Comments on: Egos stimulated, but what about the national interest? http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:16:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Joel B1 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19800 Joel B1 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19800 Cathy: "Joel B1 is trawling all sorts of websites tonight to vomit his bile"<br /><br />I think you'll find I only vomit in (or is that on) the very best websites...<br /> Cathy: “Joel B1 is trawling all sorts of websites tonight to vomit his bile”

I think you’ll find I only vomit in (or is that on) the very best websites…

]]> By: Geoff http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19801 Geoff Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19801 Now he's decided to oppose the the government Turnbull should rally his lot behind him and really go for the Fair Work legislation. If GGillard and the unions get their way the clock will be wound back to pre Keating days. Unions are about boosting their own power and increasing the take of their members...they do not care about anybody else including the unemployed. Unfortunately Rudd's actions will guarantee plenty of them. By the time John Howard finally got the balance of Work Choices right it was too late! If iI was still working I would resent the fact that some union official had the right to get details of my terms of employment on the basis that the union had coverage.<br />Employer association reps such as Heather Ridout are SLOWLY waking up to what will happen..... too late she is already on her way to membership of the recently revived Industrial Relations Club! Now he’s decided to oppose the the government Turnbull should rally his lot behind him and really go for the Fair Work legislation. If GGillard and the unions get their way the clock will be wound back to pre Keating days. Unions are about boosting their own power and increasing the take of their members…they do not care about anybody else including the unemployed. Unfortunately Rudd’s actions will guarantee plenty of them. By the time John Howard finally got the balance of Work Choices right it was too late! If iI was still working I would resent the fact that some union official had the right to get details of my terms of employment on the basis that the union had coverage.
Employer association reps such as Heather Ridout are SLOWLY waking up to what will happen….. too late she is already on her way to membership of the recently revived Industrial Relations Club!

]]> By: Chris Johnson http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19802 Chris Johnson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19802 I think our preferred national stimulus package might centre on relieving our political parties of the crisis they got us into. Imagine the impact on home affairs of a headline such as “Our nation is now under the guidance of an expert panel of international fiscal experts”? In extraordinary times we need extraordinary talents none of which is evident in our parliaments if we gauge levels of Senate, Reps and state debate. Not to mention Malcolm Turnbull’s pitiful contribution to governance optimism with the inference that Ken Henry and co were little more than pockets on the government singlet. The arrival of an organisation such as the mythical ‘Reforme Monetaire sans Frontieres’ !! would be hysterically uplifting and allow our leaders to return to the biased skirmishes they’re more familiar with. Political parties are a bit like scorpions – hostile to harmony and restoring natural order. I think our preferred national stimulus package might centre on relieving our political parties of the crisis they got us into. Imagine the impact on home affairs of a headline such as “Our nation is now under the guidance of an expert panel of international fiscal experts”? In extraordinary times we need extraordinary talents none of which is evident in our parliaments if we gauge levels of Senate, Reps and state debate. Not to mention Malcolm Turnbull’s pitiful contribution to governance optimism with the inference that Ken Henry and co were little more than pockets on the government singlet. The arrival of an organisation such as the mythical ‘Reforme Monetaire sans Frontieres’ !! would be hysterically uplifting and allow our leaders to return to the biased skirmishes they’re more familiar with. Political parties are a bit like scorpions – hostile to harmony and restoring natural order.

]]> By: Joel B1 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19803 Joel B1 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19803 Come on Benard!<br /><br />Now you say "... the Government should be putting aside partisanship and attempting to construct a commonly-agreed framework to handle it."<br /><br />But you were positively delighting in Rudd's (ill-advised) denigration of Turnball a few days ago.<br /><br />By way of example, take this last line gem: "That mild-mannered, bespectacled bloke will be swinging the baseball bat, hard and without pity. And he's going to hit the Liberals again, and again, and again, and again, and he's not going to stop until they're a bloodied mess."<br /><br />How about some consistency...? Come on Benard!

Now you say “… the Government should be putting aside partisanship and attempting to construct a commonly-agreed framework to handle it.”

