|
|
|
THOUGHTS BEFORE THE FEDERAL ELECTION 2007
It is our future we talk about. Let us maintain our sharp eyesight. During the election campaign it may be easy to lose our normal judgement when wild political promises are made.
We have to realise that the ALP, supported by the Unions and most Media, has no responsibility. They can promise anything. They have nothing to lose. If their promises are not happening nobody will be punished or made to account for failure to perform.
Compare for example, with regard to the recent NSW State election, how the people were lead to believe the upgrading of the Spit Bridge in Sydney. After the election this project is abandoned.
It reminds me about an election campaign a few years ago in Papua New Guinea where I saw a party leader, travelling on the back of a truck throwing cartons of beer in order to convince the population how good he was so that they would vote for him
Now Kevin Rudd and the ALP are throwing promises around like confetti. When those promises are not fulfilled nobody will be held accountable.
On the other hand, Prime Minister John Howard and his government has during the last 12 years led the nation into prosperity, securing for Australia a firm place on the international stage.
Mr John Howard’s continuing physical and mental fitness as well as his good judgement has been admired around the world. He is truly a world Statesman
What is the difference between a Statesman and a Politician?
The Statesman continuously concentrates on what he can do for the people whereas the Politician is more interested in what the people can do for him/her.
Mr Howard is not a popularity seeker. He has the courage to also make unpopular decisions as long as they are best for the country, on an ongoing long term basis.
Regarding Iraq it must be the right thing to stay there and help the Iraqi people to peace according to plan.
If the troops were withdrawn now, as Kevin Rudd suggests, it would mean victory for the terrorists and inspire them to even more vicious attacks against the free world.
No government is perfect, but as a new Australian, a world traveller, and coming from an advanced and respected European democracy, I believe that our present Prime Minister John Howard and the coalition cabinet is surely among the world’s best. Their aim, is maximum happiness for maximum number of people.
And in respect to coming from a European country, whenever an Australian person complains about anything here, I always advise them to spend two weeks in Europe. Thereafter they would not complain. For example, in Sweden petrol prices have been more than $2 per litre for over 10 years!
What do we want?
What is essential for maintaining a peaceful, healthy, safe, competitive, modern society? The answer is MONEY.
From 1983 to 1996 the two Labor Governments’ budget deficits continually increased.
From 1996 and onwards the deficits have been converted to increasing surpluses by the Coalition Government.
How could we pay schools, hospitals, communications, security, the aboriginal community, etc. if the economy is not correctly managed?
The Coalition has proven its ability. The ALP has proven its inability.
Consequently we should support the Coalition in the coming elections.
Money is also necessary in order to help and support other countries to the extent Australia has done whether it is politically to defend democracy (i.e. Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor, Solomon Islands) or humanitarian (i.e. Tsunamis, Earthquakes etc.). Australia is always willing and able to help.
I am very proud of being an Aussie.
Another aspect of the upcoming election. Do we really want to have a country where all the states are Labor and also the Federal Government in Canberra is Labor?
If we vote for another party, not Coalition or ALP, we are effectively voting against our present Government and we support ALP, Kevin Rudd, to get the power.
Unions have done and are doing what they can to develop a “They and I” attitude between employers and employees. If we want to increase both profitability and job-satisfaction we have to make everybody realize that he/she belongs to a TEAM where all members have to be willing and able to pull in the same direction towards accepted goals.
Some team members are doing more to achieve the company goal than others. Then they are worth more to the company and they should be rewarded accordingly.
There is not one “Boss” who can afford not to reward in different ways those with better results. And that is of course fair because some are more valuable to the team than others.
And if somebody does not like his/her job and has unsuccessfully talked with the boss about it – then he/she is free to leave the team.
The strikes over the years have had a haemorrhaging effect on the Australian economy. They are a symptom of the wrong system. They are bad for everybody in Australia.
The Unions costly scaremonger tactics (propaganda) against the new IR legislation is easy to understand because when it is accepted and settled in the workplace system the Unions will no longer be able to undermine the Australian economy.
The IR legislation is still in a “breaking-in” period during which adjustments take place. It must naturally take several years from its introduction before we can clearly see all the benefits.
It takes courage to introduce such a badly needed legislation and it takes time before its acceptance. Why? Because we are reluctant to change. We are victims of habit. We are afraid of the unknown.
The Coalition is up against three opponents (3 against 1) and they are:
1. ALP
2. UNIONS
3. Most MEDIA
During the last 12 years the Australian people has been clear-sighted enough to vote for Mr. Howard’s Government. This means that the Australian people has withstood all the misleading, one-sided, “brainwashing” they are exposed to via the Media.
Let us hope that the Australian people still are so clear-sighted.
Dr. Ragnar Pahlman
Ph.D. Political Science
Swedish Lawyer
TURA BEACH
I welcome your balanced and well thought out COMMENTS, either supporting or not supporting, and I will publish them on the Comments Page.
Your balanced and well thought out Comments will be published as long as you declare your FULL Name and the Town you live in. Your Name & Town will be posted with your Comments.
Your Comments will need to be non abusive and related to my article.
I reserve the right not to post inappropriate material.
|
|
