On Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th March, 2014 over 100,000 people marched against the Abbott Government. I have read a lot of comments on the Facebook pages of major news services and noted the comments of Liberal Government supporters.
Many Liberal supporters are saying this is a Labor/Union/GetUp/Rabid Left Wing Moron movement. March in March is a grass- roots campaign started by the people for the people. End of story.
Many Liberal supporters are making comments in the vain to ‘Get over it, stop whinging, Abbott won, Labor lost” “Go have a cry Boo Hoo lefties”
This has nothing to do with the election. This has everything to do with the behaviour and decisions made after the election. The fact that the majority of Australians voted for a Government with no policies other than ‘Stop the Boats’ and ‘Axe the Tax’ leaves a lot to be desired for the seriousness of how voters do vote at election time. But, that is for another blog post.
As a Government, they needed to start actually implementing their policies and changes; as that is what Governments do. When people voted, I do not believe the majority who voted Liberal or National (with the exclusion of the committed conservatives) understood exactly what they were voting for. They only knew what they ‘thought’ they were voting against. I will give the Liberal Government kudos for a very effective campaign, which was run effectively to deceive the disengaged voter.
Many see Governments as “Left” or “Right” I see Governments as “Pro-Community” or “Anti-Community” I think that to have a Grass-Roots movement march this weekend with so much success, in a country where there is a lot of political apathy, says a lot about the Abbott Government being Anti-Community.
I truly believe that regardless of Governments left or right affiliation; people march and become activists (some who are very engaged, but most of all the ones who are primarily disengaged from politics), because deep down somewhere in our Australian psyche is what is called “A Fair Go’.
It is a well known fact that most people do not like change. The fact that Tony Abbott and the MSM touted that there was very little between Labor and Liberal at election time, meant voters felt safe and confident to change Government. Many voters would not have believed it to be a big deal and most would get the same Fair Go or better that the previous Government had given us.
At times us Aussies lose sight of this Fair Go or we don’t truly believe that any Aussie, particularly a Government would go against this. We do stupid things like voting in anti-community Governments like Conservative Liberal Governments. Then the Government makes changes and their true colours come out.
Everyday compassionate Australians, see real fellow Aussies are severely affected. They lose their jobs, whole industries are gone, critical services are cut, they are left with nothing but despair, we see the silence on the inhumane treatment of other human beings seeking asylum, we see the lack of support and services given to our first people, we see the lack of vision for the future of our children with education, we hear the plight of the disabled facing cuts to a great national program, we hear the fear in the voices of the poor who can’t afford $6.00 every time they visit a doctor. We see and feel a real threat to our Fair Go culture for our fellow Australians. We don’t have a huge rich and poor divide in this country like other countries and when people see our country heading that way, they stand up and say enough.
Go here for really comprehensive list of Abbott’s Broken Promises and the reason’s people feel like there is no more Fair Go.
With this type of depressing landscape ahead of us for three more years, the Aussie Fair Go Psyche rears it’s head and people start screaming for a Fair Go. Everyday Aussies got together with their mates and their mates and mates of their mates and they Marched with pride and passion.
…and that is WHY Liberal supporters that the people marched this weekend, so you can put all of your conspiracy theories to rest. Comprende?
Think Before you Vote. Join a political party like the ALP or Greens or other left-wing/progressive parties. Make sure you know who preferences who. Get Active. Get Engaged. Discuss issues with family and friends. Share information on Social Media. Join Get Up! Read a wide range of news media. Work hard to prevent Conservative Governments like the Liberal-National Coalition destroying our great country, embarrassing us on the world stage and instilling great hardship on our loved ones, friends and neighbours and on our communities. You CAN make a difference!
The Red Window 
Reblogged this on The Australian Independent Media Network and commented:
This has nothing to do with the election. This has everything to do with the behaviour and decisions made after the election.
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Posted by trishcorry | March 17, 2014, 5:03 amLiberal voters suffer Stockholm Syndrome.
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Posted by bighead1883 | March 17, 2014, 6:36 amAnd I suppose you thought Rudd-Gillard-Rudd were good for Australia?
This article exhorts people to join the green. The Greens are the most anti-people party in australian history. Adoption of their policies would result in the destruction of our economy and the equalisation by mediocrity so loved by the left.
Whilst I know no-one hates like the left your obsessionist hatred of Tony Abbott is astounding and unhealthy. The left continues to paint him as “women” hating. When you examine both his public and private life that theory is destroyed (doesn’t stop the left disingenuously repeating it as it’s own slogan – dog whistle to dummy mummy bloggers anyone?).
Any march where a political figure in a conservative but socially progressive government(paid parental leave scheme and lauded indigenous policies anyone?) is depicted in a Nazi salute loses all credibility for mine. Just imagine the outrage if your precious Julia was depicted in the same fashion (I can only imagine the calls of sexism, victimisation etc).
Finally these were not grass roots marches. They were organised by members of the union movement and get up! They were organised as a response to an election win not to policies. Sour grapes from a “whatever it takes negative left” who believe because of the righteousness of their policies they are entitled to use any means possible to gain and maintAin power but everyone else should play by the rules.
I respect your right to make the choices you have made politically but at least give up the cheap propaganda approach and be honest with the rest of us. You “hate” Abbott because to you he represents everything the lovey socialist left despise. A strong male presence, an outstanding sense of community, a loving family man, a passionate believer in family values, well educated, a great supporter of indigenous rights and a leader who introduces policies that work (Has he “stopped the boats” or not?).