But you were positively delighting in Rudd’s (ill-advised) denigration of Turnball a few days ago.

By way of example, take this last line gem: “That mild-mannered, bespectacled bloke will be swinging the baseball bat, hard and without pity. And he’s going to hit the Liberals again, and again, and again, and again, and he’s not going to stop until they’re a bloodied mess.”

How about some consistency…?

]]> By: Dr Harvey M Tarvydas http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19804 Dr Harvey M Tarvydas Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19804 as I remember it<br />rudd announces he’s ready to seriously deal with world financial crisis<br />turnbull bursts into bipartisanship hugging (but after the ‘hugging video’) I can’t find a word or deed that tends to show Turnbull knew what that word (bipartisanship) meant<br />Bernard what does one do, elect the media as Prime Minister when all they do is wallow in the problems for all its worth cooking up a storm to keep the people trying to workout which ideology to bet on.<br />There’s the ‘cake cutter’ that cuts the cake into slices and listens forever (a short forever) to the outpourings of dissatisfaction about the slice that everyone has received<br />There’s the Leader who is wise, knows it’s the end of the world, tells you firmly <br /> and cuts the cake into slices saying “take and eat” its probably <br /> the last you’ll ever get unless you eat it fast<br />Then there’s denial, a prehistoric legitimate human psychological tool for coping which is <br /> frequently resorted to by any individual (and as any individual <br /> can see it is perfectly useless in the long term, that being a few <br /> minutes) and it is beyond the power of will but not beyond the <br /> power of evolved modern human reason (if you have it, like <br /> denial it must be genetic eventually)<br />Then there are facts (the I was there kind which tend to confuse even the <br /> best media). <br />(1) Whitlam’s short term saw the 1st budget surplus in the most trying financial times and then a super ‘Aus be Healthy and Great’ plan which unfortunately was conceptually beyond most and is still only revered by today’s geniuses in economics <br />(NO, not international financiers and bankers) but it had two words attached to it that enabled demonising it to an ugly black racist Muslim stew at Australia’s expense and the media’s profit<br />(2) Reagan in the 80’s pushed through a virtually communist like <br /> (smelt a bit left the sensitive noses said) law (banking) which <br /> gave the US global financial and new technology dominance<br /> as I remember it
rudd announces he’s ready to seriously deal with world financial crisis
turnbull bursts into bipartisanship hugging (but after the ‘hugging video’) I can’t find a word or deed that tends to show Turnbull knew what that word (bipartisanship) meant
Bernard what does one do, elect the media as Prime Minister when all they do is wallow in the problems for all its worth cooking up a storm to keep the people trying to workout which ideology to bet on.
There’s the ‘cake cutter’ that cuts the cake into slices and listens forever (a short forever) to the outpourings of dissatisfaction about the slice that everyone has received
There’s the Leader who is wise, knows it’s the end of the world, tells you firmly
and cuts the cake into slices saying “take and eat” its probably
the last you’ll ever get unless you eat it fast
Then there’s denial, a prehistoric legitimate human psychological tool for coping which is
frequently resorted to by any individual (and as any individual
can see it is perfectly useless in the long term, that being a few
minutes) and it is beyond the power of will but not beyond the
power of evolved modern human reason (if you have it, like
denial it must be genetic eventually)
Then there are facts (the I was there kind which tend to confuse even the
best media).
(1) Whitlam’s short term saw the 1st budget surplus in the most trying financial times and then a super ‘Aus be Healthy and Great’ plan which unfortunately was conceptually beyond most and is still only revered by today’s geniuses in economics
(NO, not international financiers and bankers) but it had two words attached to it that enabled demonising it to an ugly black racist Muslim stew at Australia’s expense and the media’s profit
(2) Reagan in the 80’s pushed through a virtually communist like
(smelt a bit left the sensitive noses said) law (banking) which
gave the US global financial and new technology dominance

]]> By: Cathy http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19805 Cathy Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19805 Joel B1 is trawling all sorts of websites tonight to vomit his bile. Got a permanent liver problem Joel or can we expect something constructive in the future? Joel B1 is trawling all sorts of websites tonight to vomit his bile. Got a permanent liver problem Joel or can we expect something constructive in the future?

