'I bet you fell for the famous "no child living in poverty" promise too.'
What I most remember about Bob Hawke was how (upon taking office) he put an end to years of bitter Liberal-caused industrial strife by holding an 'economic summit' in Canberra at which was forged an historic 'Accord' that saw the Prices Surveillance Authority keep an eye on prices and the Abriration Court keep an eye on wages.
A marvellous period of industrial peace and productivity followed.
To return us back to the bad old days of Master/Serf disputation the Liberals abolished both the prices watchdog and the wages arbitrator.
The other aspect of the Hawke years I vividly remember is when the Chinese communist crack-down on student protests in Tianamin Square made thousands of Chinese students studying in Australia fearful of returning home, a Prime Minister all freedom-lovers can be proud of did NOT deport them or shove them into an electrified Labor cage.
He granted the WHOLE blooming lot asylum on 'fear of persecution' grounds - from whence they have moved seamlessly and productively into mainsteam Aussie life - some with great distinction but all with great gratitude towards a wise and courageous Aussie PM
What a vivid contrast to the mean-spirited kid-caging attitude of the current PM!
BTW: Bennalong has a larger Chinese-Australian population than most other parts of Sydney.
NOW try and tell me that Karma does not exist!
The little kid-cager is on the way out!
And I did not have to engineer his richly-deserved downfall.
Howard (the kid cager) did that to himself all by himself as surely as night follows day.
But I'd be wary of expecting too much from a Rudd win.
Old Buddhist Saying:
Before enlightenment: Chopping wood and hauling water.
After enlightenment: Chopping wood and hauling water.