Enjoy your time in opposition I predict 3 terms.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 17, 2014, 7:02 amFamily values??? Oh right…only if you are in a “golden” two parent family! Never mind if you are a struggling single parent right? Well educated? Doesn’t like it when Year 9 kids take him to task. Strong male presence? Gets flustered when asked why he is the Minister for Woman and then comes out with ” Let’s have a male question.” Seriously?? Stopped the boats? Not really he’s just moved them on to other places and lets his staff try to cover up a murder. Family man….pimps out his Daughters because of their looks. Indigenous Rights….”oh they’ll be right picking up rubbish if they have to.” Like that’s all Indigenous people are good for. Community??? Really….only when you earn a certain wage.
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Posted by bec | March 17, 2014, 9:32 amI have great respect for single parent (mostly single mother) families however why is there a mindset of resentment against 2 parent stable families?
The prime minister is a Rhodes Scholar. To suggest he is either uneducated or indeed not smart is rather silly but typical of the ad hominem non-sequiturs peddled by the left when they are devoid of any real criticism.
You don’t think the vast majority of boat arrivals have been stopped? what planet are you living on? The Rudd government congratulated themselves for opening up our borders. The effects were devastating in terms of the loss of human life (a figure we will never really know) and creating a financial burden of mostly economic refugees who for the most part underwrote a disgusting trade in people smuggling whilst leaving those less able to pay but willing to wait, waiting even longer in refugee camps.
“Pimps out his daughters”, this really is a line you should have thought more about. It is insulting to him and his family and has no place in this conversation. Is Obama “pimping out” his daughters when he has them on stage? You ought to withdraw the comment.
The Prime Ministers has spent many years working tirelessly for and in indigenous communities. Often he has done so without media coverage. He is generally accepted amongst indigenous leaders as one of the most progressive voices in indigenous advancement in Australian history. Do some research. Your lack of knowledge on this point indicates an indoctrinated bias.
He has spent decades working for the less advantaged. Raising money for women’s shelters, volunteering as a surf life saver and fire fighter in his local community. I struggle to understand why you so vehemently dislike (dare I say hate) him.
I doubt anything I write will change your mind but hey, it’s worth a shot.
Have a great day.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 17, 2014, 11:44 am<
@"Andrew from the real world"
Astounding ignorance.
Humbly suggest you take a break from reading the American citizens propaganda.
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Posted by john921fraser | March 17, 2014, 10:55 amAstounding chardonnay socialist sense of superiority.
Humbly suggest you make reasonable criticisms rather than self important statements.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 17, 2014, 11:27 amWhats your name chest beater. You must have the magnifying glasses out for the NAZI salute you go on about (nazi on the brain). But time to BS, do you think politics under both labor and liberal have gradually swung more towards the left over the decades or more towards the right? One more thing, hate to admit it but the ABC not part of “Team Australia”? does sound a little bit National Socialist to me. Anyway small business man bitter about paying his staff, worked for your type in the past, make you feel like you been done a massive favor just to get paid. Sense of community? with any luck you’ll be forced onto private health insurance, get cancer and bingo! $12000 a year because no one will go near you just like in the States. Back to bullying your employees, all their fault you not becoming a multi millionaire, didums. Now here’s a socialist you’ll hate. A doctor who just wants to bludge of the NHS. God your extreme. Sick of you jerks. Rampant bloody hard right money bully boy.
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Posted by Matthew James | March 17, 2014, 11:00 am“with any luck you’ll be forced onto private health insurance, get cancer….” Wow. I think you just made my point for me Mathew.
How ’bout you stop feeling sorry for yourself, stop resenting people who have educated themselves and made money and start contributing something other than spiteful vitriol to the conversation.
Just because someone doesn’t agree with you doesn’t mean you have to hate them. It’s the politics of envy and it’s the left’s most insidious and destructive tool.
To quote one of your darlings, Gough Whitlam “Only the impotent are pure”.
Have a great day.
Oh, and by the way, the banner of the Prime Minister giving a Nazi salute was in the photo accompanying the article and doesn’t require 20:20 vision, it just requires you to open both eyes, if you get my drift.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 17, 2014, 11:25 am@Andrew Thank you for your comments. However, I will not take the Prime Minister seriously as the Minister for women. I sent him via land mail, this letter and hard copy CC’d to Mickaelia Cash and Claire Moore. This was in mid December. This is a serious, well researched letter and to have no response is very poor indeed. The only response I have is from Claire Moore sent approx two weeks after posting.
http://wp.me/p3WaR7-3B
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Posted by trishcorry | March 17, 2014, 12:22 pmTo be fair,
1. that is a very long and detailed correspondence which, in my view, is a little alarmist.
2. the government shuts down over Xmas for 6 weeks and TA went on holidays with his family.
3. I applaud your enthusiasm but I think your rhetoric ought to be toned down (do you really think our society is so bad?).
4. Your Labor party (with its first female prime minister) had 2 terms in government to address the issues you raised. What did they do?
5. I really think your bias against TA and the liberal party (which is a broad church of views – you should read Menzies first speak upon its formation) is counter-productive. If you can’t see a persons point of view, you can’t reason with them.
6. I wonder if absolute gender equality would be welcomed by all women.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 17, 2014, 1:28 pmAndrew from the real world, yesterday I took part in the Adelaide march, and I was very pleased I did, I stood alongside and talked to people from all walks of life, from Doctors and Company Directors to single parents struggling to make ends meet. To University and high school students who made my heart sing to know they cared about their fellow man. I talked to grandparents worried about their children and grandchildren s futures’. Some were liberal supporters, some were labor supports, some had no preference. Some were Catholic and ashamed to admit it, some were members of other sects of the Christian Church, A couple were Buddhists BUT they all had one thing in common, they wanted the end to this Governments stupidity, its meanness, its evil direction. So this grandparent who attended with another couple of generations of her family, came away knowing that it will be a struggle, but we took a step yesterday back to a country that treats its people and people of other lands to a FAIR GO. It may be a long road with many battles but we will get there. I like many yesterday do not care what color of tie they wear, we just want GOOD people with GOOD principles and morals doing the day to day running to the best of their ability for ALL AUSTRALIANS of what was and can be a great country again.
