one job to the other so good roads are essential for these tradies to get around faster and cut the cost of their services..
Smart thinking.
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I think you will find that tradies usually work within a local area, and don't usually travel on the tollways that the government is proposing to build.
wayneL
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Horace I travel nearly 1000 km a week in my trade.
And I'll tell you what, when I hit that Bruce Hwy in the morning there are tons of tradies obviously not working locally.
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I suggest that creating multi billion dollar roads for tradies is a waste of resources.
Better to encourage more tradies in local communities, which will create jobs.
Railways are better for carrying freight.
As we have found in NSW, allowing private enterprise to run tollways results in closure of other roads in the area that compete with the tollways.
Better to decentralise business and industries so people don't have to travel so far to get to work plus getting on with an effective NBN so more people can work from home.
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Wow. So that's why they can never turn up on time.
We just need MORE roads and problem solved...
Or maybe better public transport so there's the option to not have to drive everywhere