Lets wait and see

[skippy]

Lets wait and see- and with those words the worse shadow treasurer of all time proved she is way out of depth in her job, not that it matters as the muttering coming from the Libs now is that Costello wants his old job back as some kind of team with Turnbull, oh pleeeeeeeeeeeease let it be true, I'd love to see capt smirk up there taking the hits he deserves for his lack of forsight on this financial tsunami.

"LIBERAL and National Party pollies will be testing the mood this weekend.

Coalition MPs were full of bravado when they left Canberra after deciding to vote against the Government's whopping $42billion economic rescue package.

They'd taken a stand - crazy brave, maybe, but a stand nevertheless - and they were feeling pretty good about it.

It will be interesting, though, to see whether the mood is still buoyant after they spend a weekend in their electorates.

It is one thing to thump your chest in parliament, preach the virtues of economic rectitude, and argue against one-off cash payments to families and a big infrastructure spend.

It is quite another to tell a constituent, face to face, why he or she should not get a $950 tax bonus from the Government or why the local school should not get a new hall or gymnasium or science lab.

It may not be easy, either, to explain to people fearful of losing their jobs in a looming recession why the Government should - in the words of deputy opposition leader Julie Bishop - "sit and wait to see''.

Bishop has said some silly things in her time as shadow treasurer, but that just about takes the cake."

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 30,00.html

[Jovial Monk]

I have for a long time predicted Costello would leave Parlt in March, having maxed out his super. So I was surprised that he finally started speaking his brand of economic illiteracy again.

I think he is just twisting the knife in Malcolm's back, you know, having a bit of fun, before leaving next month.

[mantra.]

I'm a bit concerned about this package. It allows for double dipping for students and couples with children both earning up to $100,000 pa each. According to the Greens it's about $2 billion out in its' calculations.

For all this money - don't you think half of it could have been used to begin some major infrastructure projects - eg building more water pipelines from state to state and encouraging farmers to resettle in areas where there is no shortage of water. Water and food production should be our major priority, not only does it provide jobs, but sustenance as well. We have no idea how hard this recession is going to hit us and Rudd did talk a lot about how "green" he was. Instead of non-means tested insulation, what about decent subsidies for water tanks and solar energy for those who can't afford it.

This $42 billion package just seems a little short sighted and we will have to pay it back with interest eventually. This money will go like a puff of smoke - it's not even being dished out in stages.

[Jovial Monk]

Solar energy means buying in solar panels, not much of a stimulus here!

Greens, X & SFF will fuck this package and our economy will collapse! Green vote is collapsing already, they risk destroying their party by fucking with the stimulus package.

[mantra.]

No Monk. Rudd sold himself on "global warming". I sit on the fence a bit with this, but I do know that we desperately need to clean up pollution and toxins destroying this planet for our own health, safety and sustainability. We can't just keep digging up this planet for mineral resources - we are turning ourselves into one giant, toxic quarry and for those with children - we want to see our progeny survive comfortably in the future.

If the Greens are opposing some aspects of this package - good on them. Rudd has not even made a start on cleaning up Australia and have we even heard this government mention water in this package - of which there is a serious shortage in case you hadn't noticed.

Sorry - but Rudd is doing exactly what we hated about Howard - porkbarrelling and being a popularist. Of course we do need new science labs, etc. for public schools and probably a reasonable injection into public housing - although I find that a total waste of money. Much of it is destroyed 5 minutes after the tenants move in - not all of course, but a good percentage couldn't care less about property they don't pay for.

Garrett - prior to the last election, said that Labor's goal was to have every house in Australia fitted with solar panels. What's happened to that promise? And what about the stuff up being made presently with the Murray Darling? More farmers are being driven off their land - not encouraged to stay there. We are consuming more than we produce and some of this stimulus package should be funding our future by providing the resources to enable continued food production and the storage of water.

[Jovial Monk]

Well, when there are 2m unemployed I hope you are still happy with the Greens blocking the stimulus package.

One thing to porkbarrel just before an election and in a boom like Howard did, Another thing to spend 2 years from an election in a recession. This package has been put together with Treasury & Finance & the RBA to fight the recession

[mantra.]

The unemployed are getting nothing from this package. It is only workers who submitted a return last year, although I'm not sure whether even they will get it unless they are currently working.

[Jovial Monk]

That is a fair criticism. They should have the dole bumped up say $20/week (it may need to be bumped up more, I don't know) and given up front as $1000--this could be taken from some of the $950 payments with the dole kicking up by a regular $20 (or whatever) a year later. When you are on the dole you spend every last cent you are given!

But the package aims to stop people going on the dole!

Another thing, the govt needs to set up another Ruddybank to ensure small business can get credit and much more needs to be done to ensure the fucking govt pays its bills in 45 days (end of the month after doing the purchase/contract) that will take some arsekicking!

[skippy]

I think the size of the package shows just how big this whole crisis is, the Libs are always screaming Labor go into debt when in gov and if Rudd had any other choice I'm sure he'd take it rather than here the screams from the Libs.
There are always going to be winners and losers, people on benifits are the biggest losers atm but, if they have kids they will get something, as for other things like insulation, I agree with mantra it should be means tested as should handouts of cash, there is no point handing cash to people who are going to save it, we need to spend spend spend.

[Jovial Monk]

The handouts worked last time.

Ceiling insulation, those can can afford it have done it.