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Posted by Ausgaia | March 17, 2014, 12:59 pm“evil direction”, grasping just a little don’t you think?
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 17, 2014, 1:21 pm‘Whilst I know no-one hates like the left your obsessionist hatred of Tony Abbott is astounding and unhealthy.’
You are joking arent you!!! Did you not ever look at any ‘Hate Gillard’ ‘Worst Pm in history’ etc etc etc websites or FB pages???? The hatred of any thing left wing by the the likes of Alan Jones, Ray Hadley, Miranda Devine, Janet Albrechtsen Piers Ackerman, Andrew Bolt and any other News Limited Journos you want to mention. is about obsessionist as anything I have ever seen in all my life!!!! Larry Pickering fb page is STILL raving on about their putrid hate for Julia Gillard.The disgusting and vile words used on that page about Gillard tell me everything I need to know about voters from the ‘right’ side!!!!
And what about the rallies against Julia Gillard?? Or do you conveniently forget the Ditch the Witch signs that Abbott, Mirrabella and Bishop stood in front of!!!
I cant believe that you have issues with the ‘left’, but obviously didnt have any problem at all with what the ‘right’ did in their time of opposition.
Dont ever think that the ‘right’ do not have ‘unions’!!! Think Rhinehart, Murdoch, cigarette companies and anyone one else who paid big money to their course and now want pay back.
As for ‘whatever it takes negative left’ who believe because of the righteousness of their policies they are entitled to use any means possible to gain and maintAin power but everyone else should play by the rules.’ I am absolutely speechless at that comment!!! Abbott wasnt called Dr No for no reason…the negative campaign and the lies that he told to get into power, because the right think it is their god given right to rule, and he now thinks the left should play by the rules!!!! are mindboggling!!!
Julia Gillard was also a loving family person (just because you are not married doesnt mean you cant have a sense of family) who also had a strong sense of community, who also was a passionate believer in family, is also well educated, is also a great support of ALL australian rights, and a leader who passed more legislation in her 3 year history (in a hung parliament) than any other PM in history!!! How many pieces of legislation has Abbott passed in his 6 months??
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Posted by Helen | March 17, 2014, 3:49 pmWow Helen. One eyed or what. Where to start.
Let’s start on Gillard. Firstly just as I won’t lump you in with murderous rogues such as Stalin and Mao I’d appreciate it if you didn’t impute my tacit approval of any right wing nut jobs. As I have said the right side of politics is a broad church and some members ought to be excommunicated (Larry Pickering #1).
Having said that, I do not believe Julia Gillard faced one tenth of the hatred and scorn heaped upon John Howard or indeed Tony Abbott. She was and remains a professional victim. Her faux outrage and confected emotional pain set back the advancement of gender equality by decades. She stabbed a sitting PM in the back, rewarded her union master with destructive industrial relations policies, embraced an us versus them political policy both in terms of left v right and man v woman. If you were against Gillard you were a misogynist. Her tongue in cheek misogyny speech was, in the greatest pieces of political irony, given in the process of protecting and defending a man who had made disgusting anti-feminine comments. What a hoax!
The best thing about Julia Gillard is she replaced the worst performing PM in Australian history, the worst thing is that she subsequently became the worst performing PM in Australian history.
As to your assertion of the list of left wing hating media. Get a grip. Just because someone doesn’t agree with you doesn’t make them a hater or evil.
Further, in relation to Gillard there is something very, very fishy about the whole AWU affair. She got dumped as a partner of a law firm. I suspect we may not ever know the full story but the whole “young and naïve” line does not cut the mustard with me at all. She threatened and bullied media interests into cutting the story and caused people to lose their jobs when they were later vindicated. She refused to answer core questions except with the line “I did nothing wrong”. Elements of her own party brought these matters to the publics attention. It stinks, not as bad as Craig Thompson or the NSW Labor party but it stinks all the same.
On the one hand you abhor 3 word slogans and on the other you embrace such sad titles as Dr No. On the one hand you are outraged at “Ditch the Witch” and on the other hand you embrace titles like the “Mad Monk”. Your bias is truly astounding.
On the whole Dr No thing. How can you on the one hand laud Labor for passing great tracts of legislation (which by the way is no measure of achievement) and on the other castigate the LNP. Was the legislation passed? If so why do you care what the LNP had to say unless you’re angry that their objections resonated so greatly with the public that it gained them the treasury benches. Tsk, tsk, to those silly majority of Australians that voted for a change of government.
You support a side of politics whose leader considered it appropriate to smash down the doors of the former parliament house when he was a union bully boy, inciting violence because he wasn’t getting his own way.
I agree that to have a strong sense of family you don’t have to be married but I do not believe a person without children can truly know what it is like to love unselfishly. Are you honestly trying to impute that depth of feeling to Julia Gillard? Puhlease!
I don’t recall your ilk complaining loudly when the “Murdoch Press” endorsed Rudd in 2007. Of all the commentators you mentioned some are further right than the majority but many reflect the views of the wider community. Janet Albrechtsen in particular is a person whom I would exhort my own daughters to model themselves on. Erudite, enlightening, intelligent and capable.
Enjoy wallowing in you bias and hatred. I predict you will be doing so for at least another 2 terms of government.
FYI if the Labor party had followed their grass roots and not once again their union masters you would have a far more capable and likeable leader in Albo and be in a much better position to win government. Bill Shorten = another labor own goal. Hahaha.
