John Howard to stay on! (1 Viewer)

[iamsickofyear12]

But the Australian people are too conservative to throw someone out who 1. has a proven track record and 2. is not a risky bet. Beazley's offering a change, which I think is a bad tactic because Aussies are generally happy, IR laws and fuel prices included. Australians are notoriously cautious people, when it comes to polls, and Liberal's leadership offers a certainty. Think of all the so-called deal breakers over the past elections - the government lying to the people (which people either didn't care about or thought was a bureaucratic mistake), the GST (I agree with Labour, it has 'destroyed industry all over Australia' ), etc.

There's also the fact that Labour is in shables, they can't even run a proper political party let alone a country.

And I also thought that he'd stay on. He's clearly happy with what he's done.

That is true but a lot of people aren't that logical. They will probably win but I don't expect them to do it so easily.

 

[amba_rox_yr_sox]

Aussies are generally happy, IR laws and fuel prices included.

That's because the worst of the IR laws are yet to come..... conveniently after the 2007 election

 

[Iron]

What hide to say that next year will be tough. He's already positioned himself as the so-called underdog, with fucking Beazley trotting around saying "I'll be Prime Minister next year & we'll rip up these laws" bla bla.
Labor is the underdog I say - Labor! The race for the lower ground is crucial!

 

[transcendent]

if Labor wins everyone will blame the economic problems on them... again.

 

[Dougie]

i think howard is too shrewd a politician to lose this one. he wants to b known as the longest standing pm, not equal.

 

[xeuyrawp]

That's because the worst of the IR laws are yet to come..... conveniently after the 2007 election

Hmm, like the GST I assume?

I also thought that all the proposed changes were known about, in which case there would already be a fuss?

What hide to say that next year will be tough. He's already positioned himself as the so-called underdog, with fucking Beazley trotting around saying "I'll be Prime Minister next year & we'll rip up these laws" bla bla.
Labor is the underdog I say - Labor! The race for the lower ground is crucial!

That's why I think the Liberal party has played the game really well. Beazley puts on this shining persona of confidence which seems like he's outwardly lying to himself and the Australians. Howard put on this persona that he has to work outrageously hard to earn even one seat. A citizen looks at that and totally loses faith in Labour, or gains faith in Liberal.

I've never been impressed with Labour's campaigning, either. Latham's going on about how he wanted a 'fair fight' is such bullshit. I don't want someone who fights fair when it comes to treaty bargaining with superpowers.

Poor Labour.

 

[Generator]

It's Labor, PwarYuex. Labor.

 

[Iron]

That's why I think the Liberal party has played the game really well. Beazley puts on this shining persona of confidence which seems like he's outwardly lying to himself and the Australians. Howard put on this persona that he has to work outrageously hard to earn even one seat. A citizen looks at that and totally loses faith in Labour, or gains faith in Liberal.

I've never been impressed with Labour's campaigning, either. Latham's going on about how he wanted a 'fair fight' is such bullshit. I don't want someone who fights fair when it comes to treaty bargaining with superpowers.

Poor Labour.

I strongly get the impression that Kimbo's lying to himself and us - he almost looks sarcastic when he says it.
But I admit that the opposition have to present as more confident than the government - It shows that they want the job and know that they can do it. An opposition outwardly resigned to defeat is such a turn off.

BUt I would hope that Howards claim that he's in for a really tough fight is viewed as bullshit by the average joe. Sure, we expect Liberal losses. If Labor dont gain seats, their viability as a party will seriously be questioned. I think Kim will campaign well and he'll retire as a Labor hero, who saved the party from utter oblivion about three times. But it's inconcievable that Howard could lose. It's a cheap shot to mitigate the inevitable pinch the electorate must give him.

 

[ZabZu]

if Labor wins everyone will blame the economic problems on them... again.

Labor is partly responsible for the strong economic performance we see today. It was the deregulation and reforms introduced in the Hawke-Keating era helped expand the Australian economy and Howard has just continued this deregulation. Labor floated the dollar, reduced trade protection, reduced regulation in the IR system, relaxed foreign investment laws, etc.

 

[frog12986]

Labor is partly responsible for the strong economic performance we see today. It was the deregulation and reforms introduced in the Hawke-Keating era helped expand the Australian economy and Howard has just continued this deregulation. Labor floated the dollar, reduced trade protection, reduced regulation in the IR system, relaxed foreign investment laws, etc.

As has been said a million times, that in no way removes the legacy of irresponsible macroeconomic policy in such times of reform...

 

[wheredanton]

A pretty bad job eh? One of the additional reasons for the likelihood of an interest rate rise, is the strong employment growth that has been consistently occurring in recent time. Now whilst this is by no means a negative, the RBA needs to act in such a way that it preserves the medium term viability of the economy in its current condition. Overall, the economy is still performing strongly, and although rates may increase it is needed..

The OECD report released this week commends the work of the government both fiscally and structurally, and even goes so far as to say that more needs to be done in relation to workplace reform, GST extension and fiscal preparation for the longer term implications of an ageing population. It does make note that the fiscal responsbility of government in recent years has facilitated much of the prosperity Australians have seen, with living standards increasing more than any other developed, western nation. Whilst many will dismiss the report, if it was negative, the media would jump onto it like a viper..

