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AADD Moderators: Tronica
Politics in 2004
- Thread starter Taliana
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doofqueen
Bluelighter
Yes and i sure as hell am one of the australians that doesn't take the freedom i have in this contry for granted 
onetwothreefour
Bluelight Crew
Originally posted by Charlie Brown
Under Liberal Party
*Best economy since War World Two
*Promise to keep interest Rates low (1% movement in interest rates offsets any tax reduction given)
*Continued Alliance with US cos in best interest of our nation, will do what it takes to fight terrorism
*Dedication to youth unemployment by building technical colleges, granting scholarships
*Matching labour on Medicare reforms
*Tax relief for small business owners
Under Liberal Party
*Best economy since War World Two
*Promise to keep interest Rates low (1% movement in interest rates offsets any tax reduction given)
*Continued Alliance with US cos in best interest of our nation, will do what it takes to fight terrorism
*Dedication to youth unemployment by building technical colleges, granting scholarships
*Matching labour on Medicare reforms
*Tax relief for small business owners
what a fucking joke.
oh no, wait, the economy is the be-all and end-all of life, i forgot. i'm sure all the happy middle and upper class people will be thrilled with their extra cash while we totally ignore everyone below the poverty line, and make sure all those filthy dirty refugees stay out of our nice clean white country.
Charlie Brown
Bluelighter
^^ No we'll just let labour come into government and drag everyone down...how is a high interest rate and poor economic status gonna help people under the poverty line.
if the economy isnt the measure of quality of life for everyone what is?
middle class has to work every day just like everyone else.....what is labour implementing thats gonna help the people under the poverty line ?
I think Howard is dedicating 6billion to welfare and the underpriveledged.
Liberals stand on refugees is that if they really need refugee status they will get it....but there will have to go through the proper channels...whats labour gonna do to change this?
if the economy isnt the measure of quality of life for everyone what is?
middle class has to work every day just like everyone else.....what is labour implementing thats gonna help the people under the poverty line ?
I think Howard is dedicating 6billion to welfare and the underpriveledged.
Liberals stand on refugees is that if they really need refugee status they will get it....but there will have to go through the proper channels...whats labour gonna do to change this?
diegoblunt
Bluelighter
read first + post second
umm, ever heard of the Reserve Bank and its chairman Ian McFarlane (not sure if he's still around)? ... yeah well they have a thing called monetary policy and you see, the thing about monetary policy is that it is not controlled by the government .. no matter how much ya'd like to pretend that Peter Costello and John Howard are sitting around right now, drinking tea and discussing your interest rate cuts ....
also from the previous page .. logging old growth in Tasmania is not a problem ... the problem is the unsustainability of logging and the lack of replantation and care for the surrounding environment. Tasmania has so much forrest that of course we are going to log some of it!!
- Mr Correction
umm, ever heard of the Reserve Bank and its chairman Ian McFarlane (not sure if he's still around)? ... yeah well they have a thing called monetary policy and you see, the thing about monetary policy is that it is not controlled by the government .. no matter how much ya'd like to pretend that Peter Costello and John Howard are sitting around right now, drinking tea and discussing your interest rate cuts ....
also from the previous page .. logging old growth in Tasmania is not a problem ... the problem is the unsustainability of logging and the lack of replantation and care for the surrounding environment. Tasmania has so much forrest that of course we are going to log some of it!!
- Mr Correction
diegoblunt
Bluelighter
and why would interest rates increase more under a labour government? because they actually spend money and the RBA needs tighter monetary policy to offset the more expansive fiscal spending under Labour governments..
Howard and Costello spend nothing and thats why you see the RBA keep interest rates at the current level.
also, people in this thread who support the greens and think that economics is shit and destroying the world .. when really they have no idea what they are talking about .. ever heard of environmental economics? didnt think so. you think the greens dont care about the economy and just ignore economics? ... this is modern society we are talking about ... economics is not the enemy, it just tells us the way things are. (i vote greens)
Howard and Costello spend nothing and thats why you see the RBA keep interest rates at the current level.
also, people in this thread who support the greens and think that economics is shit and destroying the world .. when really they have no idea what they are talking about .. ever heard of environmental economics? didnt think so. you think the greens dont care about the economy and just ignore economics? ... this is modern society we are talking about ... economics is not the enemy, it just tells us the way things are. (i vote greens)
PM's splurge 'puts rates at risk'
JOHN Howard's multi-billion dollar spending plans will put upward pressure on interest rates, a former Reserve Bank board member has warned.
Australian National University Economics Department head Bob Gregory said today new government spending promises had increased the likelihood interest rates would go up.
