Who will win on Oct 9th?

[JB]

Ditto, don't agree with everything the Liberal's do, but when you've got limited choice you have to get the best of the bunch.

All you have to do is look at Labours economical management, and I am not just talking interest rates. Eg vic which had a surplus of the 100's of millions and in 3 years labour have spent it all, put in camera's everywhere to try to bolster up their kitty, and are we better off with all the spending that labour has done, No!

[pym]

  ZapXR6T said:

I am happy that the Liberals were re elected as it would have been a disaster if the government changed at this stage in our nations development.

While I do not think the Liberals do everything right, they do a pretty good job of running the country.

Latham thought he would keep hammering Health and Education to the voters, but unfortunatly it is a STATE issue and the reason its up the is because the states are being run by Labor who all suffer from a severe case of NFI.

While we hear about how bad the hospitals and Medicare are in this country, we are still VERY lucky as most countries do not have any public health scheme and if you want treatment you had better have health insurance or pay the fee. No payment and you will be dieing on the street.

It seems that some people in this country think the government ows them a lifestyle. Free health, free money (dole), free transport, free housing, etc......when the rest of us hard working people have to battle to pay the bills and our mortages every month without thinking we are owed anything, but really hate the left wing minority who always seem to whinge about anything they think is taking their benifits away.

May be if our "Lumpen Proletariat" (Not directed at you LP) population, got off their and did something constructive towards society, they may come to understand why the majority voted the way they did.

I would prefer to have our ILLEGAL immigrants locked up, then shipped home, our economy strong and our country supporting its Allies, than having some weak party bending over for the minority that seems to have a loud voice in our country.

Howard is the best leader we have had as he sticks by his moral and ethical standards and leads our country through all the we have been through and I want him there when the next crisis happens as I know he will do the right thing for our country, not the right thing by the minority.

I do not agree with all the Liberal's policies (Tel$tra sale), but they are by far the best choice we had

How can you tell it would be a disaster. A change even outside of politics can be good for you.

The Libs may have done a good job (debatable), but Labor may be able to do better. Did you give them a chance by voting for them ?

Ok, some things are state driven, but look at Bob Car. If it wasn't for Bob, then I would still be renting. Removing Stamp Duty for first home owners allowed me to fulfil the Australian Dream, so for me, Labor did something I benefitted from.

As for Private Health, I have been forced by the government to take it out. If not, then because my wife and I are hardworking, we have to pay the additional 1% medicare levy, as we jointly earn over $100k. Is that fair ?. I also have to pay the incremental 2% increase per year, because I was not allowed to take out private health insurance by the deadline, because I didn't hold a full medicare card, even though I was classed as an Australian Resident for taxation purposes.

Do I want private health insurance ?. Not really, because we have Medicare, and this should be funded appropriately by the Government. The reason we don't have enough nurses / doctors is because they don't get paid enough (same for education), and they all leave to work in the private arena.

I think it is unfair to say that some people expect a lifestyle from the government. Come on. If the government chooses to deliver / subsidise a service, ie Medicate, public transport, then the Goverment must deliver appropriate funding, rather than cutting services.

Howard may be the best leader, because noone knows anyone else. Sure I think that Howard is strong, but then again so could Latham...again, did you give him a chance ?

Personally, in some situations, I don't think Howard is the right person to lead us through the next crisis, especially when his strings are pulled by Bush. Do you want Australians involved in another war on terror based on un-thruths ?

Something we all forget. Who are to blame for the reduced spending on education / health / policing etc etc. ? Just look in the mirror. We are !! Why ?....we want tax cuts, so we have more money in our back pocket.....Ok, Howard gives us tax cuts, but he needs to get the money from somewhere.....Oh, so he brings in GST, increases tax on petrol, etc etc.

Surely, it is better to have a political party that works on direct taxation, rather than indirect taxation, and is willing to put money back into our society where is it needed, such as education and health.

Ask youself this, when was the last time you saw a policeman walking the beat ? Compare that to perhaps 20 years ago. We all rant and rave about health and lack of police resources to investigate claims when someone scratches a key down the side of your new T......perhaps with coppers on the beat this wouldn't happen.

I don't confess to be either a Lib or Labor supporter. All I do know, is that whichever party, now or in the future, they really don't have Australian interests at heart.

If we did, then we wouldn't had to endure 6 weeks of polictical (sorry compaigning), where all that has been spoken is grey truth....oh, and if the government really had this $8 Billion surplus, why didn't they spend it when they had it, rather than waiting for the campaign. For me that shows that they are not interested in Australia, but just about getting back into power.