]]> By: Size Matters http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19806 Size Matters Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19806 Bernard, the size of the stimulus package does matter a great deal and the government should keep something in reserve. The GFC was initially compared to a tsunami but tsunami waves spread very quickly across the ocean.<br />A more accurate analogy is a slowly progressing bushfire in a valley which is a few ridgelines away. It is burning up/ consuming all of the fuel/ capital in front of it. We can see it coming and we have time to prepare for it.<br />We had a tank full of rainwater -- the Liberals' surplus. We should have waited for the bushfire to get closer, then fill the roof gutters with water and dampen down the house and garden, but we should also have left sufficient water in the tank to douse the spot fires threatening the house after the fire front has passed. That's how to save our property.<br />Kevin Rudd has already drained our water tank prematurely. The tank is now dry. If we want more water, we'll have to borrow/ buy it from China at spot market prices. We'll be far worse off in the future because the amateur bushfire fighters panicked as soon as the temperature rose. Kevin pissed himself as soon as the wind changed and the air got hot. He should have waited for the fire front to reach us and then used our surplus of capital to douse the spot fires and help us recover from the damage.<br /><br /> Bernard, the size of the stimulus package does matter a great deal and the government should keep something in reserve. The GFC was initially compared to a tsunami but tsunami waves spread very quickly across the ocean.
A more accurate analogy is a slowly progressing bushfire in a valley which is a few ridgelines away. It is burning up/ consuming all of the fuel/ capital in front of it. We can see it coming and we have time to prepare for it.
We had a tank full of rainwater — the Liberals’ surplus. We should have waited for the bushfire to get closer, then fill the roof gutters with water and dampen down the house and garden, but we should also have left sufficient water in the tank to douse the spot fires threatening the house after the fire front has passed. That’s how to save our property.
Kevin Rudd has already drained our water tank prematurely. The tank is now dry. If we want more water, we’ll have to borrow/ buy it from China at spot market prices. We’ll be far worse off in the future because the amateur bushfire fighters panicked as soon as the temperature rose. Kevin pissed himself as soon as the wind changed and the air got hot. He should have waited for the fire front to reach us and then used our surplus of capital to douse the spot fires and help us recover from the damage.

]]> By: Joel B1 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19807 Joel B1 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19807 That's so you Bernard,<br /><br />S-ck up to the paying members of Crikey...<br /> That’s so you Bernard,

S-ck up to the paying members of Crikey…

]]> By: Barx http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19808 Barx Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19808 It was a nice start SizeMatters but the analogy 'fizzled out' (excuse the pun).<br /><br />There is no surplus left - the surplus is only ever a projection and thanks to decreasing revenue (company losses, capital gains tax receipts) the 'tank' in your analogy sprung a leak and drained out. The bushfire is still coming so the only option we've got is to turn on every tap, hose, throw the pump in the neighbours pool and borrow their water and do our best. If we can 'soak the ground' we may be able to avoid our house getting burned down (albeit badly smoke damaged).<br /><br />The problem is everyone who should be fighting it knows the news crews are coming as well, so those who should be helping are too busy doing their makeup, preening themselves and making sure they look like Firey's from the calendars. <br /><br />Standing about arguing like two tossers over details such as 'Well I think we should all remove our shirts and use our left hands in front of right, as opposed to right over left' isn't helping anyone. Just get on with the bloody job. If the house burns down and we figure out you were too busy trying to rub yourself down with sweat and oil, you'll look like a dick no matter what.<br /><br />Sorry but it's friday afternoon and I am feeling creative. It was a nice start SizeMatters but the analogy ‘fizzled out’ (excuse the pun).

There is no surplus left - the surplus is only ever a projection and thanks to decreasing revenue (company losses, capital gains tax receipts) the ‘tank’ in your analogy sprung a leak and drained out. The bushfire is still coming so the only option we’ve got is to turn on every tap, hose, throw the pump in the neighbours pool and borrow their water and do our best. If we can ‘soak the ground’ we may be able to avoid our house getting burned down (albeit badly smoke damaged).

