Talking Politics

[jb03]

Good on Rudd for his Broadband policy.

Howard has been on the run all week with his party's behaviour and now Rudd turns the focus back to policy.

Regardless of if Rudd keeps up his good work it is very healthy for this country to have a quality opposition.

Agree with the healthy opposition, bloody good thing.
$4Billion to broadband Australia! Good luck Ruddy, you're gunna need more than that to pay for the consultants

Yeah, its great that broadband idea for the whole country.
Got no problem with that....

But how is he funding it?

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rudds-hand-in-the-honeypot/2007/03/22/1174153207550.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

The ALP have such a poor record of financial mismanagement.

It took Kennett to get us back as an "A" class state after years of poor accounting by the ALP.

Bracksy is only keeping things alive due to his "revenue raisers" on every bridge and behind every rubbish bin, catching poor bastards who take their eye off their speedo for 2 seconds. :-X

Though Bracks can be critisized for many things maintaing the 'A' class status is not one of them. An ALP government finally maintains financial credibility but the Right still want to critisize their means. It is almost like the Right just can't accept a left government not falling over financially.

Well, firstly, do you agree that the Left government stuffed the state financially before Kennett took over?
Do you agree that it was the Lib Government, led by Kennett, that got us back our AAA credit-rating?

I'm not querying that. I'm just pointing out that (finally if you like) a Labour Government is able to maintain good financial credibility yet they still get bagged for it.

Kennett slashed spending and sold up assets - I'm sure some query that method too.

 

[poppa x]

Disco08 wrote:

Of course speed cameras are part of saving lives

Let me ask you this. If they are A PART of the solution then tell me what other actions the gov't is taking? The answer is pretty much zip because it costs too much. So we are left with speed cameras as the ONLY solution.

No let me ask you this. What has saved more lives - speed cameras or car industry technology such as ABS, traction control, crumple zones, seat belts, air bags?

I would rather have a head on in my little Renault Clio at 100 clicks than a head on at 80 in an old and much bigger Holden Kingswood.

The speed camera response does not acknowledge the real cause of accidents, which are inattentiveness, grog, drugs including presribed, over the counter and illicit drugs, poor roads, bad street lighting, untrained drivers (everyone thinks they are a good driver), unroadworthy cars, speed (yep it plays a role) and in recent times mobile phone use. The list goes on and on. But it's easier to blame soley speed because (1) we can measure it and (2) we can get some revenue from the cameras.

here endeth my sermon.

 

[Disco08]

Yeah I agree with all of that poppa, and most of what ssstone said, but like I said I just don't get the bitching over cameras or why people think it is so hard to travel at the speed limit. I can understand the annoyance at the government if the cameras are their only strategies to help save lives on the roads (as I said I don't live in Victoria so can't really comment) but obviously that's the fault of the government, not the cameras.

 

[Rosy]

If they are A PART of the solution then tell me what other actions the gov't is taking? The answer is pretty much zip because it costs too much. So we are left with speed cameras as the ONLY solution.

Booze busses, roadworthy checks, drug testing, seatbelt reinforcement, police presence on roads, advertising, black road spots, license testing, reducing speed zones, signage, speed bumps, roundabouts, school zones and research all come to mind in an instant. Speed cameras aren't the only option by a long stretch.

Agree with disco if nobody breaks the law speed cameras wouldn't be an issue. I think they're revenue grabbing too but drive within the limit and they'd go broke.

 

[poppa x]

Booze busses, roadworthy checks, drug testing, seatbelt reinforcement, police presence on roads, advertising, black road spots, license testing, reducing speed zones, signage, speed bumps, roundabouts, school zones and research all come to mind in an instant

Ok let's deal withe these.
Booze bus, RWC Checks and drug tests - I can't remember the last time I or my car was stopped. Ineffective impact on the road toll.
Seat belts - agreed but this rule was introduced 30 years ago. Reinforcement of this law is not needed because Mr & Mrs Public know seat belts make sense and nearly everyone wears one.
Signage? Minimal impact - unless you hit one!
Speed Bumps. Yeh sure. tell me how many lives these have saved?
Roundabouts. Show me one Ozzie who knows and enforces the rules of roundabout entry.
School Zones. Makes Gov't etc & everyone else feel better. Minimal impact on road toll.

So Rosy. Please tell me someting the Gov't has done which has had a greater impact on the road toll than the car industry's technological improvements over the past 30 years. IMO ABS Brakes & Traction Control will save more lives than all gov't laws added together.

