Who will you vote for if a federal election was held tomorrow

[WinstonWolfe]

I would have expected some criticism of all the coalition support going on here by now......suppose the lefties haven't got back from the pub/nightclub yet. While all the righties are at home being responsible family people....

watch the surge of labor support on the poll after 10pm tonight

 

[letiha]

Well I've been a liberal voter since i was 7 years old (well i would if I could).

I think if there was an election that Labor had to get in with it would be this, I actually like Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, I think both are articulate and intelligent. I really like Kev's International credentials.

Much better than mark Latham...makes me cringe how he was even labor leader, what a pig.

 

[Goldminer]

Stooge im not

Just remember living in working class poverty under the ALP, never again. The last 11 years have been rather kind to most Australians, prior to 1996 i did not know of any working class person that had a car less than 10 years old, had been on an overseas trip, or ate a meal in a restraunt, or had paid off their own home, most were renters. Not one had any kind of investment. Funny how the socialists keep whinging about Bush and Howard over Iraq but Tony Blair, now he is a saint i suppose. David Hicks was only on a Contiki tour perhaps. Not very intelligent are they.

 

[Peter 14.7]

So where does that place England? Tony Blair, a Labor analogue, sided with the US. Let's face it, until the west develops an energy replacement for oil, we will give a sh*t about the middle east.

And terrorism wouldn't be so bad if we just stopped the endless flow of economic refugee Muslims into the western world. Is it too much to expect rich Islamic countries to spend their oil profits on poor Islamic countries?


As for the election, I think Peter Costello has been robbed. John Howard has never impressed me. Costello has.

And for the record, I have seen signs of Rudd's fragility recently. Labor have had how many years in opposition, and their strongest opportunity yet to gain office sees them without policies prepared.

Winston, I am in total agreement with all of the above. Your other posts are fair points as well.

Good to see some healthy political debates but a note to all with my mod hat on : keep it professional and not personal.

Everyone has to right to thier view without being labelled, right, left or green.

Peter 14.7

 

[WinstonWolfe]

Thanks Pete. I must admit it is refreshing to see a moderator that is serious about keeping the balance, and not putting up with undergrads blaming George Bush for all the evil in the world.....

 

[Merovingian]

Keating probably went overboard in the other direction with his views towards Asia, but he was much closer to the mark I think, we should think more like Asians than another American state.

Hi Andrew,

Are you able to elaborate on this point? I'm just that bit too young to recall the policies of the Keating era, (though I do remember Keating, no less).

 

[buzzlightyear]

Much better than mark Latham...makes me cringe how he was even labor leader, what a pig.

Julia G was one of his biggest fans too!

 

[letiha]

I suppose its a woman thing.... I actually also love the fact she hasn't got any kids, makes me see how sensible she is....

 

[Mofra]

Julia Gillard is the one thing which would stop me voting Labour - their policy of compulsory unionism by stealth (unions allowed to charge "negotiation fees" to non-union members that are higher than union fees) will be an absolute disaster for infrastructure investment & already they are "rolling back" their policies for the mining industry.

 

[JFisher]

if i had a choice i would vote liberal - but we live in an exceptionally strong labor seat, so i have my little protest vote and always vote independent (liberals usually don't bother putting someone half decent up 'cause they know they won't win).

i think more independents would be a good thing - means they would be actually working for the seat they represent instead of following "party law".

I did that too lizzie in a State election once and it was successful. I was happy with Jeff Kennett but always voted National or independant just to keep a good balance. Our independant got in and then promptly joined forces with the labour Government to get Jeff Kennet out. I was not a happy camper so now I vote for the person who I want in and leave the strategy to the polly's.

 

[Firsthomelooker]

I have got to wonder alot of people get their information on government policies ... I can't imagine Pollies bandying about obviously unpopular policies before an election ie capital gains tax on PPOR - case in point Howards workchoices surprise!

It reminds me of a discussion I had with someone before the last election. I asked who they were going to vote for they said 'Howard because I don't like Lathams policy on interest rates' - he actually thought Latham had a policy to raise interest rates! Never mind that rates are set by the (arguably) independent and apolitical reserve bank Thats the power of political advertising on the uneducated masses I suppose

 

[HeXa]

I'm still a country boy at heart.... National Party blood in my veins

... besides.... they all are just as bad as each other

 

[Peter 14.7]

I did that too lizzie in a State election once and it was successful. I was happy with Jeff Kennett but always voted National or independant just to keep a good balance. Our independant got in and then promptly joined forces with the labour Government to get Jeff Kennet out. I was not a happy camper so now I vote for the person who I want in and leave the strategy to the polly's.

Yes that was one of the box. Even my seriously blue collar brother in law disliked Kennett but admitted he got things fixed. Reverse populartity contest.

Unfortunately the independant with the power causes indecision. If it is split this time , Mr Peter Andrew (could be spelled slight wrong), Independant for Lithgow will have the balance of power.

I have meet him and he is a top bloke but for one person to have to decide on every policy for the government without the support of a staff the sixe of the US president is unworkable. They end up having to recruit quickly and get subverted by special groups like what happened to Pauline Hanson.

Peter 14.7

 

[Peter 14.7]

I'm still a country boy at heart.... National Party blood in my veins

... besides.... they all are just as bad as each other

I was at a BBQ in the real bush a month ago.

All the farmers seriously fear a return to 18% rates under labor. They are genuinely terrified.

Peter

 

[Ausprop]

if the labor govt was serious about using warships to stop the japanese whaling it could almost sway me. It is a national insult to have foreigners running around in our territory harpooning these beautiful creatures

 

[MadMax2]

I like a democratic system in some countries, where the president cannot be reelected for more than 2 times. We need something similar too. We can see there is too much control over media, (read our minds) by the govement, allowing unlimited ruling.

 

[handyandy]

I was at a BBQ in the real bush a month ago.

All the farmers seriously fear a return to 18% rates under labor. They are genuinely terrified.

Peter

This might be becasue in the 70's when labour was elected interest rates went from 7% to 14% in a very short time and then again in the 80's upwards to 18%.

It may just be coincidental but then again it might be because of the labor irresponsibilities.

Cheers

 

[AlmostBob]

I don't know who would make the best government,
Labor have a history of being the better opposition party, they do try to keep the b******s honest, thanks Dems for the idea.
Just wish there was someone honest to put in power.
I want my pollie to act in my country's best interest, not their party's best interest.
I still vote in Aus elections even here, they fine me if I dont,

 

[topcropper]

I was at a BBQ in the real bush a month ago.

All the farmers seriously fear a return to 18% rates under labor. They are genuinely terrified.

Peter

We were paying 22% at the peak! This was a lot more than anyone else. Not sure why farmers paid more. Might have been to do with higher risk, or maybe due to at one stage residential interest rates were capped at 14% or so. The extra had to come from somewhere.

18% would stuff a lot of farmers, but then, it would stuff a similar percentage of home owners.

See ya's.

 

[Spectre]

I dont see rates going back into the same levels as to what they were over 20 - 30 years ago. I dont think either party would want to see rates go into double digits... this would be the last thing they'd want to see happen as it would burn the party in peoples minds forever, and they'd be out quicker than laxatives on a baby.

Talk to anyone about labour/labor and the old interest rate fear comes out but in my way of thinking, and this is from decades years ago and its time to get into the real world. The leaders of both parties are different as are the policies.

Its a different economy, and a different world, and Aust today isnt the same place

Why raise rates so people cant afford to do anything when you have a consumption tax....