The Howard Years (1 Viewer)

[Generator]

John Howard

Well, John Howard is approaching 10 years as Prime Minister, and the broadsheets are starting to discuss the political legacy of a man who is yet to determine when it is that he will step down as PM. Within the Fairfax papers it's going to be a week long 'celebration', it seems.

Monday
Ten years up, Howard on a high
A lasting impression
What people say about John Howard
Even PM's supporters don't totally agree
Our new mean streak
A meaner country, and a good job too
Howard hits out at 'jihad' Muslims

Tuesday
He's in a win-win situation
How a lack of charisma helped the PM to seduce us
Following Howard's way to victory
Costello claims credit for good times

Wednesday
Getting the model right
A party more solid, not so the nation

Saturday
Happy John
For one night, the life of the party
Liberal heir celebrates his decade of achievement (Costello's 10 years)

Editorial: 10 years on - The Howard factor
Paul Kelly: The sweetest anniversary
Mike Steketee: Richer, harsher decade
Popular where it counts
Turning on the power
Christopher Pearson: Lessons to learn
From bowser boy to IR reform

Sunday
Ten years of Howard Government

Though all who contribute to the threads within this subforum are quite young, I think that it would still be interesting to see what it is that we all think about the legacy (current and future) of our PM and that of the federal Coalition under his leadership.

Though the following should go without saying, I think that it would be best to remind everyone that a successful discussion requires calm and measured responses from all involved - if you are going to respond, please take the time to do so seriously.

Edit: Given that I'm still waiting for the uni year to begin, I'll take the time to edit this post daily in order to keep it up to date with what the papers are producing. If anyone comes across something that I happen to miss (be it an article from a paper or a transcript from a news and current affairs programme), feel free to either add it to the thread and/or let me know of the link via a PM.

 

[absolution*]

I think John Howard is a baldy mank nerdlinger.

 

[HotShot]

it just shows, that australia lack political leaders.

 

[walrusbear]

he seems to have left a strong legacy of social regression

 

[katie_tully]

I like Costello. He's the kinda polly that reminds me of a favourable uncle. The one who slips you boiled lollies. Wait, is that just me?

Anywho, Howard is kinda tedious and I'm ready for some fresh meat. He'll go when Bush goes, methinks.

 

[katie_tully]

I thought that was pretty clear. His eye brows annoy me, and so do his addresses to the nation during a time of crisis. He um's too much. Bad public speaker.

 

[HotShot]

I thought that was pretty clear. His eye brows annoy me, and so do his addresses to the nation during a time of crisis. He um's too much. Bad public speaker.

yes and he is prime minister...

 

[katie_tully]

And you my friend need to locate your humour before you too burn down some embassies.

 

[banco55]

I thought that was pretty clear. His eye brows annoy me, and so do his addresses to the nation during a time of crisis. He um's too much. Bad public speaker.

He's not fantastic at giving prepared speeches but as a debater and off the cuff speaker he's superb.

 

[Skater_bum]

howard besides all the shit thrown his way hes a good prime minister given the hard descisions he had to make about the war on iraq n stuff ( allies ) unlike the past labour prime minister my dad was saying intrest was so high he wasnt able to pay the house off so yeah

 

[walrusbear]

howard besides all the shit thrown his way hes a good prime minister given the hard descisions he had to make about the war on iraq n stuff ( allies ) unlike the past labour prime minister my dad was saying intrest was so high he wasnt able to pay the house off so yeah

yeah an interest rate sure is the ultimate measure of success
although sadly, it seems that many in australia think that way at the moment
it speaks volume that someone who has done little for the future of this country is so well regarded

 

[transcendent]

I've always hated Howard, he's always been unaccountable for anything but he seemed to be the only one capable of leading this country with conviction and detemination in his ideal. He's done great things for the economy, apparently.

 

[Rafy]

"It's the behaviour of interest rates that tells the story. By August 1997, just 17 months after the Howard Government came to office, the standard home loan rate had fallen to 6.7 per cent. Since then, it has not shifted more than 1.35 percentage points in either direction."
[...]uninterrupted growth has stretched into its 15th year - a record.

Admittedly, much of the economic success is a result of good timing and a bit of luck, but 15 years of economic growth doesnt happen on its own. The following article examines the contributions of the Howard government to the economic streak, and also some of its shortcomings.