 

[Hey Pesto!]

Those school zones are a laugh. maybe 1 in 10 drivers slow to 40kms. I wish they would enforce it. a lot of people would be walking home.

 

[Johnno_84]

Booze busses, roadworthy checks, drug testing, seatbelt reinforcement, police presence on roads, advertising, black road spots, license testing, reducing speed zones, signage, speed bumps, roundabouts, school zones and research all come to mind in an instant

Ok let's deal withe these.
Booze bus, RWC Checks and drug tests - I can't remember the last time I or my car was stopped. Ineffective impact on the road toll.
Seat belts - agreed but this rule was introduced 30 years ago. Reinforcement of this law is not needed because Mr & Mrs Public know seat belts make sense and nearly everyone wears one.
Signage? Minimal impact - unless you hit one!
Speed Bumps. Yeh sure. tell me how many lives these have saved?
Roundabouts. Show me one Ozzie who knows and enforces the rules of roundabout entry.
School Zones. Makes Gov't etc & everyone else feel better. Minimal impact on road toll.

So Rosy. Please tell me someting the Gov't has done which has had a greater impact on the road toll than the car industry's technological improvements over the past 30 years. IMO ABS Brakes & Traction Control will save more lives than all gov't laws added together.

Im sorry mate, but unless you have figures to back up these claims your post null and void...

Here Rosy ill do the work for you...

Signage for starters - i normally likeot be informed when, due to roadworks, i will nearly have to come to a complete stop, it saves me from running up someones' ass...

Speed bumps - im of the illusion that this is to stop hoon drivers and nopt necassarily to have an effect ont he raod toll...

Round abouts - i can see how your comment there even comes remotely close tot he argument you're conveying... Obviously having a round about stops a potential black spot whereby a cross intersection once was...

Booze bus - i tell you what they keep me off the roads anywhere between 5pm and 2am on Friday and saturday nights... All other times your point is valid... But the fact that during these periods i or other drinkers wouldn't be on the road obviously preserves the road toll...

School zones - well during the time of 3.15 and 3.45 i will follow the 40KM zone, however outside of this time i find it ridiculous as there are no kids on the streets...

I hope you reconsider youe argument mate...

Also ever heard of the black spot project??

 

[Johnno_84]

Enough of this nanny state garbage!

Enough of this one line rubbish....

 

[Rosy]

We'll share Johnno. ;D

Ok let's deal withe these.
Booze bus, RWC Checks and drug tests - I can't remember the last time I or my car was stopped. Ineffective impact on the road toll.
Seat belts - agreed but this rule was introduced 30 years ago. Reinforcement of this law is not needed because Mr & Mrs Public know seat belts make sense and nearly everyone wears one.
Signage? Minimal impact - unless you hit one!
Speed Bumps. Yeh sure. tell me how many lives these have saved?
Roundabouts. Show me one Ozzie who knows and enforces the rules of roundabout entry.
School Zones. Makes Gov't etc & everyone else feel better. Minimal impact on road toll.

Members of our family are brethalysed regulalry even if you’re not. They are a massive deterrent that stop people driving after they've had a few drinks. The .05 campaign definitely has an impact in reducing the road toll.

There is a need for police to constantly check seatbelts as they do. If it wasn't a law that costs $ and demerit points people mightn't be so keen to observe it.

Signage. Very important. Let's people know where there are slippery conditions, t-intersections, gravel on road, recommended safe speeds to go around bends, double lines to prevent overtaking when it's not safe, speed limits that vary with conditions, watch out for animals, speed restrictions...the list goes on.

Silly to ask how many lives speed bumps have saved. How many have ABS brakes saved? We have the highways marked with noise bump things that alert people if they're running off the road, and we have bumps on rds coming to dangerous t-intersections. As Johnno said they are used to stop hoon driving too. You can't measure accidents that don't happen but I'm sure speed bumps make roads safer and that can't be a bad thing even if you can't quantify it.

I am one Aussie who observes roundabouts.

Must be far safer to have cars going though school zones at 40 at times where there are a lot of kids on the road. If it saves one life it's worth it.

So Rosy. Please tell me someting the Gov't has done which has had a greater impact on the road toll than the car industry's technological improvements over the past 30 years. IMO ABS Brakes & Traction Control will save more lives than all gov't laws added together.

I don't understand the relevance of that question. My post was in reply to your claim that cameras were the ONLY solution, which of course is poppycock. I'm not saying car safety isn't of major importance but the govt are continually trying to lower the road toll too. I wouldn't be surprised if car manufacturers use TAC statistics and car studies either.

