Howard can go the distance

Today I was reading some articles on The Bulletin website and was expecting to find the usual things about our PM and how there is absolutely no hope he can win the next election. In the last few months I have been convinced that Howard had no chance at a victory. I thought the majority of the Australian public was definitely backing Kevin Rudd, the media had me convinced. But to my shock and amazement I found that most of the comments related to the election on The Bulletin website were of people supporting Howard. Unlike Greg Rudd, Kevin Rudd’s brother who believes “it is the season of Kevin Rudd” according to lunch columnist for The Bulletin, Ellen Fanning, the sense I gathered from Bulletin readers was quite the opposite!

I suppose the country has a few things to fear if a Labor government win the election. Rudd has been promising to abandon IR laws, yet if such policies go ahead, thousands of Australian’s will soon find themselves unemployed. That would be a terrible shame, considering the Australian economy has never been in better shape, thanks to the consistent good management of the Liberal Party.

History does demonstrate that the Labor government lack in the department of good management, and if elected will probably do as they have done in the past – be ruled out by the Unions and do only what is profitable for their own party, not what is right for Australia. After all, a tiger never changes his stripes.

The chances of history repeating itself are very likely and the fingers should now be pointing towards Kevin Rudd and his ability to run this country. John Howard is a proven leader and his leadership over the years has created the strong and more successfully financial country Australia is today.

The chief political correspondent for The Bulletin, Chris Hammer believes that “electoral annihilation is imminent for the Howard government” but I have a more nervous reaction to a Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard government. Don’t you? I mean, does the Labor government really have the efficiency of the Howard government to keep interest rates and inflation low, and unemployment done? I fear not. Plus, Kevin Rudd has a long way to go before he can attain such global regard like that of John Howard.

Not all support is lost for the Liberal Party and the PM, despite what the media keeps insisting. John Howard can go the distance and if anything, he has proven his worth for the greater of this country over the last 11 years. Do not be surprised if his wisdom and strong management see him through safely in the upcoming election. I think we are all in for a bit of a surprise!

Image is everything!

The PM has scored a big zero on the popularity scale once again!

If image is everything then the PM is not winning votes yet again.There is nothing more I despise than people sucking up other people’s arses. It is nauseating when people just go along with whatever the popular people do or say and the fact that our PM continues to do it with the Bush Administration really disappoints me.

One simple fact of life is that popularity can be both positive and negative, depending on how you use it. Well, nowadays it seems to me that power does not produce popularity. The perfect example of this ugly recipe for disaster is the United State of America, and its destructive use of power, thanks to George W. Bush and his trigger happy administration.

Lawrie Oakes of the Bulletin reveals that Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France, declared earlier this year to US Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice that he wants the US to improve their world image. Rice asked Sarkozy, ‘what can I do for you?’, and his request was simple; improve the US world image to help solve problems for the US and its allies. According to Oakes, Sarkozy alleged that “it is difficult when the country that is the most powerful, the most successful - that is, of necessity, the leader of our side - is one of the most unpopular countries in the world. It presents overwhelming problems for you and overwhelming problems for your allies. So do everything you can to improve the way you're perceived - that's what you can do for me.” If only they had listened.

It is interesting to me that the US do not take their power and authority in the world more seriously. They are, as Sarkozy states, the most powerful and successful nation in the world (well, that is very debatable if you ask me), yet still the most unpopular. Well, there is no denying the US has a fan, a very dedicated one, John Howard. So, does that make all Australian’s one? I think election time will reveal the answer to that question.

Now, everyone knows life should never be a popularity contest, but that is all politics is about! Howard has certainly not won any more supporters after his “buddy buddy” display during the APEC Summit last week. The results of the week revealed nothing unusual. Bush, the puppet master, had Howard dangling by his divisive strings and Howard cooperated with his every move.

Imperative issues that have further damaged Howard’s popularity are his unyielding support for Bush’s policies over climate change and Australia’s provisions in Iraq. The Australian PM has been no more than utterly compliant with all of the Bush Administration’s policies; especially those that so many Australian’s want to see direct changes in.

Desparate times...

Is it just me, or is this election period more intense then previous years? I might be feeling this way because this year I am actually active in my pursuit for knowledge about our political leaders, but still I think there is something in the air at the moment.

It could be due to this growing approval and support for Kevin Rudd. I suppose everyone has tolerated John Howard for a long time now, not to mention suffered at the presence of Kim Beazley as Opposition Leader, so Rudd’s company is a fresh reception. It appears to have been clear sailing for Rudd ever since he jumped onto the scene, or ever since we started taking notice of him anyway. Give or take a stripper or two, Rudd isn’t doing too badly on the public support scale.