"I think it would be completely wrong to think this is all luck," said Peter Hendy, the chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, after sitting next to Howard at a business breakfast yesterday. "He's a very accomplished guy, there's no doubt about it."

- He's in a win-win situation (Add this to the list generator)


As for this wider legacy on the country, it is already undoubtly significant and the senate majority will only enforce this as he completes his vision for Australia. As for how history will finally judge him, it will be as a solid, politically astute and steadfast leader, and a competent prime minister not afraid to act on his convictions and beliefs. (No matter the controversy or noise created by his detractors)

I'm reminded of something the fictional Francis Uruqhart muttered after his 10 years in office:
"I've been here so long now that, love me or hate me, it's hard for you to imagine anyone else in my place … isn't it?"

 

[withoutaface]

The Howard government will be remembered for being tough on border protection, being unafraid to put their ideological goals ahead of their election success (eg GST, IR), and creating a climate in which Australia's economy can continue to prosper well into the future.

 

[Rafy]

We must not forget Peter Costello. 10 Years as Treasurer, a milestone i'm sure he's "celebrating."

"Some say that's an achievement. Personally, I don't think so. I never set out to do 10 years as Treasurer. And, if I were any good, I don't think I still would be."

More Articles:

Happy John
For one night, the life of the party
Liberal heir celebrates his decade of achievement (Costello's 10 years)

 

[Generator]

*bump*

 

[Generator]

Howard's South Park pals

Young voters have flocked to the Prime Minister as the good times continue to roll, writes Caroline Overington

 

[walrusbear]

Young people were also increasingly backing the Howard Government's policy of mandatory detention for asylum-seekers, with support rising from 41 per cent in 2002 to 58 per cent in 2005.

i find this statistic very worrying and indicative of a youth that has been so privileged that social perspective is lost. this seems like a big swing throughout the west and howard has, as many articles this week pointed out, come at a very lucky time. i'm not sure if the new social values are entirely a reaction against boomers or not.

i think the south park link of the article is misguided. the show may represent a large swing against old liberal social values but i think it is just as cynical of anything howard represents.

 

[loquasagacious]

I agree pretty much 100% with the article, anecdotally speaking the experiences of myself and my friends are pretty much in line with the article.

Alot of the drive being the mentioned cynicism/incoclast-ism which politically/economically speaking one could say was spurred on by there being no real alternative to capitalism - however given the across the board nature of this sentiment I would hardly suggest that as a determining factor.

I think it is important to note that a high level of cynicism is also delivered at the likes George Bush and the stage managed affair that the presidency has become.

I think the article overplays the role that increased work for uni students may play in this - I find that to be a cop out argument. It is basically a "too busy to care" argument that completely ignores that many choose to work and that despite working many care - just not in the same direction. The argument perhaps mistakes conservative beliefs for apathy.

A pertinent question that wasn't really touched upon being what has created the environment that has seen genX/Y behave like this? why do we support (and even promote) user-pays? Afterall we are for the most part not products of a user-pays society (especially in GenX's case) it is something that has happened around us.

Is it economic prosperity alone that has made us confident and ambitous enough to be starting up businesses? Or perhaps all that self-esteem (bs) in school had an unintended outcome?

Can the IT revolution be seen as a factor? It has afterall been a sector that favours the young entrepenuers and from another perspective it has been key in creating a conservative 'counter-culture' among youth by allowing new perspectives in on events/etc for example bloggers posting from baghdad during the invasion and service men on forums as opposed to traditional news sources.

I'm sure that some would even be inclined to link the popularity of violent computer games, with a reduced level of empathy and an increase in 'conservatism'.

I would perhaps typify the entire shift as an increase in pragmatism at the expense of idealism. Nowadays young people are making more pragmatic decisions, they are planning, saving, setting goals, budgeting and the like.

I would suggest that by clinging on to the 'intelligensia' vote (read ageing baby boomers still dreaming of a better society) Labor has been loosing young people. Perhaps we have different (even reactionary towards) views than our parents, perhaps the liberal party is winning our votes because it is seen as more pragmatic ("The man who is not a socialist at 20 has no heart, but if he is still a socialist at 40 he has no head."- Aristide Briand).






Oh as an aside I think GenY particularly and potentially GenX is far more accepting of war casualties than the baby boomers - perhaps this can be put down to the Vietnam experience.....

 

[Comrade nathan]

I think that article is a load of wank, so is your post loquasagqcious.