The problem is everyone who should be fighting it knows the news crews are coming as well, so those who should be helping are too busy doing their makeup, preening themselves and making sure they look like Firey’s from the calendars.

Standing about arguing like two tossers over details such as ‘Well I think we should all remove our shirts and use our left hands in front of right, as opposed to right over left’ isn’t helping anyone. Just get on with the bloody job. If the house burns down and we figure out you were too busy trying to rub yourself down with sweat and oil, you’ll look like a dick no matter what.

Sorry but it’s friday afternoon and I am feeling creative.

]]> By: Venise Alstergren http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19809 Venise Alstergren Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19809 Yes, the actions of Kevin Rudd deserve serious discussion. But by playing absurd political games Malcolm Turnbull reveals himself as just another rich amateur. A bored one leading a bunch of people with a dated born-to-rule mentality. It is not arrogance of tenure lost so much as outrage about being dumped by the voter which animates them. Loss of promised gains will be remembered long after the announcement of the next election. <br /><br />Senator Fielding sells his vote with the ease of a trollop promising fidelity. Yet these people will be the inquisitors of Rudd's actions? Yes, the actions of Kevin Rudd deserve serious discussion. But by playing absurd political games Malcolm Turnbull reveals himself as just another rich amateur. A bored one leading a bunch of people with a dated born-to-rule mentality. It is not arrogance of tenure lost so much as outrage about being dumped by the voter which animates them. Loss of promised gains will be remembered long after the announcement of the next election.

Senator Fielding sells his vote with the ease of a trollop promising fidelity. Yet these people will be the inquisitors of Rudd’s actions?

]]> By: Stephen http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19810 Stephen Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19810 Hey Bernard, your rubbish is just as bad as the politicians'. Hey Bernard, your rubbish is just as bad as the politicians’.

]]> By: David Sanderson http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19811 David Sanderson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19811 Mike Steketee in the Oz has a good analysis of the standoff:<br /><br />http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25018087-7583,00.html<br /><br />Dennis Shanahan, on the other hand, only demonstrates what a worn out old hack he is:<br /><br />http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25019130-17301,00.html<br /><br /><br /> Mike Steketee in the Oz has a good analysis of the standoff:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25018087-7583,00.html

Dennis Shanahan, on the other hand, only demonstrates what a worn out old hack he is:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25019130-17301,00.html

]]> By: Kevin Charles Herbert http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19812 Kevin Charles Herbert Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19812 <br />Who IS Tony Abbott ? <br /><br />Is that insipid parliamentary attack snail from the Coward Howard's team still in Parliament????.what a waste of space...great news for the Rudd gang, though... Who IS Tony Abbott ?

Is that insipid parliamentary attack snail from the Coward Howard’s team still in Parliament????.what a waste of space…great news for the Rudd gang, though…

]]> By: Jen L http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19813 Jen L Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19813 Joel B1 are you the same ?? If my workplace and personal opinion were linked I'd be alarmed. <br />Ihttp://www.dbcde.gov.au/communications_for_business/industry_development/digital_economy/future_directions_blog/topics/minister_tanners_welcome/joel_b5 Joel B1 are you the same ?? If my workplace and personal opinion were linked I’d be alarmed.
Ihttp://www.dbcde.gov.au/communications_for_business/industry_development/digital_economy/future_directions_blog/topics/minister_tanners_welcome/joel_b5