The Prime Minister yesterday made $6 billion worth of election promises, including tax breaks for child care, improved facilities for schools, and tax breaks for small businesses.
The package includes $2.2 billion on child-care tax breaks, $1 billion on improving classrooms and other facilities at public and needy private schools, and $1.3 billion on tax breaks for small business.
Professor Gregory, a member of the Reserve Bank of Australia board from 1985 to 1995, said the government seemed to be spending the budget surplus at an "enormous rate".
He said while interest rates were primarily determined overseas, "all of this spending increases the likelihood of an interest rate increase".
"That's a little bit ironic, you know in a way, when you're watching television and seeing 'keeping interest rates low' on the one hand and such a large increase in spending," Prof Gregory said.
"All of a sudden we have this large surplus announced and now because it's occurred during an election period the (Liberal) party seems to be spending it at an enormous rate.
Mr Howard and his cabinet have been defending the spending plans announced at the official campaign launch yesterday in Brisbane.
Treasurer Peter Costello said the spending plans would not affect interest rates because of separate areas for savings the government had identified.
The government would keep the budget in surplus as long as the economy grew, he said.
"Since Budget time, we've actually revised our projections up and we think that we have a stronger starting position than we did at Budget time," he said on Melbourne radio 3AW.
In his campaign launch speech yesterday, Mr Howard referred to Mr Latham's education policy when he said a Coalition government would not have a "hit-list" of schools to lose money, as Labor has said should happen to wealthier private schools.
The Coalition would spend $1 billion on building projects in state schools and poorer private schools.
A further $1.8 billion would go to education services with emphasis on promoting skills training and careers in trades.
The Coalition would establish a network of 24 technical colleagues, quite separate from state colleges, costing $289 million over three years in areas with skills shortages and high youth unemployment rates.
The Youth Allowance and Austudy for over-25s would be extended to apprentices from July next year, costing $410 million.
Mr Howard promised more than $1.2 billion to small businesses, to encourage more start-up industries, protect contractors from union pressure and ease the broad tax burden.
Outfits with an annual turnover of $50,000 or less would get a 25 per cent "entrepreneurs" income tax discount.
The launch in the Brisbane City Hall was crammed by about 1000 Liberals with banners and posters, while a similar number of protesters, with their own material, condemned Mr Howard and tried to stop the invited guests from leaving the venue.
link
JOHN Howard's multi-billion dollar spending plans will put upward pressure on interest rates, a former Reserve Bank board member has warned.
Australian National University Economics Department head Bob Gregory said today new government spending promises had increased the likelihood interest rates would go up.
The Prime Minister yesterday made $6 billion worth of election promises, including tax breaks for child care, improved facilities for schools, and tax breaks for small businesses.
The package includes $2.2 billion on child-care tax breaks, $1 billion on improving classrooms and other facilities at public and needy private schools, and $1.3 billion on tax breaks for small business.
Professor Gregory, a member of the Reserve Bank of Australia board from 1985 to 1995, said the government seemed to be spending the budget surplus at an "enormous rate".
He said while interest rates were primarily determined overseas, "all of this spending increases the likelihood of an interest rate increase".
"That's a little bit ironic, you know in a way, when you're watching television and seeing 'keeping interest rates low' on the one hand and such a large increase in spending," Prof Gregory said.
"All of a sudden we have this large surplus announced and now because it's occurred during an election period the (Liberal) party seems to be spending it at an enormous rate.
Mr Howard and his cabinet have been defending the spending plans announced at the official campaign launch yesterday in Brisbane.
Treasurer Peter Costello said the spending plans would not affect interest rates because of separate areas for savings the government had identified.
The government would keep the budget in surplus as long as the economy grew, he said.
"Since Budget time, we've actually revised our projections up and we think that we have a stronger starting position than we did at Budget time," he said on Melbourne radio 3AW.
In his campaign launch speech yesterday, Mr Howard referred to Mr Latham's education policy when he said a Coalition government would not have a "hit-list" of schools to lose money, as Labor has said should happen to wealthier private schools.
The Coalition would spend $1 billion on building projects in state schools and poorer private schools.
A further $1.8 billion would go to education services with emphasis on promoting skills training and careers in trades.
The Coalition would establish a network of 24 technical colleagues, quite separate from state colleges, costing $289 million over three years in areas with skills shortages and high youth unemployment rates.
The Youth Allowance and Austudy for over-25s would be extended to apprentices from July next year, costing $410 million.
Mr Howard promised more than $1.2 billion to small businesses, to encourage more start-up industries, protect contractors from union pressure and ease the broad tax burden.