P.S. I did think Alan Jones’ comments in relation to Julia Gillard’s father were in incredibly poor taste. Whilst I could quote similarly disparaging remarks in relation to Howard and Abbott, I won’t. Suffice it to say such remarks, placards, websites etc have no place in the political landscape and demonstrate a lack of intelligence and lazy argument from both sides of the political divide.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 19, 2014, 8:17 amWhat on earth makes you think I don’t “contribute” taskmaster? I work just like you. I know plenty of people who have ‘made money’ they just haven’t turned into ultra right demi gods like yourself. “The Greens are the most anti-people party in australian history. Adoption of their policies would result in the destruction of our economy and the equalisation by mediocrity so loved by the left.” Now that’s what I call spite. To quote what use to be one of your darlings (now one of mine) “I think the whole party is very much on the extreme right” – Malcolm Fraser.
I don’t know how extreme you are but if I ever become an employer, god help me if I turn into something like yourself.
So, I actually do admire a lot of people who have done well financially but I must admit I despise people like you.
Back to sending your workers on a guilt trip taskmaster. Make em feel like they should work back to midnight or anything that gets in the way of a your precious money.
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Posted by Matthew James | March 17, 2014, 4:33 pmBTW I don’t mind some conservatives either. Just remember its you I dislike, people like you.
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Posted by Matthew James | March 17, 2014, 4:38 pmDespise? Don’t you think you should get to know someone before you hate them? I feel sorry for you. Relax a little. No matter what you think we live in one of the best countries in the world. Just like Robespierre I don’t agree with what you have to say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
You remind me of the old saying “When you’re twenty if you’re a socialist it proves you have a heart, if you’re still one at 40 it proves you have no brain.”
God love you. have a great day.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 17, 2014, 6:19 pm“I despise people like you”…. Yawn.
You really need to get a life. Stop hating. Start achieving. You’ll be so much happier with yourself.
Oh, and stop projecting your sad little “evil industrialist” line on me. I no longer have any employees and those I did have made a lot of money when I sold my firm. Most still send me Xmas cards.
As for being spiteful to the greens. C’mon they don’t have an economic brain between them. They are the Pauline Hanson of the left.
Enjoy your time on the fringe then when you wake up to yourself and move away from your impotent hatred join in the decision making process.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 19, 2014, 7:15 amHere’s another from a bigger brain than you or I “They are competing at the bottom of the barrel on refugees. Both would vehemently condemn the article I had in The Age on Israel and Palestine supporting a Palestinian state recognised by the United Nations.” Malcolm Fraser! again, you like that, former Prime Minister and leader of the Liberals?. Here’s another:
Fraser: [He’s] unpredictable. He says what jumps into his mind.
Eckersley: Is the unpredictability the main reason you called him dangerous?
Fraser: The unpredictability.
Malcolm Fraser talking about Tony Abbott.
God you are full of taskmaster one liners aren’t you? What about raving about an aeroplane you think is a socialist. You are that far gone and so are the Liberals.
How about going on a rampage when I say double time and a half? My god, watch his mouth froth! lookout for the coward punch, wage slave!!
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Posted by Matthew James | March 17, 2014, 4:52 pmIs this the same Malcolm Fraser who caused the Lebanese gang issue in Sydney’s south west? The same guy who lost his pants?
Fraser’s definitely not smarter than me and is frankly an embarrassment to both himself and his former principles. The only good thing fraser ever did was get rid of that ridiculous excuse for a prime minister Gough Whitlam. Who until Rudd – Gillard – Rudd was the worst PM in Australia’s history.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 19, 2014, 7:21 amWhile only slightly less dry than the LNP – yes – Rudd and Gillard were good for the country. Out of interest – what makes you think they weren’t Andrew? And I’d be interested to know which policies of the Greens you take exception to? In all the forums I’ve ever visited – the Left behave with much better manners than any LNP group I’ve come across – there are exceptions of course – but on the whole a much nicer group of people. Anyway… “lauded indigenous policies”? By who? And a paid parental leave scheme that is designed to only benefit those least in need of it – again – “lauded” by whom? And actually – Andrew old sock – The Rudd government WAS depicted in Nazi uniforms in the Murdoch press – during the election campaign. That Tony Abbott is actually manifesting so many of the early indicators of fascism isn’t in dispute – except at your house I guess – but to call him on it is a bad thing? They were grassroots marches mate – I know the organisers. Only a couple of unions participated and they jumped on at the last minute. And getup wasn’t involved either… where do you get these ideas from for heaven’s sake. Getup hopefully WILL be involved at the next set of marches – as will more unions given the success of the first bunch.
The rest – wow – that l;last paragraph – read it back to yourself will you? has he stopped the boats? How would we know – we do know he’s created a situation where asylum seekers are put into camps and treated in contravention to a number of our treaty obligations and breaking a swag of international laws. And yes – I know – the ALP started it under Keating – and Bowen reintroduced it… I despise them as much as I despise Abbott.
Personally – I hate Abbott because he’s a liar, His actions with regard to bernie banton certainly demonstrate his lack of compassion, his statements about women and the cabinet he appointed indicate he has no understanding of the issues facing women in the “real world”.
Finally – It wasn’t Robespierre… the quote “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” is attributed to a bloke called Voltaire – but was actually by Evelyn Beatrice Hall – who wrote a biography of the great man – and used the quote as an example of his rhetorical and ethical style. From reading some of your statements here – I honestly doubt that you’d defend my right to say anything if it didn’t agree with your narrow dry outdated ideology – as spruiked in three word slogans by that compassionate man of the people, Mr Tony Abbott
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Posted by Phillip Barker | March 19, 2014, 3:24 amWhat makes me think Rudd-Gillard-Rudd weren’t good for the country:
1. Debt
2. Pink Batts
3. Cash for Clunkers
4. BER
5. Debt
6. Support of the criminal Craig Thompson.
7. Removal of the BCCC
8. The mining tax (or is it a tax?)
9. “There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead”
10. Knifing a sitting prime minister (twice)
11. “The greatest moral challenge of our time”
12. The 2020 summit
13. The opening of our borders, then the Malaysian solution, then the PNG then….
14. Countless deaths at see as a result of 13 above
15. Unfunded Gonski
16. Unfunded disability scheme
17. Debt
18. the Green Alliance
19. Did I mention debt
And those are off the top of my head in 60 seconds.
