Eels Blogs

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  speedy2460 October 22, 2014 at 5:28pm

  Have a good look at Whitlams track record. Hes no world beater. Regarded as one of the three worst PM"s we have ever had, with Rudd and Gillard the others.
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    SuperEel 22 > speedy2460 October 22, 2014 at 5:58pm

    Whitlam had a big vision for Australia. Whilst his management of the economy was haphazard, look what he did. He brought the country in line with and in some cases, ahead of other countries.

    He ended the Vietnam war, opened trade with China, introduced Medicare, handed Aboriginals their land rights, instituted no-fault divorce, campaigned for equal pay for women, abolished university tuition fees, unified the department of defence, increased troop numbers, passed the racial discrimination act, lowered the voting age, abolished conscription and freed draft resisters, enacted human rights protections established the legal aid office and he connected suburban homes to sewerage. There's many more but I'll be here forever.

    Whitlam tried to get a lot done in very little time. He did all of that in 2 years and 9 months. Yes his management of the economy was poor and he probably should've taken a little more time. However, he shouldn't be remembered solely for that. He reformed Australia and prepared it for the 21st century.
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    macybrown > speedy2460 October 22, 2014 at 6:29pm

    Worst three PM's!?

    If you've ever been ill or gone to hospital or known someone who has, be grateful that we are not like the health care system in the usa. Where you need to pay before going through the door of a hospital. Where ppl who can't afford health insurance are sick and some die needlessly and where others are in huge debt due to health bills.

      
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    Monster Eel #38 > speedy2460 October 22, 2014 at 7:31pm

    BULLSHIT Speedy, Howard was the worse following by f**king Abbott. Rudd wasn't a bad PM, neither was Gillard...Abbott's a fool and so are you for voting for him
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  RIDER October 22, 2014 at 5:28pm

  You do know they belong to different parties and therefore their ideals will vary on certain topics.

  Which ideals is he tearing down? 
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  Frank The Tank October 22, 2014 at 5:30pm

  Here, here. Well said Tony.
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  brad October 22, 2014 at 5:36pm

  I am completely aware of his party alliances. Gough gave us free education, Tony wants to deregulate and increase interest. Gough gave us free medical, tony want co contributions the beginning of the end of Medicare.
  Please look at the American system this is were they are taking us.
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    Alan Hunt > brad October 22, 2014 at 5:41pm

    Agree Brad, the libs have hated Medicare since it was introduced.  Same as free University for all.
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    The Reideemer > brad October 22, 2014 at 5:57pm

    It was Bob Hawke that stopped free education and then brought in HECS. Hawke and Keating both said at the time it was never free as someone else was paying for it. Same with Medicare, Hawke was first to design the Medicare co-payment. Hawke argued that Medicare needed to be sustainable, with an aging population Medicare would soon be a mill stone around the nations neck. Hawke's co-payment was $15 not the $7 that Abbott is attempting. Hawke was later rolled by Keating and the co-payment died off until Gillard, Plibersyk brought in a co-payment on all PBS medication.. So yes there was a lot of hypocrisy. Gough, was great on ideals but he sent the country to the brink of insolvency and his economic management was abject failure.
    Gough was a giant in our political landscape and I was lucky enough to have met him. Whilst he is hailed for his important welfare reforms, He did not foresee the dole bludger that he inadvertently created by these reforms.
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  brad October 22, 2014 at 5:41pm

  Call me a socialist hippy if you like, my opinion is all forms of government has a fundamental obligation to its people and that is to educate and care for them.