Not very long ago, a close friend forwarded to me an email sent to him by Tony Abbott, the new leader of the opposition. I will not bother to glorify Abbott’s email by publishing it as it can be found in the website of the Liberal Party. Suffice it to say that these were empty promises of a “Trapo” or Traditional Politician.
I have not forgotten that Tony Abbott, though not directly the author of Work Choices, was actually behind the entire concept. It resulted in my unfair sacking at the university. It was the Liberal Party who really oppressed the low income group during the reign of that unpopular politician John Howard. That caused his downfall in the elections that followed.
The Labor Party inherited all the nation’s problems from the Liberals. It will take many years for us to finally recover from the administration of Howard whose policies were glaringly pro-wealthy.
Now Abbott is advocating change, asking us to consider an alternative that he hopes will catapult the Liberals and him back into power. No way!
I have tasted the oppressive ways of the Liberals during the first 14 years that I have been in Australia.
About the economy? Were they really successful in controlling inflation? Look at the consumer price index, how it has risen from the very start of Howard’s administration — the spiralling cost of prime commodities!
To me, it is not so much about building a surplus, taken or even stolen from the middle class, to further enrich the upper class to which Howard and his cohorts belong. The real wealth of a nation should really hinge on building a strong middle class.
These are my personal views and I only wanted to react to Abbott’s advocacy for the Liberals to regain control. It is not my intention to engage anyone in a debate. I will therefore conclude by saying: I rest my case.
? DMC