The Green’s policies, if you can call them that, are destructive. Even the Labor party flinch at their stupidity. Here’s one though, eliminate coal exports. That’s a good one. Destroy a $50b+ per year industry, cripple the economy, so China can buy their coal elsewhere and continue to build a new coal fired power station every week.
Lauders of indigenous policies Warren Mundine (former ALP national president), Richard Ah Mat, Leah Armstrong, Dr Ngaire Brown, Josephine Cashman, Djambawa Marawili, Daniel Tucker, Bruce Martin (all indigenous). I can get some more if you like. BTW I think both sides of politics now see this as a bi-partisan issue, you might want to jump on board.
I dispute that Tony Abbott is manifesting early indicators of fascism. I seriously doubt your credibility when you make such outrageous statements.
“In all the forums I’ve ever visited – the Left behave with much better manners than any LNP group I’ve come across – there are exception of course – but on the whole a much nicer group of people”
What, like the poster who wrote of their desire to see me get cancer on this very site on Monday? Perhaps you just think these people are nice because they agree with your point of view. In any event such sweeping generalisation do you a disservice, particularly when you are referring to a persons character.
I take just as much umbrage at any of our politicians being depicted as Nazi’s (or any other hate group) as I do for members of the LNP. It is gutter politics aimed at the feeble minded and produced by idiots who should know better.
The grassroots nature of the marches has been disputed since they were being organised. I recall the original phone numbers for information were at NSW Unions and GetUp!
Oh come on. Has he stopped the boats? what a silly question. If not stopped completely the flood has definitely been reduced to a trickle. It must gall you and your ilk that those policies not only work but saved the very lives Labor policies put at risk.
You despise Keating and Bowen as well. Is there anyone you do like?
“Personally – I hate Abbott because he’s a liar.” I hate to break it to you buddy but I’m yet to come across a politician who doesn’t lie. Did you a hate Kevin and Julia as well or are they allowed to lie because their politics more properly align with your views and therefore they can do “whatever it takes” (thanks Richo)?
I think you need some therapy on these hatred issues. Hating someone, anyone actually, clouds your judgement and renders you incapable entering into constructive dialogue. Your “my way or the highway” point of view just doesn’t work.
Finally, thank you for pointing out my misquote. I shall take the lesson on the chin. I do however take exception to your supposition that I wouldn’t defend your right to say anything. It is the entire basis of our democracy that alternate and competing views are welcome and, in my view, encouraged. Again I recommend you drop the hatred, it is clearly clouding your judgement.
Have a great day!
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 19, 2014, 9:37 am“Just imagine the outrage if your precious Julia was depicted in the same fashion (I can only imagine the calls of sexism, victimisation etc).”
Did you not come across any of the cheap, sexist and often vile comments Julia was subjected too? The menu at a Liberal Party fundraiser? Alan Jones wanting to put her in a chaff bag and dumped at sea? Liberal MPs wanting to kick her to death? Stephen Conroy and Kevin Rudd lampooned by Murdoch’s media as nazis and dictatorial tyrants?
Your hipocrisy is typical of the ignorant conservative we see today so easily led by Murdoch and shock jock radio.
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Posted by chalkybones | March 23, 2014, 7:39 pmANDREW FROM THE REAL WORLD still in denial, maybe the article should have mentioned every single political party rather than just left or right, March in March had no, I will say it again no ties to any political party. Why can’t you see it for what it is people genuinely concerned about what this Government is doing to the Australian way of life, why do people have to be associated with a Political Party to voice their concerns, or do you think concerned Australians don’t know how to think for themselves, well we are not all sheeples who blindly follow 3 word slogans or allow so much environmental destruction for the sake of overseas companies making huge profits. And to answer your question about stopping the boats, no he has not stopped the boats, he has stopped them landing on Australian shores, if he had stopped the boats why are we still paying millions a week for ships to patrol the Northern borders, turning boats around, towing boats and transferring asylum seekers into big orange life rafts, that is not a boat stopped, but then reading Murdoch print you wouldn’t know, ask the Government and they will not tell you because we are at war with defenceless unarmed asylum seekers.
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Posted by DonG | March 17, 2014, 11:42 amThe Murdoch press endorsed Rudd in 2007. Were they bad then as well?
3 word slogans like “Tony Abbot Bad”. Get a grip.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 17, 2014, 1:36 pmAndrew from the real world – please get back to it and get a life. I would be very interested to know your socioeconomic background – your education – your present employment and your income. Doubt very much you’ll reply.
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Posted by futurecare1212 | March 17, 2014, 2:35 pmHey futurecare1212, why do you need so much detail about me? are you unable to form an argument without holding me up as some evil middle aged white guy?
Your bias and inability to form a cogent argument are astounding.
For the record, I came from a single parent family with 3 older sisters. father died when I was young, I received a scholarship to one of Australia’s elite private schools, my mother worked 12 hour days in a factory (where she had to catch 2 buses to get to work – we had no car) to keep me in school uniforms and keep us fed. Upon finishing school I studied applied finance and law whilst working 3 jobs. Upon graduation I worked in London and New York in finance and banking before returning to Australia to practice law. In 1996 I moved to the bush and represented the Northern Aboriginal Land Council I returned to Sydney completed my EMBA and worked as a lawyer for a further 4 years before starting a funds management company which I sold for $40m in 2007. I’ve been retired ever since (at the ripe old age of 38) and now, of course take care of my mother. I’m married with 2 young children and thank god every day that the left wing of Australian politics is a spent force for at least the next 2 terms.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 19, 2014, 7:04 am“…thank god every day…”
For someone claiming to be so well educated and you believe there is a god?