The petrol situation is in no way the fault of the government, and it would be irresponsible to remove taxes in order to reduce the price, as not only is it a finite resource, but it is a resource that can be extremely damaging. The emphasis should be the development of alternatives...

Regardless of whether you are right about whoes fault is what and who is responsible for whatever it won't matter. We know that cutting petrol tax is irresponsbile etc whatever. But those kind of explanatinos to the electorate won't wash.

If interest rates keep going and petrol keep going up then it's bad news for the Libreals. Very bad news. If this occurs and people really start to hurt in the hip pocket they won't have 2 seconds for any complex justification or 'splaining from the Liberals. Most of the Australian population arn't well versed in politics. Most people are apathetic to John Howard, they just believe that they are financially safe under him and the Liberals. Time will tell whether the australian people buy his concern or whether they feel betrayed.

 

[Optophobia]

I hope they don't say the same about Beazley or there will be no chance Labor will win.

Possibility 1) Labor keeps Beazely: They lose because Beazely is shit.
Possibility 2) Labor gets rid of Beazely: They lose because Australia will have no faith in a party which is so unstable (how many different leaders in the past few years?).

Either way, Labor loses.

 

[gerhard]

theyve had 3 leaders in 10 years. what are you talking about.

 

[transcendent]

Labor is partly responsible for the strong economic performance we see today. It was the deregulation and reforms introduced in the Hawke-Keating era helped expand the Australian economy and Howard has just continued this deregulation. Labor floated the dollar, reduced trade protection, reduced regulation in the IR system, relaxed foreign investment laws, etc.

as i've heard but that wont stop misinformed people from blaming all economic problems on them however.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

$50 says howard will lose next election.

I want in on this shit.

IMO the trump card howard always has is terrorism/racism/immigrants. If the election ever looks to be close, it doesn't take much to get the overwhelming sway of australian opinion on his side and leave labor hanging.

It was the deregulation and reforms introduced in the Hawke-Keating era helped expand the Australian economy and Howard has just continued this deregulation. Labor floated the dollar, reduced trade protection, reduced regulation in the IR system, relaxed foreign investment laws, etc.

The only reason they didn't put them through before labor was because fraser did not share their vision for australia. All those things mentioned would have happened under any government at the time. As for Howard just continuing the deregulation, if that was the case, why is it that in his steps he has been opposed quite heavily? To me it is silly to bring up the liberal party / labor party of more then 10 years ago and make claim that they are the same parties today.

 

[frog12986]

Regardless of whether you are right about whoes fault is what and who is responsible for whatever it won't matter. We know that cutting petrol tax is irresponsbile etc whatever. But those kind of explanatinos to the electorate won't wash.

If interest rates keep going and petrol keep going up then it's bad news for the Libreals. Very bad news. If this occurs and people really start to hurt in the hip pocket they won't have 2 seconds for any complex justification or 'splaining from the Liberals. Most of the Australian population arn't well versed in politics. Most people are apathetic to John Howard, they just believe that they are financially safe under him and the Liberals. Time will tell whether the australian people buy his concern or whether they feel betrayed.

What you have said there is very true, and indeed this may be the issue that does cost the coalition the election. However, has Labor committed itself to either reducing the GST or excise on petrol?

Will they be able to fund elaborate election promises as a result of doing so?

And ultimately, will petrol prices rise further to their current level following the reduction of taxes etc, which will of course increase the overall demand?

Part of the problem with the petrol price and interest rate issue is that people have become too comfortable, too 'consumerist' and made a habit of going far beyond their means. Young families have made it standard to buy the top furnishings and retail products, buy the expensive mcmansions and emphasise the need to look comfortable. I see people buying takeaway food on their credit card for goodness sake.

Regardless of which government is in office, people need to take greater responsbility for their expenditure choices/patterns and show some restraint in relation to these choices. No longer do people work to save for these luxury items, as was the case previously, they work to pay them off, and in any case the latter is more irresponsible and potentially problematic..

 

[Not-That-Bright]

people need to take greater responsbility for their expenditure choices/patterns and show some restraint in relation to these choices.

I agree, some people I just can't feel sorry for with this interest rate rise. You see people with large homes they could barely pay off before the rate rise now claiming they're dirt poor... they're not poor they've just attempted to live beyond their means - if a rate rise is going to make it so you have to eat dog food, maybe you should think about downsizing your home/car a bit.

 

[Iron]

I agree, some people I just can't feel sorry for with this interest rate rise. You see people with large homes they could barely pay off before the rate rise now claiming they're dirt poor... they're not poor they've just attempted to live beyond their means - if a rate rise is going to make it so you have to eat dog food, maybe you should think about downsizing your home/car a bit.

And lose their hard earned social status? Their position? Their reputation? friends? children's comfortable future!?
You monster.
[ an edit later:] You unimaginable bastard

 

[Not-That-Bright]

And lose their hard earned social status? Their position? Their reputation? friends? children's comfortable future!?
You monster.
[ an edit later:] You unimaginable bastard

The interest rate rise has affected people where it hurts the most - The size of their penis?

 

[Iron]

Hm a valid point you make. Maxed out on the Swedish-made penis enlarger pump