I think Australian’s are just a bit worn-out of John Howard. There is no denying he has done his best for the country in the past 11 years, but as Lawrie Oakes of The Bulletin claims, the feeling towards the Coalition government is becoming noticeably sour.

An important issue concerning the election and the future of Australia’s public hospital system is Rudd’s proposal of a national hospital plan. Oakes identifies the plans as being more about process than detail and I suspect this is true.

True or not, Rudd has appealed to public frustration over the current public hospital system, something Health Minister Tony Abbott has been arguing to change as well. There is no doubt about Abbott’s support for Canberra taking over the running of public hospitals altogether, despite his need to discredit any confidence in Rudd’s proposals.

The current system of federal support for public hospitals where by the federal government helps to fund public hospitals yet has no role in running them, is not working, and this situation only advances Rudd’s position in his fight for to win the election.

Pest of a Test!

The new citizen test aimed to ensure Australia achieves the right balance between diversity and integration of people hoping to become Australian, according to Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews. I think that’s great! The country needs nothing more than balance within society but can a citizen test achieve this? Can a question and answer test really educate contending Australian citizens about Australian lifestyle and culture. I believe only to a certain degree, if not at all. What a shame. Kevin Andrews must of lost sleep constructing the test.

The citizen test boasts essential Australian values every aspiring citizen must embrace, but after reading the questions, the test does not reflect true Australian values at all. It is more like a history examination than a cultural one. As a Bachelor of Arts Graduate (majoring in English and History), I am very aware of the importance of history. We should never dismiss the influences of the past but today we are in such different times, that knowing the Prime Minster of 100 years ago does not benefit our daily existence whatsoever.

Why the test at all? Will it really help migrants properly and comfortably adjust into Australian lifestyle? My guess is no. I am moving to London next year. If I am required to complete a citizen test upon arrival, the last thing I am going to be thinking about when I am trying to find a job and somewhere to live is questions from that test.

In a report from Green Left Online by Graham Matthews, Australian citizenship is described by Andrew Robb, parliamentary secretary for immigration and multicultural affairs, as a privilege, not a right. I totally agree with this. The report is adamant in the push for Australian values, describing them as central elements to immigration principles. I am adamant on Australian values as well. I love my country and the freedoms it offers me but if asked to complete this citizen test to verify my worthiness as an Australian citizen I would do nothing but laugh.

The test is in no way a reflection of Australian values which is a shame because those aspiring to be Australian citizens will think us so dull and detached after taking the test.

NO WATER, NO FUTURE AUSTRALIA

When are Australian politicians and corporations going to realise that there is an environmental crisis and it is important that people start taking the issue seriously.

To solve the problem it will take mass cooperation and participation by government and public. It is about meeting human needs. People need to recognize and sustain a friendly and healthy relationship with the planet and its natural resources or they will disappear before we know it, and so will we.

All it is about is decreasing human environmental footprints on the earth. Walk, ride, run to the milk bar, and make use of the tram that runs up and down the streets of Melbourne every single day! Stop watering the garden with fresh, drinking water. The other morning I witnessed a man watering his garden at 7am on a day not permitted in his area, and let me tell you, he was not using buckets of recycled shower water. Why is it that people are incapable of taking simple steps, like water saving, seriously? Last Saturday night I noticed that Melbourne water reservoirs were at 38.6% capacity. This is a massive problem! We are in a colossal crisis here in Australia, and water shortage is just the tip of the ice berg.

So how has the country’s leaders responded to such a crisis? With ineffective advertisements on television and the radio that are in no way productive. “Your Water, Your Future”, the advertisements claim. Well, yes, everyone is quite aware of the fact that our future depends on our water supply so instead, why not tell everyone the truth: “NO WATER, NO FUTURE AUSTRALIA”.

The solutions are complex but attainable. The problem is one solution to a certain environmental problem may not necessarily mean that that solution is not affecting another problem.

Global warming is a major contributor to Australia’s water shortage, and also explains recent extreme weather conditions.

It is important for our future that both federal parties recognise the impact global warming is having on Australia and its natural resources, instead of dismissing the crisis.

Online Opinion states that “Federal Labor in Australia has unofficially adopted a 3C target for its climate change policy”, which aims to reduce emissions 60% by 2050.

Howard is playing it safe, refusing to comment on the proposed target until after the election.

Online Opinion says that “regardless of popular or scientific opinion, catastrophic global warming remains highly uncertain. Alternative energy technology must be developed but its effective adoption will require decades”.

So maybe the ALP has set an achievable target, for once. Well let’s all just sit back and watch our natural resources fade away until the election is over. Perhaps then there will be so little water in our reservoirs that the Government will do something constructive to aid Australia’s environmental crisis.