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Posted by chalkybones | March 23, 2014, 7:51 pmSo does Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Kevin Rudd and so did Dr Martin Luther King and Albert Einstein. I really think you might want to examine your own prejudices.
Parliament opens with a prayer you know.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 24, 2014, 8:36 amJust because others believe in a “God” doesn’t make it a fact. Science long ago debunked the fanciful claim of “God” creating all we see.
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Posted by chalkybones | March 29, 2014, 10:10 amAndrew from the “real world”. Congratulations on coming up with a great name. Because you come from the real world, not the fake one so I guess we should listen to what you have to say. Only problem is that you look like a massive wanker when you accuse others of having a sense of superiority when you choose a name like that.
If you hate socialism so much you must be outraged that the LNP is happy to spend tax payer dollars subsidising more than 5 billion each year to the fossil fuel industry
What about the socialist approach to reducing C02 pollution that the Libs promised before the election?
What about the socialist PPP sheme where tax payers will be funding the lifestyle choices of wealthy families who can afford to invest the extra $70K per child into the property market?
Sounds like you need the educating here champ
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Posted by DC | March 17, 2014, 12:01 pm“massive wanker” … nice one, very mature.
I can’t speak with any authority in relation to fossil fuel subsidies. Nor quite frankly can I respond on the CO2 pollution approach because I haven’t read it. I will however make comment on the parental leave scheme. Firstly, I don’t think a family is wealthy because one of the parties earns $150k/year. Secondly how is it when a “wealthy family” decides to have a child you use the word “lifestyle choice” which to be fair if a conservative politician used the same terminology describing a single mother on welfare he/she would be pilloried.
Perhaps I should explain the nature of our taxation and welfare system to you. We have one of the most progressive tax systems in the world. the top 1% of earners pay 17% of the tax and the top 10% 0f earners pay 52% of the tax. The bottom 30% of earners receive $6 in benefits for every dollar the spend on tax. The left always explain this by saying “the rich can afford it”. They probably can but should they be forced to pay for a culture of endemic generational welfare recipients?
Take for example the classic line “I’m sick of my tax dollars paying for private schools”. One of the greatest left wing, politics of envy slogans I’ve ever heard.
Governments give about $11,000 per student to public school students and about $7,000 per school to private school students. On the face of it that seems a drain on the public system. Forgetting the arguments relating to the strain on the public system if governments withdrew private school funding let us focus on the economics.
Suppose I earn $300K p.a. and pay $125,000 in tax and you earn $100k p.a. and pay $25k in tax. Let us further assume governments spend about 20% on education (I know they don’t but let’s just suppose). I am paying $25k to education and taking back $14 and you are paying $5K and taking back $22k. That’s right I’m subsidising you and your local public school whilst taking less for my child and then taking more money out of my own pocket to further relieve the burden on a the public school system.
Just another example of how I’m paying for you. On the whole, rather than resenting me, don’t you think you should just thank me and move on. Food for thought.
Oh, and by the way, isn’t it a great idea to encourage well educated high income earning women to have children?
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 17, 2014, 1:18 pm@ANDREW FROM THE REAL WORLD, so in your own words, the point of the Abbott PPP is to encourage “well educated high income earning women” to have children?”
Shouldn’t their own desires to love and raise their own child be enough motivation without needing tax payer handouts?
Also, be careful what you assume about high income and well educated being one and the same. Often not the case especially during a mining boom and in an environment where funding for science is being squeezed.
Yes we have a progressive tax system in Australia (as does just about every advanced economy in the world). The rich might pay more tax than the poor but the rich also consume the most resources and until we work out how to live sustainably, the rich are a greater net burden on society than the poor. Of course this is a generalisation because many wealthy people make an effort to live sustainably. Most however, do not.
The fact that income inequality has increased over recent decades and not the other way around suggests that the wealthy are doing just fine mate
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Posted by DC | March 17, 2014, 3:39 pmTax payer handouts? You mean getting back some of their own money instead of directing it towards endemic institutionalised generational welfare recipients. Your attitude is one of “if you earn more you should pay for me because I don’t and I want everything you have”. I think people should stop demanding the “rich” (and it makes me laugh that someone defines a person on $150K p.a. as rich) pay more so they can remain idle.
I wish people possessed more of the frontier spirit that forged this nation and less of the post WWII socialist malaise that has effectively destroyed European economies.
To misquote the great Jack Nicholson “I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a person who rises and sleeps under the very blanket of tax dollars I provide and then questions the manners in which I provide them. I would rather you just said thank you and went on your way.”
What’s your definition of rich anyway? Someone who earns more than you? Someone who earns $100k per year, $200K, $300K? What’s the cut off. They pay more tax, they get much less back, they get very little say in where those tax dollars are spent and yet they put up with it. I think you ought to be grateful to them.
Personally, some 10 years ago I could have moved all of my assets and cash off shore and set up an ultimate holding company in the BVI or some other tax haven, I could have then established a Hong Kong trading entity and loaned funds back to myself in Australia. I would have reduced my tax liabilities by about 95% and I could have done so completely legally and without a hint of impropriety (it is a little more complex but I have simplified it for the sake of brevity). I was encouraged by my accountants (one of the top 4 firms) to take this approach. I refused to do so because, jingoistic as this may sound, I am incredibly proud of this nation and feel a duty to contribute to the lives of those less fortunate than me. Nonetheless I am castigated by people like you for being rich and not paying enough. It’s people like you who make me want to reconsider my position.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 19, 2014, 12:00 pm“Personally, some 10 years ago I could have moved all of my assets and cash off shore and set up an ultimate holding company in the BVI or some other tax haven, I could have then established a Hong Kong trading entity and loaned funds back to myself in Australia. I would have reduced my tax liabilities by about 95% and I could have done so completely legally and without a hint of impropriety (it is a little more complex but I have simplified it for the sake of brevity). I was encouraged by my accountants (one of the top 4 firms) to take this approach.”
