Raven Paradox

Some time this year, John W Howard will suffer the ignominy of a humiliating defeat.

It should have been (and perhaps still will be) at the hands of his long suffering treasurer Peter Costello.

Anyone who remembers John “The Boy Treasurer” Howard’s time at the helm of the economy in the Fraser government knows that Howard’s oft repeated mantra of “good economic managers” knows that the good fortunes that this country has enjoyed over the past 15 years or so have had little to do with Howard’s ability to manage the economy.Whilst rusted on Liberals will often trot out figures such as “17% interest rates under Labor”, they seem to forget that there were “22% interest rates under Howard”.

They also conveniently forget that it was the courageous and visionary reforms of Keating in the Hawke government of the mid to late eighties that set Australia on the path toward prosperity.

Costello has steered the ship competently but without the fiscal or economic vision that was Keating’s birthright.
He has been overshadowed by the dominant personality of Howard - without precedent as the most controlling party leader this nation has ever seen - he has attempted to speak out on social issues on occasion, to espouse his vision for a kinder, more forgiving, harmonious Australia but one gets the feeling that he has been privately chastised for doing so… his views on matters of social policy have often been in direct contrast to Howard’s.

Costello may make a good opposition leader, but would he make a good Prime Minister?

Sadly I don’t think that we will ever know. Howard shafted him on the leadership deal and Costello has never had the fortitude to stalk him from the back bench.

I am looking forward to the demise of John Howard. In all the time he has been Prime Minister of this country, he has done one wonderful thing - an undeniably wonderful thing - the introduction of gun control laws.

Aside from that, I cannot think of anything positive to say about the man. Certainly it can be said that he is tenacious and stubborn, a fighter perhaps but these attributes he displays to a fault.

He is quite possibly the nastiest, most divisive, intolerant, unkind, most mean spirited Prime Minister that this country has seen.

However his demise comes about, be it at the hands and pencils of the Australian people or the knife of Costello, it will be a sweet moment for all those who yearn for this country to return once again to the kind, tolerant, benevolent, open place it used to be.

I am sure that Paul J Keating wakes up with a massive grin each and every day.

Technorati Tags: Paul Keating, John Howard, Election 2007, Australian politics, Peter Costello

Comments(0)

The Australian had the good judgement to post this article by John Heard.

Heard is intentionally provocative, yet, for his age, quite well versed. Sadly though, his latest article does neither he nor his argument any justice:

God is not responsible

Whilst Heard violates all the requirements of a logical argument, it is worth reading not only what he has to say, but also the 10 pages of comments that his article attracted. It shouldn’t be too hard to make your own mind up:

(more…)

Comments(0)

An old Bleak cartoon but an appropriate one I think.

A couple of weeks ago a conservative friend and I were discussing the possibility of a Labor victory at next years election. Once a staunch supporter of Little Johnny, my friend Mick has softened in his advancing years and was prepared to entertain my supposition with the offer of a $100 bet on the outcome.

Six to eight months ago, it would have been $1000.

At the time of our conversation I suggested that Beazley would not lead the opposition into the next election, rather that Kevin Rudd would. I was of the opinion that when Parliament resumed in 2007, that their might be a leadership challenge.

Recent events suggest that such an event may occur even sooner.

I certainly hope that they get their act together and oust Beazley. I don’t like John Howard as a human being, I think that he is sneaky, mean spirited, deceitful, cunning, manipulative and cold hearted. That said, he seems to have a spine - however bent it may be under the weight of his dishonesty - and a country does need a strong and decisive leader.

Beazley on the other hand appears to me to be weak and spineless.

On the “Tampa issue“, Beazley displayed an ability to play populist politics that matched Howards. His stunning “me-tooism” was a shameless pissing contest of the highest order and completely betrayed both the principles and supporters of his party. Beazley was scared that the innate subconscious racism of the average Australian needed to be placated and so trumpeted the Howard line on asylum seekers.

(more…)

Comments(0)

After a little more research using the official Reserve Bank of Australia’s website and also the Australian Prime Ministers website, I discovered some interesting facts about Howard’s years as treasurer.

Fact - he was treasurer from the 19th of November 1977 until the 11th of March, 1983

Fact - during his time as treasurer, interest rates peaked at 22%

Fact - the average interest rate during his tenure was 12.66%

Fact - he left Labor with interest rates of 13.95% when Fraser’s government lost office in 1983

Fact - when he became treasurer, interest rates were 10.25%. when he left office as treasurer, they were 13.95% - 3.7% higher.

Fact - during Labor’s tenure in government (12th March, 1983 - 11th March, 1996), the average interest rate was 12.22%

Fact - Labor left Howard’s government with 90 day interest rates of 7.51%

Fact - Labor reduced interest rates by 6.44%

On the balance of it, it would appear that Howard’s claim of interest rates always being higher under Labor is, well, quite untrue.

(more…)

Comments(0)

There has been a lot of talk about why The Glass House was axed - most of it supportive of the cast and crew and critical of the ABC board, and rightly (no pun intended) so.

(more…)

Comments(0)

… what opinions are aired on the ABC and the shows upon which they are voiced.

The news that the Glass House has been axed is somewhat perplexing:

ABC stones Glass House

Glass House gets axed

I have somewhat of a scoop though:

Right click on the image and select “view image” for a full size version.

The Glass House - a highly amusing, topical comedic talk show - in a period that it was enjoying its best ratings, has been inexplicably axed.

If you haven’t watched the show - go grab a copy now

Whilst large parts of it are scripted, the humour is more often than not, quite clever and certainly pulls no punches - but when it truly comes alive is when guests such as Arj Barker, Pinky Beecroft, HG Nelson and their ilk pick up the ball and run (away) with it.

(more…)

Comments(0)

With all the hysteria seeming to sprout like a mob drunken Whirling Dervish from the mouths and pens of conservative homosexuals such as Flint and Heard - and indeed, heterosexual conservatives (but with a little less venom), Alan Jones has been the subject of much media scrutiny over the past week or so.

Below is a photograph captured of him at the races:

Jones appears quite fierce in this photo - almost Bear-like one could say.

(more…)

Comments(0)