[Velvet Glove]

"Ask youself this, when was the last time you saw a policeman walking the beat ? Compare that to perhaps 20 years ago. We all rant and rave about health and lack of police resources to investigate claims when someone scratches a key down the side of your new T......perhaps with coppers on the beat this wouldn't happen"

Both issues that are state rather than federally based. If you live in NSW you can blame your state Labor govt for that one, not the federal coalition. The states have been given billions through the GST, if they cant provide basic services the fault lies with them, not the libs, no matter what your political alliance

[JB]

Whilst I do not necessarily agree Pym I do understand your points, but as VG has indicated alot of these are state based issues.

In Vic we did give labour a chance for the exact reasons you have stated, unfortunately one side is as bad as the other, and history show's in Vic that whenever Libs have been in things have been strong, Labour get's in and by the time an election is due, the libs come back in to clean up the mess.

From a police perspective, I have seen alot less members on the street/road since camera's came in. The main hwy I travell down each week used to have 2-3 hwy patrol cars there with radars at any one time, I have not seen one for 16 months.

I can guarante when the next state election comes round Labour will not win it. At the end of the day, choice is not an option in politics these days.

[pym]

  Velvet Glove said:

"Ask youself this, when was the last time you saw a policeman walking the beat ? Compare that to perhaps 20 years ago. We all rant and rave about health and lack of police resources to investigate claims when someone scratches a key down the side of your new T......perhaps with coppers on the beat this wouldn't happen"

Both issues that are state rather than federally based. If you live in NSW you can blame your state Labor govt for that one, not the federal coalition. The states have been given billions through the GST, if they cant provide basic services the fault lies with them, not the libs, no matter what your political alliance

VG, That is very true....responsibility is the State, however each state is not self sufficient when it comes to revenue and spend, and relies on federal funding, in addition to state taxes.

Ok, we could claim that the state is incompetant when it comes to management of the respective funds, however we can't blame the states entirely. The federal government must take some responsibility because they reduce the funding to states and territories to fund our tax cuts.

Yes, the states have been given billions as a result of GST, but the public has given the federal government man more billions through the GST it imposed. I'm sure that NSW, or any other state does not receive 100% of the GST which originated from each state, instead the GST being divvied up according to some federal government breakdown.

Nobody is perfect, and both the Libs and Labor have their share of short-comings. I just believe that some opinions expressed have been biased (and understandably so) without necessarily considering the big picture.

[Velvet Glove]

Agreed but at the same time we see a Labor govt in the ACT allocate $110M for a prison, whilst the health care system remains in ruins. The states/Territories get more money now than in any time in their history. It is up to them to allocate that money appropriately and, as Labor has demonstrated many times over the years, fiscal restraint is not amongst their strengths.

When it comes down to it in this election, the people have spoken. Their voice resoundingly said 'no' to Labor and 'yes' to the Coalition. Its a done deal now and people (particularly the Labor party) should stop making excuses and get on with what we have. Its a whole lot better than someone from the military coming into your house and killing you and your family because of your political opinion, as happens in many other places around the world. Right or wrong the decision has been made. People should get on with their lives. If they disagreed with the Coalition, well unfortunately they are in the minority now and will have your chance again in 3 years. At least someone has a clear enough majority now to actually govern and implement their policies. If the shoe had've been on the other foot I would have hoped for the same for Labor

Cheers

[pym]

Nicely said...and I will have the opportunity in 3 years time to vote...and assuming things are like they are at the moment, I would vote for the coalition, because after all, they are the best of the worst

[JB]

  pym said:

Nicely said...and I will have the opportunity in 3 years time to vote...and assuming things are like they are at the moment, I would vote for the coalition, because after all, they are the best of the worst

[cvanxr]

  Velvet Glove said:

.....Right or wrong the decision has been made. People should get on with their lives. If they disagreed with the Coalition, well unfortunately they are in the minority now and will have your chance again in 3 years. At least someone has a clear enough majority now to actually govern and implement their policies. If the shoe had've been on the other foot I would have hoped for the same for Labor

Cheers

Well Said.

:loc:

[ktford]

  Lumpen Proletariat said:

voted whoever their papa voted for wasted their time not me.

Then again I shouldn't be surprised that a real estate agent would be a vehrment supported of the liberal party.

That's rich you should mention that.

Your having a shot at my Profession because, we are a bunch of people that play for pay & work as hard as we need to too suit our financial needs or because we're slimy greasy greedy cheating sh*t of things, kind of like necessary evils?

Scotty