Gee…wouldn’t it be great if the 99% had the opportunity to do this. But kudos to you for not doing it. However, its typical of the wealthy to continually suggest that the poor are the architects of their situation when wealthy CEOs and MPs shuffle jobs offshore so they can become even wealthier, and if they don’t, agitate for wage fixing policies like Work Choices so that the 99% remain enslaved to the great man with very little opportunity to rise above.
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Posted by chalkybones | March 23, 2014, 7:59 pmExcellent article, TC – tried to get to the Melbourne March, but was most definitely there in heart and soul.
I agree with you that Australia needs a government that governs for people – rich or poor, employed or unemployed, abled or disabled, young or old… as you say:
We have just elected a political party that sees itself as a corporation – corporations are for maximising profit, they are not about ensuring the welfare of all its constituents. If there was any doubt remaining Abbott eliminated that idea at his electoral speech:
“Australia is open for business”.
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Posted by diannaart | March 17, 2014, 12:24 pmI suppose you believe that we ought to just keep the orgy of borrowing instituted by the economic vandals known as the ALP/Green Alliance.
Why is it the left wing have some belief that big business wins elections for the LNP and lib voters are either dopey, rich and/or duped?
Enjoy your time in opposition, unless you address the fundamental issues surrounding the ALP (nepotism, union control, corruption and graft) you will be there for a long long long long time.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 17, 2014, 1:34 pmBut its ok for Hockey to borrow and handout wads of lucre to purchase jetfighters, fossil fuel subsidies, PPL to high income earners,? Its Ok by you for Hockey to raise the debt ceiling even higher but Swan must be hung, drawn and quartered even though he ran the economy through the GFC and received copious amounts of praise from foreign institutions?
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Posted by chalkybones | March 23, 2014, 8:04 pmYep, Labor suuuuuurrrre did a dud job, eh Andrew! Oh…wait a sec! Whats that? Swan and Labor were a shining light in sea of corporate excess and greed that fucked over millions? Surely not…
http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-worlds-best-economy-part-two-winners-and-losers-through-the-gfc,6304
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Posted by chalkybones | March 23, 2014, 8:12 pmI think you need to understand the mechanics of forward estimate economics. When in power you make budgets over the forward estimates. Hockey could not just come in and cut $50b. It would have tanked the economy. Labor and their Green overlords are economic vandals. They have a history of racking up massive debt for the Libs to pay off. It’s in their DNA.
N.B. Fossil fuel subsidies were also provided during the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd disaster weren’t they?
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 24, 2014, 8:41 amThere is nothing wrong with debt, Andrew, if it is manageable. And the debt that Swan engineered to see Australia ride out the GFC almost unscathed was manageable.
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Posted by chalkybones | March 29, 2014, 10:13 amWho’s doing the orgy of borrowing, Andrew? I’m no Labor Party supporter but I can see through the MSM lies that you have swallowed.
http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/comparing-labor-and-coalition.html
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Posted by chalkybones | March 23, 2014, 8:43 pm@Andrew
“To be fair,
1. that is a very long and detailed correspondence which, in my view, is a little alarmist.
2. the government shuts down over Xmas for 6 weeks and TA went on holidays with his family.
3. I applaud your enthusiasm but I think your rhetoric ought to be toned down (do you really think our society is so bad?).
4. Your Labor party (with its first female prime minister) had 2 terms in government to address the issues you raised. What did they do?
5. I really think your bias against TA and the liberal party (which is a broad church of views – you should read Menzies first speak upon its formation) is counter-productive. If you can’t see a persons point of view, you can’t reason with them.
6. I wonder if absolute gender equality would be welcomed by all women.”
To be fair? (You idea of fair, certainly is not mine).
1. Yes, it is a long and detailed correspondence. This is brought about by the fact that there are many areas where women suffer discrimination. Please elaborate how it is alarmist?
2. Yes, to be fair, he did go on holidays with his family. However, it has now been three months since the correspondence was sent. Not even an acknowledgment and I’ll get back to you letter.
3. I like how your take on “my rhetoric” is my inclusion of research by other parties, including academic journals and the ABS etc., “Do I think our society is so bad when it comes to women’s issues you mean” Did you not see the actual researched examples given? I didn’t just make them up.
4. My letter is not about what the Labor party did. My letter is in response to Tony Abbott stating on 3AW that he does not believe women suffer legal discrimination in Australia. I think you will find I also ask Abbott for a response about what HE will be doing and not what other parties have or have not done.
5. I cannot see how any bias against Tony Abbott is evident in that letter. I have not disparaged the Liberal party at all. I have provided clear, researched examples of discrimination against women. This discrimination exists regardless of who is in power. I am not asking Tony Abbott to reason with me. I am asking him to apologize or retract his statement publicly or if he likes he can refute this research and evidence with a response.
6. You wonder if gender equality would be welcomed by all women? Which areas that I have identified in my letter that you believe women would not want equality for? Which parts do you believe women are completely happy, as a whole, to be discriminated against in?
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Posted by trishcorry | March 17, 2014, 1:49 pmTC you say it like it is. I admire your graciousness and your ethical responsibility shown in your response to AFTW. I would never be able to respond to such arrogant and patronising diatribe with the dignity and intelligence you always demonstrate. I’m all for Team TC.
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Posted by futurecare1212 | March 17, 2014, 2:51 pm1. Fair call but lets be frank you on the edge and no where near the centre.
