Posted on 11/24/2007 7:39:24 AM PST by sionnsar
You have to understand that Rudd’s policies on.. well, almost everything, are IMMENSELY similiar to Howard’s. Rather than actually submitting policies and the like to the treasury to be reviewed, and attempting to outdo Howard on substance, he decided to go for style.
And after eleven years, many swing voters are convinced by style alone.
I’m more worried about what’s going to happen when Labor realize there’s no Coalition government for them to copy off any more.
“At home, Rudd has pledged to govern as an “economic conservative,” while pouring money into schools and universities. He will curtail sweeping industrial reforms laws that were perceived to hand bosses too much power, turning many working voters against Howard.”
Is it me or does the label “economic conservative” and the rest of the above quote seem contradictory?
This piece of trash was only meant to rape Americans of their income
by means of international taxation in the first place. IMO!
AUS=SUCKERS!!
Liberalism is a deadly, globe-trotting virus.
Ibid
Sounds like you’re at the wrong place.
Try this:
www.democraticunderground.com
You’ll fit in better there with your leftist economic views.
Jobs are the property of the employer, not the employed. They ought to be able to set the rules as they wish, as long as they comply with health and safety standards. A one-hour shift endangers nobody, so get over it.
Or how about the removal of penalty rates and overtime in many workplaces.
Why should overtime pay be mandatory? it is a generous offer from the employer to the employee for working so hard... not a requirement.
(what are "penalty rates"? That's not a familiar term in the US.)
Or how about the fact that your boss can make you work on public holidays and you have no choice (or get the sack)?
See above.
No, no one here understands, because you don’t live here, but I do and these things have happened at my work place (which is one of the biggest department stores in Australia).
You're whining because a department store wants employees working on the holidays? I'm not sure if you've noticed, but that's when many people choose to go shopping. Hence the stores need more employees to remain profitable, and maximize the convenience for the customers. It's called "good business".
These unfair workplace practices
None of those are "unfair", Karl Marx. If you do not like those policies, find another job. It's as simple as that. You hae the freedom to go to any other store, and they have the right to hire and fire anyone they want.
are only a few of the unAustralian atrocities that Howard has condemned us all to.
And they certainly are not "atrocities". Grow a pair. I expect more from Aussies. They've got a great reputation as a tough bunch. Try not to ruin it for my esteemed Fosters-drinking-rugby-playing crowd, eh?
Howard has done some great stuff for this country, but what he’s done to the majority of ordinary hardworking Australians is pure evil.
"Evil"??? Nancy, he's made it so that employers have more power to do what they do best: produce goods, sell goods, contribute to the economy, create more jobs, increase tax revenues, decrease unemployment, stimulate investment, etc, etc, etc. I'm sorry if you've finally realized that you're almost totally unemployable, and you're scared of having to find a new job, but that is not the store's problem, nor the nation's problem. If you truly loved your country, you'd support those policies that strengthen the economy. Instead, you seem to be more concerned about keeping your employer obedient to yourself. That's arrogant, short-sighted, and counter-productive. Check out the myriad of examples throughout history for verification. Double-digit unemployment in Europe should be the first stop on your self-education tour. When employees are given too much control over employers, you get terrible results. Sadly, you're apparently more interested in hyperbole and crying about your own plight.
I do not follow Australian policies especially closely, so I cannot comment substantively with regard to Mr. Howard's economic policies. Yet, if I am correctly interpreting the overall tone of your comment--that economic deregulation is "unfair"--I must disagree with you in general. My view is that an overly regulated economy is a weakened economy, and that workers tend to benefit from an economy that operates with maximum freedom.
You do, however, demonstrate an instructive point that is relevant to the USA. If the middle class feel they are falling behind, they turn left. The Republicans need to keep this in mind.
Dear Teacher317, are you an employer/business owner because your response is very generic of an employer/business owner. I notice you need to start namecalling in order to prove your point... how mature. You know so little I could almost pity you if it wasn’t for the fact I don’t even know you. Do you not understand that there is always more to the problem, no matter how you try and exlain anything there’s always people like you trying to put others down. Do you get a sense of power in doing so? Maybe you have issues, but that is not my problem buddy, I won’t stoop to your level and start abusing you like the unenlightened way you have me.
[quote]Jobs are the property of the employer, not the employed. They ought to be able to set the rules as they wish, as long as they comply with health and safety standards. A one-hour shift endangers nobody, so get over it.[end quote]
You are right, jobs are the property of the employer, yet you forget that employers won’t have a business without hardworking employees. The way you put it, makes it sound like employers should have a throne to sit on too. (By the way I am over it)
[quote]Why should overtime pay be mandatory? it is a generous offer from the employer to the employee for working so hard... not a requirement.
(what are “penalty rates”? That’s not a familiar term in the US.)[end quote]
Honestly, you’re american? That explains everything! (Sorry mate I had to get that one out, I was in stitches :D) Anyway overtime is and always has been a method to offer incentives for employees to work outside 9-5 weekday hours. *Sigh*. Penalty rates is basically just overtime, it’s another way we Aussies call overtime.
[quote]See above.[end quote]
ROFL, LMAO etc, etc.
