So our wonderful, magnificent summit is underway - And look at the great ideas it has come up with so far!

An Australian Republic

A Bill of Rights

A better deal for Aboriginal people

A National Educational Curriculum

A ...

Sorry, am I just being toooooooo cynical.

But haven’t we heard all this before…

From the usual suspects…

What was the point of this gabfest again????

Rob

Rob Callander - 20 April 2008 05:05 PM

What was the point of this gabfest again????

Rob

To make our fearsome … I mean, fearless … leader appear to be doing something …

There is nothing new under the sun. . .  so what you do is you

- involve young people because they are full of new ideas, the same new ideas that we had when we were that age before we grew up.

- ask actors and actresses. They are important role models. Get them on side so you can control public perception. Never mind scientists, engineers, doctors, nurses, business people (oh I forgot they are Liberal), carpenters and anyone else with education and intelligence. [edit: OK now I read that Dr Fiona Wood was there; good]

- get a politician or someone older than them to ask for their opinion, especially the Prime Minister, and they say “He’s nice, I think I will vote for him next time”.

Well if anything actually does change and not just get talked about like all the other times past, what we end up with is:

A Republic: Change the law, have a name change and completely sell off the farm. BUT we will have fresh new stationery! Take the fistfull of cash to Harvey Norman and buy a plasma screen. Ignore the cries of the hungry kids in the back seat. The government will do something. For a fee. Just sign here.

A Bill of Rights: Too bad that the very thing we do not need as Christians and as Australians (in our rare bloodless Federation of States) is a “Bill Of Rights” (God only gave us a few Don’ts and the rest was up to us, but oh no, we know better and we want the opposite).

A better deal for Aboriginal people: who will always need a “better deal” - but even in the ways that they don’t, let’s keep telling them that they do and completely ruin any esteem that they have.

Free beer, lower the price of petrol and raise the speed limit. (I made that up).

And let’s make the lowest common denominator even lower with a national indoct sorry education curriculum.

Why don’t I put my three year old in charge of our family? Should make me popular, until she realises that I have been a complete coward and abbrogated my responsibilities . . .

Well, so much for the quick cynical reaction.

Best we let them finish, and then give them a few months to filter out anything of worth, and then judge it on the government’s response to the major items.

If at the end of it all, there is nothing, then please go ahead with the appropriate and well thought out appraisal of the results.

At the end of the day, if you think its all been a futile exercise, then you can always vote for a change of government.

Jason Porter - 20 April 2008 05:53 PM

There is nothing new under the sun. . .  so what you do is you

- involve young people because they are full of new ideas, the same new ideas that we had when we were that age before we grew up.

- ask actors and actresses. They are important role models. Get them on side so you can control public perception. Never mind scientists, engineers, doctors, nurses, business people (oh I forgot they are Liberal), carpenters and anyone else with education and intelligence. [edit: OK now I read that Dr Fiona Wood was there; good]

- get a politician or someone older than them to ask for their opinion, especially the Prime Minister, and they say “He’s nice, I think I will vote for him next time”.

Well if anything actually does change and not just get talked about like all the other times past, what we end up with is:

A Republic: Change the law, have a name change and completely sell off the farm. BUT we will have fresh new stationery! Take the fistfull of cash to Harvey Norman and buy a plasma screen. Ignore the cries of the hungry kids in the back seat. The government will do something. For a fee. Just sign here.

A Bill of Rights: Too bad that the very thing we do not need as Christians and as Australians (in our rare bloodless Federation of States) is a “Bill Of Rights” (God only gave us a few Don’ts and the rest was up to us, but oh no, we know better and we want the opposite).

A better deal for Aboriginal people: who will always need a “better deal” - but even in the ways that they don’t, let’s keep telling them that they do and completely ruin any esteem that they have.

Free beer, lower the price of petrol and raise the speed limit. (I made that up).

And let’s make the lowest common denominator even lower with a national indoct sorry education curriculum.

Why don’t I put my three year old in charge of our family? Should make me popular, until she realises that I have been a complete coward and abbrogated my responsibilities . . .

Why don’t you exercise some patience?? John Howard was no the slightest bit interested in other’s opinions (unless they coincided with his own), nor was he interested in trying to makes things better, nor include the marginalised, nor lots of things.

Our country has gone BACKWARD under the previous government, with many opportunities to make it a better country flushed down into the sewer.

This is supposed to be a democracy… do you need it spelt out for you??

It did occur to me when I first heard about this talk-fest that if you had been elected to government after more than a decade in the political wilderness, you might come ready with some ideas of your own.

Gordon Cheng - 20 April 2008 08:30 PM

It did occur to me when I first heard about this talk-fest that if you had been elected to government after more than a decade in the political wilderness, you might come ready with some ideas of your own.

Looks like some others are confused too :

Summit’s voter confusion
Article from:
April 20, 2008 02:46pm
THE Australia 2020 summit has reported its first official idea - and it is Kevin Rudd’s. A republic, a charter of rights and revamping federation are among the five big ideas decided by delegates in the governance session of the Australia 2020 summit. But the session ended in confusion with many delegates unsure of what they were actually voting on.........

2020 ‘visionaries’ don’t see eye-to-eye

John Howard was no [sic] the slightest bit interested in other’s opinions (unless they coincided with his own), nor was he interested in trying to makes things better, nor include the marginalised, nor lots of things.

David, do you realise that you are claiming the ability to read another person’s mind?

Janice Money - 20 April 2008 08:52 PM

John Howard was no [sic] the slightest bit interested in other’s opinions (unless they coincided with his own), nor was he interested in trying to makes things better, nor include the marginalised, nor lots of things.

