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Topic: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments  (Read 201030 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments

Reply #480 –
I would not take an isolationist approach when comparing "the good old days" to the present. Global forces and global trends play a greater role in quality of life than ever before, and the role of governments is reduced. The rapid and extensive deindustrialization of the west, weakening labor movements, fiscal policies that disempower workers, the increasing inequality and concentration of wealth in the hands a few at the top, the affordability gap, and other factors have contributed to a reduced quality of life. There is no question that those at the top have made a concerted effort, over decades, to erode the gains that were achieved for working folks from the 1940's to the 70's.

Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments

Reply #481 –
Quote from: LP – on
It's not unusual for people getting older to think everything was better in days gone by!
Indeed. Most older people tend to live in the past, as the present starts to contract for them.
Unfortunately, it appears that the past has been significantly better than the present for Victoria, not just the fact that some of us are getting older.
Crime levels stand out to me. The police do seem overworked and under-resourced.
Last week I was involved in a car accident. An older gentleman appeared to have suffered some sort of medical episode, his car then accelerating into the side of my car, only to plow into the one in front of me, before accelerating through a red light, to hit another car front on. We had 3 police cars, an ambulance and a fire truck on site to deal with it. However, as there were no significant injuries, the police decided not to made an official report: too much work for something that insurance companies need only deal with.
I found this perplexing, to say the least. But, it was explained to me that the local police were simply too busy to worry about something where nobody was hurt and all of the parties agreed on what happened,
Live Long and Prosper!

Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments

Reply #482 –
Quote from: PaulP – on
The policy is a wank, but you should blame the Hon Jeff Kennett, who introduced the policy in 1999, thinking he was a shoo-in for a 3rd term and an ugly statue.

I would be curious to know how many taxpayers there are in Victoria, and what the actual cost would be to each of them. Bugger all I suspect. If nothing else, Andrews certainly deserves credit for being able to live rent free in his enemies' heads.

Where was the outrage when Jeff Kennett intoduced the statue policy?  Ironically, Kennett is now outraged over the Andrews statue, but that has to be down to sour grapes.

I used to walk past the statues quite regularly and they do provide an eye-catching artistic commentary of Victoria's political history.  I think that each of the statues captures the essence of its subject, with the exception of Albert Dunstan, who I wouldn't know from a bar of soap.  $134K is peanuts and Andrews is more worthy of a statue than the scandal-ridden Henry Bolte, with his disdain of social justice and penchant for manufacturing crises to achieve his political ends.
"Negative waves are not helpful. Try saying something righteous and hopeful instead." Oddball

Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments

Reply #483 –
Quote from: DJC – on
Quote from: PaulP – on
The policy is a wank, but you should blame the Hon Jeff Kennett, who introduced the policy in 1999, thinking he was a shoo-in for a 3rd term and an ugly statue.

I would be curious to know how many taxpayers there are in Victoria, and what the actual cost would be to each of them. Bugger all I suspect. If nothing else, Andrews certainly deserves credit for being able to live rent free in his enemies' heads.

Where was the outrage when Jeff Kennett intoduced the statue policy?  Ironically, Kennett is now outraged over the Andrews statue, but that has to be down to sour grapes.

I used to walk past the statues quite regularly and they do provide an eye-catching artistic commentary of Victoria's political history.  I think that each of the statues captures the essence of its subject, with the exception of Albert Dunstan, who I wouldn't know from a bar of soap.  $134K is peanuts and Andrews is more worthy of a statue than the scandal-ridden Henry Bolte, with his disdain of social justice and penchant for manufacturing crises to achieve his political ends.
I believe it was uttered at the poll booth when he was ousted from his next term.

Either way, I wasnt old enough to vote at the time, as I was only 16 and in year 11, and definitely didnt notice this policy as I was busy following my hormones wherever they would lead me, and at the time, Carlton were actually good to watch so definitely couldnt have cared about statues.
"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson