carcajou

Did anyone watch the leaders' debate tonight?

Comment away.

Kooky.

God, no. I had some paint to watch dry.

Beoz

Of course. It was comedy

• BS needed a lectern - he kept dropping his notes.
• It was supposed to be a undecided crowd. How come they didn't applaud the WA GST top up? I doubt it was an undecided crowd.
• Speaking of the crowd, a Liberal Senator and an Opposition Leader wife were in the crowd. Yep - not undecided.
• I actually expected BS to get a roasting, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it could have been.
• In summary BS is un-electable for the following reasons.

1. Before you can focus on climate, tax, child care worker wages, electric cars, pensioner dentist trips, wage increases, you need to have a budget for these items and an idea of what they cost. You can only form a budget by understanding your economy and how you are going to make money. I think every one agrees BS doesn't understand economics, where the money comes from, so it makes the rest of the items irrelevant.
2. In society we have people who are doers, people who are not, people who are wealthy, people who are not, people who like to work in private industries, people who work in public. I get the sense that BS isn't really for all, and is really pitching an us against them mentality and creating class warfare and subsequent hate in the community. Where on the other side where the uneducated are name calling "the big end of town" which really isn't the case. For example the LNP changed the subsidies on child care recently where the poorer in society now get back 85% which is a bit much but is what it is. That's not really the work of a party who is only interested in the "top end of town". We can't live with a government who doesn't look after all and that's what you would get with the ALP.

Amazulu

No

I'm trying to avoid as much election coverage as possible as I know who I'm voting for and am not going to change my mind - it's hard though!

Leaders debates should be unnecessary as voters should base who they are voting for on a party's manifesto, not on what a leader says in a partisan debate. Unfortunately, too many voters base their decision on personality or how a politician looks or speaks. Pathetic but there it is

CFMEU Billy is lying through his teeth though and hiding the true costs of his destructive policies. Unfortunately for our country, he's going to win - he's home and hosed - as too many voters want all the free stuff that he's offering from his magic socialist goody bag

We're f**ked

Dorothy

Same.

Beoz

They are not teeth, they are veneers.

DeadVim

the troubadour

No as farcical at best. Still a shame politics are held in such disdain in Australia. We clearly need changes in direction to a return to some of the values hardly touched upon anymore.
Neither want to touch on excessive immigration, which is playing a substantial part in lowering living standards by flattening wages and leading to under employment but probably the only thing keeping over inflated rents and house prices from collapsing.
How would anyone vote for a party so clearly for the few, that has punished the vulnerable relentlessly not too for ages, dissimilar to UK, declined repeatedly to instigate a Royal Commission into Banking, which clearly was corrupt for ages, generally penalising the vulnerable in society ,while seeking to reward the well off and big business with tax cuts.
The Coalition cannot shake off their neo liberal philosophical stance that has now seen Australians work some of the longest hours in the developed world, unpaid overtime more the norm now for workers, with declining education standards and hospital waiting lists. (not forgetting some very substantial out of pocket costs even if on a private insurance in instances)
Enough surely without going further, and much more could be said with regards the poor standard of 'play' in Australia, to ensure a little thought into which lot the cross is placed next to come election day. Remember it can get worse, very much worse . Life is far removed from purely being an economy but should be inclusive of humanity and inclusion. Sadly the Liberal Party is far removed from the days of Menzies, who while a hero of Howard, would be regarded by many as a 'lefty' these days .

Beoz

Are you still unhappy with your job? Might be time for a move - I think we've discussed this before.

the troubadour

I guess the sales targets are being unmet at the moment with the poor economy . That being the reason you write such nonsense. That and the realisation that your beloved Coalition Party is a dud job, fully deserving a sound flogging in the coming election. It appears Morrison is something of a one man band, with the rest under home detention, not being trusted to trash the brand further into the gutter. Although how much further such a tarnished brand can be .
But you are right. So many years under neo liberal economics has provoked many into thinking a move may well be a sound idea. Hopefully the forth coming election will bring in change, so badly needed and a government in place that actually cares about people. Not spin a few lines pre election.

moneypenny20

I don't believe that's true. I think it's the politicians people have an issue with. There is no one around at the moment (imo) who is capable of being a reasonable PM, nor are there enough rational mps capable of filling a cabinet. People can't be bothered because both of the major parties are currently shit and none of the others have the wherewithal to run the country.

In answer to the OPs question, dear dog no, why would a rational person subject themselves to such nonsense?

the troubadour

I don't think I have lived in a country where politics features with more disdain than Australia. Even more with an apathy that suggests a total disinterest. Hardly discussed in public at all.This in turn makes the job easier for pollies when the public have little expectation anyway, but far more dangerous for democracy as well.
Although both parties are below par, the move to the Right, with the Lib's over the past decade with certain policies to match, many unable to get through thanks to the Senate ,has prevented us ending up in a far worse place than could easily have landed. There is a difference. Opting out of the political system is hardly an option, if at all wanting a stake regardless of how small, in the governance of the nation.
We get the politicians we deserve at the end of the day. No compulsion to agree of course .

Beoz

If it wasn't for the poor state of the ALP the Libs might have well given up by now. However they have been given a sniff with the odds shortening by the day.

It's a real shame our feds couldn't follow the successes, professionalism and the "do it all" attitude of the NSW Liberal government. Lots of lessons to be learnt there.

Kooky.

Don't confuse not watching a television program with apathy.

I've already voted.

Beoz

Me too. I am going to take more of the same please given the policies of the others are a disaster for this country. Nothing more to be sold by either lot.