2. ok i’ll accept that no response is unacceptable. +1 to you.. running the country and recovering from the ALP debt disaster might take precedence though.
3. your view if the abc as as source is a great indication of your biased views,
4. yes but what did the labor party do. “my letter is not about what the labor party did” is a massive (read MASSIVE) cop out from your side of politics.
5. you might want to read your article and revert in due course.
6. I don’t think anyone in any gender is “completely” happy to be discriminated against but I’m sure some forms of discrimination are both embraced and exploited by the discriminee. I can assure you though in terms of discrimination based on strength or numbers is a discrimination I abhor. I do wonder though if your argument should start with the women who run “womens magazines” encouraging women to achieve the unachievable. Start with them and then come back to me.
Again, I admire your zeal. It’s the thing that has always made lefty chicks sexy! Then again how hot is Julie Bishop?
C’mon, take a joke.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 17, 2014, 6:10 pmHi Andrew,
1. There is nothing left, right or centre about equality for women, nor equality for anyone. It is simply about what is missing from a map of the ethics applied from the moral rights view to enable equality. Whether this is women, men, race/colour, sexuality etc.,
2. That would have been an effective answer, if that was what the PM was actually doing. However, there is no evidence or A) a massive un-necessary debt (this is all in conflict with global economists) and b) that the PM is actually doing anything to run the country (I am yet to see this evidence as well).
3. Ouch I referenced the ABC in a section of my letter (it is a letter, not an article). I see you failed to mention the numerous research papers I referenced from ex-Liberal party members. I think you will find it you did an analysis of my research as to left/right or neutral (putting your own assumptions and bias aside) you will find my research quite sound and free from any political bias. I am quite confident of this fact.
4. This is not a massive cop out. The fact that I have written similar letters previously to the relevant Minister and PM of the previous Govt, on matters that concern me, will show that I am a person for equality and to close the gaps where discrimination does occur. It has perturbed me that our Minister for Women made a public statement that women do not experience legal discrimination in this country. Does that not perturb you? Surely in any job, one must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities to carry out all tasks required, one which is the high level understanding of the role and subject content of the role itself. Particularly where a role affects other people’s lives, it is critical.
5. As you were unable to refer me to any bias in my letter, but simply asked me to pick out my own bias, I will take this response as a non-response.
6. If you could please explain how women running women’s magazines and encouraging women to excel in all areas of their potential is discriminatory against women – I’ll be sure to consider your question. However, at this point this is not seen as a critical area of discrimination, but if you will, I’d engage in your further view point on this matter.
Do I find Julia Bishop hot? I’m sure plenty of people do, but no, not me…. I’m more of a #HotAlbo type girl myself.
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Posted by trishcorry | March 17, 2014, 7:33 pmInteresting but I disagree.
1. Of course there is a left, right and middle in relation to equality. Not merely in the ideological approach to solving the issues but also in the identification process. That is, in my experience, the left is far more interested in “theoretical” equality, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUBAx8jbYNs than dealing in real world situations and solutions. Further, left solutions like quota systems are bound to fail because of the alternate bias they create or at the very least the perception thereof.
2. If I have to explain the economic failures and debt orgy of the last Labor governments it will take me all day. Suffice it to say we disagree on this point and please stop the comparisons with other economies. If you neighbour’s bankrupt and you are only half way to being bankrupt you are not twice as good you are half as bad and catching up quick. It’s the reason we set economic targets on metrics not comparisons. If the youth unemployment rate in Spain or Greece is 50% we don’t say “if ours is 25% we are doing well”. Silly argument.
To suggest that no governing of the country is taking place is again a silly throwaway line aimed at the less intelligent left wing fan club. It may play well to them but it is not convincing unless you wish to provide evidence of our crumbling institutions. C’mon you’re better than that aren’t you?
3. The ABC is failing in its charter, reference to it as even remotely representative of all Australians is ridiculous. Whilst your references may be free from political bias, the cherry picking nature of those references is indicative of a person unwilling to accept counter arguments or indeed practical reality.
4. It is a massive cop out. I am betting that whilst you wrote to the previous labor government your letters either remained unanswered or received some form of non-committal response. I will further bet that due to your political leanings you did not criticise that government with anywhere near the vehemence you are criticising this one.
I believe the right person for any job should get it. I believe anyone doing the same job should get paid the same amount of money. I believe that if you choose to have a child and take time off work you should be welcomed back into the workforce with open arms. I also believe that if you take that year or so off and a male counterpart of equal standing remains on the promotion pathway during your time off you can expect that his extra time spent contributing and gaining experience will naturally entitle him to believe he ought to be promoted above you in the short term but definitely not in the long term. A great example of this is Gail Kelly.
5. Oh come on. You are hypercritical of the LNP but I don’t see you taking Labor to task for their lack of action (or indeed their support of the likes of Craig Thompson or Peter Slipper). Your beliefs truly appear to have a political expediency to them.
6. What I meant by women’s magazines was that they promote unachievable and unsustainable role models. Photos are airbrushed, someone is either too fat or too thin, slutty or prudish, popular or a pariah. They sexualise women and particularly young girls in the extreme. They airbrush photos to promote ridiculous images (even the PM was airbrushed for her WW spread). Frankly, in this regard, women are their own worst enemy. It isn’t men buying these magazines. It is a self perpetuating vicious cycle of stupid which goes to a core problem, a pre-existing development retarding need to find fault and feel superior.
As for your Albo reference, I must say you guys really missed the boat with that one. He would have been twice the leader Shorten is (although that would not be difficult). Another example of union dominance and Labor own goals.
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Posted by Andrew from the real world | March 19, 2014, 8:57 amReblogged this on DarinSullivan.net and commented:
A view on MarchInMarch 2014
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Posted by Darin Sullivan | March 23, 2014, 7:28 pm