 

[Hey Pesto!]

Enough of this nanny state garbage!

Enough of this one line rubbish....

the nanny state stuff is crap. It's the sort of conservative, looking back with rose colored glasses view. Oh when we were kids we did it tougher stuff.

Sure sign of getting old mate.

 

[Liverpool]

More Ruddy agreeing with Johnny.... :clap

Sheik must go, says Rudd
March 27, 2007 12:00am

JOHN Howard and Kevin Rudd have joined forces to call for controversial cleric Sheik Taj el-Din al-Hilaly to be stood down.
The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader condemned the decision by 60 imams to give the sheik, who compared women with uncovered meat, another three months as mufti of Australia.
Mr Howard said the decision was damaging to the Muslim community.
"All I can say is that the failure of the community to do something more decisive about this is damaging the image of Islamic Australians as part of our community," he said.
Mr Rudd said the imams had to remove the sheik.
"Australia's Muslim leadership should not be taking any decision that allows someone like Hilaly, who's defended pack rapists, to remain as mufti of Australia," he said.
The imams voted to reinstate Sheik Hilaly for three months while they decide what to do with the position.
Sheik Hilaly sparked outrage last year when he likened scantily clad women to uncovered meat left out for cats. He has also drawn fire for saying Muslims have more right to be in Australia than the descendants of convicts.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21451641-662,00.html

 

[Liverpool]

Also...just over one year of the new IR laws "Workchoices".....still waiting for all the mass sackings to start, etc...

 

[an_oxford_man]

Also...just over one year of the new IR laws "Workchoices".....still waiting for all the mass sackings to start, etc...

Sorry to mention this Livers... but your party's IR laws are extremely unpopular (refer to polls).

 

[an_oxford_man]

More Ruddy agreeing with Johnny.... :clap

Sheik must go, says Rudd

Rudd has agreed with Howard on this issue!!??!! I am outraged. I personally hoped that Rudd and the Labor party would support those who defended rapists.

 

[RemoteTiger]

Also...just over one year of the new IR laws "Workchoices".....still waiting for all the mass sackings to start, etc...

Tell me Liverpool if these new IR Laws are so good for the country then why is the Howard Government not releasing the monthly figures that demonstrate how good the laws are -

Joe Hockey himself said "The figures could be misconstrued and therefore the government will not release them!"

The government's arguement is that the new IR Laws are good for the macro economy - but without producing any proof of the monthly lodgement of workchoice agreements we do not know this.

The opposition claim the releasing of the monthly logdement of workchoice agreements will actually show that throughout many industries the individual Australian worker is worse off.

Who do we believe - the Government's macro economic statement or the Oppositions industries of individual workers statement?

Why is it that in the NSW election 27% of the voters said that his handing of IR to Canberra was the reason they did not vote for Debnam - why is it that Pru Goward the Liberal Candidate for the seat of Goulburn NSW said that the IR Laws was the most asked question by voters when she did her electioneering?

The Government MUST be hiding something if they do not want the actual monthly Workchoice Aggreements Lodgement Figures to be public.

Maybe - just maybe - there are some/many Australian workers who are now working for less.

Couldn't be - because Johnny Howard himself keeps telling us he is the battlers friend. Yeah right - release the Workchoice agreement figures and prove it!

 

[Hey Pesto!]

Bring on the election and put the so called 'work choices' to the test!

 

[Anduril]

Also...just over one year of the new IR laws "Workchoices

Yes and women are 10% worse off in wages and salary conditions. (But then again the LIbs have never really cared about women unless they have a husband and are producing babies.)

 

[ssstone]

Also...just over one year of the new IR laws "Workchoices

Yes and women are 10% worse off in wages and salary conditions. (But then again the LIbs have never really cared about women unless they have a husband and are producing babies.)

what a crock of *smile*.

 

[Hey Pesto!]

Also...just over one year of the new IR laws "Workchoices

Yes and women are 10% worse off in wages and salary conditions. (But then again the LIbs have never really cared about women unless they have a husband and are producing babies.)

what a crock of sh!t.

Incisive political analysis, as always, ssstone.

 

[ssstone]

Also...just over one year of the new IR laws "Workchoices

Yes and women are 10% worse off in wages and salary conditions. (But then again the LIbs have never really cared about women unless they have a husband and are producing babies.)

what a crock of sh!t.

Incisive political analysis, as always, ssstone.

yeh i thought so .....