The FastDay Forum

Always good to hear what other forum members think of things political and social.

ugh.. the Abbott budget announced this week. Tonight's oppositions reply should be interseting

thoughts..?

scared?

the pain we had to have?

fair?

shocked by some of the decisions?

lies lies lies?

broken promises?

essential changes?

will be blocked by the Senate anyway

ready for a double dissolution election?

for those not familiar but interested..

great summary here by ABC website

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-13/b ... rs/5433178

really don't want to talk about it, it makes me too angry

Well I hope none of you have kids under 30, especially working in federal govt department. Get the spare room ready if they are one if the 16,000 workers about to be sacked. Or get ready to pay their rent or food. Oh and I'm glad I'm not on the pension and in ill health. Oh and glad I dont have kids who want to go to uni. How about putting $60 billion into health research? Isn't that what the drug companies pay for so they can slug us when they find the right drug? Oh and did I mention the $quillions spent on war planes? And WHO is footing the $100 million bill for searching for a missing plane, that doesn't even belong to our country (Am I being cynical thinking that Abbott wanted to beat his chest when he found it...oops didn't happen)? I believe the elderly, the sick, the young are funding that. All I can say is don't blame me, I didn!t vote these clowns in. Oh and never thought I'd agree with Clive Palmer, but as he said today, what budget crisis, Australia's debt is 12% of it!s GDP, most other western countries are 70%, this is just Abbott getting his agenda across. It's inhumane

Well, I'm sure you know what I'm going to say!! Join your local branch of the Greens or the ALP and get active! This is worse than we could have imagined.

Bill Shorten's reply is brilliant! He is saying it all as I write. Double disolution would be good. Bye bye Tony!

It's hard to decide which bit upsets me most. Probably the no dole for 6 months. What the hell are people supposed to live on? Diabolical!

Definitely not impressed and like GMH don't blame me I didn't vote for them.
I guess Tony should go off to church and confess to telling great big porkies.
He certainly isn't showing any Christian charity

[Debs]

As someone who can certainly afford to pay more tax for my health etc., I am disgusted how one of the richest countries in the world with one of the lowest GDPs in the world is going to target the poorest, the most vulnerable while reducing company tax. Punishing kids in rural areas where there are few jobs and forcing them to move away to the cities won't help anyone in the long term.
I am so angry at the false perception being created that Australia is about to become a third world country. Not going to go on any more as my blood pressure will go up. I didn't vote for the bastards either.

hmmm, interesting how all posters in this thread so far seem to have a general underlying theme of agreement, would it be fair to say? - would it be too early to say that fasters, because they're open to new ideas, don't subscribe to conservative politics? Or that nobody from either side of politics likes the budget much? just interesting I think.

I remember when Jeff Kennett was defeated in Victoria, many people including me said,"I knew I couldn't stand him, his attitude or his politics, but I thought I was the only one" Can we hope to have a similar thing happen again soon? He (who should remain nameless!) seems to have made short work of alienating a lot of people. Bring on the double dissolution I say, hang the cost!

[Debs]

It is certainly a possibility jools, early takers may be more open to ideas. Certainly I remember reading a very interesting psychology paper on conservative voter mindset and the need to stay safe and secure, not change too much, and to be 'relaxed and comfortable'. Remind you of anyone in politics?!
Unfortunately I work with mostly conservative voting people whose only interest is in their own pocket and are unable to think about anyone else less fortunate; they aren't happy with the high income tax and let's call it what it is, a tax. Many will go to Clive Palmer though. Mmmmmmm!!!

well, whatever else you might say about Clive Palmer (and there's a lot to say!), at least he has a heaps more compassionate view of asylum seekers than either of the major parties, who just pander to the worst in Australian society and polarize and manipulate us for their amusement and to score very cheap political points in the race to the bottom. That is the one issue on which I am getting personally involved so I can sleep at night, even though I'm generally not much of a social activist.

But you're right, we also have to think of our own blood pressure (says she between gritted teeth).

Why am I not surprised about the budget, very cruel. Most concerned about treating our vulnerable youth with the draconian tactics of 6 months of no welfare. How on earth are they going to survive if homeless, estranged from family and can't find work in areas of high unemployment already and highly likely to be not in any psychological space to study. Public servant job cuts mean public services cuts, services which usually support the vulnerable. Not good. Not happy.

Time for Australians to wake up, get informed, get active politically & vote for better than this lot. Most shameful is the asylum seeker treatment. Not good for my blood pressure all this ... makes my blood boil.

[Tracieknits]

Well we had a bit of a chat about this in the staff room, after the subject was brought up.

We do think that in order to keep the supportive aspect of this forum intact, it's really best that we NOT discuss politics or religion.

While people on this thread are in agreement, and thankfully no fights have erupted, we can't help but wonder whether any have been offended and not said anything.

While is important for everyone in every country to be politically active, we simply don't feel this is the appropriate venue for that sort of discussion. We come together to talk about issues related to losing weight and getting healthier. There's really no need to bring up particularly divisive issues like politics and religion.

Lucky me. I was nominated to be the one to say something because I'm so plain-spoken. Sigh.

[Debs]

You are quite right @Traciesknits; unfortunately I couldn't help myself as it soomething many here feel passionately about.
Subject closed!