Outfits with an annual turnover of $50,000 or less would get a 25 per cent "entrepreneurs" income tax discount.
The launch in the Brisbane City Hall was crammed by about 1000 Liberals with banners and posters, while a similar number of protesters, with their own material, condemned Mr Howard and tried to stop the invited guests from leaving the venue.
link
diegoblunt
Bluelighter
*reads first*
*posts second*
ok, well maybe i need to get my howard spending facts right . . . but that article does shut up anyone who had previously referred to Liberal/Labour governments as setting high/low interest rates.
*posts second*
ok, well maybe i need to get my howard spending facts right . . . but that article does shut up anyone who had previously referred to Liberal/Labour governments as setting high/low interest rates.
Charlie Brown
Bluelighter
^^ Liberals just promise an interest rate lower than if labour is in power.
katmeow
Bluelight Crew
wazza said:
Charlie Brown said:
Interest rates are not something the government can guarantee.
What's next... Howard promising that Oil will be cheaper under Liberal??
Charlie Brown
Bluelighter
well it then comes down to track record..who has the best track record ? Also very true what Costello said abt Latham he has not enough experience, if he cant run a council how can he run a country...do you want a PM thats always counting on Beasley and co to do his job for him?
lostpunk5545
Bluelighter
Charlie Brown said:
Going through the proper channels seems a lot to me like rotting in internment camps waiting years to be processed, but what do I know?
There is one thing that humans have the ability to do that not many other animals are able to. It's called empathising. Putting yourself in someone elses shoes and getting out of your own selfish head space for a while. The ability to use the cells in your head to come to the conclusion "Hey I wouldn't want that to happen to me, so why should I not care when it happens to others?". I strongly suggest you work on honing your retarded version of this ability.
Charlie Brown
Bluelighter
^^There you go again...adding unnecessary comments...I tell you what you think you know...that just cos I support liberal doesnt mean i dont empathise with the refugees..man talking out off your ass again. Say something like what labour is doing about the refugee situation and I might listen
Charlie Brown said:
I totally dont have a problem with people supporting the coalition, I mean some people just have different priorities or views on what is most important. But Charlie Brown your argument that interest rates under a labor government are going to be higher than under liberal one are COMPLETELY spurious.
Firstly, Westpac has cut its 3 year fixed rate by .3%, meaning that you can lock in your interest rates for the full term of the next federal govt at a lower rate than when the election was called a couple of weeks ago. Now banks don't cut their fixed rates going into elections unless they're seriously confident that neither party in particular will have much of an upwards impact on inflation should they form govt. In fact a total of 17 lenders have reduced their fixed-rate home loans this week.
Secondly, name me one independent economist that agrees with Howard that interest rates under a labor government will be higher than those under a liberal govt..... You can't , nor could John Howard when he was asked that same question as a matter of fact.
Maybe I should provide some unbiased research to back my point up (I think it's better than just regurgitating what the leader of a political party is spouting and believing it as gospel dont you?)
Reuters polled 14 leading economists as to what they thought the peak cash rate would be during the next term of govt under both labor and liberal governments. Among them were AMP, ANZ, CBA, HSBC, JP Morgan, St George, UBS etc.. and every single one of them predicted that the peak interest rate would be the same under both a liberal and labor govt. So yeah, 14 out of 14 economists say John Howard is a liar.
Thirdly, John Howard has a pretty checkered economic past himself...
"Such as? During his stint as Treasurer in the Fraser government. The recession he presided over, which led to 10 per cent unemployment, his return to double-digit inflation and mortgage interest rates - and the more recent fact that, after promising to keep the budget in surplus throughout the present term, he incurred a cash deficit of $1 billion in 2001-02.)"
Ross Gittins - SMH - Labor isn't a big economic risk 27/9/04
http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/26/1096137098498.html
To be honest Charlie Brown it just sounds like you're a parrot for liberal party spin and propaganda. If I were you I'd go and read the rest of that Ross Gittins article. It explains why you automatically assume liberal governments are better economic managers than labor governments even though you can't produce any evidence or second opinion to actually back it up.
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Charlie Brown
Bluelighter
THE Wall Street Journal has all but endorsed Prime Minister John Howard's re-election on October 9.
The American business newspaper said Opposition Leader Mark Latham believed America was a "juicy target" over its involvement in the Iraq war.
"The Howard government certainly deserves praise for consistently countering Mr Latham's Yank baiting," the said an editorial in the newspaper this week.
It said that while Mr Latham appeared to be following the lead of Spain's Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who won office after the Madrid bombing by pledging to withdraw troops from Iraq, he had started to hedge his bets by putting Kim Beazley in the defence portfolio and promising to keep embassy guards in place.