[quote]You’re whining because a department store wants employees working on the holidays? I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but that’s when many people choose to go shopping. Hence the stores need more employees to remain profitable, and maximize the convenience for the customers. It’s called “good business”.[end quote]
Hmm, how do I put this? I think I have noticed very much what working in a department store entails mate. I have worked almost every public holiday since I started here a few years ago. I must say though, that there are a lot of other employees who don’t like to and put in for those days off, personally I think it is a bit slack if they do it without reason. But more to the point, you have no idea of the type of work environment I live with. Let me give you an example, one year the store manager made every single employer work on boxing day, another year she held all employees back past 9pm during stocktake and the doors were all locked, keeping people in against their will (can you say “false imprisonment”?), the police were called to release the employees - shocking isn’t it?
[quote]None of those are “unfair”, Karl Marx. If you do not like those policies, find another job. It’s as simple as that. You hae the freedom to go to any other store, and they have the right to hire and fire anyone they want.[end quote]
I already know that, this job just pays the bills while I’m at university buddy.
[quote]And they certainly are not “atrocities”. Grow a pair. I expect more from Aussies. They’ve got a great reputation as a tough bunch. Try not to ruin it for my esteemed Fosters-drinking-rugby-playing crowd, eh?[end quote]
Now you’re just being mean Mr Holier-than-thou (oops, did I namecall there, oh well)
[quote]”Evil”??? Nancy, he’s made it so that employers have more power to do what they do best: produce goods, sell goods, contribute to the economy, create more jobs, increase tax revenues, decrease unemployment, stimulate investment, etc, etc, etc. I’m sorry if you’ve finally realized that you’re almost totally unemployable, and you’re scared of having to find a new job, but that is not the store’s problem, nor the nation’s problem. If you truly loved your country, you’d support those policies that strengthen the economy. Instead, you seem to be more concerned about keeping your employer obedient to yourself. That’s arrogant, short-sighted, and counter-productive. Check out the myriad of examples throughout history for verification. Double-digit unemployment in Europe should be the first stop on your self-education tour. When employees are given too much control over employers, you get terrible results. Sadly, you’re apparently more interested in hyperbole and crying about your own plight.[end quote]
Oh dear, where do I start? Hmm, how bout by saying that we Aussies really don’t care about your self-education impositions sir Teacher317. Should I tell you again about how much I really am so not scared of losing my job, but that you just seem to think you know me really well that you also know the colour of my underwear? Really you need to stop being so presumptious and arrogant, it’s not really becoming of an american (oh wait, it’s what the rest of the world sees you as anyway... oops sorry again, can’t go against popular opinion).
I’m really sorry to burst your bubble, and I don’t mean to be so brash, but the unfair Industrial Reform laws were the main reason the Labor government won this time round. Please don’t bite my head off for feeling the same way so many other Australians do. Here’s some “education” for you about Australia’s current IR laws:
Unfair dismissal:
Employees who work for employers with less than 100 employees can be sacked without rhyme or reason (if an employee was sacked in such a way they would need to pay in excess of $50,000 in legal fees in order to have an unfair dismissal trail in the Federal court). Even those employers with over 100 workers can be sacked for ‘operational reasons’ without any recourse.
Collective bargaining undercut but AWA’s (Australian Workplace agreements): An employer can reach a deal with workers on collective agreement one day, and the next day the same employer can undercut the hard won conditions by offering inferior individual contracts.
With and AWA employers can remove any or all of the following from an employment agreement:
-Penalty rates for shift and weekend work and/or any overtime.
-Public holiday pay
-Tea breaks and RDO’s (rostered days off)
-Redundancy pay
-5 day working weeks (in other words employees can be made to work 7 days a week with no days off)
-Reduced annual leave time
Finally, you do make a good argument Teacher 317, but at the end of the day, you need to let us Aussies decide for ourselves what we want and what we think is best for us, just as the results of the election has shown. This may be a bad decision for us, but ultimately again, it’s our decision.
May fortune look upon you and all here.
Stillonaroll, you make much more sense than Teacher317 and I can now see your point thanks to the kind way you put your words. I understand what you mean by workers benefitting from an economy operating with maximum freedom, I just feel like these laws don’t offer much freedom right now. I have done a lot of research on this issue and have come across many workplace practices where employees have been mistreated and/or sacked unfairly just because employers can do it now.
[quote]You do, however, demonstrate an instructive point that is relevant to the USA. If the middle class feel they are falling behind, they turn left. The Republicans need to keep this in mind.[end quote]
You’re on to something there now, :) In a country where many of its people are made up of lower and middle class people, shouldn’t it make sense that workplace laws and polices be made to protect as much of their rights as possible? What can I say though? I’m no politician/ecnomist, lol.
Ahh, good times, that’s all I care about, all this debating is just creating negativity and angst. I only want a better world to have good times in. Either way, I live my life and I let live.
Take care mate and all the best for the future.
In response to RockinRight, lol, thanks for the heads up, now I know I’m in the wrong place (I had no idea what this place was at all! I came across this site by accident!)
It’s like being a female and walking into an all male club, there’s nothing I’m gonna say to change their opinions on allowing a female to join. This will be my last post, I won’t be back here unless I want a desire to be seriously mentally scarred for life. I’m a fun loving Aussie, I’ve no wish to get involved in things that perpetuate intolerance.
Thank you for pigeon holeing me and putting a label on me, I had no idea I had leftist economic views.
I think everyone just wants to put a few cents in where they can. I put mine in the wrong place. Errgh, don’t bother replying to my posts, my efforts were in vain so I won’t be visiting this site again. Have fun strangling each other’s throats (except for those here who are enlightened to tolerate other people’s views and take them into consideration).
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