I agree whole heartedly with Andu on this one.
Politician and economical with the truth go hand in hand.
To pick based on honesty or trust is impossible...you can only vote on who will likely do the least damage.
To suggest that Labor have a good economic record certainly flys in the face of my memory...anyone remember Keatings efforts in 93...and his subsequent raising of indirect taxes?
Who came up with the plan to have a GST first? Keating!!!
I dislike the Libs intensely but Labor does not present a better alternative.
Anyone who thinks Anderson's lack of moral fibre with respect to avaition reform is going to have any effect whatsever on his/Libs re-election chances is playing with themselves.
Unfortunately...or possible fortunately
Politicians and the entire democraic political process long ago worked out that the electorate have extremely short attention spans and the vast majority of voters do not vote based upon their understanding of the big issues or various platforms espoused by the elected liars...they vote on personality.
If Latham gets over the line I will be amazed...at the % of Oz voters who appear to be the target audience of 'The Footy Show' and Jerry Springer....in my opinion if the % of the voting population which can be charachterised as 'traditional Labor voters' was removed and only the left wing 'educated elite' were left to vote Labor they'd get less votes than the dopey old fart from Tassy.
I tend to think that as the population of Australia has become wealthier and more afluent (on average) more traditional labor voters have found they no longer agree ideologically with Traditional Labor. Hawke/Keating dragged Labor from being, essentially socialist, to being more center right...Latham/Labor seems now to want to go back to their 'working class' roots.
Modern politicians are more about power and ego than substance...certainly the figurehead Leaders, perhaps not so true of back benchers who may still have altruistic feelings.
I dislike Howard intensely just less intensely than any of the options from either the opposition or his own cabinet.