"If Australians decide to give Mr Howard a fourth term in office they'll know pretty much what they're getting," the newspaper said.
"The economy is growing at a 4.1 per cent clip, the main stock index is at an all-time high and the job market is so tight that some companies are having problems finding new hires.
"On the foreign policy front, Mr Howard has also been clear.
"Australians may also have a sense that Mr Latham, with his redistributionist promises, is proposing to lead Australia down the welfare path that has brought countries like Germany so much grief.
"Now it is, as it should be, up to Australians to decide."
This article sums it up why I will be voting Liberal..there is no proof that interest rates will be lower, but going by past performance this is enough for me to have more confidence in Liberals abilities
It does highlight the job that howard has done and what we can expect...I open the papers up today and yes there is more jobs for me to apply for...
Latham on the other hand bottom line I dont think has the experience to run Australia
The American business newspaper said Opposition Leader Mark Latham believed America was a "juicy target" over its involvement in the Iraq war.
"The Howard government certainly deserves praise for consistently countering Mr Latham's Yank baiting," the said an editorial in the newspaper this week.
It said that while Mr Latham appeared to be following the lead of Spain's Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who won office after the Madrid bombing by pledging to withdraw troops from Iraq, he had started to hedge his bets by putting Kim Beazley in the defence portfolio and promising to keep embassy guards in place.
"If Australians decide to give Mr Howard a fourth term in office they'll know pretty much what they're getting," the newspaper said.
"The economy is growing at a 4.1 per cent clip, the main stock index is at an all-time high and the job market is so tight that some companies are having problems finding new hires.
"On the foreign policy front, Mr Howard has also been clear.
"Australians may also have a sense that Mr Latham, with his redistributionist promises, is proposing to lead Australia down the welfare path that has brought countries like Germany so much grief.
"Now it is, as it should be, up to Australians to decide."
This article sums it up why I will be voting Liberal..there is no proof that interest rates will be lower, but going by past performance this is enough for me to have more confidence in Liberals abilities
It does highlight the job that howard has done and what we can expect...I open the papers up today and yes there is more jobs for me to apply for...
Latham on the other hand bottom line I dont think has the experience to run Australia
nickthecheese
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2001
- Messages
- 2,551
2 funny things I notice around election time:
1) howard goventment spends little to no money, then blasts out with 6 billion worth of reform just before the election.
Honestly john, the people of australia aren't stupid enough to fall for your bribes. If you actually gave even 1/2 a damn about everthing you've spent money on, why weren't you spending money on it beforehand?
2) to the coalition/liberal voters.
Do you trust your lying people in power to actually keep their election promises? What did george say, fool me once, shame, shame on you, fool me twice, i can't get fooled again.
sorry john, the people of australia aren't fooled. Your time in office is over...
1) howard goventment spends little to no money, then blasts out with 6 billion worth of reform just before the election.
Honestly john, the people of australia aren't stupid enough to fall for your bribes. If you actually gave even 1/2 a damn about everthing you've spent money on, why weren't you spending money on it beforehand?
2) to the coalition/liberal voters.
Do you trust your lying people in power to actually keep their election promises? What did george say, fool me once, shame, shame on you, fool me twice, i can't get fooled again.
sorry john, the people of australia aren't fooled. Your time in office is over...
Strawberry_lovemuffin
Bluelighter
I actually agree that Howard has done a reasonable job ecconomy-wise. Our boss at work is very similar; we don't even have a Christmas party but the company keeps pulling a profit every year. People keep leaving my company.... I wonder why?
Latham has better policies for the working class person. I earn over $50 k a year but I remember what it was like to struggle... and I just think Howard has his head up his upper-middle-class butt, frankly.
Latham has better policies for the working class person. I earn over $50 k a year but I remember what it was like to struggle... and I just think Howard has his head up his upper-middle-class butt, frankly.
Well of course an American newspaper is going to be critical of a Latham government that is itself quite critical of the current Bush government, and be more cosey towards the government (current coalition) that strongly supports every single action that Bush decides to embark on.
Beware of the sticky strings of politics and national allegiance Charlie Brown.
That's why I like economists... the only thing they focus on is the bottom $$$.
And is it just me, or does it seem a bit perverse Australians using foreign press to inform themselves on issues surrounding an Australian election?
Beware of the sticky strings of politics and national allegiance Charlie Brown.
That's why I like economists... the only thing they focus on is the bottom $$$.
And is it just me, or does it seem a bit perverse Australians using foreign press to inform themselves on issues surrounding an Australian election?