too young to vote.... and loving it!

The height of interests rates effecting living standards is a load of crap. Even in Johnny's 22% and ALP's 17% days home loan repayments were lower then the average rental prices. Today we have lower interest rates yet higher mortgages. Cost of living is the big issue. On a side note I scream for higher interest rates as my investments far outweigh my loan, so I make money.

The second step to this is the Federal Govt, doesn't matter which party is in control, has zero control over interest rates. The RBA is an independent body, and our global economy is far out of reach for one political entity to control.

Another thing not many remember is that our current economic situation is so good is due to Keating's reforms in the early '90s. He opened up the markets, reduced tariffs and deregulated financial institutions. Major changes such as these falter in the early days (why he was voted out) and only begin to prosper 10yrs down the track.

Howard's reign can be put down to one thing, the fickle nature of current politics. He was a great spin merchant and short term fixer. Those suffering in the mortgage belt (mostly their own fault) only worried about getting money back in their pockets. These votes can only be bought for so long, budget surpluses are terrible. It was only a matter of time before the majority started to realise we need infrastructure. Rudd has an excellent chance to see this through in the near term, and we should benefit for years to come.

P.S- people seem to think unions are rotten. Like any large bodies there are a few bad eggs, but most unions provide a great service to not only their membes but the broader community as well.

And I am in no way a union member, so I'm certainly not biased in my opinion.

Its interesting, the Australian way. Vote on a new government loosly based on a campaign that simply points out "Johnny didn't such and such, but we will." Well the new government didnt do anything about these areas in the past.
"Johnny promised this and this but gave us that" We wont.
But yet how do they plan to give us such and such, if at first they dont give us this and that just like Johnny has done.
A better Economy, lower unemployment, more money in our pockets. It all leads to higher inflation which then requires higher interest rates to control inflation. We could always choose to carry wheelbarrows full of money just so we can buy the weekly groceries.
The fact is that now with a better economy, Australia is now in a position to begin taking care of the key areas that "The New Government" claim Johnny has overlooked and failed to deliver on.
But as it would appear, the average Australian can easily be blindsided with a caimpaign that simply points out failures. Where is all the explinations on how the new government would have done it?
Fact is, now the economy is in a better position as a result of the ex-government, now the new government are in a better position to deal with the key areas that the point out "Johnny failed to deliver on"
Time will tell how the new government will deal with the economy. We can see how they dealt/failed with it in the past.
Unions and IR laws, the new governments campaign just appealed to the average Australian and the sterotype - laziness, beers and meatpies.
Unions were created to give the workers rights and support. But it will be safe to say ( especially looking at the mixed variety of people I work with ) that the new government was voted in solely in the belief that Unions fight to give workers the right to tell companies ;
pay us this much,
give us this'
give us that,
we will only do this much,
we solely come to work as its our right to be payed for turning up to work.
We have no dedication to the company, the company is the enemy and against us. But since we have turned up to work XXX amount of times, the company should make us Certified even though we know and do ####.

Was the ex-government perfect? No
Is average life better as a result of the ex-governemnt? Yes
Is the new government perfect? Hardly
Was average life better in the past when the new government was in control? Hardly

Only thing certain now is, time will tell how the new government deals with the economy and its promises.

John was desperately looking around for yet another scapegoat to distract the electorate in the same way they he used the infamous LIE "Children Overboard"

He tried it on with those dreadfull vile characters, the 'Union Bosses' but I look back to see who brought us the two day weekend, the 40 hour week, the 4 week holliday & a living wage & it sure as hell wasn't the Liberal Party of Australia.

Yet we take all this for granted as if it was a god given right.
How quickly we forget,

The electorate finally got to look directly at the government, without distractions & at last with an opposition that he couldn't rattle & the electors of Australia saw something they didn't like.

Lets hope that the new Prime Minister & his government live up to the expectations of a nation.
With a swing of at least 20 seats he sure as hell has a mandate to do the right thing. Lordy Kev, get out there & do it, but I will be waiting & watching for when the global economy falters as a result of the US slowly falling over [remember Wall St. in 1929] I fully expect that pack of petulant brats in opposition screaming at the top of their lungs, ...'SEE, WE TOLD YOU SO, IT'S ALL THEIR FAULT.'

Leigh
When little Johny was treasurer under Malcolm the trouserless, interest rates did indeed hit 22%, but while he tried to crucify a previous government for interest rates that hit 17% he conveniently forgot his own performance & desperately hoped that we would too.

i'm pretty sure that interest rates hit 22% with little johnny at the helm, the economy is driven by many more things than the name of the government! we were in a recession at the time and interest rates rise and fall with inflation, they have risen six times in the past term but as soon as it happens again all the liberal lovers will go pointing the finger at a labour government.

john howard could not even hold his own seat. too negative, trying to scare people into keeping him in but it seems it didn't work again.

I believe Labour were only a $1.20 for a win....Liberal were something like $3.00.

Seems the TAB are fairly good at predicting results.

Wish i had of put a bet on the Election instead of the Melbourne cup.

Quote:
And that's a good thing? Wouldn't it be better if we had someone who actually did something good for the people of Aus... like the Ex-PM...

oh... and he will change something... as the Union Bosses will force him to... IRLaws...

Well the 'smoke ansd mirrors' man did it
The only good thing about it will be seeing him back peddle away from everything he has said he will change ...........
At least he can't really stuff us entirely for the first term due to the current climate, but after that
Off on Monday to lock my mortgage in for 5 years and watch all the 'battlers' in their new houses/ big screen tellies/ 2 cars/ big stainless fridge (like the labour ads) find out what struggle is all about - hang on boys - it'll be a fun ride
Cheers

i am goin to see if i can unenoroll as i hate voting