David, do you realise that you are claiming the ability to read another person’s mind?

Pardon??? How about taking a look at history!

History = “Once a Howard h***r, always a Howard h***r” ?

Kevin Goddard - 20 April 2008 09:10 PM

History = “Once a Howard h***r, always a Howard h***r” ?

That’s right, always denigrate those who disgaree with those you don’t.

It has nothing to do with hating Howard; such a response is juvenile and a sample of a closed mind.

such a response is juvenile and a sample of a closed mind.

And this isn’t ?

Our country has gone BACKWARD under the previous government, with many opportunities to make it a better country flushed down into the sewer.

I’m out of here - time for Robin Hood !

Kevin Goddard - 20 April 2008 09:29 PM

such a response is juvenile and a sample of a closed mind.

And this isn’t ?

Our country has gone BACKWARD under the previous government, with many opportunities to make it a better country flushed down into the sewer.

I’m out of here - time for Robin Hood !

No it isn’t.

Opportunities to develop alternative energy methods were neglected and allowed to be taken up overseas; the treatment of asylum seekers; so-called anti-terrorism laws; treatment of aborigines and native title; the abuse of FOI laws; allowing public education, hospitals and infrastructure to be degraded and underfunded; the abuse of public trust, etc etc etc.

I think the main purpose of the 20/20 talkfest was PR. I would say the Labor Party has not stopped campaigning for future votes, despite the election being over for a while now. The main aim of Labor is to be popular, and keep power. I think the welfare of Australia comes after that.

And, I think that the Labor party will eventually do what it decided to do, by decisions made prior to the conference taking place.

I hope journalists will be as critical of the new Government as they were against the last one. All governments should be made accountable for their failures and sucesses.

I hope the federal Labor govt is not like our State govt, which simply will not talk to anyone about their blunders. State ministers hide under the desk when a bad story breaks. (The Howard govt was always made accountable by journalists.)

I predict an early election by Rudd, to ensure a longer term for them. This is insurance, in case they become unpopular, if they don’t deliver, or cause the country to spiral downwards due to their policies. This 20/20 Conference is a lead up to that happening.

Ken Austin - 20 April 2008 10:22 PM

I think the main purpose of the 20/20 talkfest was PR.

You may say that. I couldn’t possibly comment.

[quote author="David Ashton” date="1208638280Why don’t you exercise
some patience?? quote]

I am patient. Look at how long it takes me to blog!

My wife thinks that I am impatient. So does everyone else who thinks that I am impatient. But they are all wrong. . .

David, I jumped in boots first because I HAVE SEEN IT ALL BEFORE. Whether it is a Liberal Stunt or a Labour Stunt or anyone else Stunt. Others can call it cynicism; I call it the ability to detect B.S.

You however are welcome to call it impatience. But maybe I am just plain quick.

[quote author="David Ashton” date="1208638280John Howard was no the slightest bit interested in other’s opinions (unless they coincided with his own), . . .

So what? This may be true. I don’t know. But it also may be what was said by the people with whom he disagreed. Is anyone at this level much different?

[quote author="David Ashton” date="1208638280
. . . nor was he interested in trying to makes things better. . .

Bordering on libel. It may be your opinion, to which you are entitled. But unless you know him personally or through another person (as I do) or can read minds or private e-mails, I doubt that you know the mind of the man. Reading the tabloids doesn’t count.

[quote author="David Ashton” date="1208638280
. . . nor include the marginalised, nor lots of things.

Yeah. Everyone else does everything perfick. John Howard is to blame. For lots of things. Like my poor eyesight, and two bulging discs in my back and The Drought. The Bastard. Am I allowed to say bastard? Say no and I will I quote Ezekiel 15.

[quote author="David Ashton” date="1208638280Our country has gone BACKWARD under the previous government, . . ..

Depands on your perceptions and life experience. Lots of things went backwards all over the world regardless of the government. . . as with regard to science, manufacturing and deregulation under the previous previous government. Lots of things went forwards too, but I think we humans are more attuned to the “half empty” of life, particularly when we don’t get what we want.

I have in the past been variously assisted and hampered by both State Labour and Federal Liberal government policies. It is often well-meaning and it comes from not understanding and the fear of losing control, but regardless of the flavour, obfuscation, red tape and compliance issues can bury small business and kill innovation.

[quote author="David Ashton” date="1208638280
. . . with many opportunities to make it a better country flushed down into the sewer.

They are politicians. That’s their job :) Mind you, they were aided and abetted by the greed, incompetance and apathy of many people in industry and commerce and education who should have known better and were in positions to do something about it. And they were pyrrically white anted by people who opposed them because that’s the usual coward’s way to get what you want. Note that the present government (for whom I pray) should also watch for this. Which brings me to a more obvious reason that I believe that we Christians need to “get on our knees and fight like men (and women)” It is easy to blame someone else. I am trying to get my kids to not do that.

[quote author="David Ashton” date="1208638280This is supposed to be a democracy… do you need it spelt out for you??

No, thank you. And please do not patronise me.

This is a representative democracy, not a participatory one. I don’t know if any of these 2020 people represent me. Some of them have questionable qualifications for inclusion, but as Australian citizens, good on them for getting in the door. They simply should come up with something better than the trite stuff I have seen so far. This was their chance and now it has gone. Like the previous governments. They were chosen by someone else. That’s not necessarily bad. I just make the points.

David I do not know anything about you (except that you don’t like McDonalds - a point of agreement). I am glad that your take on life, the universe and recent history is so clear cut. My take on things isn’t so black and white.