]]> By: Julius http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19814 Julius Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19814 For the last few months every MP and every public servant with any input into the simulus packages ought to have been focused, and the Senate inquiry ought to be focused, on how much private cash and credit can be enlisted in the revving up of the constant round of exchanges which is a healthy economy. Well-timed incentives could have been substituted at an early stage for a good part of the $10.4 billion transfer from future taxpayers to current taxeaters (and some who didn't need it) and now the key question is whether there will be a multiplying flow on from what the latest stimulus package provides until confidence returns enough for animal spirits and ordinary consumerism to take over. Mind you, a private pensioner who benefits from big bank dividends is not going to be unhappy about the handouts, and props to the property markets, if they help to keep the banks healthy. The fact that ii is hard to see who will be clear losers doesn't detract from the point that targeting means enlisting private cash and credit, preferably for investment. For the last few months every MP and every public servant with any input into the simulus packages ought to have been focused, and the Senate inquiry ought to be focused, on how much private cash and credit can be enlisted in the revving up of the constant round of exchanges which is a healthy economy. Well-timed incentives could have been substituted at an early stage for a good part of the $10.4 billion transfer from future taxpayers to current taxeaters (and some who didn’t need it) and now the key question is whether there will be a multiplying flow on from what the latest stimulus package provides until confidence returns enough for animal spirits and ordinary consumerism to take over. Mind you, a private pensioner who benefits from big bank dividends is not going to be unhappy about the handouts, and props to the property markets, if they help to keep the banks healthy. The fact that ii is hard to see who will be clear losers doesn’t detract from the point that targeting means enlisting private cash and credit, preferably for investment.

]]> By: Bernard Keane http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19815 Bernard Keane Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19815 Thanks Mal, I'll quote that next time someone accuses me of having an "anti-Rudd agenda" and that I belong at The Australian. Thanks Mal, I’ll quote that next time someone accuses me of having an “anti-Rudd agenda” and that I belong at The Australian.

]]> By: Gail http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19816 Gail Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19816 I'm afraid I have great difficulty finding anything polite to say about Senator Fielding. The thought of the future of the country falling on his shoulders is somewhat depressing.<br /><br />I would really like to see the Coalition parties put some longer term thinking into this. Their current performance is little better than "we don't think we like that" What is happening now isn't going to be fixed in a few months. It will have ramifications for several years and possibly several elections. Why are they putting all their energies into a single option now that they'll have to wear for years if they aren't careful. The use-by date for this lot of bloviating will fall well before the next election and they don't seem to have left themselves with a Plan B. With the current polling, I'm not sure what would happen with a double dissolution. The Senate dynamic changes a great deal when that happens. I’m afraid I have great difficulty finding anything polite to say about Senator Fielding. The thought of the future of the country falling on his shoulders is somewhat depressing.

I would really like to see the Coalition parties put some longer term thinking into this. Their current performance is little better than “we don’t think we like that” What is happening now isn’t going to be fixed in a few months. It will have ramifications for several years and possibly several elections. Why are they putting all their energies into a single option now that they’ll have to wear for years if they aren’t careful. The use-by date for this lot of bloviating will fall well before the next election and they don’t seem to have left themselves with a Plan B. With the current polling, I’m not sure what would happen with a double dissolution. The Senate dynamic changes a great deal when that happens.

]]> By: Trim the fat, fry the bacon and milk the sacred cows. http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19817 Trim the fat, fry the bacon and milk the sacred cows. Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19817 We're talking about an extraordinarily large amount of money and a crushing debt for our grandchildren. We’re talking about an extraordinarily large amount of money and a crushing debt for our grandchildren.

]]> By: Joel B1 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19818 Joel B1 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19818 I'm really not sure what all this fuss is about.<br /><br />Within this report/comment section I initially suggested that BK might adopt a more consistent approach. (and I didn't call him a fair-weather fool either, although obviously he is).<br /><br />It's true I have strong opinions but I do back down very quickly in the face of reason. As for "my workplace and personal opinion were linked I'd be alarmed." I agree. That is not the case.<br /><br />Finally, thanks Cathy for the charming welcome to Crikey...<br /><br /> I’m really not sure what all this fuss is about.

Within this report/comment section I initially suggested that BK might adopt a more consistent approach. (and I didn’t call him a fair-weather fool either, although obviously he is).

It’s true I have strong opinions but I do back down very quickly in the face of reason. As for “my workplace and personal opinion were linked I’d be alarmed.” I agree. That is not the case.

