The Liberals "p#ssed it all away"

Discussion in 'The big picture' started by rhancock, Nov 29, 2007.

  1. rhancock

    rhancock Junior Member

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    Here's an interesting opinion piece from a guy I don't normally agree with.

    https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/op ... tml?page=2

    Steve Biddulph is best known for condemning early childcare as bad for children, but this is a critical piece on the future of the political parties in Australia. I particularly like the last paragraph, which sums up why I would not have voted for the Liberals, if I'd got my citizenship in time :(

    "The big lie of Liberal supremacy was economic management. In fact, they knew how to generate income, but not how to spend it. We could have been building what Europe built in this past decade - superb hospitals, bullet trains, schools and training centres, low cost public transport of luxurious quality, magnificent public housing. We pissed it all away on tax giveaways and consumer goods. On bloated homes that we will not be able to cool or heat, or sell, and cars we won't be able to afford to drive. A party based on self interest may evaporate along with our rivers and lakes, and have no role to play in a world where we co-operate or die."

    This neatly sums up my own feelings on the last 20 years. We've just lived through the most affluent time in our history, and what do we have to pass on to our children? World class hospitals? Innovative education systems? Future focused cities? Shock proof agriculture? No, we have the highest level of debt ever, built up not paying for stuff which will be broken, obselote or useless before its paid for.

    The very small optimist in me says that "Kevin and Julie" can do it: I really hope so, otherwise our children are going to be very unhappy adults.

    The other good news is that people are starting to talk about it. Even friends who I always assumed were in full agreement with Liberal principles, are starting to ask me worried questions about sustainability and what to do about it.
     
  2. JoanVL

    JoanVL Junior Member

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    I fully agree with this. Their meanness of spirit covered many areas of policy, and caused their downfall in the end.
     
  3. Ojo

    Ojo Junior Member

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    The new elements of Federal Labor’s Clean Energy Plan announced today are a:

    * $500 million Renewable Energy Fund - to develop, commercialise and deploy renewable energy in Australia.
    * $240 million Clean Business Fund – to help business and industry deliver energy and water efficiency projects, with a focus on productivity and innovation.
    * $150 million Energy Innovation Fund – to keep our world leading scientists and researchers in Australia, rather than losing them overseas.

    This comprehensive plan builds on Federal Labor’s commitment to:

    * Immediately ratify the Kyoto Protocol;
    * Set a 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target by 2020;
    * $8000 rebates for solar power, $1000 rebates for solar hot water systems, $500 rebates for grey water piping and rainwater tanks, $500 rebates for landlords to install insulation and $10,000 in low interest Green loans for solar systems and water and energy savings measures.
    * Invest $15 million in a Clean Energy Export Strategy;
    * Invest $20 million in a Clean Energy Innovation Centre; and
    * Invest in a Green Car Innovation Fund to develop and build green cars in Australia.
    https://labor.com.au/media/1107/msloo143.php
     
  4. Ojo

    Ojo Junior Member

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  5. rhancock

    rhancock Junior Member

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    And yet none of this talk is about actually doing anything about actually reducing the production of GHGs!

    Imagine if they put this much effort into developing ways of eliminating emissions, while maintaining a healthy economy.

    Here's a group who are: https://www.zerocarbonbritain.com

    On their home page it says: "zerocarbonbritain details how Britain can eliminate emissions from fossil fuels in 20 years"

    So, not 40% or 60% by 2050 or 2080 or any other interim target, but zero emissions in 17 years. That's a real target. Everything else is a poor compromise.
     

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