Comments on: Some Whitlam nostalgia of my own http://andrewnorton.info/2006/12/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/ Observations from Carlton's Lone Classical Liberal Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:45:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: mothy http://andrewnorton.info/2006/12/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/comment-page-1/#comment-2942 mothy Tue, 12 Dec 2006 01:04:37 +0000 http://andrewnorton.info/blog/2006/12/07/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/#comment-2942 I think it intruiging the level of welfare that has been targeted directly at middle Australia families in recent years. It's almost as if this so called targeted spending has become a pillar in both sides election strategies beyond the big picture issues of reform of the tax system and our foriegn policy posture in the region. Family first and its impact, has interestingly arisen out of this and other factors. On one hand welfare does play a vital role in assisting people moving from the economic backfoot to the frontfoot but on the other hand it can and often does act as a stifling agent to stop people's inner drive to succeed off their own bat i.e. Small Business. Ditto to opening this debate up a bit to ensure a more objectivist view point is put at the social and economic level. Having grown up in a community culture of middle to upper-middle class welfare specifically relating to families, I can say its importance can't be overlooked or written off outright. Critical re-assesment is always vital in refreshing the future of social and economic policy in Australia. I think it intruiging the level of welfare that has been targeted directly at middle Australia families in recent years. It’s almost as if this so called targeted spending has become a pillar in both sides election strategies beyond the big picture issues of reform of the tax system and our foriegn policy posture in the region. Family first and its impact, has interestingly arisen out of this and other factors.

On one hand welfare does play a vital role in assisting people moving from the economic backfoot to the frontfoot but on the other hand it can and often does act as a stifling agent to stop people’s inner drive to succeed off their own bat i.e. Small Business.

Ditto to opening this debate up a bit to ensure a more objectivist view point is put at the social and economic level.

Having grown up in a community culture of middle to upper-middle class welfare specifically relating to families, I can say its importance can’t be overlooked or written off outright.

Critical re-assesment is always vital in refreshing the future of social and economic policy in Australia.

]]> By: Boris http://andrewnorton.info/2006/12/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/comment-page-1/#comment-2941 Boris Mon, 11 Dec 2006 14:33:24 +0000 http://andrewnorton.info/blog/2006/12/07/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/#comment-2941 Russell: "Anyway what do your figures prove? we spend more on health, and we live longer, with better teeth etc. We spend more on schools, and they Russell: “Anyway what do your figures prove? we spend more on health, and we live longer, with better teeth etc. We spend more on schools, and they

]]> By: David Rubie http://andrewnorton.info/2006/12/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/comment-page-1/#comment-2940 David Rubie Mon, 11 Dec 2006 05:06:51 +0000 http://andrewnorton.info/blog/2006/12/07/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/#comment-2940 Bring Back CL's blog Says: "If he really was the Bring Back CL’s blog Says:
“If he really was the

]]> By: Bring Back CL's blog http://andrewnorton.info/2006/12/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/comment-page-1/#comment-2939 Bring Back CL's blog Sun, 10 Dec 2006 21:08:58 +0000 http://andrewnorton.info/blog/2006/12/07/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/#comment-2939 too right. If he really was the 'market fundamentalist' don't you think he would have de-regulated the labour market instead of re-regulating it. wouldn't have he reduced not increased the pages of legislation alah New Zealand and given workers the choice? too right.
If he really was the ‘market fundamentalist’ don’t you think he would have de-regulated the labour market instead of re-regulating it.
wouldn’t have he reduced not increased the pages of legislation alah New Zealand and given workers the choice?

]]> By: Rajat Sood http://andrewnorton.info/2006/12/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/comment-page-1/#comment-2938 Rajat Sood Sun, 10 Dec 2006 10:46:37 +0000 http://andrewnorton.info/blog/2006/12/07/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/#comment-2938 On The Insiders this morning, Howard described himself as economically liberal and socially conservative (if he hadn't said so in the past). On The Insiders this morning, Howard described himself as economically liberal and socially conservative (if he hadn’t said so in the past).

]]> By: Peter Whiteford http://andrewnorton.info/2006/12/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/comment-page-1/#comment-2937 Peter Whiteford Sat, 09 Dec 2006 20:38:41 +0000 http://andrewnorton.info/blog/2006/12/07/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/#comment-2937 I think this establishes he is not - and agrees he is not - a libertarian. It doesn't necessarily mean he is a social democrat! I think this establishes he is not - and agrees he is not - a libertarian.

It doesn’t necessarily mean he is a social democrat!

]]> By: Andrew Norton http://andrewnorton.info/2006/12/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/comment-page-1/#comment-2936 Andrew Norton Sat, 09 Dec 2006 20:18:47 +0000 http://andrewnorton.info/blog/2006/12/07/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/#comment-2936 Indeed! Indeed!

]]> By: Peter Whiteford http://andrewnorton.info/2006/12/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/comment-page-1/#comment-2935 Peter Whiteford Sat, 09 Dec 2006 08:26:17 +0000 http://andrewnorton.info/blog/2006/12/07/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/#comment-2935 From Todays' Sydney Morning Herald: Mr Howard said Mr Rudd was making the same mistake as Mr Beazley, Mark Latham, Simon Crean and Mr Beazley again before that, in trying to portray him as an economic extremist. "What he's arguing is that I'm a rampant market fundamentalist and laying waste to social order. It's wrong. It's invalid. One of the things that's distinguished my last 10 years is the care I've taken to look after middle- and lower-middle-income families. "Family tax benefits, child-care rebates, all of those policies. We've kept the social security safety net. In fact, some people have even, on the right of me, have actually said I've been too generous." From Todays’ Sydney Morning Herald:

Mr Howard said Mr Rudd was making the same mistake as Mr Beazley, Mark Latham, Simon Crean and Mr Beazley again before that, in trying to portray him as an economic extremist. “What he’s arguing is that I’m a rampant market fundamentalist and laying waste to social order. It’s wrong. It’s invalid. One of the things that’s distinguished my last 10 years is the care I’ve taken to look after middle- and lower-middle-income families.

“Family tax benefits, child-care rebates, all of those policies. We’ve kept the social security safety net. In fact, some people have even, on the right of me, have actually said I’ve been too generous.”

]]> By: Andrew Norton http://andrewnorton.info/2006/12/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/comment-page-1/#comment-2934 Andrew Norton Sat, 09 Dec 2006 08:24:51 +0000 http://andrewnorton.info/blog/2006/12/07/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/#comment-2934 Single-parent pensions that did not require a return to work when the youngest child went to school were definitely a mistake, and arguably this whole pension has done more harm than good in encouraging dysfunctional households (against this, it has avoided some poverty that would otherwise have existed, and the heartache of giving up babies for adoption). Much of the rest of the family payments system. Publicly-delivered education. Single-parent pensions that did not require a return to work when the youngest child went to school were definitely a mistake, and arguably this whole pension has done more harm than good in encouraging dysfunctional households (against this, it has avoided some poverty that would otherwise have existed, and the heartache of giving up babies for adoption). Much of the rest of the family payments system. Publicly-delivered education.

]]> By: Leopold http://andrewnorton.info/2006/12/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/comment-page-1/#comment-2933 Leopold Sat, 09 Dec 2006 08:19:22 +0000 http://andrewnorton.info/blog/2006/12/07/some-whitlamite-nostalgia-of-my-own/#comment-2933 "certain aspects of the welfare state were in hindsight mistakes, it is hard to reverse them once they are in place." Care to expand on this? Which aspects? “certain aspects of the welfare state were in hindsight mistakes, it is hard to reverse them once they are in place.”

Care to expand on this? Which aspects?

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