Finally, thanks Cathy for the charming welcome to Crikey…

]]> By: spotbanana http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19819 spotbanana Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19819 What twat, 'size matters'. The bushfire metaphor started off as interesting, but as soon as you joined the Turnbull discourse in assigning blame for the deficit to Rudd, you started pissing in the wind.<br /><br />"Just how bad do things have to get before both sides stop this sort of rubbish and think about putting the national interest first?"<br /><br />Good question, Bernard - maybe we should start modelling the answer for the two big twats, Rudd and Turnbull, right here. Positive discourse can lead to positive outcomes. What twat, ‘size matters’. The bushfire metaphor started off as interesting, but as soon as you joined the Turnbull discourse in assigning blame for the deficit to Rudd, you started pissing in the wind.

“Just how bad do things have to get before both sides stop this sort of rubbish and think about putting the national interest first?”

Good question, Bernard - maybe we should start modelling the answer for the two big twats, Rudd and Turnbull, right here. Positive discourse can lead to positive outcomes.

]]> By: Joel B1 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19820 Joel B1 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19820 David Sanderson: The RBA? You're having a laugh?<br /><br /> David Sanderson: The RBA? You’re having a laugh?

]]> By: Pundit-Bot http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19821 Pundit-Bot Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19821 Looks like those clowns in Parliament have done it again. What a bunch of clowns. :| Looks like those clowns in Parliament have done it again. What a bunch of clowns. :|

]]> By: Mal http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19822 Mal Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19822 Congratulations Bernard!! That is about the most balanced piece I have read from you since you started with Crikey. Although, it does come as a bit of a shock and we don't expect it to continue. Usually you are about as "fair and balanced" as Hannity on Fox News - just "fair and balanced" in the opposite direction. <br /><br />I think we all enjoy reading you (and Guy Rundle) because we know neither of you are anywhere near 'fair' or "balanced" - but it is fun reading. Congratulations Bernard!! That is about the most balanced piece I have read from you since you started with Crikey. Although, it does come as a bit of a shock and we don’t expect it to continue. Usually you are about as “fair and balanced” as Hannity on Fox News - just “fair and balanced” in the opposite direction.

I think we all enjoy reading you (and Guy Rundle) because we know neither of you are anywhere near ‘fair’ or “balanced” - but it is fun reading.

]]> By: David Sanderson http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19823 David Sanderson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19823 Harvey, do you write this stuff as a cure for your insomnia? Is so, I hope it works but you should however refrain from publishing these senile ramblings. Harvey, do you write this stuff as a cure for your insomnia? Is so, I hope it works but you should however refrain from publishing these senile ramblings.

]]> By: Malcolm http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/06/egos-stimulated-but-what-about-the-national-interest/#comment-19824 Malcolm Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19824 Are we to believe that this boils (pardon the pun on this hot day), down to the age old battle of good vs evil ? No matter which side of politics you are on, it would appear that the other side is always wrong and you are always right. Turnbull and Rudd have many things in common, mostly related to their egos but I believe that they are both legitimately convinced that their own take on the stimulus package is the right one. If this is correct then they are both to be applauded for doing what they think is best for us plebs in the suburbs - if however either are contriving a not-so-cheap political stunt then they nned to fed to the orcs or the Canberra Press gallery depending on which group are available at the time. Whilst most of us have our views on the economy - they are purely steeped in theory and historical take. Time will be the only true judge of either attempt at economic maintenance. Are we to believe that this boils (pardon the pun on this hot day), down to the age old battle of good vs evil ? No matter which side of politics you are on, it would appear that the other side is always wrong and you are always right. Turnbull and Rudd have many things in common, mostly related to their egos but I believe that they are both legitimately convinced that their own take on the stimulus package is the right one. If this is correct then they are both to be applauded for doing what they think is best for us plebs in the suburbs - if however either are contriving a not-so-cheap political stunt then they nned to fed to the orcs or the Canberra Press gallery depending on which group are available at the time. Whilst most of us have our views on the economy - they are purely steeped in theory and historical take. Time will be the only true judge of either attempt at economic maintenance.

]]>