Harpers rejection of a pay increase is de-flationary as it will remove spending power from workers, thus reducing the amount of money in the economy. It is a decision straight out of the text book on how to prolong an economic recession, and that decision is exactly what Governments should not do in the middle of a recession. Doesn’t Harper and all his other God-Bothers realise that Laisser-faire economics theory went out the window when the likes of Lehman Brothers and other like them went bust. The Government should immediately empower the new commission Fair Work Australia, to re-examine the decision so as workers can enjoy a slight increase in their wages and standard of living.

Euan

Onward Atheist Soldiers..when are they going to realise there’s no-one up there and it’s a croc of crap.

I still can’t quite believe, that anyone could be so smug, self righteous and pompous at the same time.
The good professor would be perfectly at home in some darkly humorous Monty Python sketch.
But for pity’s sake, let’s not give him control of the punishment detail for the undeserving poor.

Some people who follow the very same religion as Mr Harper would interpret that religion as saying “go the extra mile for the poor”. And “redistribute income so that there is more equality in a community.”

For those interested in what the good book says, such a view could be found in various places:

- Paul’s comments: “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that they might be equality. At the present time, your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality. As it is written, ‘He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.’” (II Corinthians 8:13-15).

- Or the Apostle John: “If anyone has material possessions and sees is brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (I John 3:17).

Of course the trouble with quoting the Christian scriptures, is that people of a different persuasion will find some other statement to quote, and use that to prop up their predetermined view. Despite that, in this case, there is an argument that says there are about 2000 references in the Bible that exhort us to care for those less well of that ourselves.

I read Ash Barker’s book “Make Poverty Personal” recently. Such a book would actually encourage Mr Harper to do more for those less well off.

If Mr Harper’s religion is behind his decision, I pity him and would disagree with his lack of application of that religion.

But my gut tells me that Harper’s decision is more to do with conservative economics and class, than with religion. We all know that most people who profess religion don’t really let it affect their daily life! Everything else that is drilled into us over a lifetime, directs us more. If we pretend that somehow our actions are controlled by our religious convictions, I would suggest we are seriously deluded! There just aren’t many Mother Theresa’s in the world.

So after twenty five years of trickle down economy the minimum wagers are to foot the bill for ceos(bailed out by banks), speculators(Mr Groves friends are rich) and plain inadequate businesspeople.

My mother used to say “he thinks the world owes him a living” I think too many of todays leaders think that profits are the norm not the result of good conditions and hard work and most of all luck.

I dont want to attach too much of the Professors seeming arrogance to his religion as religion causes both good and bad reactions in its followers. I blame the follower not the religion. I hope the next time he eats a weeks worth of minimum wages at the flower drum he chokes on it.