Lucky escape for Mr. Rudd

Despite the fuss over Kevin Rudd’s drunken escapades at a New York strip club last week, the visit down memory lane has not deterred the support of much of the Australian public from the Opposition Leader.

It seems instead such circumstances of, what Rudd calls, “poor judgment” are in fact not that at all. To many Australian’s it has only confirmed that he is an ordinary bloke.

But can an ordinary bloke run the country? The Australian public still believes so. In a Herald Sun-Galaxy poll over the weekend, the survey asked people who they would vote for at a federal election right now. The preferred choice favored the ALP, with a 57 per cent victory over the Coalition’s 43 per cent. These statistics would surely be rattling the Howard Government to the bones as little seems to be working in their favor.

Mr. Rudd has luckily escaped any damaging criticism from the public over his strip club outing on a tax payer funded visit to New York four years ago. The little slip up caused quite a roar in its announcement but it seems that it is nothing more than shove in the right direction for the ALP.

As the Howard Government attempt to disturb Mr. Rudd, the polls suggest otherwise. Both female and male Australian’s believe that the events in New York demonstrate Rudd’s commonality with many Australian’s. The poll also revealed that people are more concerned with taxes than what Kevin Rudd got up to four years ago in a strip club. People are concerned with the state of affairs that affect them now, in everyday life. Evidently people consider taxes to be too high and the poll suggests that the Government’s announcement of a $17 billion surplus on the budget is heavily linked to high taxes.

A sought need for proper and effective economic management is what is driving Australian voters in the coming election, a problem that is not benefiting the Howard Government, particularly since the recent interest rate rise.

the great debate

As temperatures rise before the next election, the race to the finish line for Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader, Kevin Rudd is currently being won by the younger and fitter, naturally! A few factors are contributing to Rudd's advantage over Howard this election, in particular Rudd's approach and appeal to Australia's youth.

Mr. Howard has been described lately as old and rattled and Rudd has taken full advantage of Howard’s manners in the lead up to the election as he is determined to break 11 years of Coalition rule.
Pollster Mark Textor has reported the Prime Minister as old and dishonest, with Rudd appearing as a more desirable, generational change for the better. “Kevin Rudd is someone voters appear willing to make a long-term investment in”, reports Crosby/Textor’s internal report. Rudd has emerged as energetic and comfortable in his prospects in taking over Australia's top job. As apposed to Rudd, Howard seems to be increasingly rattled and not responding well under pressure.

David Barnett, Mr. Howard’s first biographer says the Prime Minister should step aside and retire his position as Prime Minister while still in the good graces of his fellow Australians.

As Rudd takes the lead in the Newspoll, at 56 to 44 per cent, the Howard Government is seemingly fighting a losing battle. Slow and steady is certainly not going to win any races this election, as the apparent “rattled and old” John Howard struggles to break the commanding lead of Kevin Rudd.

Mr. Rudd, 49, has succeeded in his role as Labor Leader as he represents the opportunity for generational change. Rudd has gone so far as to begin his own campaign, “Kevin07”, much resembling U.S. campaigning methods to win over the voting public. Instead of making a huff in the lead up to the election, Rudd has taken the cool, calm and collected approach and it’s
proving successful. It has become a battle against young and old this election and the release of “Kevin07” moves to capitalise Rudd’s appeal to younger voters. In browsing Rudd’s web site, www.kevin07.com.au, it is clear who his target audience is. What do many young people in Australia have? An opinion. The web site offers exactly what many young Australian’s are looking for, a voice. The homepage offers Kevin Rudd’s ear to “your say” about “your ideas, hopes and concerns”, and features imagery and videos of young people giving a voice to their concerns.

Another big issue facing both parties is the Reserve Bank’s decision on interest rates. Today the decision was announced to lift cash rates by a quarter-point to 6.5 per cent, the fourth rise in the last 15 months. HSBC Australia chief economist John Edwards said that whether the Reserve Bank kept its base interest rate steady or raised it, the change would not
make much difference to the volatility hammering Australian investors. This opinion is warmly welcomed by the Howard Government as higher rises in interest rates would certainly damage the PMs Poll statistics even further. Three years ago Howard promised low interest rates if Australian’s granted him their vote for his forth term. Australian’s trusted Howard that election yet interest rates rose.

The undeniable fact is, Rudd has proven his ability to remain strong and politically competent when under pressure. Since Rudd became ALP leader, Howard has “failed to turn around the catastrophic collapse of support for the Coalition”, according to The Canberra Times. Will the young, determined Rudd succeed the so-called clever but old Howard. Only time will tell.